12 Days Game Parks & Beach — 12-day Tanzania safari day-by-day itinerary hero
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Day-by-day itinerary

12 Days Game Parks & Beach

12 days Tanzania 12 days planned

From

$2160 per person, twin share

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Trip highlights

  • Tarangire & Lake Manyara
  • Serengeti & Ngorongoro
  • Stone Town spice tour
  • Zanzibar beach escape
  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Arusha

    Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to Arusha for briefing and overnight.

    Full day details →
  2. Day 2

    Arusha to Tarangire

    Game drive in Tarangire NP — elephants and baobabs.

    Full day details →
  3. Day 3

    Tarangire to Serengeti

    Drive via Ngorongoro to central Serengeti; game drive.

    Full day details →
  4. Day 4

    Serengeti full-day

    Full-day game drive across the plains.

    Full day details →
  5. Day 5

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro

    Morning game drive, transfer to crater rim.

    Full day details →
  6. Day 6

    Ngorongoro Crater

    Full-day crater floor game drive.

    Full day details →
  7. Day 7

    Ngorongoro to Arusha

    Drive back to Arusha; overnight.

    Full day details →
  8. Day 8

    Fly to Zanzibar

    Transfer to Stone Town.

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  9. Day 9

    Stone Town & spice tour

    Morning spice plantation tour, afternoon Stone Town walking tour.

    Full day details →
  10. Day 10

    Zanzibar beach day

    Transfer to north-east beach; relax.

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  11. Day 11

    Zanzibar leisure

    Snorkelling at Mnemba atoll or dhow sunset cruise.

    Full day details →
  12. Day 12

    Depart Zanzibar

    Transfer to Zanzibar airport for onward flight.

    Full day details →

Before you book

What to know about travelling in Tanzania

Visas, permits, health requirements, seasons, money and tipping — everything specific to this destination.

Before you book · Tanzania

Travelling in Tanzania

Visas & entry
Single-entry tourist visa available online (e-visa) or on arrival — USD 50 for most nationalities, USD 100 for US passports. Passport valid 6+ months. Note: Tanzania is not part of the East Africa Tourist Visa, so a separate visa is needed even on combined trips.
Arrival gateway
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for the northern circuit, Julius Nyerere (DAR) for the south and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Best time to travel
June–October for dry-season game viewing and the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti (Jul–Sep). December–March for the Ndutu calving season. April–May is the long rains with the lowest rates.
Health & vaccinations
Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country (including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda). Malaria prophylaxis strongly recommended everywhere, including Zanzibar. Tsetse repellent useful in Tarangire and Ruaha.
Money & payments
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS); park fees and most lodges are quoted in USD. Cards are accepted at lodges but carry USD cash for tips, curios and Zanzibar markets.
Weather & climate
Serengeti and Ngorongoro are high and cool — crater-rim nights drop to 5–10°C. Tarangire and the coast are hot, 30°C+.
Connectivity
Reliable 4G in Arusha, Karatu and Zanzibar; patchy in the central Serengeti; usually none in Ruaha or Nyerere except lodge Wi-Fi.
Tipping guideline
USD 20–25 per vehicle per day for your guide, USD 10 per guest per day for camp staff, USD 15–20 per day for Kilimanjaro crew members.
What to pack
Layered safari clothing, warm jacket for the crater rim, buff for dust, swimwear for Zanzibar, modest cover-up for Stone Town, and a 15 kg soft bag for bush flights.
Local etiquette
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim: cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, and avoid alcohol in public outside hotels. Greet with 'Jambo' or 'Habari' — it's always appreciated.

Requirements and fees change. We reconfirm current visa, permit and health rules in writing before you pay any balance.