Direct operator since 1978
★ 4.8/5 TripAdvisor · 149 reviews
Trusted by 4,000+ travelers since 1978
Private safaris from $1,400/person
WhatsApp Kassim — reply within 2 hours
Safari and Beach. Two experiences, one trip.
Safari & Zanzibar
Serengeti lions by day. Zanzibar white sand by night. The most popular Tanzania combination — and for good reason. We have run both since 1978.
Since 1978
Operating Tanzania safaris
48 years
Family-owned, Arusha-based
One booking
Safari and beach, same operator
Direct
No agency markup. No middleman.
What you get
Two Parts. One Trip.
Northern Circuit Safari
Five days of early mornings, dust, and extraordinary wildlife intensity. Serengeti lions, Ngorongoro black rhino, Tarangire elephants. Then you swap the Land Cruiser for a dhow and the savannah for the Indian Ocean.
- ✓Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
- ✓Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
- ✓Big Five including black rhino
- ✓All meals and accommodation included
Zanzibar Beach
White sand beaches, turquoise water, Stone Town history, and the permission to do nothing. Zanzibar is 35km off the Tanzanian coast — a 90-minute flight from Arusha. The contrast with the safari that precedes it is the whole point.
- ✓Stone Town UNESCO heritage site
- ✓Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje beaches
- ✓Snorkelling, diving, dhow cruises
- ✓Stone Town to beach resort transfer
Combo itineraries
Choose Your Safari + Zanzibar Package
3 days safari · 2 nights Zanzibar
5-Day Safari + Zanzibar
The quick combo. Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and two nights on the Zanzibar beach — Stone Town on arrival night, then a full beach day. Works...
Included
- ✓Tarangire or Serengeti game drives
- ✓Ngorongoro Crater descent
- ✓All park fees and accommodation
- ✓Domestic flight to Zanzibar
- ✓Stone Town boutique hotel (1 night)
- ✓North coast beach resort (2 nights)
- ✓Airport transfers
Best for: Short trips, first Tanzania visit
7 days safari · 5 nights beach
10-Day Safari + 5-Night Zanzibar
The full experience. Seven days covering the Northern Circuit properly — Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire — followed by five nights on the...
Included
- ✓Full 7-day Northern Circuit
- ✓Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
- ✓All park fees and accommodation
- ✓Domestic flights (Arusha ↔ Zanzibar)
- ✓Stone Town night + beach resorts
- ✓Beach activities: snorkeling, dhow cruise
- ✓All transfers included
Best for: Full Tanzania experience, honeymoons
Trip planning
Safari First, or Beach First?
Safari First, Then Zanzibar
The standard and recommended sequence. Arrive in Tanzania energised, do the safari while your body is fresh, then finish on the beach to decompress. By the time you reach Zanzibar, the early mornings and dusty roads feel like a distant memory — and the contrast of white sand and turquoise water is exactly what your body needs. Most clients describe the transition from safari intensity to beach relaxation as the point the trip clicked into a complete experience.
Zanzibar First, Safari Second
Less common but works for specific itineraries. Zanzibar first gives you a gentle introduction to Tanzania — Stone Town, beach time, adjustment to the climate and timezone. The safari then feels like the 'main event'. The risk: if safari conditions are difficult (long drives, early starts), you are already slightly tired. Better suited to travellers who are already experienced safari-goers and know what to expect.
Why combine
Why Safari and Zanzibar Work Together
A safari is one of the most physically and mentally intensive travel experiences you will ever have. Early mornings, heat, dust, long drives, and the sensory overload of extraordinary wildlife sightings — lions hunting, a million wildebeest on the move, the scale of the Serengeti. By the end of five days, most people are simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated.
Zanzibar is the antidote. A kingsize bed. A beach where nothing is required of you. Cold drinks. Stone Town history to wander through. Snorkelling over coral reefs. Sunsets from a dhow boat. The decompression is part of what makes the overall trip feel complete — not tacked on, but deliberately integrated.
The logistics are also surprisingly simple. A direct flight from Arusha to Zanzibar takes 90 minutes. You finish your safari in the morning, fly in the afternoon, and you are on the beach by early evening. The same operator handles both legs — no agency handoffs, no separate bookings, no coordination stress.
Logistics
Getting From Safari to Zanzibar
Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar (90 minutes) — The standard route. Most safari itineraries end at Tarangire or Lake Manyara (closest to Arusha). After your final morning game drive, you return to Arusha for a late afternoon flight to Zanzibar. Airlines: Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air. Cost: $156–$260 per person one-way.
Fly from the Serengeti directly — If your safari ends in the Serengeti (common in July–September migration season), you can fly from a Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar via Arusha. This avoids the 6-hour drive back to Arusha but adds cost ($208–$364 per person). Most clients doing this route overnight in Arusha to break up the journey.
The Dar es Salaam ferry option — Possible but not recommended for safari extensions. You would need to get from Arusha to Dar es Salaam (8-hour drive or 1-hour flight), then take the ferry to Zanzibar (2 hours). This only makes sense if you are combining southern Tanzania parks with a beach extension.
Safaris Tanzania coordinates all flights and transfers. You do not need to arrange this separately.
Questions
Safari + Zanzibar FAQ
How many days do I need for a Safari + Zanzibar trip?
Minimum: 5 days (3 safari + 2 Zanzibar). This is tight but achievable. Sweet spot: 8–10 days (5–7 safari + 3–5 Zanzibar). Anything under 5 days means rushing both experiences, and you will leave wishing you had longer. We recommend at least 3 full beach days — 2 days is the minimum to justify the flight from the mainland.
What does the safari portion include?
All our safari packages include: private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top, certified driver-guide, park fees for all mentioned parks, accommodation (tented camp or lodge depending on tier), all meals on safari, and airport/camp transfers. Domestic flights between the safari and Zanzibar are included in our combo packages. International flights are not included unless specified.
Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?
Yes. Zanzibar is a safe destination for tourists. The main concerns are petty theft (pickpocketing in Stone Town, bag snatching on the beach — standard precautions for any beach destination) and petty scams from beach vendors (overcharging, pressure selling). We advise using your resort beach rather than public areas if you want solitude. The resort staff can arrange activities safely. Swimming: check tide conditions on the east coast — low tide exposes wide sand flats that can be confusing.
Which Zanzibar beach should I choose?
Nungwi (northwest): best all-round — swimmable at all tides, good infrastructure, sunset views. Kendwa (south of Nungwi): quieter version of Nungwi with the same tide advantage. Paje (east coast): kite surfing hub, dramatic tides, backpacker atmosphere. Matemwe (northeast): remote, quiet, authentic fishing village. For most safari extensions, we recommend Nungwi or Kendwa for first-time visitors — reliable, beautiful, easy.
Can I do Zanzibar as a day trip from the mainland?
No — the ferry from Dar es Salaam takes 2 hours and Zanzibar is a 90-minute flight from Arusha. A day trip is not practical. The minimum is two nights on the island to justify the travel time, and we strongly recommend at least three nights. Zanzibar rewards slower travel.
What is the best time of year for Safari + Zanzibar?
June–October (dry safari season, warm Zanzibar weather) is the best overall window. December–February is also excellent — good for the safari (calving season in January–February) and peak beach weather. Avoid April–May: long rains on the mainland make game driving difficult, and Zanzibar's east coast beaches get rough. November has short afternoon showers — manageable but not ideal.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. If you have a Tanzania tourist visa (issued on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport or obtained in advance), it covers both the mainland and Zanzibar. No additional paperwork is required.
Ready to Plan Safari + Zanzibar?
WhatsApp Kassim with your dates, group size, and safari preferences. You will receive a combined itinerary with exact pricing, flight options, and beach recommendations within 2 hours on WhatsApp.