Travel guide to Tanzania (safari + Zanzibar two week itinerary)
Tanzania is a must-experience destination in a lifetime, offering a breathtaking opportunity to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. The profound respect for animals during safaris makes this journey truly exceptional.
Itinerary
Tailoring your safari itinerary based on your interests and preferences is key to ensuring a personalized and memorable experience. In our case, we embarked on a six-day safari, during which we explored three remarkable national parks in Tanzania, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s diverse wildlife and landscapes. After our safari, we spent four relaxing days on the paradise island of Zanzibar. Known for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
How to Visit National Parks in Tanzania:
Tanzania is renowned for its world-class safari experiences, home to famous national parks and wildlife reserves such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Manyara. You can witness the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros). To make the most of your safari, we highly recommend hiring a reputable safari company. We had an excellent experience with Safari G.O.A.T.S. Their knowledge, experience, and driving skills were crucial, especially depending on the season you visit.
Day 1 – 2: Tarangire National Park
We arrived at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where our safari guide picked us up. He took us to the city of Arusha where we spent our first night, before starting the incredible Safari. On the second day after breakfast, we headed straight for the Tarangire main gate.
Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most renowned parks and is located in the Manyara Region in the northern part of the country. It is a great way to start your safari because it provides the first contact with nature. The park is especially famous for it’s large elephant population, with herds often numbering in the hundreds. Depending on the season you visit, you’ll observe the animals concentrated near lakes or more dispersed.
Tip: Remember to bring your binoculars to see the beautiful animals! and be careful with your food at the picnic area because monkeys are always looking for your food. It’s funny to see them try to steal everyone’s meals. (don’t worry because they are not aggressive).
Day 3: Ngorongoro viewpoint + Maasai Tribe
After Tarangire, we traveled about 4 hours to Karatu, where we spent the night. The next morning, we headed to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to view the crater from an incredible vantage point. Following this, we visited a typical Maasai Tribe to gain insights into their way of living.
The Maasai people are a semi-nomadic ethnic group that primarily inhabits southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Their traditional way of life is centered around herding livestock, particularly cattle, and they have managed to maintain much of their cultural identity. When we arrived they welcomed us with the Maasai outfit and dance, then we participated in the traditional jump contest ‘Adumu’. In the end, they showed us how they built their houses. We also visited the kindergarten with kids younger than six. In Tanzania, school is mandatory so after the age of six they have to walk long km in the wild to go to school.
This was an eye-opening experience for us. We were so glad to see a completely different way of life and get to know more about the country we were visiting.
At night we slept at Karatu Town.
Day 4 – 6: Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park, one of the most iconic and renowned wildlife conservation areas in the world, felt like witnessing the Lion King live. We understood why many say it’s the best park in the world for safaris. It’s huge and there are many routes inside to explore. We were there for three days and we always moved through different areas to see the animals. Over the three days, we encountered a plethora of wildlife, including cheetahs, buffalos, lions, elephants, hyenas, ostriches, leopards, and more.
The landscape at Serengeti is very dramatic and beautiful. The diverse scenery provides ample opportunities for photography and a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature in its raw form.
The place is very famous for the annual Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores travel in search of greener pastures. This natural spectacle involves dramatic river crossings and intense predator-prey interactions, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tip: We recommend for a great experience always follow your safari guide indications. They have a lot of experience and they know the areas where are the animals. You have to be patient to find them.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Conservation area + heading back
After Serengeti, on our way back to Arusha, we visited the Ngorongoro Crater itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This place, formed by a collapsed volcano, boasts an ecosystem rich in wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, and hippos. It serves as a haven for animals who don’t need to migrate due to the abundance of resources. If you are looking to see ‘the big five’, you’ll find here the buffalos, lions and rhinos.
Day 7-10: Zanzibar Island
This is a paradise on the coast of Tanzania and perfect for relaxing days after your safari. The island is known for its paradisiac beaches with white sand and turquoise waters. Some of the best beaches on the island include Nungwi Beach, Kendwa Beach, and Paje Beach. You can relax, swim, sunbathe, and enjoy water sports like snorkeling and diving.
You have a lot of water activities. We went snorkeling at Mnemba Island. It is a private island of Bill Gates. They take you by boat and you can’t get off or touch the sand because the island is private, but the views are impressive from the boat and the water is crystal clear. Perfect for this activity.
Where to stay
Depending on your itinerary and budget, your safari company will arrange accommodations throughout your journey. Here are the places where we stayed:
Safari
Serengeti National Park: Kon Tiki
Arusha Town: Hakuna Woga
Karatu town: Kudu Lodge, Lilac Hideway
Zanzibar
Where to eat
When you go on a safari experience, your guide will take care of everything to eat. Usually, you have breakfast at the place of your accommodation, and they prepare the lunch for you to take to the game drive. At lunchtime, your guide will go to the picnic areas at the national parks and prepare your table.
If you are in passing thought Karatu town, we highly recommend to go to ‘Lilac Cafe‘ for exceptional food, coffee, and great working environment.
Travel guide to Tanzania (safari + Zanzibar two week itinerary)
Tanzania is a must-experience destination in a lifetime, offering a breathtaking opportunity to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. The profound respect for animals during safaris makes this journey truly exceptional.
Itinerary
Tailoring your safari itinerary based on your interests and preferences is key to ensuring a personalized and memorable experience. In our case, we embarked on a six-day safari, during which we explored three remarkable national parks in Tanzania, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s diverse wildlife and landscapes. After our safari, we spent four relaxing days on the paradise island of Zanzibar. Known for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
How to Visit National Parks in Tanzania:
Tanzania is renowned for its world-class safari experiences, home to famous national parks and wildlife reserves such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Manyara. You can witness the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros). To make the most of your safari, we highly recommend hiring a reputable safari company. We had an excellent experience with Safari G.O.A.T.S. Their knowledge, experience, and driving skills were crucial, especially depending on the season you visit.
Day 1 – 2: Tarangire National Park
We arrived at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where our safari guide picked us up. He took us to the city of Arusha where we spent our first night, before starting the incredible Safari. On the second day after breakfast, we headed straight for the Tarangire main gate.
Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most renowned parks and is located in the Manyara Region in the northern part of the country. It is a great way to start your safari because it provides the first contact with nature. The park is especially famous for it’s large elephant population, with herds often numbering in the hundreds. Depending on the season you visit, you’ll observe the animals concentrated near lakes or more dispersed.
Tip: Remember to bring your binoculars to see the beautiful animals! and be careful with your food at the picnic area because monkeys are always looking for your food. It’s funny to see them try to steal everyone’s meals. (don’t worry because they are not aggressive).
Day 3: Ngorongoro viewpoint + Maasai Tribe
After Tarangire, we traveled about 4 hours to Karatu, where we spent the night. The next morning, we headed to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to view the crater from an incredible vantage point. Following this, we visited a typical Maasai Tribe to gain insights into their way of living.
The Maasai people are a semi-nomadic ethnic group that primarily inhabits southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Their traditional way of life is centered around herding livestock, particularly cattle, and they have managed to maintain much of their cultural identity. When we arrived they welcomed us with the Maasai outfit and dance, then we participated in the traditional jump contest ‘Adumu’. In the end, they showed us how they built their houses. We also visited the kindergarten with kids younger than six. In Tanzania, school is mandatory so after the age of six they have to walk long km in the wild to go to school.
This was an eye-opening experience for us. We were so glad to see a completely different way of life and get to know more about the country we were visiting.
At night we slept at Karatu Town.
Day 4 – 6: Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park, one of the most iconic and renowned wildlife conservation areas in the world, felt like witnessing the Lion King live. We understood why many say it’s the best park in the world for safaris. It’s huge and there are many routes inside to explore. We were there for three days and we always moved through different areas to see the animals. Over the three days, we encountered a plethora of wildlife, including cheetahs, buffalos, lions, elephants, hyenas, ostriches, leopards, and more.
The landscape at Serengeti is very dramatic and beautiful. The diverse scenery provides ample opportunities for photography and a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature in its raw form.
The place is very famous for the annual Great Migration, where millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores travel in search of greener pastures. This natural spectacle involves dramatic river crossings and intense predator-prey interactions, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tip: We recommend for a great experience always follow your safari guide indications. They have a lot of experience and they know the areas where are the animals. You have to be patient to find them.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Conservation area + heading back
After Serengeti, on our way back to Arusha, we visited the Ngorongoro Crater itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This place, formed by a collapsed volcano, boasts an ecosystem rich in wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, and hippos. It serves as a haven for animals who don’t need to migrate due to the abundance of resources. If you are looking to see ‘the big five’, you’ll find here the buffalos, lions and rhinos.
Day 7-10: Zanzibar Island
This is a paradise on the coast of Tanzania and perfect for relaxing days after your safari. The island is known for its paradisiac beaches with white sand and turquoise waters. Some of the best beaches on the island include Nungwi Beach, Kendwa Beach, and Paje Beach. You can relax, swim, sunbathe, and enjoy water sports like snorkeling and diving.
You have a lot of water activities. We went snorkeling at Mnemba Island. It is a private island of Bill Gates. They take you by boat and you can’t get off or touch the sand because the island is private, but the views are impressive from the boat and the water is crystal clear. Perfect for this activity.
Where to stay
Depending on your itinerary and budget, your safari company will arrange accommodations throughout your journey. Here are the places where we stayed:
Safari
Serengeti National Park: Kon Tiki
Arusha Town: Hakuna Woga
Karatu town: Kudu Lodge, Lilac Hideway
Zanzibar
Where to eat
When you go on a safari experience, your guide will take care of everything to eat. Usually, you have breakfast at the place of your accommodation, and they prepare the lunch for you to take to the game drive. At lunchtime, your guide will go to the picnic areas at the national parks and prepare your table.
If you are in passing thought Karatu town, we highly recommend to go to ‘Lilac Cafe‘ for exceptional food, coffee, and great working environment.
