Ten days gives you enough time to cover Tanzania’s twin draws without rushing either: the wildlife spectacle of the northern safari circuit, followed by the spice-scented streets of Stone Town and Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean beaches. This itinerary runs safari first — when energy levels are highest — then transitions to the coast for a few days of complete decompression.
The Route at a Glance
Days 1–2: Arusha arrival and Serengeti transfer
Days 3–5: Serengeti National Park (3 nights)
Days 6–7: Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) + departure to Zanzibar
Days 7–10: Stone Town (1 night) + Zanzibar beaches (3 nights)
Total driving distance: approximately 340 km (Arusha → Serengeti → Ngorongoro). The Ngorongoro → Zanzibar leg is done by air.
Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro, Transfer to Arusha
Most international flights arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The drive to Arusha town centre takes 45–60 minutes and costs USD 30–50 by private transfer.
Use Day 1 to rest, sort your equipment, and meet your safari guide or operator. Arusha is a practical base with good pharmacies, a Nakumatt-style supermarket, and reliable currency exchange at Barclays and CRDB on Sokoine Road.
Where to stay in Arusha (Day 1)
- Budget (~USD 50–80/night): Arusha Backpackers Hotel on Colonel Middleton Road — clean dorms and private rooms, good communal kitchen.
- Mid-range (~USD 120–180/night): Arusha Coffee Lodge — boutique property on a working coffee estate, excellent breakfast.
- Luxury (~USD 350+/night): Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge — thatched cottages with butler service, a top pre-safari splurge.
Day 2: Drive to Serengeti via Ngorongoro Highlands
An early start from Arusha (6:30 am) puts you at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate by mid-morning. The road from Arusha to Seronera in the central Serengeti is approximately 330 km and takes 7–8 hours including a lunch stop at Karatu. Your guide will handle park fees (USD 70 per person per day in the Serengeti, as of 2026).
The route climbs through the Ngorongoro Highlands — beautiful highland forest and Maasai bomas — before descending into the Serengeti plains. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
Days 3–5: Serengeti National Park (3 Nights)
Three nights in the Serengeti lets you do two full game-drive days plus arrival/departure half-days. The central Seronera area is year-round reliable for lions (the Seronera Valley pride is well-habituated), leopards, and large herds of wildebeest and zebra.
June–October: Stay in the central or northern Serengeti to follow the Great Migration river crossings at the Mara River. Book well ahead — camps fill 12+ months in advance for peak crossing season. You can also browse Serengeti safari packages and day tours on GetYourGuide to see what is available in your travel window.
January–February: The calving season happens in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu area). Ndutu is technically in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area but most operators combine it with a Serengeti stay.
Where to stay — Serengeti
| Tier | Property | Approx. per night (all-inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge | USD 180–250 |
| Mid-range | Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge | USD 350–550 |
| Mid-range | Ikoma Bush Camp | USD 300–450 |
| Luxury | Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti | USD 1,100–1,800 |
| Luxury | Singita Grumeti (Faru Faru Lodge) | USD 2,000–3,500 |
Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge is the best-value pick for budget travellers — it includes meals and game drives in a well-positioned site near Seronera. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is the most popular mid-range option with a hilltop pool and well-trained guides. At the top end, the Four Seasons Safari Lodge is one of the only properties in Africa with its own watering hole inside the camp perimeter.
What to expect on game drives:
Morning drives start at 6:00–6:30 am. A packed lunch lets you stay in the park through midday when the lions are most active under acacia shade. Afternoon drives from 3:30–6:30 pm catch golden-hour photography light. Your guide provides all equipment — a beanbag for resting your camera on the vehicle window is worth packing.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater (Day Descent)
From the Serengeti, your guide drives you east to the Ngorongoro Crater rim (approximately 2–3 hours from Seronera). You descend into the crater floor for a half-day game drive — the crater holds the highest concentration of predators per square kilometre anywhere in Africa, with lions, spotted hyena, black rhino, and large elephant herds all resident year-round.
Park fee for a crater descent: USD 295 per vehicle (as of 2026), separate from the per-person conservation fee of USD 70/day.
Where to stay on the crater rim (Night 6)
- Budget (~USD 160–200/night): Rhino Lodge — government-run timber chalets on the crater rim, basic but atmospheric.
- Mid-range (~USD 400–600/night): Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge — stone lodge carved into the crater wall with sweeping views.
- Luxury (~USD 1,200–1,800/night): &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge — one of Africa’s most iconic properties, with butler service, cathedral-ceilinged suites, and chandeliers in the bush.
Day 7: Transfer to Zanzibar
Morning: check out of your Ngorongoro lodge and drive to the nearest airstrip (Manyara, 1.5 hours from the crater rim) for a charter or scheduled flight to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Air Excel all run this route, with fares from approximately USD 220–380 one-way depending on season and booking lead time.
Flight time: 1–1.5 hours. You’ll land on Zanzibar by early afternoon, leaving enough time to check into Stone Town and explore before sunset.
Where to stay in Stone Town (Night 7)
- Budget (~USD 60–90/night): Stone Town Café and B&B — a converted Arab townhouse on Kenyatta Road, central and characterful.
- Mid-range (~USD 180–280/night): Zanzibar Palace Hotel — nine individually decorated suites in a 19th-century townhouse near Forodhani Gardens.
- Luxury (~USD 500+/night): Emerson Spice — a beautifully restored historic hotel with a rooftop restaurant and hammam.
Spend the evening at Forodhani Night Market: outdoor stalls on the seafront selling Zanzibar pizza, fresh seafood, and sugarcane juice for USD 2–5 per item.
Days 8–10: Zanzibar Beaches (North or East Coast, 3 Nights)
After Stone Town, head to the coast. Two main beach options:
Nungwi (North Coast): Calm, swimmable year-round — the north coast is sheltered from tidal variation that affects the east coast. Best for watersports, snorkelling tours to Mnemba Atoll (from USD 60 per person), and a lively beach bar scene. Transfer from Stone Town: 1 hour by taxi (USD 30–40).
Paje / Jambiani (East Coast): Better for kitesurfing, quieter beach vibe, and traditional fishing village atmosphere. The east coast has a larger tidal range — check tide times before swimming. Transfer from Stone Town: 45–60 minutes (USD 25–35).
Where to stay — Zanzibar beaches (Nights 8–10)
| Tier | Property | Location | Approx. per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Z Hotel Zanzibar | Nungwi | USD 100–140 |
| Budget | Hakuna Majiwe Beach Lodge | Paje | USD 80–120 |
| Mid-range | Essque Zalu Zanzibar | Nungwi | USD 350–500 |
| Mid-range | Baraza Resort and Spa | Bwejuu | USD 600–900 |
| Luxury | The Residence Zanzibar | Kizimkazi | USD 900–1,400 |
| Luxury | Zuri Zanzibar | Kendwa | USD 700–1,000 |
Essque Zalu is consistently the most booked mid-range option in Nungwi — excellent pool villas and a strong snorkelling programme. Baraza Resort and Spa on the east coast wins for romantic seclusion. The Residence Zanzibar is the top-end pick for private-villa-style seclusion at the southern tip of the island.
Activities during beach days:
- Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll: USD 60–80/person, half-day trip from Nungwi
- Spice tour from Stone Town or Nungwi: USD 30–50/person, includes lunch
- Dolphin watching in Kizimkazi: USD 40–60/person (morning departure)
- Sunset dhow cruise: USD 30–50/person with Swahili snacks
All of these can be pre-booked through GetYourGuide’s Zanzibar tours — useful for confirming spots during peak season before leaving the mainland.
Day 10: Depart Zanzibar
International flights from Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) connect to Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Doha, and Dubai for onward connections. Allow 2.5 hours before your departure time for check-in and immigration.
Budget Summary (per person, per night on safari / beach)
| Component | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari camps (5 nights, all-incl.) | USD 150–200 | USD 380–550 | USD 1,200–3,000 |
| Zanzibar accommodation (4 nights) | USD 70–110 | USD 300–600 | USD 800–1,400 |
| Park fees (NCA + Serengeti) | USD 350 pp total | Same | Same |
| Arusha → Zanzibar flights | USD 220–380 pp | Same | USD 400+ (charter) |
| Internal transfers | USD 80–120 | USD 100–150 | Included in package |
Pro tip: Book your safari camp and Zanzibar hotel together through an operator like &Beyond, Asilia Africa, or Nomad Tanzania — bundled rates often shave 15–20% off rack rates, and the operator handles all the logistics between legs.
Practical Notes
Visa: Most nationalities require a Tanzania visa — apply online at visa.immigration.go.tz ahead of travel. Cost: USD 50 for most passports, as of 2026. Verify current requirements at the Tanzania Immigration Services website before booking.
Health: Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from a yellow fever country. Malaria prophylaxis (e.g. Malarone or Doxycycline) is strongly recommended. Consult your travel health clinic 4–6 weeks before departure.
Money: US dollars are the de facto currency for safari camps and Zanzibar hotels. Bring crisp bills printed after 2006 — older notes are commonly refused. Tanzania shillings (TZS) are useful for markets, street food, and tips.
Tipping: Guide tipping norm: USD 20–30/day for a private guide, USD 10–15/day for a camp cook. On Zanzibar, USD 5–10/day for hotel staff is appreciated.