Which safari for how many days
| Days available | Option | What you see | Price per adult (Oct. 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Mikumi or Nyerere by plane from the island | Giraffes, elephants, hippos | About 420 to 985 dollars |
| 2 days | Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater, plane from Zanzibar | Elephants, baobabs, the crater's big animals | About 625 to 1,240 dollars |
| 3 to 4 days | Serengeti and Ngorongoro from Arusha | Plains, migration depending on season, crater | From about 900 dollars in a group |
| 4 to 5 days | Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | The classic northern circuit | From 600 dollars (camping) to over 2,200 dollars (private, flight) |
| 5 to 7 days | Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route | The 5,895-metre summit | About 1,400 to 2,300 dollars |
The right choice for each case
- A single day: see Mikumi from Zanzibar or Nyerere (Selous), and the comparison safari from Zanzibar: which one to book.
- Two days: the best value for time and price is the fly-in safari with Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater: the vehicle picks you up at the Arusha airport or airstrip and spares you the road back.
- Three days or more: add the Serengeti, which needs at least 3 days so you do not spend your time on the road, or Lake Manyara for the scenery.
- The mountain: Kilimanjaro takes 5 to 6 days of walking plus a buffer; Mount Meru is shorter. No mountain without a doctor, see visa, vaccines and entry rules.
- An outing without safari: Arusha, Moshi and its coffee, or Lake Natron.
In what order: safari first, beach after
Do the safari before the beach: starts are early, drives long and tiring, and the beach is for recovering. Keep a one-night buffer before your international flight, since delays on small planes and ferries are common. From Dar es Salaam the ferry is possible but the plane to Arusha is simpler, see Dar es Salaam and the Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar ferry. Small planes limit baggage, often a soft bag of about 15 kg: to confirm with the agency.
What it really costs
The safari price does not always include the flights between the island and the mainland, park fees, tips or the hotel before the start: compare what is included. Entry fees for the northern parks are given at roughly 53 to 83 dollars per adult per day depending on the park in 2026 guides, with a 295-dollar per-vehicle supplement for the descent into Ngorongoro Crater, with no official confirmation. For the money to plan, see Zanzibar travel budget and money and tipping.
When to go
The dry season, June to October, suits safari and beach alike. The Serengeti migration is at its river crossings about July to October; births in the south are about January to March. The April and May rains complicate tracks. See when to visit Zanzibar.
FAQ
Can you do a safari in Tanzania from Zanzibar without a night on the mainland?
Yes: Mikumi or Nyerere are done in a day with a return flight. For Ngorongoro or the Serengeti you need at least one night.
What is the best 2-day safari from Zanzibar?
Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater: you see elephants and baobabs, then the crater's big animals, with a single flight. Offers consulted run from 625 to 1,240 dollars.
Do you need a different visa for mainland Tanzania?
The Zanzibar visa is a Tanzanian visa (see the dedicated page). Zanzibar's specific insurance is described as island-only: check with immigration what applies to your trip.
Pour aller plus loin
Fit the safari into a Tanzania and Zanzibar itinerary of 7, 10 or 14 days and prepare the island with Zanzibar in 7 days.
