7 days Tanzania: northern safari + Zanzibar beach finish

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport)

   Paris-Kilimanjaro (JRO) flight via Doha (Qatar Airways), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines) or Dubai (Emirates) - 12-15h total, €800-1,200 return. Tanzania visa: e-visa $50 to do before departure (eservices.immigration.go.tz, 7-day delay) or on arrival (USD cash mandatory). Yellow fever vaccination mandatory if transiting endemic country (Kenya, Ethiopia). Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO, 50 km from Arusha). Private transfer (€35-50) or shuttle to Arusha (gateway to Northern Circuit parks). Settle hotel or lodge in Arusha (Arusha Coffee Lodge boutique €200-300/night, Mount Meru Hotel 4* €130-200). Safari briefing with tour operator (4x4 vehicles, equipment, planning). Dinner and restful night before safari.

   Tips

   • · Tanzania e-visa $50 to do online before departure (eservices.immigration.go.tz)
   • · Yellow fever vaccination MANDATORY if transiting Kenya/Ethiopia/sub-Saharan Africa (proof on arrival)
   • · Safari 4x4: MANDATORY booking 3-6 months ahead via English-speaking agency (Thomson Safaris, &Beyond)
   • · Arusha hotels: Arusha Coffee Lodge (€200-300), Mount Meru Hotel (€130-200)
   Serengeti →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Tarangire safari (elephants + baobabs)

   Early 6am departure for Tarangire National Park (130 km, 2h30 from Arusha). Entry $53/person + $35/vehicle. Largest elephant population in Tanzania (about 2,500 individuals, herds of 50-100 easily observable), giant centuries-old baobabs, lions, leopards (rarer), zebras, wildebeest, Grant's and Thomson's gazelles. Picnic lunch in open savanna under a baobab (included full board formula). Safari all day (8am-4pm). Back to park lodge (Tarangire Safari Lodge €200-400/night, Tarangire Treetops 5* €500-800 with tree cabin tents). BBQ dinner + sunset over savanna.

   Tips

   • · Tarangire: LESS FREQUENTED than Serengeti/Ngorongoro - very accessible lions, easy photos
   • · Dry season July-October: animals concentrated around water points (x3 observation)
   • · Earth/khaki clothes recommended (avoid white/black, attracts tsetse mosquitoes)
   • · No vehicle descent without guide (lions very calm but reactive to movement)
   Tarangire →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Ngorongoro Crater UNESCO

   Wake 5am for entry into Ngorongoro Crater at dawn (180 km from Tarangire, 3-4h drive + ferry). World's largest intact caldera (19 km diameter, 600m deep), UNESCO-listed. Unique animal density worldwide: 25,000 large mammals live permanently in this crater (black-maned lions, black rhinos - extremely rare, tusker elephants with giant ivory, buffaloes, Lake Magadi hippos, pink flamingos, zebras, wildebeest). Possibility of seeing Big Five in 1 day (70% rate in dry season). Picnic lunch by Lake Magadi (hippos at 50m). Afternoon safari + crater exit. Settle lodge on crater rim (Ngorongoro Crater Lodge 5* &Beyond €800-1,500/night, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge €300-450).

   Tips

   • · Ngorongoro: unique world animal density - black rhinos extremely rare elsewhere
   • · Crater entry: limited to 6h/day (UNESCO regulation), enter at dawn (6am) imperative
   • · Crater rim hotels: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge 5* &Beyond ultra-luxury, direct plunging view
   • · Big Five possibility in 1 day (70% rate in dry season June-October)
   Ngorongoro →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Southern Serengeti (Migration in season)

   Departure Ngorongoro to Serengeti (200 km, 3-4h drive, descent to plains). Serengeti National Park UNESCO (14,750 km2, Tanzania's largest park). Depending on season: Great Migration - 2 million wildebeest + 200,000 zebras cross the plains (December-March: South Serengeti for births, April-July: Centre, July-October: North and Mara River crossings). All Big Five present (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rarer rhinos). Afternoon safari (4h, until sunset). Night permanent or mobile camp (Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti 5* €600-1,200/night, Asilia Lodges €400-700, Public campsites €100-200).

   Tips

   • · Great Migration: consult Migration Map to position camp (South Dec-March, North July-Oct)
   • · Serengeti: entry $70/person/day, really vast (2-3 days minimum visit)
   • · Mobile camps 'Asilia, Wayo Africa': follow migration, more authentic experience
   • · Warm evening clothes (savanna 10-15 °C night, even in dry season)
   Serengeti →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Serengeti -> Zanzibar flight (Stone Town)

   Morning Serengeti safari (3-4h, sunrise over savanna unforgettable spectacle). Transfer to Seronera airstrip or Kogatende. Charter internal flight Coastal Aviation or Auric Air (1h30, €200-350/person) to Zanzibar (ZNZ). Arrive Stone Town early afternoon. Settle hotel in Stone Town (Emerson Spice 4* €150-250, Park Hyatt Zanzibar 5* €400-700) or Tembo House guesthouse €80-130. Afternoon visit Stone Town UNESCO on foot: Arab-Swahili labyrinth streets, old Omani merchant houses, House of Wonders, Darajani market, old slave market (museum €5), 200+ decorated carved doors. Sunset on Tembo House rooftop terrace. Dinner The Rock Restaurant (on a rock in the sea, €50-80/person).

   Tips

   • · Serengeti-Zanzibar internal flight: Coastal Aviation/Auric Air charters (€200-350/person, 1h30)
   • · Stone Town: modest dress (majority Muslim area), shoulders-knees covered
   • · The Rock Restaurant: booking 1 week ahead, accessible on foot at low tide
   • · Spice/perfume purchases: plantation tour (€35-50/person, 3h, harvest demonstration)
   Stone Town →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Zanzibar Nungwi beach

   Morning drive Stone Town -> Nungwi (1h30, 60 km, taxi €35-50). Nungwi: northern tip of Zanzibar, crystalline white sand beach, turquoise water, important tides (up to 500m withdrawal), traditional dhow boats on horizon. Settle all-inclusive resort (Riu Palace Zanzibar 5* €250-450/night all-inclusive formula, Hideaway Resort 4* €150-250). Afternoon beach relax + snorkeling from beach (coral fish visible at 50m from shore). Iconic Indian Ocean sunset from Sunset Beach Bar (tropical cocktail €5-10). Resort restaurant dinner.

   Tips

   • · Nungwi: few tides vs neighbouring Kendwa (sea accessible all day, ideal family)
   • · Recommended all-inclusive resort: Riu Palace 5*, Hideaway Resort 4*, Hyatt Place
   • · Snorkeling Mnemba Atoll (1h by boat, €50-80/person, frequent dolphins)
   • · Excursion dolphin tour Kizimkazi (south Zanzibar) early morning (€40-60, 90% dolphin probability)
   Nungwi →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Zanzibar -> Paris return

   Quiet morning Nungwi beach resort. Last brunch. Transfer to Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) (1h30 drive from Nungwi, €35-50 taxi). 3h airport margin. Zanzibar-Paris flight via Doha/Dubai/Addis Ababa (12-15h total, €700-1,000). Typical souvenirs: Zanzibar spices (cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper, bought at plantation), kanga (traditional fabrics), distilled perfumes, arabica coffee, ebony sculpture. End of trip.

   Tips

   • · Zanzibar spices: plantation tour recommended (cloves €5/100g vs €15 airport)
   • · 3h ZNZ airport margin mandatory (controls + fake taxis)
   • · Return flight: check yellow fever vaccination card if transiting East Africa
   Nungwi →

Frequently asked questions