9 Days | 8 Nights Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Package

Experience details

A route-paced northern Tanzania safari designed to reduce backtracking: Lake Manyara, Karatu, the Ngorongoro highlands and crater, Olduvai Gorge, a route-positioned Ndutu overnight inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Central Serengeti and an included one-way bush flight from Seronera to Zanzibar. Finish with historic Stone Town and two relaxed nights in Nungwi. Preferred hotels are shown as route-aligned examples and may be replaced by a comparable same-area property when availability requires.

Package Highlights

• Lake Manyara National Park
• Karatu overnight for an early Ngorongoro start
• Two Ngorongoro/NCA days with one planned crater descent
• Olduvai Gorge corridor & route-positioned Ndutu overnight
• Central Serengeti wildlife viewing
• Included one-way Seronera Airstrip → Zanzibar bush flight
• Stone Town Walking Tour — history, culture & shopping
• Two nights of Zanzibar beach leisure in Nungwi

Day-by-Day Itinerary

DAY 1 — Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
Meet our representative at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer to Arusha. The drive is approximately 50 km and normally takes about 1–1.5 hours depending on traffic and arrival time. The rest of the day is kept easy so you can recover from your international journey and prepare for the safari.

Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge or similar, Moshono / Arusha
Accommodation: A comfortable Arusha staging lodge used for the arrival night before the northern-circuit safari begins.

DAY 2 — Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park – Karatu
Depart Arusha for Lake Manyara National Park, approximately 125–130 km away and about 2–2.5 hours by road. Explore groundwater forest, acacia woodland, wetlands and lakeshore habitats while looking for elephants, baboons, giraffes, birdlife and other wildlife. After the game drive, continue up the Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu; the Lake Manyara/Karatu leg is roughly 30–40 km and normally 40–60 minutes. Sleeping in Karatu positions you close to Ngorongoro for the following morning.

Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge or similar, Karatu
Accommodation: A highland lodge in the Karatu area, selected for its convenient position close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance.

DAY 3 — Karatu – Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Crater Highlands
Leave Karatu early for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Karatu is only about 15–20 km from Loduare Gate; from Karatu to the crater-rim area, allow roughly 1–1.5 hours including the gate approach and formalities. Spend the day exploring the Ngorongoro highlands, crater-rim viewpoints and wildlife areas within the NCA. The full crater-floor descent is intentionally reserved for the following morning, allowing the route to remain comfortable rather than rushed.

Overnight: Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp or similar, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Accommodation: A tented safari camp inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, chosen to keep guests within the NCA overnight and reduce next-day backtracking.

DAY 4 — Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive – Olduvai Gorge – Ndutu
Start early and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for the package’s planned crater-floor game drive. Search for zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, hippo, elephants, lions, hyenas and, when conditions allow, black rhino. After ascending from the crater, continue west through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Olduvai Gorge. The crater-to-Olduvai road section is approximately 50 km and about 1 hour before wildlife, scenic and heritage stops. Continue after the Olduvai visit toward the Ndutu / South Ngorongoro plains, creating a comfortable bridge between the crater area and the following day’s Central Serengeti route.

Overnight: Africa Safari Ngorongoro Ndutu – Safari Comfort or similar, Ndutu / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Accommodation: A mid-range Full Board safari property in the Ndutu sector, selected for its practical position between Olduvai, the southern plains and the route toward Central Serengeti.

DAY 5 — Ndutu – Central Serengeti / Seronera
After breakfast, continue north from the Ndutu sector toward Naabi Hill and Central Serengeti. Allow roughly 2–3 hours of route time before wildlife stops, road conditions and gate formalities. Enter the wildlife-rich Seronera region and spend the remainder of the day on game drives across the central plains, river valleys and kopjes.

Overnight: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar, Central Serengeti
Accommodation: An authentic tented safari camp in Central Serengeti, selected for Seronera-area wildlife access and the following day’s convenient airstrip transfer.

DAY 6 — Central Serengeti – Seronera Airstrip – Zanzibar
Enjoy an early Central Serengeti game drive, then transfer to Seronera Airstrip for the included one-way bush flight to Zanzibar. Flight times depend on the operating airline and confirmed schedule. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport, meet our island team and transfer to Stone Town; the airport-to-Stone-Town road leg is approximately 9 km and usually 15–20 minutes.

Overnight: Tembo House Hotel or similar, Stone Town
Accommodation: A historic Stone Town hotel used for the cultural overnight before the beach portion of the journey.

DAY 7 — Stone Town Walking Tour – Nungwi Beach
After breakfast, enjoy a guided 1–1.5 hour Stone Town walk focused on Zanzibar history, Swahili culture, Indian Ocean trade, carved doors, heritage streets and shopping. Paid admissions to ticketed sites are not included unless specifically stated. After the walk, transfer north to Nungwi, approximately 55–60 km from Stone Town and normally about 1–1.5 hours depending on traffic and village-road conditions.

Overnight: Smiles Beach Hotel or similar, Nungwi
Accommodation: A north-coast beach hotel in Nungwi, selected for the relaxed beach finish, swimming-pool time and easy access to the shoreline.

DAY 8 — Nungwi Beach Leisure & Optional Short Experiences
Enjoy a full day at leisure with no compulsory excursion. Relax at the beach or pool, or request optional short/half-day experiences such as Mnemba snorkeling, a Spice Tour or Prison Island. Optional activities are subject to availability, sea conditions and additional cost.

Overnight: Smiles Beach Hotel or similar, Nungwi
Accommodation: Second beach night, keeping the Zanzibar finish deliberately unhurried.

DAY 9 — Nungwi – Zanzibar Airport / Departure
Enjoy the beach according to your confirmed departure time, then transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward journey. Nungwi to the airport is approximately 65 km and commonly around 1.5 hours by road, although traffic can extend the transfer time.

Accommodation Plan — Preferred Hotels or Similar

The named properties are preferred route-aligned choices, not guaranteed hotels until written availability confirmation. If one is unavailable, Mo Tours & Safaris will select a comparable-standard property in the same safari sector or Zanzibar area wherever possible. Any material change in standard, route position or price will be confirmed before final booking.

• Arusha: Arusha Planet Lodge or similar. Preferred alternative: Kahawa House.
• Karatu: Marera Valley Lodge or similar. Preferred alternative: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge.
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp or similar. Preferred alternative: Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp.
• Ndutu / South Ngorongoro: Africa Safari Ngorongoro Ndutu – Safari Comfort or similar. Seasonal alternative: Ang'ata Migration – Ndutu Camp, or another comparable Ndutu-sector camp when operating.
• Central Serengeti: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar. Preferred alternative: Embalakai Serengeti Camp.
• Stone Town: Tembo House Hotel or similar. Preferred alternative: Maru Maru Hotel.
• Nungwi: Smiles Beach Hotel or similar. Preferred alternative: Langi Langi Beach Bungalows.

Package Includes

• Accommodation at the preferred named properties or a carefully selected comparable same-area alternative:
  • 1 Night – Arusha Planet Lodge or similar, Arusha
  • 1 Night – Marera Valley Lodge or similar, Karatu
  • 1 Night – Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp or similar, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  • 1 Night – Africa Safari Ngorongoro Ndutu – Safari Comfort or similar, Ndutu / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  • 1 Night – Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar, Central Serengeti
  • 1 Night – Tembo House Hotel or similar, Stone Town
  • 2 Nights – Smiles Beach Hotel or similar, Nungwi
• Safari transport and wildlife drives in a modified 4×4 Land Cruiser with photographic roof hatch
• Professional English-speaking safari guide and local Stone Town walking guide
• All wildlife reserve entry fees and game drives stated in the confirmed itinerary
• Private hotel pickup, drop-off and scheduled ground transfers stated in the package
• Meals provided according to the safari and hotel program
• Bottled water during the safari
• Applicable VAT, taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included in the confirmed land program
• One-way scheduled bush flight from Seronera Airstrip to Zanzibar, subject to the confirmed airline schedule and standard baggage allowance
• Short guided Stone Town Walking Tour (approximately 1–1.5 hours) focused on history, culture, heritage streets and shopping
• Transfer from Stone Town to the listed Zanzibar beach hotel after the walking tour

Package Excludes

• Medical or travel insurance
• International flights
• Ordinary airport-to-airport domestic flights that are not specifically listed as included in the package
• Any additional or alternative flights requested outside the confirmed itinerary
• Excess baggage or special baggage charges above the included bush-flight allowance
• Visa fees
• Airport taxes or charges not already included in the confirmed ticket/fare
• Personal expenses
• Optional activities or services not stated in the itinerary
• Tips and gratuities
• Entrance/admission fees during the Stone Town walk, including the Slave Market site if you choose to enter
• Optional Zanzibar activities such as Mnemba snorkeling, Spice Tour or Prison Island
• Personal shopping and souvenirs

Important Note

All road distances and driving times shown are approximate planning guides. Safari-road conditions, weather, wildlife stops, gate procedures and traffic can change actual travel time. The scheduled Seronera Airstrip–Zanzibar bush flight is included; airline, departure time, routing and baggage allowance are confirmed at booking and remain subject to airline operation. International flights and ordinary airport-to-airport domestic flights not specifically listed as included remain excluded. Two calendar days are allocated to the Ngorongoro area with one planned crater-floor descent. Named accommodation is a preferred example rather than a guarantee until written confirmation. If a listed property is unavailable, Mo Tours & Safaris will select a comparable-standard alternative in the same safari sector or Zanzibar area wherever possible; the route position and intended experience will be protected, and any material price difference or upgrade will be communicated before final confirmation. Zanzibar touring in the base itinerary is intentionally limited to the short Stone Town Walking Tour; Mnemba snorkeling, Spice Tour and Prison Island remain optional.