12 Days Tanzania’s Best Cultural Safari & Zanzibar Vacation
Tour Overview
Spanning nearly two weeks, this itinerary weaves together the best of northern Tanzania’s wilderness, a rare cultural encounter, and a Zanzibar coastal getaway. It all begins in Tarangire, known for its large elephant population and ancient-old baobab-dotted terrain. From there, we move through Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater, with overnights spent deep in wilderness. Before leaving the mainland, we visit the Hadzabe community near Lake Eyasi, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer groups in East Africa. The trip ends with a flight to Zanzibar, where you’ll explore Stone Town’s narrow alleys, learn about Swahili heritage, and have time to unwind by the coast.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival / Kilimanjaro International Airport
Today you arrive in Tanzania via Kilimanjaro International Airport, and after you’ve cleared customs and immigration, one of our safari representatives will be waiting just as you enter the arrival’s lounge. First, our representative will take care of a few formalities and answer any questions you have.
Once formalities are completed, you’ll be escorted to the appropriate departure terminal where you’ll be assisted in boarding a special SUV, from where a short transfer will bring you to your lodge or hotel in Arusha for dinner and a restful night after what’s probably been a long flight.
Meal Plan: Half Board
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast at your accommodation in Arusha, we leave for Tarangire National Park, where herds of African elephant and ancient baobab trees await your curious exploration. The park is also famous for its picturesque scenery, and diverse birdlife. Tarangire has an enticing range of wildlife that includes lions, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches, impalas, cheetahs, mongooses, buffaloes, and baboons, just to name a few.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon and resume your game drive around the park. When the sun begins to descend on the horizon, we proceed to the appropriate accommodation within Tarangire for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire - Lake Manyara National Park
Following breakfast, we leave for Lake Manyara National Park for a full day game drive. As you enter the park, lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees begin to get your attention for what’s waiting ahead. This activity will go on till early evening with a small break for picnic lunch. During the game drive keep your eyes peeled for sightings of buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, impalas, troops of baboons, blue monkeys, elephants, just to name a few.
One of Lake Manyara’s drawcards is the tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. In the right season, you can see the shoreline turning pink with millions of flamingos flocking it. After the game drive, you will head to your lodge where a well-prepared dinner awaits you.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4 & 5: Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Your day starts early after a sumptuous breakfast. We then leave for Serengeti National Park. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday, and you’ll be able to spot animals like antelope, wildebeest, elephants, zebra, or a pride of lions lounging in the shade.
Serengeti is arguably the most impressive wildlife sanctuary on planet Earth. Enjoy an afternoon game drive and take your picnic lunch which will be served during the same hours. The eventful day comes to an end with dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation in the heart of Serengeti.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, you will head out for another game drive in Serengeti National Park, with the chance to spot animals you may have not seen over the past two days. Like Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti is also home to the Big Five; lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard, and today you might be able to see some, if not all of them on your way to Ngorongoro.
Once you arrive at the crater’s view-point, the caldera opens up before you. This roughly 21-kilometre-wide crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than 25,000 terrestrial animals. You will continue to the lodge, where you can watch the sun set over the crater.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater - Full Day
After an early morning breakfast, we drive toward Ngorongoro Crater, spotting wildlife along the way as well as red-robed Maasai cattle herders. The rich pasture and permanent water of the crater floor supports a resident population of more than 25,000 large terrestrial animals. They are not confined by the crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favorable. Since most of the crater floor is grassland, grazing animals dominate: zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, and warthogs.
Being a small area of just about 21 Km across the largest unbroken caldera in the world, it is amazing the number of animals one gets to see at very close proximity in a single game drive. Expect to see giant-tusked elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks, lions, zebras, hyenas, jackals, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, you name it. Picnic lunch will be served at a picnic site inside the Crater. After lunch, we will do a final game drive before we ascend and exit the crater, heading to the lodge in Karatu for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8: Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe Experience
We’ll leave early in the morning and meet one of the world’s last tribes that still live the way our great, great, great grandfathers did. The Hadzabe have preserved the traditional hunter and gatherer way of life and are known for their click language. They may appear intimidating, dressed in animal pelts and holding a bow and arrow, yet they are a very friendly people. Spend time with the Hadzabe and learn about their culture, customs, rituals, and daily lives.
We will also have the opportunity to participate in some of their everyday duties and hunt with them. To further deepen our experience, we will visit the Datoga tribe. A pastoralist community residing in the same region and offer a unique insight into their traditional way of life. The Datoga, skilled in blacksmithing, produce metal arrows using their ancient craftsmanship. These arrows are said to be highly valued by the Hadza people. In this exchange, the Datoga trade their arrows to the Hadza in return for meat. Overnight in Karatu
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 9: Karatu - Transfer to Arusha - Fly to Zanzibar
Following breakfast at the lodge, you check-out and bid farewell to the lodge staff as you checkout and drive to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Arrive in Arusha and take your lunch before boarding your flight in early afternoon. On arrival in Zanzibar, one of our representatives will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the appropriate hotel or resort in Stone Town. The remaining hours at leisure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 10 & 11: Free Time in Zanzibar
The main focus in these two days is to explore and discover the heart of the Zanzibar City, Stone Town. Wander the winding historic unpaved alleyways, passing by balconies and gigantic wooden carved doors along the way the whole day long.Go on a guided tour alongside your local guide, and spend hours exploring the streets and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors and trying local meals in local restaurants.
Keep an eye out for tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautifully printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by local people), little carved chests with copper inlays, and spices – all beautiful presents or memories to take home. Transfer to the local spice plantations where you can truly appreciate the reason why Zanzibar is often referred to as the Spice Island.
Among the hotspots you will get to explore during these two days include the Old Fort, Forodhani Gardens, Darajani Food Market alongside the Freddie Mercury Museum, Christ Church Cathedral and Slave Market, House of Wonders (Beit-el-Ajaib), and sunset viewing.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 12: Departure - Transfer to the Airport
A last morning activity of your choice is followed by breakfast, after which you will be transferred to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward flights. Your unforgettable Tanzania’s Best Cultural Safari & Zanzibar Vacation in Tanzania is sure to be hooked in your memory forever.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Tour Includes
- Transport (4x4 Land Cruiser) with pop-up roof
- All Park fees
- Ngorongoro Crater fees
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation & Dining
- Purified Drinking water
Tour Excludes
- International flight
- Regional flight
- Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the lodge / hotel
- Gratuity for the safari guide
- Single supplement
- Personal items
- Laundry service at the hotel / lodge
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