Package Overview What this trip is, in a nutshell
The safari half is unhurried and complete. Tarangire opens with thousand-year-old baobabs and some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa. Two nights inside the Central Serengeti follow, placing you on the plains for both sunset and sunrise in country famous for lion prides and one of Africa's highest leopard densities. The Ngorongoro Crater closes the mainland with a dawn descent onto the caldera floor - dense plains game, hyena clans, and one of Tanzania's best chances of black rhino, completing the Big Five.
Then the tone changes entirely. You fly from the mainland to Zanzibar and spend a night in Stone Town, a UNESCO-listed maze of carved doors, spice markets, and Swahili-Omani-Indian architecture layered over a thousand years of Indian Ocean trade. From there it is north-east to Matemwe, where a luxury beach hotel looks across a lagoon to Mnemba Atoll and the days ask nothing of you at all.
Wildlife possibilities on the safari half cover the full northern cast: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, hyena, and rhino in the crater. Sightings are never guaranteed in the wild - but two Serengeti nights and a full crater morning place you where the odds are strongest. On Zanzibar the wildlife turns marine: reef fish, dolphins off Mnemba, and, in season, the chance of turtles.
The safari is entirely private: a dedicated 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, drinking water, snacks, charging sockets, and binoculars on board, driven by a professional English-speaking Tanzanian guide from your first morning to the airstrip. Accommodation runs from a comfortable Arusha lodge and a Karatu highland lodge to a tented camp inside the Serengeti, a characterful Stone Town hotel, and a luxury beach property at Matemwe.
The value here is that everything is arranged as one journey rather than two bookings: private vehicle and guide, all park and crater fees, the domestic flight to Zanzibar, island transfers, and both hotels are included, with a single team responsible from arrival to departure.
Package Summary Everything at a glance
| Item | Package detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 Days |
| Safari type | Private |
| Comfort level | Semi-Luxury |
| Starting point | Arusha |
| Ending point | Zanzibar |
| Main destinations | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar |
| Accommodation type | Lodge (Lodge, Tented Camp, Hotel) |
| Meal plan | Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast |
| Transportation | Private Car, 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up, Domestic Flight |
| Suitable travellers | Family, Friends, Sole travellers, Couples and small groups |
| Customization | Yes — this itinerary can be tailored to you |
Route Overview 10 days — where you go and how far
| Day | Route | Overnight | Approx. distance | Approx. time | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Moshi or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) → Moshi-Arusha corridor, Coffee farms and roadside markets → Arusha city | Arusha | 80 km | 1.5 hours | Private Car |
| Day 2 | Arusha → Maasai Steppe, Tarangire River circuit, Silale Swamp fringes → Karatu Highlands | Karatu | 195 km total (120 km to Tarangire, 75 km on to Karatu) | 3.5 hours of transfer driving, with a full-day game drive between | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
| Day 3 | Karatu → Ngorongoro crater rim viewpoint, Malanja Depression, Naabi Hill Gate → Central Serengeti (Seronera area) | Central Serengeti | 145 km | 4-5 hours of driving, broken by viewpoints and afternoon game viewing | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
| Day 4 | Central Serengeti camp → Seronera Valley river loops, Maasai kopjes, Hippo pools → Central Serengeti camp (same camp) | Central Serengeti | Local game-drive loops | Flexible - a full day with picnic lunch, or two drives with a midday rest in cam | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
| Day 5 | Central Serengeti → Seronera Valley, Naabi Hill, Malanja Depression → Karatu Highlands | Karatu | 190 km | 5 hours, structured as game drives with breaks | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
| Day 6 | Karatu → Ngorongoro Crater floor, Lake Magadi, Mto wa Mbu, Rift Valley escarpment → Zanzibar Stone Town | Stone Town | 190 km by road, then a flight of approx. 1.5-2 hours | Approx. 4 hours of driving, plus crater time and the flight | Domestic Flight |
| Day 7 | Zanzibar Stone Town → Spice farm, Villages and coconut groves → Matemwe Beach | Matemwe Beach | 55 km | 1.5 hours, with stops | Private Car |
| Day 8 | Matemwe Beach → Matemwe Beach | Matemwe Beach | None | No driving | — |
| Day 9 | Matemwe Beach → Matemwe Beach | Matemwe Beach | None | No driving | — |
| Day 10 | Matemwe Beach → Coconut groves, Villages, Stone Town (souvenir stop if time permits) → Zanzibar (Abeid Amani Karume International Airport) | No accommodation — departure day | 60 km | 1.5 hours | Private Car |
Distances and driving times are indicative and vary with road and game-viewing conditions.
Day 1 Arrival - Coffee Country and the First Night
Day 1 — Arrival - Coffee Country and the First Night
| Starting location | Moshi or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Moshi-Arusha corridor, Coffee farms and roadside markets |
| Ending location | Arusha city |
| Main destination | Arusha (arrival Day) |
| Approx. departure | On arrival of your international flight |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Approx. 1.5 hours after airport pick-up |
| Approx. distance | 80 km |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 1.5 hours |
| Transport | Private Car |
Day description
A gentle first day: meet-and-greet at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a private transfer west through coffee country to Arusha, time to rest by the pool, and an evening pre-safari briefing covering the ten days ahead.
Morning
Depending on your flight schedule: arrival formalities at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where a Splendor Safari representative welcomes you in the arrivals hall with a name board and chilled drinking water. Guests already in Moshi are collected from their hotel.
Afternoon
Private transfer west along the Moshi-Arusha corridor, through coffee farms and roadside markets, with Mount Meru rising ahead and - on clear days - Kilimanjaro's snows behind you. Check in at your lodge and settle in; the pool and gardens are the right medicine after a long flight, and a good place for children to shake off the journey.
Evening
Pre-safari briefing with your consultant and guide: a walk-through of the ten days, park etiquette, packing advice, and a word about the 15 kg soft-bag limit for the Zanzibar flight. Dinner at the lodge.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Meals
Arusha Planet Lodge
About this stay
A comfortable, well-run city base with pool and gardens, positioned for an easy Day 2 departure and a restful first night after a long flight. Alternatives: Ilboru Safari Lodge; Arusha Farm House.
Tonight is the moment to split your luggage. Beachwear and anything you will not need on safari can travel in a separate bag; what matters is that your total for the Zanzibar flight stays within the soft-bag allowance.
Day 2 Tarangire - Giants Beneath the Baobabs
Day 2 — Tarangire - Giants Beneath the Baobabs
| Starting location | Arusha |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Maasai Steppe, Tarangire River circuit, Silale Swamp fringes |
| Ending location | Karatu Highlands |
| Main destination | Tarangire National Park |
| Approx. departure | 7:30 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Lodge by approx. 6:30 PM |
| Approx. distance | 195 km total (120 km to Tarangire, 75 km on to Karatu) |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 3.5 hours of transfer driving, with a full-day game drive between |
| Transport | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
Day description
A full day in Tarangire among thousand-year-old baobabs and its famous elephant herds, ending with the climb up the Great Rift Valley escarpment into the cool Karatu highlands.
Morning
Depart Arusha west across the open Maasai Steppe, reaching Tarangire's gate mid-morning. Thousand-year-old baobabs stand over golden grassland, and the Tarangire River draws wildlife from every direction.
Afternoon
Game drive along the river circuit, where Tarangire's famous elephant herds - among the largest concentrations in East Africa - come to drink and dust-bathe, with a hot picnic lunch at a shaded site overlooking the valley. Continue through acacia woodland and the Silale Swamp fringes, watching for lion draped in sausage trees, leopard in the riverine figs, and dry-country specials such as fringe-eared oryx. Late afternoon, exit the park and climb the Great Rift Valley escarpment into the cool Karatu highlands.
Evening
Arrive at your lodge among Karatu's coffee farms. Dinner featuring highland produce, and an early night before the Serengeti.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Read about where you are
Meals
Marera Valley Lodge
About this stay
A cool highland lodge in Karatu, 1-2 hours from Tarangire, positioned between the park and the Serengeti road, with valley views and good home cooking. Alternatives: Farm of Dreams Lodge; Eileen's Trees Inn.
Tarangire is dusty in the dry season - a buff or scarf and a zip-lock bag for your camera help a great deal. Keep binoculars handy; much of today's wildlife is in the trees.
Day 3 Into the Serengeti - Over the Crater Highlands to Seronera
Day 3 — Into the Serengeti - Over the Crater Highlands to Seronera
| Starting location | Karatu |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Ngorongoro crater rim viewpoint, Malanja Depression, Naabi Hill Gate |
| Ending location | Central Serengeti (Seronera area) |
| Main destination | Central Serengeti National Park |
| Approx. departure | 7:00 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Camp by approx. 6:00 PM |
| Approx. distance | 145 km |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 4-5 hours of driving, broken by viewpoints and afternoon game viewing |
| Transport | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
Day description
Up through montane forest to the Ngorongoro crater rim viewpoint, down onto the short-grass plains, through Naabi Hill Gate and on to the Seronera Valley for the first of two nights inside the park.
Morning
Climb through montane forest to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate, then trace the crater rim to a viewpoint where the entire caldera opens beneath you - a thrilling preview of Day 6. Descend past Maasai homesteads and grazing cattle onto the short-grass plains.
Afternoon
Cross the plains to Naabi Hill Gate, where the horizon dissolves in every direction - "Serengeti" comes from the Maasai word for endless plains, and here the name explains itself - with a picnic lunch among the gate kopjes while park formalities are completed. Then your first Serengeti game drive, working slowly toward the Seronera Valley, the park's year-round wildlife heartland of granite kopjes and umbrella acacias, famous for lion prides and one of Africa's highest leopard densities.
Evening
Arrive at your tented camp inside the park. Sundowner by the fire, dinner under canvas, and a night of hyena whoops and distant lion.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Read about where you are
Meals
Serengeti Classic View Camp
About this stay
A mid-range tented camp inside the park in the Seronera area. Two nights here win the golden hours at both ends of the day in prime big-cat country - the heart of the safari half. Alternatives: Sightseeing Luxury Tented Lodge; Thorn Tree Camp.
Gate formalities at Naabi can take time in high season - it is planned into the day, so stretch your legs and climb the short kopje trail for the view. From tonight, charging is limited to camp solar and generator hours.
Day 4 A Full Serengeti Day - Big Cats and Golden Light
Day 4 — A Full Serengeti Day - Big Cats and Golden Light
| Starting location | Central Serengeti camp |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Seronera Valley river loops, Maasai kopjes, Hippo pools |
| Ending location | Central Serengeti camp (same camp) |
| Main destination | Central Serengeti National Park |
| Approx. departure | 6:30 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Return to camp around sunset |
| Approx. distance | Local game-drive loops |
| Approx. road-driving duration | Flexible - a full day with picnic lunch, or two drives with a midday rest in cam |
| Transport | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
Day description
A full flexible day in the Seronera Valley with no transfer: dawn and late-afternoon game-drive sessions around river loops, kopje fields and hippo pools, with the pace set entirely by you. Second night at the same camp.
Morning
Dawn departure - the Serengeti's finest hour, when lions finish the night's business and cheetahs test the cool air. Your guide follows fresh tracks and radio reports through the Seronera Valley's river loops and kopje fields, where leopards drape along sausage-tree branches.
Afternoon
Picnic lunch at a scenic site, or return to camp for a hot lunch and a siesta before the afternoon session - the better option for families with young children. Between December and March, the day can push south toward the migration herds and calving grounds instead. The second game-drive session takes in hippo pools, the Maasai kopjes, and patient time at whatever the morning revealed: a leopard's tree, a pride in shade, a den of cubs.
Evening
Sundowner as the plains turn copper, then dinner and fireside conversation beneath an extraordinary sky.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
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Meals
Serengeti Classic View Camp
About this stay
Second night at the same mid-range tented camp inside the Central Serengeti (Seronera area). Alternatives: Sightseeing Luxury Tented Lodge; Thorn Tree Camp.
This is the day to tell your guide what you most want to see. With a full day and no transfer, a specific ambition - a leopard, a cheetah hunt, particular birds - is realistic to plan around. Optional sunrise balloon safari (approx. US$599 pp, pre-booked)
Day 5 Farewell to the Plains - Back to the Highlands
Day 5 — Farewell to the Plains - Back to the Highlands
| Starting location | Central Serengeti |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Seronera Valley, Naabi Hill, Malanja Depression |
| Ending location | Karatu Highlands |
| Main destination | Central Serengeti, Continuing To Karatu |
| Approx. departure | 6:30 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Lodge by approx. 5:30 PM |
| Approx. distance | 190 km |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 5 hours, structured as game drives with breaks |
| Transport | 4x4 Land Cruiser Pop-up |
Day description
A dawn farewell drive through the Seronera Valley, east across the short-grass plains past Naabi Hill, then back over the Ngorongoro highlands to the familiar Karatu lodge - with laundry and packing before the fullest day of the trip.
Morning
A dawn farewell drive through the Seronera Valley - often among the most productive hours of the whole safari, and your guide's last chance at whatever is still missing from your list.
Afternoon
Continue east across the short-grass plains toward Naabi Hill, where cheetah are frequently seen, with a relaxed picnic lunch and time at the park information centre before exiting. Then climb back into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, tracing the crater rim as the light turns gold over the Malanja Depression and Maasai cattle head home, before descending into Karatu.
Evening
Return to the familiar comfort of your Karatu lodge - the same property as Night 2, which keeps luggage simple. Hot shower, garden sundowner, and dinner. Pack tonight for the flight: tomorrow is the fullest day of the trip.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Read about where you are
Meals
Marera Valley Lodge
About this stay
A familiar return to the Karatu lodge with laundry service, and under two hours from the crater descent road for the pre-dawn start on Day 6. Alternatives: Farm of Dreams Lodge; Eileen's Trees Inn.
Send laundry out on arrival tonight - most Karatu lodges return it by morning, and arriving on Zanzibar with clean clothes rather than a bag of safari dust improves the beach half considerably.
Day 6 Crater Dawn, Island Evening - From the Caldera to the Coast
Day 6 — Crater Dawn, Island Evening - From the Caldera to the Coast
| Starting location | Karatu |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Ngorongoro Crater floor, Lake Magadi, Mto wa Mbu, Rift Valley escarpment |
| Ending location | Zanzibar Stone Town |
| Main destination | Ngorongoro Crater, Then Zanzibar By Air |
| Approx. departure | 6:00 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Stone Town in the early evening, flight schedule permitting |
| Approx. distance | 190 km by road, then a flight of approx. 1.5-2 hours |
| Approx. road-driving duration | Approx. 4 hours of driving, plus crater time and the flight |
| Transport | Domestic Flight |
Day description
The fullest day of the trip: a pre-dawn descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor, the drive east to the airport, and a flight across Tanzania to the coast, arriving in Stone Town as the evening heat softens.
Morning
A pre-dawn start to be among the first vehicles down the 600-metre descent road as mist lifts off the crater floor. Within these walls live an estimated 20,000-25,000 large animals: lion prides, huge-tusked elephant bulls, buffalo, hyena clans, and the flamingo-fringed Lake Magadi - plus one of Tanzania's best chances, never a certainty, of black rhino and a complete Big Five.
Afternoon
Ascend the exit road late morning and drive east through Karatu and Mto wa Mbu along the Rift Valley escarpment, with a lunch stop en route, to the airport for your flight. Your guide sees you checked in and says goodbye - the end of the safari half. The flight crosses eastern Tanzania to the coast, descending over reef and turquoise water into Zanzibar, where a Splendor Safari representative meets you and transfers you into Stone Town.
Evening
Check in at your Stone Town hotel and step out into the old quarter as the heat softens: carved doors, narrow lanes, the Forodhani night market with its grilled seafood, and the sound of the ocean two streets away. Dinner at the hotel or in town.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
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Meals
Tembo Hotel
About this stay
A characterful seafront hotel in a historic building on the Stone Town waterfront, placed so the old quarter is on your doorstep for the evening and the guided morning. Alternatives: Maru Maru Hotel; Zanzibar Palace Hotel.
The longest and most complex day of the trip: crater, drive, flight and transfer. Crater mornings are cold - below 10 degrees C on the rim - while Zanzibar this evening will be warm and humid, so keep a change of clothes accessible rather than packed in t
Day 7 Stone Town to Matemwe - History, Spice and the Lagoon
Day 7 — Stone Town to Matemwe - History, Spice and the Lagoon
| Starting location | Zanzibar Stone Town |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Spice farm, Villages and coconut groves |
| Ending location | Matemwe Beach |
| Main destination | Stone Town And The North-east Coast |
| Approx. departure | 9:00 AM |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Beach hotel by approx. 3:00 PM |
| Approx. distance | 55 km |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 1.5 hours, with stops |
| Transport | Private Car |
Day description
A guided morning through the lanes and markets of Stone Town, a working spice farm with a Swahili lunch, then the transfer north-east across the island to the reef lagoon at Matemwe.
Morning
A guided morning in Stone Town: the old slave market and Anglican cathedral, the House of Wonders and Old Fort seen from the seafront, the spice and fish markets, and the layered Omani, Indian, Persian and Swahili architecture that a thousand years of Indian Ocean trade left behind. Your guide sets the pace and the depth.
Afternoon
Continue to a working spice farm outside town, where cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla and cinnamon grow within a few metres of one another - the crops that made Zanzibar's name, explained by the people who grow them - with a traditional Swahili lunch on the farm. Then transfer north-east across the island through villages and coconut groves to Matemwe, arriving at your beach hotel in the afternoon. Check in, and the itinerary hands the rest of the day to you.
Evening
Sunset over the lagoon, then dinner at the hotel. The Indian Ocean does the rest.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
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Meals
Villa Kiva Hotel
About this stay
A quiet, well-run luxury beach property at Matemwe on the north-east coast, facing Mnemba Atoll - long enough here to genuinely unwind rather than merely pause. Alternatives: Matemwe Beach Village; Sunshine Hotel Zanzibar.
Stone Town is conservative in dress - shoulders and knees covered is the respectful norm, and appreciated. Matemwe sits on a reef lagoon, so swimming is best around high tide; ask reception for the day's tide times.
Day 8 Matemwe - A Day That Asks Nothing
Day 8 — Matemwe - A Day That Asks Nothing
| Starting location | Matemwe Beach |
|---|---|
| Ending location | Matemwe Beach |
| Main destination | Matemwe Beach, Zanzibar |
| Approx. departure | Entirely at your leisure |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | - |
| Approx. distance | None |
| Approx. road-driving duration | No driving |
Day description
A deliberately empty day on the lagoon: swim at high tide, walk the reef flats at low tide among the seaweed farmers, or arrange snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll. After five days of dawn starts, an unscheduled afternoon is the point.
Morning
Breakfast overlooking the lagoon, then the day is yours. Swim at high tide, walk the beach at low tide when the reef flats open up and seaweed farmers work the shallows, or simply stay where you are with a book.
Afternoon
Lunch at the hotel or at one of the small beach restaurants nearby. Optional activities are easily arranged the day before: snorkelling or diving at Mnemba Atoll, one of the finest reefs in East Africa, or a dhow sail along the coast. Otherwise: more of the same, deliberately. After five days of dawn starts and dust, an afternoon with nothing scheduled is the point of this half of the trip.
Evening
Sunset drinks, then dinner at the hotel. The nights here are quiet - this stretch of coast is not a party beach, which is precisely why we chose it.
Landscapes & attractions
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Meals
Villa Kiva Hotel
About this stay
Second night at the luxury beach hotel on Matemwe Beach, north-east Zanzibar. Breakfast and dinner included. Alternatives: Matemwe Beach Village; Sunshine Hotel Zanzibar.
Book Mnemba trips the day before through reception - boats leave early to catch the calmest water. Reef shoes are worth having for low-tide walks, and reef-safe sunscreen is both kinder to the coral and increasingly expected on the island.
Day 9 Matemwe - The Last Full Day
Day 9 — Matemwe - The Last Full Day
| Starting location | Matemwe Beach |
|---|---|
| Ending location | Matemwe Beach |
| Main destination | Matemwe Beach, Zanzibar |
| Approx. departure | Entirely at your leisure |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | - |
| Approx. distance | None |
| Approx. road-driving duration | No driving |
Day description
The last full day on the coast, kept deliberately empty: an early boat to the atoll if you want one, a village walk, a spa treatment or a cooking class - or simply the shade and the tide.
Morning
Another slow start, or an early boat out to the atoll if yesterday tempted you. Some guests take a village walk with a local guide to see how the seaweed and fishing economy actually works along this coast.
Afternoon
Lunch at the hotel or on the beach. This is the natural day for a spa treatment, a cooking class, or an afternoon reading in the shade - the schedule stays deliberately empty. Later, a final swim, a final walk on the flats, and time to sort out photographs from ten days that began with elephants beneath baobabs and ended here.
Evening
A farewell dinner at the hotel, ideally at a table where you can hear the water.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Read about where you are
Meals
Villa Kiva Hotel
About this stay
Final night at the luxury beach hotel on Matemwe Beach. Breakfast and dinner included. Alternatives: Matemwe Beach Village; Sunshine Hotel Zanzibar.
Confirm your departure transfer time with our representative today, and settle any hotel extras this evening rather than in the morning rush. If you are flying long-haul tonight, ask about a late check-out.
Day 10 Departure - Kwaheri from the Indian Ocean
Day 10 — Departure - Kwaheri from the Indian Ocean
| Starting location | Matemwe Beach |
|---|---|
| Pass-by location | Coconut groves, Villages, Stone Town (souvenir stop if time permits) |
| Ending location | Zanzibar (Abeid Amani Karume International Airport) |
| Main destination | Zanzibar, Departure |
| Approx. departure | Timed to your flight (airport arrival 3 hours before international departure) |
| Approx. arrival at lodge | Airport approx. 1.5 hours after leaving Matemwe |
| Approx. distance | 60 km |
| Approx. road-driving duration | 1.5 hours |
| Transport | Private Car |
Day description
A last breakfast over the lagoon and a final swim if the tide allows, then the private transfer south-west across the island to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, with a Stone Town souvenir stop if timing permits.
Morning
A last breakfast overlooking the lagoon, and a final swim if the tide and your flight allow.
Afternoon
Private transfer south-west across the island to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, with a stop in Stone Town for souvenirs if your timing permits. Departure - or, for late flights, time at a day-use room or a Stone Town cafe before check-in.
Evening
Onward international departure.
Landscapes & attractions
Wildlife possibilities
Photography opportunities
Read about where you are
Meals
Zanzibar's airport gets busy and check-in can be slow, so we schedule transfers conservatively. Keep your yellow-fever certificate accessible if your onward routing requires it, and remember that Tanzanian shillings are difficult to exchange once you leav
Safari Highlights 12 reasons this trip stands out
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Two holidays in one booking - five days of private safari and the Zanzibar coast, arranged end to end by one team so nothing falls between the cracks
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Two nights inside the Central Serengeti - a tented camp on the plains means dawn and dusk game drives in prime big-cat country, the hours day-visitors never see
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Dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater - among the first vehicles onto the caldera floor, with dense big-game populations and one of Tanzania's best chances of black rhino
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Tarangire's elephant herds - thousand-year-old baobabs and some of the largest elephant gatherings in East Africa along the river valley
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Domestic flight to Zanzibar included - the transition from mainland to island is built into the price and handled by us, not left as a booking for you to solve
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A night in Stone Town - the UNESCO-listed old quarter of carved doors, spice markets and a thousand years of Indian Ocean history, before the beach
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Nights at Matemwe Beach - a luxury hotel on a quiet north-east stretch looking across the lagoon toward Mnemba Atoll, long enough to genuinely rest
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Exclusive private 4x4 vehicle - a dedicated pop-up-roof Land Cruiser for your party only, with drinking water, snacks, charging sockets, binoculars and a window seat for everyone
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Professional English-speaking guide-driver - the same licensed Tanzanian guide throughout the safari half, planning each day around wildlife movement and your interests
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Outstanding photography, on land and water - baobab silhouettes, big cats at golden hour, misty crater dawns, then Stone Town doorways and dhows on turquoise water
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All transfers included, both sides - airport meet-and-greet on the mainland and island transfers on Zanzibar, so someone is always waiting
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Responsible wildlife viewing and travel - strict adherence to park regulations, respectful sighting distances, and locally owned suppliers on both the mainland and the island
Included
- Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof exclusively for your party for the safari half
- Professional English-speaking guide-driver throughout the safari
- Drinking water, snacks, charging sockets and binoculars provided in the vehicle
- Scheduled flight from the mainland to Zanzibar within the stated fare allowance
- Mainland airport transfers and all transfers on Zanzibar including the departure transfer
- All 9 nights accommodation as specified or confirmed equivalents on both mainland and island
- Full board on safari; breakfast and dinner at the beach hotel
- Guided Stone Town walking tour and spice-farm visit with lunch on Day 7
- All national-park entry fees, Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees and crater service fee
- Concession and camping fees for non-residents
- All game drives and park activities described in the itinerary
- Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle throughout the safari
- All government taxes and VAT applicable to the quoted services
- Pre-departure safari briefing in Arusha and printed itinerary pack
- Flying Doctors (AMREF) emergency evacuation cover for the safari duration
- 24/7 emergency logistical support and a Splendor Safari representative on Zanzibar
Excluded
- International flights to and from Tanzania
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance (mandatory for booking) medical expenses and vaccinations
- Zanzibar mandatory local visitor insurance purchased separately
- Lunches on Zanzibar from Day 8 onward and all meals not stated in the itinerary
- Accommodation before Day 1 or after Day 10
- Any air-fare increase above the stated allowance and excess-baggage charges
- Zanzibar excursions: Mnemba snorkelling and diving, dhow cruises, Jozani Forest, fishing, cooking classes and spa treatments
- Tips and gratuities for your safari guide and property staff
- Personal purchases: souvenirs, laundry, phone/data and premium drinks
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages unless a property includes them
- Balloon safari and other optional safari excursions
- Bank transfer and card-processing charges
- Any government-imposed increases in taxes or park fees after quotation
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time of year for this tour?
Dry seasons often offer easier wildlife viewing (Jun–Oct). Green seasons are beautiful and quieter (Nov–Mar).
Can we customize the itinerary?
Yes — add days, change lodges (lodge/camp), or include balloon safaris/cultural visits.
What is the typical group size?
Private tours are just your party with a driver-guide. Shared departures may have 4–7 guests per vehicle.
See it for yourself
A few moments from this safari, filmed on the ground.
