Zanzibar & the Northern Circuit
The best-value way to see the northern parks and still finish on the beach. Fly to Arusha, drive the classic circuit from one base at Lake Manyara (Tarangire's elephants, a day with a Maasai community, the crater floor), then fly back for three all-inclusive nights on the coast.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Stone Town
- 2Arusha by air
- 3Tarangire by road
- 4Lake Manyara by road
- 5Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 6Lake Manyara by road
- 7East coast by air
What makes this one
- Tarangire's elephant herds and baobabs
- A slow, unhurried day in a Maasai boma
- The crater floor at dawn, with a real chance of black rhino
- Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions
The itinerary
Lodges are the ones we usually use for this trip at this price. Every one can be traded up or down.
- Day 1
Stone Town
Airport pickup and transfer to a boutique hotel in Stone Town to recover from the flight.
Overnight Shaba Boutique Hotel, B&B - Day 2
Tarangire
Morning flight to Arusha, then straight into Tarangire for a private game drive. This is elephant country, with birdlife to match.
Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara, full board - Day 3
Maasai boma
A pole pole day: a traditional Maasai settlement, dance, beadwork, and time to actually talk to people rather than photograph them.
Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara, full board - Day 4
Ngorongoro Crater
An early descent onto the crater floor. All of the Big Five live here, and it is one of the few places in Tanzania with a good chance of black rhino.
Overnight Africa Safari Lake Manyara, full board - Day 5
Lake Manyara, then the coast
A morning game drive for the lake's famous tree-climbing lions, then the afternoon flight back to Zanzibar and a transfer to the beach.
Overnight Reef & Beach Resort, all-inclusive - Day 6 to 7
Beach
Two days at leisure. Water sports and excursions are available; none are required.
Overnight Reef & Beach Resort, all-inclusive - Day 8
Home
Breakfast, checkout and a private transfer to the airport.
Want a day swapped, a lodge changed or a night added? Just ask.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.What $1,613 does and doesn't cover
Price is per person, six travelling in three rooms, in US dollars. Season, lodge choice and group size change it. Tell us yours and we'll quote it exactly.
Included
- All transfers and domestic flights
- 1 night Shaba Boutique Hotel (B&B), 3 nights Africa Safari Lake Manyara (full board), 3 nights Reef & Beach Resort (all-inclusive)
- Private 4×4 game drives with an English-speaking driver-guide
- Park fees and the Maasai cultural visit
Not included
- International flights
- Tourist visa
- Tourism Development Levy and village fees
- Mandatory inbound travel insurance, $44 per adult, bought in your own name before you fly
- Your own travel insurance, drinks, souvenirs and personal items
- Tips, never mandatory and always appreciated
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll turn $1,613 into an exact figure.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Questions people ask
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa in advance; a single-entry tourist visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. We'll confirm what applies to your passport when we send your proposal.
Do I need the mandatory travel insurance?
Yes, unless you are a Tanzanian resident or a citizen of an East African Community or SADC state. Zanzibar arrivals have bought it from ZIC since 1 October 2024; from 1 October 2026 mainland arrivals buy it from NIC. It is $44 per adult for 92 days, one policy for the whole country, bought online before you fly. It is a basic emergency cover, so keep your own travel insurance too. Everything about it, and which portal is yours.
Which vaccinations are required?
Yellow fever proof is required if you arrive from a country where it is endemic. Malaria prevention is strongly advised for the parks and the coast. Ask your travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you fly; we'll tell you which areas your trip covers.
How does the deposit and payment work?
You pay nothing to enquire. Once you approve the proposal we confirm the lodges and flights, and we agree the deposit and balance dates with you in writing before anything is charged.
What if I need to cancel or change dates?
Tell us as early as you can. Lodge and flight terms vary by season, so the cancellation terms for your specific trip are written into your proposal, so there are no surprises later.
Are park fees and tips included?
Park and crater fees are included wherever the itinerary says so. Tips are never included and never mandatory; guides and camp staff appreciate them, and we'll suggest what is customary.
What should I pack?
Neutral colours for the bush, a warm layer for early game drives (the crater rim is cold at dawn), reef-safe sunscreen and a modest cover-up for Stone Town. We send a version of the list for your exact trip with your final documents. The packing guide for bush, beach and town.
A question that isn't here? A human answers.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Guests on trips like this
Quoted from public reviews you can read in full on Tripadvisor, SafariBookings.
“Transparent pricing and no pressure.”
“Felt like saying goodbye to family.”
“Responsive, kind and caring, with exceptional communication.”
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