Route map
Where you'll travel
Tap any stop to jump to that day in the itinerary.
Trip highlights
- Serengeti big cats & Great Migration
- Ngorongoro Crater floor game drive
- Mountain gorilla trek
- Cultural encounters across three countries
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha →Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to Arusha for briefing and overnight.
Full day details →Day 2
Arusha to Tarangire NP →Drive to Tarangire, famous for huge elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River.
Full day details →Day 3
Tarangire to Serengeti via Ngorongoro →Traverse Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the endless Serengeti plains. Game drive en route.
Full day details →Day 4
Serengeti full-day game drive →Explore Seronera Valley for lion, leopard and cheetah. Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (extra).
Full day details →Day 5
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater →Morning game drive, transfer to Ngorongoro Crater rim lodge with epic views.
Full day details →Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater floor →Descend to the crater floor for a full-day game drive — black rhino, big cats, flamingos on Lake Magadi.
Full day details →Day 7
Ngorongoro to Arusha, fly to Kigali →Drive to Arusha, fly to Kigali, transfer to Musanze near Volcanoes NP.
Full day details →Day 8
Volcanoes NP gorilla trek →Early briefing at park HQ, hike into bamboo forest and spend one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family.
Full day details →Day 9
Golden monkey trek →Track playful golden monkeys in the bamboo zone; afternoon Iby'iwacu cultural village visit.
Full day details →Day 10
Musanze to Kigali & rest →Drive back to Kigali, city tour, Genocide Memorial visit, farewell dinner.
Full day details →Day 11
Fly Kigali to Kilimanjaro/Zanzibar →Fly to onward beach or safari extension. (Base tour concludes; add-on days follow)
Full day details →Day 12
Extension / rest day →Free day — beach relaxation on Zanzibar, or optional cultural tour.
Full day details →Day 13
Extension day 2 →Second free day for snorkelling, spice tour or Stone Town exploration.
Full day details →Day 14
Extension day 3 →Optional dhow cruise or dolphin tour at Kizimkazi.
Full day details →Day 15
Return to gateway city →Transfer/fly back to your international gateway.
Full day details →Day 16
Departure from Kilimanjaro →Breakfast at leisure, optional souvenir shopping and last-minute cultural stops. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your 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.