Safari from Zanzibar
You can add a safari to your Zanzibar holiday without a long journey. A short flight takes you from Zanzibar to Arusha, the Serengeti or Mikumi, a safari vehicle meets you at the airstrip and you are on a game drive within hours. Most safaris from Zanzibar are one to three days, and you return to the beach afterwards.
You can add a safari to your Zanzibar holiday without a long journey. A short flight takes you from Zanzibar to Arusha, the Serengeti or Mikumi, a safari vehicle meets you at the airstrip and you are on a game drive within hours. Most safaris from Zanzibar are one to three days, and you return to the beach afterwards.
Our safaris from Zanzibar start from USD 500 per person. Each package includes the flights, park fees, a private guide and transfers in Zanzibar.
Your safari options from Zanzibar
Mikumi National Park: 1 or 2 days
Mikumi is the nearest park, and a morning flight from Zanzibar gets you there for a full-day game drive. You can return the same evening or stay a night. Expect elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and lions on the Mkata floodplain.
Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater: 2 days
Fly to Arusha, drive to Tarangire for elephants and baobabs, stay overnight, then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater the next day and fly back to Zanzibar.
Serengeti: 3 or more days
A flight from Zanzibar to Arusha and onwards by small plane to the Serengeti gives you two full days of game drives in the best wildlife park in Africa. In season, this includes the Great Migration and the Mara River crossings.
How the fly-in, fly-out trips work
We book the flights, the transfers and the park access in one plan, so you travel with a small bag and leave the rest of your luggage in Zanzibar. A private driver-guide meets you on landing. Domestic flights have a baggage limit of about 15 kilograms in a soft bag, and your hotel in Zanzibar can store the rest.
Because the flights are timed, an early morning departure is usual. If you add an overnight, we pick a lodge close to the park so you are on the first game drive of the day.
Safari and beach combined
The classic plan is a few nights on safari and then a few nights on the beach. Spend four or five days in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then fly to Zanzibar for beach time at Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje or Matemwe. Reverse it if you prefer to rest first. Our blog explains the options in detail, and our best beaches in Zanzibar guide helps you choose the coast.
What to bring and when to go
Bring light layers, a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a camera. Early morning game drives are cool, even when Zanzibar is hot. The dry months from June to October and January to February are best for safari weather, and Zanzibar is pleasant at the same times. April and May are the long rains on both the mainland and the island.
Which safari to choose from Zanzibar
If you have one day, choose Mikumi. If you have two, choose Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater or a night in Mikumi. If you have three or more, fly to the Serengeti. The longer you stay, the more game drives you have and the less time you spend in transit. Our plans always include a full day of game drives, not just a short visit.
Where to stay in Zanzibar before and after your safari
Choose a coast to suit your plans. The northern beaches at Nungwi and Kendwa have calm, swimmable water all day. The east coast has longer, quieter beaches, but the tide goes far out. Stone Town is the historic centre and a good base for the airport and for a day of spice tours. We can recommend hotels at every budget, and we can book them as part of the package.
Combining Zanzibar and a Kilimanjaro climb
Some travellers climb Kilimanjaro and then fly to Zanzibar for the beach. The flight from Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar takes about an hour and a quarter, so you can be on the sand the day after your descent.
Safari packages from Zanzibar
- 1 Day Fly In & Fly Out Mikumi National Park Safari from Zanzibar (1 Day, from USD 500 per person) An affordable joining safari: fly from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park, enjoy a full day game drive and fly back the same evening.
- 2 Day Fly In, Fly Out Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park Safari (2 Days / 1 Night, from USD 1,220 per person) A private 2 day fly-in, fly-out Mikumi safari from Zanzibar with an overnight stay at Double G Safari Camp.
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Zanzibar (2 Days / 1 Night, from USD 1,350 per person) A private 2 day safari from Zanzibar: fly to Arusha, explore Tarangire, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater before an evening flight back.
- 4 Day Fly In Fly Out Serengeti Safari (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,000 per person) A private 4 day fly-in, fly-out Serengeti safari from Zanzibar with three days of game drives and minimal road travel.
- 8 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Escape (8 Days / 7 Nights, from USD 7,800 per person) An 8 Day luxury journey from Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, finishing on Zanzibar’s beaches, USD 7,800 per person.
- 7 Day Ndutu & Zanzibar Honeymoon Safari 2026–2027 (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 3,200 per person) A 7 Day honeymoon: private safari through Tarangire, Ndutu calving season, Ngorongoro Crater, then Zanzibar beaches, USD 3,200 per person.
- 3 Day Great Migration River Crossing Safari Zanzibar Fly In & Fly Out (3 Days / 2 Nights, from USD 2,600 per person) Experience the Great Migration in Northern Serengeti on a thrilling 3 Day fly in, fly out safari directly from Zanzibar, USD 2,600 per person.
- 3 Day Zanzibar to Serengeti Fly In & Fly Out Calving Migration Safari (3 Days / 2 Nights, from USD 2,550 per person) Fly directly from Zanzibar to Serengeti for a fast-paced 3 Day calving season safari in Ndutu, returning by air to Zanzibar, USD 2,550 per person.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a safari from Zanzibar in one day?
Yes. A one-day fly-in safari to Mikumi National Park returns to Zanzibar the same evening.
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to the Serengeti?
Allow a half day. There is usually a connection through Arusha, and the total journey is a few hours.
Is it worth doing a safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. A short safari is the best way to add wildlife to a beach holiday without losing much time.
How much luggage can I take?
Domestic flights allow about 15 kilograms in a soft bag. Leave the rest at your hotel in Zanzibar.
What is the best number of days?
Two days for Tarangire and Ngorongoro, three or more days for the Serengeti.
Do I need a visa for the mainland if I am in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so one Tanzania visa covers both the island and the mainland.