13-Day Bush to Beach Adventure in Tanzania: Northern Safari & Zanzibar Escape
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Zanzibar
Safari overview
13-Day Bush to Beach Adventure in Tanzania: Northern Safari & Zanzibar Escape
Be captivated by extraordinary game viewing and quintessential Tanzania landscapes on this safari through Tanzania.
This bush-to-Beach safari is one of the best tours to the Northern Parks of Tanzania and the fine white sand of Zanzibar. Experience the game-filled plains of the famed Serengeti National Park, an endless plain and the home of the wildebeest migration, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park with its large number of elephants and then finally, fly to the beautiful spice island of Zanzibar for the beach leisure and relaxation after a long journey to wild. Let our experts design your a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Day by day
13 Days, Planned to the Last Sunset
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Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where our team will warmly welcome you to Tanzania. After a smooth transfer to Arusha, unwind and settle into your hotel. Use the evening to acclimatize, stroll through the lodge gardens, or visit local shops if time permits. Arusha is known as the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, and you’ll feel the anticipation of the days ahead. Rest well to prepare for the start of your safari adventure
- Half board
Where you sleep tonight
Arusha Serena Hotel -
After breakfast, set out for Tarangire National Park, about a 2-hour drive from Arusha. Known for its dense elephant population and the striking baobab trees that dot its landscapes, Tarangire offers a classic safari experience. Embark on game drives with your expert guide, who will help you spot elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and more. Watch as herds gather around the Tarangire River, the park’s lifeline during the dry season, offering a dramatic and concentrated display of wildlife. Return to the lodge in the evening, where you can relax, recount the day’s sightings, and enjoy a quiet dinner.
- Full board
Where you sleep · Tarangire
Stay at Tarangire Sopa Lodge, nestled in the heart of Tarangire National Park. Enjoy spacious accommodations, stunning views, and close encounters. -
After breakfast, drive toward the legendary Serengeti National Park, passing through the lush Ngorongoro Highlands. Stop briefly to take in views from the Ngorongoro Crater rim before continuing into the vast Serengeti plains. Known as one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations, the Serengeti is home to the famed wildebeest migration and a high concentration of big cats. Today, enjoy a game drive through the central Seronera region, known for lions, cheetahs, and large herds of grazers. Arrive at your lodge in the heart of the Serengeti for a peaceful evening.
- Full board
Where you sleep · Serengeti
Discover the unforgettable experience of Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge! Nestled in Tanzania’s stunning Serengeti National Park, this luxurious lodge. -
Begin early to journey to the northern Serengeti, an area less visited but renowned for its dramatic Mara River crossings during the migration season. Spend the day along the riverbanks, where you may witness thousands of wildebeests and zebras attempting to cross as predators, including crocodiles, lie in wait. Your guide will navigate to the best viewing spots, ensuring you’re in the heart of the action. Absorb the sights and sounds of this unique spectacle before returning to your camp, where a hearty meal and a cozy tent await.
- Full board
Where you sleep tonight
Discover Mara Mara Tented Lodge, a luxurious escape in the Serengeti. Enjoy elegant tented accommodations, breathtaking views, and unforgettable wildlife. -
Head out for an early morning game drive in the serene northern Serengeti. This region is quieter, allowing for intimate wildlife experiences. Watch for large wildebeest herds gathering and various predators like lions, hyenas, and elusive leopards. Spend the afternoon exploring further, observing the behaviors of zebras, gazelles, and a myriad of bird species. After a thrilling day, unwind at the lodge, enjoying stories of the day’s adventures over dinner with fellow travelers.
- Full board
Where you sleep tonight
Mara Mara Tented Lodge -
Today, you’ll journey back to the central Serengeti plains, where the landscape shifts from riverine woodlands to open grasslands. The area is abundant with grazing herbivores, attracting predators like cheetahs and lions. Spend the day exploring the scenic terrain, taking in sightings of elephants, buffalo, and large giraffe groups. In the afternoon, you’ll return to your camp, where you can relax with views of the Serengeti as the sun sets over the plains.
- Full board
Where you sleep tonight
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge -
Start the day with an early game drive in Seronera, watching the sunrise over the Serengeti and spotting animals in their morning routines. After breakfast, drive south toward Ngorongoro, with the option to stop at the Olduvai Gorge, an important archaeological site. The gorge offers fascinating insights into early human history and is a significant spot for anthropologists and history enthusiasts. Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where your lodge offers stunning views into the crater below.
- Full board
Where you sleep · Ngorongoro & Karatu
Discover Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, a breathtaking retreat overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater. Learn about the lodge’s amenities, experiences, and why. -
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas, hosting a dense concentration of wildlife. Here, you have a high chance of encountering the Big Five, including black rhinos and large lion prides. The crater floor also includes lakes, open savanna, and forests, providing diverse habitats for hippos, flamingos, and buffalo. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before continuing your exploration of this “Eden on Earth.” Ascend back to the rim in the afternoon for an evening of relaxation.
- Full board
Where you sleep · Ngorongoro & Karatu
Discover Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, a breathtaking retreat overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater. Learn about the lodge’s amenities, experiences, and why. -
After a final breakfast in the lodge, bid farewell to the Tanzanian mainland as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival on this spice island, a representative will meet you for a short drive to your beachside hotel. Settle into your resort, where the tranquil sound of the ocean welcomes you to unwind. Enjoy the evening on the white sands or by the pool as you transition from safari to relaxation mode.
- Breakfast
Where you sleep · Zanzibar
Experience the charm of Zanzibar Serena Hotel, a beachfront retreat in Stone Town. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, stunning ocean views, and world-class. -
Spend three idyllic days on Zanzibar’s pristine beaches. Opt for complete relaxation by the sea, or explore the cultural richness of the island with optional tours. Visit the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can explore ancient architecture, markets, and local spice shops. For nature enthusiasts, a trip to Jozani Forest offers a chance to spot the rare red colobus monkey. A spice tour will introduce you to the island’s fragrant spices, with options to taste and purchase unique blends.
- Full board
Where you sleep · Zanzibar
Experience the charm of Zanzibar Serena Hotel, a beachfront retreat in Stone Town. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, stunning ocean views, and world-class. -
After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to conclude your Tanzanian adventure. You’ll be transferred to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward flight. Leave with cherished memories of Tanzania’s wild landscapes and serene beaches, knowing you’ve experienced the best of both worlds.
- Breakfast
Transparent pricing
What This Safari Costs
Prices are per person sharing for a private 13-day / 12-night safari, and depend on the lodges you choose. Park fees, guide, 4×4 and meals are included in every tier.
| Season | Solo | 2 guests | 4 guests | 6+ guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 March – 31 May The long rains. Lowest prices and the greenest landscape. | $11,660 | $7,780 | $6,850 | $6,450 |
| High season 1 November – 20 December, 6 January – 29 February Dry and green in turn, with good game viewing and easier lodge availability. | $12,290 | $8,190 | $7,210 | $6,800 |
| Peak season 1 June – 31 October, 21 December – 5 January Migration river crossings and the driest months. Book well ahead. | $13,640 | $9,100 | $8,020 | $7,550 |
All prices are per person sharing, in USD.
Final quotes depend on season, group size and lodge availability — tell us your dates and we'll confirm exact pricing free of charge.
The fine print, upfront
What's Included
Included
- All Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodations as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Not included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature
DAYS 10-12: Zanzibar Beach Leisure
Spend three idyllic days on Zanzibar’s pristine beaches. Opt for complete relaxation by the sea, or explore the cultural richness of the island with optional tours. Visit the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can explore ancient architecture, markets, and local spice shops. For nature enthusiasts, a trip to Jozani Forest offers a chance to spot the rare red colobus monkey. A spice tour will introduce you to the island’s fragrant spices, with options to taste and purchase unique blends.
- Accommodation: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
- Meals: Full Board
Scott
7-Day Wildebeest Migration Safari
We had an amazing 7-day safari visiting Tarangire National Park, the Ndutu region of southern Serengeti, Central Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. Before arriving in Tanzania I had regular communication with Francisco, the owner of Lappet Faced Safaris. Francisco always responded promptly and answered all of our questions as we planned this custom safari. I was very impressed by his prompt and thorough responses to questions and his willingness to be flexible with our itinerary during the planning stages of this trip. We were met at the airport by our driver/guide, Amani, who accompanied us for the duration of the safari. To say that Amani went above and beyond was an understatement. He was an amazing guide and he did a great job in finding various wildlife and putting us in an excellent position to observe and photograph. He was also very good at answering our questions about the wildlife, the vegetation and the people of Tanzania. I was very impressed and I could tell that he enjoyed his work and that he knew what he was talking about when explaining things about different animals. It really made the trip a more complete experience. I was very pleased with our accommodations throughout our safari, as well as with the food. Everything matched the information that we received from Francisco when we were planning our trip. Lappet Faced Safaris is a small locally-owned safari company and they provide first-class service. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in visiting Tanzania and experiencing a safari. Francisco is flexible in putting together a trip itinerary so do not hesitate to share what your interests are for your safari experience and he will work with you to meet those plans. We wanted to see the wildebeest migration during their calving season, as well as seeing other resident wildlife and what we experienced during our safari was simply amazing.
CHEN / Aug 2026
GOOD
I think this travel agency responds very quickly. The planning is thorough and the execution is excellent. It's reassuring, as any unexpected issues can be promptly resolved…
Yiqing S
A memorable journey for a lifetime 💙
This was my first time travelling in Africa. Together with my Mum and two aunties we travelled as a family group of four. Generally it was an educative, cheering and lifetime memorable journey. All of us loved the safari. A genuine big thank to Lappet Faced Safari and our guide Frank. The trip was not only well arranged, safe and sound, but also full of luck. At the trip planning stage, the company general manager Francisco was very patient to answer all kinds of questions and made adjustments according to my demands as effective as possible. The cost breakdown was highly detailed. Before starting the trip, I had some concerns because my mum and aunties whose average age are nearly 60 and do not understand English. I expected that the trip might be a bit uneasy. But our guide Frank turned out to be an easy-going guy. He is so nice and got on well with three ladies. Even they don’t really understand each other’s language, there was no barrier at all :) And the car had been kept clean and tidy every morning before we get on. The ladies often praised “Frank你真棒!” (Frank you are so reliable!)During the safari, Frank could always discover those special animals that we never had such sharp eyes to notice🤣. We managed to spot the big five without much difficulties. Apart from those, we also spotted some rare creatures such as cheetah cubs, honey badger, serval, lappet faced eagle (safari company logo :D), steppe eagle, etc. Frank is absolutely professional. He introduced me all the animals alone the way in great details. Sometimes he would carefully double check the bird species in a beautiful birds illustration book. The safari was full of joy and surprise. We enjoyed every second in the wild nature of Tanzania so much that we even feel reluctant to back to city life🥲.P.S. I fulfilled my wish —— to make my own work of animal illustrations! Check them out 👇👇👇
Ying / Aug 2026
The guide was very experienced
It was a very enjoyable trip! We were always lucky, and our wishes always came true. We had great travel companions and a great guide, and a…
catchatter2016
Best custom Private Small Group Safari Experience by Lappet Faced Safaris
Francisco was amazing at organizing exactly the trip we wanted. He took the time to answer all our questions and custom made our trip with a great price. We chose the luxury tented lodges but the mid-priced accommodations looked good too. We saw so many animals up close, right by our Land Rovers, on our custom private 10 day safari (Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro). He also arranged a three night get away on Zanzibar at the Zuri Zanzibar resort. It was fabulous! All of the accommodations were fabulous and the food was delicious. You can trust Francisco to organize your safari and make it the trip of your lifetime! This trip exceeded our expectations and that is saying a lot for our group! Our guides, Ukadi & Alfred, were also amazing, they have a lot of experience as a safari guides and have vast knowledge on the animals, plants, trees and the culture. They spotted so many animals and birds for us, and were patient while we photographed everything. We even got to see all of the Big 5! We saw huge pools of hippos, leopards, cheetahs, lions, elephants, rhinos, Cape buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, ostriches, baboons, hyenas and much, much more! We really recommend going with Lappet Faced Safari tour company, they are the best! Thank you for sharing your beautiful world with us.
Kiki / Aug 2026
A truly unforgettable trip, the local tour guide was very responsible!
Overall, our trip to Kenya was fantastic. The itinerary was excellent, and they handled a few hotel issues very promptly and efficiently. Our…
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