Arrive by air
The Serengeti
Begin your safari in central Serengeti. Two nights provide time to settle in, with a full day dedicated to game viewing between your arrival and onward journey.
The Genau Guides Collection
5 days / 4 nights
Starts in Zanzibar
Zanzibar to the Wild.
From Indian Ocean shores to Tanzania’s open plains.
Trade the rhythm of the island for mornings on safari. Fly into the Serengeti, spend two nights close to the wilderness, then journey through the Ngorongoro highlands to Tarangire’s baobab landscapes.
Pair this safari with your Zanzibar stay. Flight connections and onward arrangements are planned around your dates.
Your safari unfolds
Serengeti
Fly into the plains
Ngorongoro
Journey into the crater
Tarangire
Discover the baobab landscapes
A different rhythm
Leave the shore. Follow the wild.
Your Zanzibar holiday can hold more than beach days. Give five of those days to the Serengeti’s open plains, the Ngorongoro highlands and Tarangire’s baobab country.
The proposed journey begins with a flight from Zanzibar into central Serengeti, where your guide meets you at the airstrip. Two nights here allow a full day of exploration before you continue by road towards Ngorongoro. A crater visit and a final safari in Tarangire complete your route towards Arusha.
An island holiday, with a safari chapter.
Designed for travellers who want to combine Zanzibar with a varied northern Tanzania safari and are comfortable with road travel between the parks.
Your first two nights · Serengeti
Begin in the wilderness
Arrive by air. Settle into camp. Wake up ready to explore.
Three chapters beyond the beach
A journey through changing landscapes.Through the highlands
Ngorongoro Crater
Travel from the plains towards the highlands, then descend into the crater with your guide. Overnight in the Karatu area before continuing towards Tarangire.
One final safari
Tarangire
Spend your final safari day exploring baobab landscapes and river corridors before travelling towards Arusha for your confirmed onward arrangements.
Connecting the journey
Back to Zanzibar, or onwards from Arusha?
This sample safari finishes in the Arusha area. A return flight to Zanzibar on day five depends on the Tarangire visit, transfer time and flight availability. If the connection requires an additional overnight stay, we’ll include that option separately in your proposal.
Your safari, day by day
The island behind you. Adventure ahead.
Begin with a flight into the Serengeti, then follow the road through the highlands to Ngorongoro and Tarangire. This sample plan gives you a sense of each day; your final itinerary confirms the timings, accommodation and services.
Day
01
From island to wilderness
Fly into the Serengeti
Zanzibar → Serengeti airstrip → safari camp
Begin the day
Your journey begins with a transfer to Zanzibar Airport, if included in your quotation. Check in for your scheduled light-aircraft flight to the Serengeti. The routing, departure time and arrival airstrip are confirmed with your flight arrangements.
Along the way
Meet your safari guide at the airstrip and begin exploring as you travel towards camp. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive, taking your first look at the plains and the wildlife around you.
As the day settles
Settle into your camp or lodge, freshen up and enjoy dinner. Your guide will discuss the following day’s plan, taking account of local conditions and your interests.
Overnight
Central Serengeti
Proposed meals
Lunch and dinner, subject to arrival time and confirmed arrangements
Good to know
Flights may include intermediate stops. The time available for game viewing depends on your confirmed arrival and camp location.
Day
02
A day on the plains
Explore central Serengeti
Game drives in central Serengeti
Begin the day
Begin early, when the light is soft and the day is still cool. Explore with your guide, pausing to observe animal behaviour, identify birds and appreciate the smaller details that bring the landscape to life.
Along the way
Plan a full-day outing with a packed lunch, or discuss separate morning and afternoon drives if your camp location allows. Your guide shapes the route around wildlife activity, conditions and the areas accessible from your accommodation.
As the day settles
Return to camp after your afternoon exploration. Enjoy dinner and time to reflect on the day before another night in the Serengeti.
Overnight
Central Serengeti
Proposed meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Good to know
A balloon safari can be requested at additional cost, subject to operator requirements, availability and weather. This central Serengeti itinerary does not guarantee migration sightings.
Day
03
From plains to highlands
Journey towards Ngorongoro
Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro Conservation Area → highlands / Karatu
Begin the day
After breakfast, leave camp with wildlife viewing along your route out of the Serengeti. Keep your camera close, while allowing time for the substantial onward drive.
Along the way
Travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the highlands. Watch the scenery change as the plains give way to higher ground. Lunch arrangements and any authorised stops are planned around your accommodation and travel conditions.
As the day settles
Arrive at your lodge in the highlands or Karatu area, settle in and enjoy dinner. Prepare for an early departure for your crater visit the following morning.
Overnight
Ngorongoro highlands or Karatu area
Proposed meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Good to know
This is primarily a transfer day on roads that can be rough and dusty. Optional visits or detours must be agreed in advance because they affect timing and costs.
Day
04
Inside the caldera
Discover Ngorongoro Crater
Highlands / Karatu → Ngorongoro Crater → Karatu
Begin the day
Depart early for the crater access route. Descend with your guide and begin exploring the crater floor, where changing habitats create a different setting from the Serengeti plains.
Along the way
Continue your game drive within the permitted access period, with a picnic lunch at an authorised stop. Take time to observe the landscape and the wildlife you encounter before ascending from the crater.
As the day settles
Continue to your accommodation in the Karatu area. Enjoy dinner and a restful evening before the final safari day.
Overnight
Karatu area
Proposed meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Good to know
Crater access follows applicable entry conditions and time limits. Wildlife encounters, including sightings of particular species, cannot be guaranteed.
Day
05
Among the baobabs
Tarangire & onward travel
Karatu → Tarangire National Park → Arusha area
Begin the day
Leave Karatu early and travel towards Tarangire National Park. Begin your final game drive among its baobab-dotted landscapes and river corridors.
Along the way
Explore with your guide and enjoy a picnic lunch if the confirmed schedule allows. The length of your park visit is planned around your onward arrangements, allowing time for the road transfer towards Arusha.
Your onward journey
Finish the safari at the agreed drop-off point in the Arusha area. A flight back to Zanzibar may be arranged where a suitable connection is available; otherwise, an additional overnight stay and next-day flight can be quoted.
Overnight
No overnight stay included in the five-day sample
Proposed meals
Breakfast and picnic lunch, as confirmed in your quotation
Good to know
Do not book an onward flight before the route and connection have been checked. A full Tarangire visit and a same-day Zanzibar flight may not fit the available schedule.
Want more time in the Serengeti?
Add a night or adjust the route when enquiring.
Between the game drives
Leave the beach. Settle into safari.
Two nights on the plains, followed by two nights along your highland route.
Accommodation is selected around your itinerary, preferred comfort level and budget. Your quotation identifies the proposed properties, room types and meal plans, subject to availability.
Begin in the wild
2 nightsYour first and second nights
Central Serengeti
Tented camp or safari lodge
Time to feel the rhythm
Unpack once. Wake up ready to explore.
After your flight from Zanzibar, make central Serengeti your base for two nights. Staying in one place gives you a full day for game viewing between arrival and your onward journey to the highlands.
Location comes first
Camp location is considered alongside your arrival airstrip and planned game drives.
Your preferred setting
Tell us whether you prefer a tented safari setting or a lodge so we can assess suitable options.
After the Serengeti
Night 03Ngorongoro highlands or Karatu
Lodge selected for your crater visit
Arrive after your overland journey from the Serengeti. Settle in for dinner and an overnight stay before departing for Ngorongoro Crater the following morning.
The exact overnight location depends on property availability, budget and the confirmed route.
Before your final safari
Night 04Karatu area
Lodge or country retreat
Return from your crater visit and spend the evening in the Karatu area. This is your final included safari night before an early departure towards Tarangire.
Where suitable, nights three and four may use the same property to reduce packing and moving.
Your comfort, considered
What makes a stay right for you?
Share your accommodation budget, bed preferences and room arrangements. Travelling with children, managing steps or following a particular diet? Tell us early so we can check suitable options with the properties.
Specific facilities, accessibility, family rooms and dietary arrangements must be confirmed for the selected accommodation.
Four nights on safari. This sample does not include accommodation in Zanzibar or an overnight stay after day five. If your onward connection requires a night near Arusha, that stay and associated transfers will be quoted separately.
Your safari, clearly outlined
More clarity. Better planning.
Understand the safari essentials and the arrangements around them.
The details below form the proposed package basis. Your personalised quotation confirms the exact flights, accommodation, transfers, meals and services included in your booking.
The journey covered
Zanzibar to the Serengeti. By road towards Arusha.
This five-day sample combines a proposed inbound safari flight with four nights on the mainland and road travel through Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. Your Zanzibar accommodation and return flight to the island are separate arrangements unless expressly included in your quotation.
The safari essentials
Proposed inclusions
Services to confirm in your personalised quotation.
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Proposed flight into Serengeti
Scheduled Zanzibar–Serengeti flight, subject to availability and inclusion in your confirmed quotation. The airline, routing and baggage allowance are specified with your flight details.
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Airstrip collection
Meet your safari guide at the confirmed Serengeti arrival airstrip and continue into the road itinerary.
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Safari vehicle & driver-guide
Safari vehicle and professional driver-guide for the confirmed mainland route.
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Four nights’ accommodation
Two nights in central Serengeti, one in the Ngorongoro highlands or Karatu, and one in the Karatu area, in the confirmed properties.
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Meals during your safari
Meals as specified in the final itinerary. Arrival-day meals depend on flight timing and the confirmed arrangements.
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Park & conservation access
Park-entry, conservation-area and crater-access fees required for the confirmed route and visits.
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Scheduled game drives
Wildlife-viewing activities described in the final itinerary, including the confirmed Ngorongoro Crater visit.
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Drinking water
Drinking water during game drives, as specified in your quotation.
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Agreed safari finish
Road transfer after Tarangire to the drop-off point in the Arusha area identified in your final itinerary.
Around your safari
Separately quoted or excluded
Allow for these when planning your complete holiday.
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International travel
International flights, visas and travel insurance.
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Your Zanzibar stay
Accommodation, meals and activities in Zanzibar before or after the safari.
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Zanzibar hotel transfers
Transfers between your Zanzibar accommodation and the airport, unless expressly included.
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Return flight to Zanzibar
The onward mainland–Zanzibar flight and associated airport transfers, unless expressly included.
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An additional mainland night
Accommodation, meals and transfers after day five if required for your onward connection.
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Optional experiences
Balloon safaris, cultural visits and activities outside the confirmed itinerary.
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Personal expenses
Tips, laundry, purchases and drinks beyond the confirmed meal plan.
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Additional airline charges
Excess baggage, seat purchases where applicable and charges outside your quoted fare.
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Other services
Any service not expressly included in your final written quotation.
Bring the whole journey together
Share your island plans. We’ll connect the safari details.
Include your Zanzibar dates, hotel location, group size and onward travel plans. These details help us prepare a quotation covering the connections you need.
Before you leave the island
A little planning. More to look forward to.
Understand the flights, the road journey and how your safari fits around your Zanzibar stay.
Helpful when enquiring
Share a few details.
- Your preferred safari dates
- Number of travellers and children’s ages
- Your Zanzibar hotel or area
- Accommodation preferences and budget
- Your onward flight or return plans
- Any mobility or dietary requirements
Planning Zanzibar to the Wild
Select a question to read moreHow does the journey from Zanzibar begin?
Starting your safari
The proposed itinerary begins with a scheduled flight from Zanzibar to a Serengeti airstrip, where you meet your safari guide. Your quotation confirms the airline, routing, arrival airstrip and whether the transfer from your Zanzibar hotel to the airport is included. Flight availability must be checked for your dates.
Do we fly between all the parks?
Understanding the route
The proposed flight takes you from Zanzibar into the Serengeti. From there, you explore by safari vehicle and continue by road towards Ngorongoro, Karatu and Tarangire. Day three includes a substantial transfer, and some roads can be rough and dusty. Tell us if you prefer fewer road transfers so we can consider a different itinerary.
Can we return to Zanzibar on day five?
Returning to the island
A same-day return depends on the available flights, the length of your Tarangire visit and the transfer to the departure airport. These must be checked together before booking. If a suitable connection is unavailable, an additional night near Arusha and a next-day flight can be quoted separately.
What luggage should we bring?
Packing for the flight
Your confirmed airline and route determine the baggage allowance and bag requirements. Light-aircraft services may have restrictive limits, including requirements for soft-sided luggage. We will provide the applicable details with your flight arrangements. Ask your Zanzibar accommodation about storage if you plan to leave larger bags behind; storage is not assumed to be included.
Will we see the Great Migration or the Big Five?
Wildlife & seasonality
Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. This sample uses central Serengeti and does not promise migration encounters or sightings of every Big Five species. If the migration is your main interest, tell us your dates so we can assess a seasonal route, suitable accommodation and whether additional days would help.
Is this journey suitable for children?
Travelling together
Suitability depends on children’s ages, comfort with road travel, flight requirements and the selected accommodation. Share the ages of all children when enquiring so we can check property policies, room arrangements and an appropriate pace. Some optional activities have separate age restrictions.
Can we add nights or change the accommodation?
Making it yours
Yes. Request additional time in the Serengeti, a slower route or a different accommodation style when enquiring. Changes may affect the duration, flight arrangements and price. Named properties, room types, meal plans and any specific facilities are confirmed in your quotation.
Does the package include our Zanzibar hotel?
Connecting your holiday
The sample covers four safari nights on the mainland. Your Zanzibar accommodation, island activities and hotel-to-airport transfers are separate unless expressly included in your quotation. Let us know if you would like a proposal that brings the island stay and safari arrangements together.
Your next chapter
Keep the island memories. Add a little wild.
Tell us when you’ll be in Zanzibar and how you’d like to explore. Together, we’ll shape five safari days around the landscapes, experiences and comforts that matter to you.
Zanzibar to the Wild
Let’s plan your escape.
Share your dates, group size and preferred accommodation style to start your personalised proposal.
Discuss this journey
Five days · Four safari nights
Personalised quotation
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