4-Day Northern Parks Safari from Zanzibar
Zanzibar Arusha Tarangire Ngorongoro Serengeti Arusha Zanzibar
From, per person$1,564
Tanzania safari
4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Fly-In Safari
Overview
Short on days but set on the Serengeti? Flying in is the answer. Instead of spending most of your first day on the road, you board a light aircraft and land on the Seronera airstrip in the middle of the park in the morning, with your guide and 4×4 waiting beside the runway. That buys you an extra half-day of game viewing compared with a drive-in trip of the same length.
You spend two nights in a luxury tented camp in the central Serengeti, where the Seronera River and the granite kopjes draw lions, leopards and cheetahs throughout the year. On the third day you drive out through the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater rim for a night at an upscale lodge, then spend the final morning on the crater floor and visit a Maasai village before a short flight from Arusha to Zanzibar.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris runs this trip privately, so the vehicle and guide are yours alone. It starts from either Arusha or Zanzibar and suits travelers who want comfort and pace over a long overland journey, including those adding a safari to a beach stay.
Tour highlights
- Light-aircraft flight straight into the Serengeti
- Two nights at a luxury tented camp near Seronera
- Big-cat country around the kopjes and Seronera River
- A night at an upscale lodge on the crater rim
- Half a day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Ends with a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
Day by day
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Day 1 Morning Flight to the Seronera Airstrip Stay Luxury tented camp in the Seronera area, central SerengetiMeals Lunch, Dinner
We collect you from your hotel in Arusha or Zanzibar and take you to the airport for a scheduled light-aircraft flight into the Serengeti. From the window you can watch the farmland give way to open grassland. Your guide meets you at the Seronera airstrip, and the first game drive starts as soon as the bags are loaded. Expect giraffe, buffalo, hippo and plenty of antelope along the river, then check in at camp for a late lunch and an afternoon drive.
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Day 2 A Full Day Among the Kopjes Stay Luxury tented camp in the Seronera area, central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
With no travel today, the whole day belongs to the central Serengeti. Head out early, when lions are still active and cheetahs are scanning the short grass from termite mounds. Your guide works the kopjes, the woodland along the Seronera River and the open plains, following fresh tracks and radio reports. Depending on the month, migrating wildebeest and zebra may be passing through the area. Lunch is a picnic in the park or back at camp, whichever suits the day’s sightings.
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Day 3 Across the Plains to the Crater Rim Stay Upscale lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take an early breakfast and a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, then set off east toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, watching for wildlife along the way. The road climbs from the plains into the green highlands around the crater. You reach your lodge on the rim in the late afternoon, with time to look down into the caldera from above before dinner. Evenings at this altitude are cool, so keep a warm layer handy.
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Day 4 Crater Floor, Maasai Village and Flight to Zanzibar Meals Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive of around six hours. The caldera floor supports a dense population of wildlife: buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, hyena and lion are all regular sights, and it is one of the few places in Tanzania where black rhino are seen. In the afternoon, stop at a Maasai village to meet a local family, then continue to Arusha for a short flight to Zanzibar.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $3,638 | $2,426 | $2,169 | $1,963 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $3,830 | $2,554 | $2,284 | $2,066 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $4,255 | $2,837 | $2,537 | $2,295 |
Tour price includes
- Domestic flights: into the Serengeti on Day 1 and Arusha to Zanzibar on Day 4
- Airport meet-and-greet and private transfers
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking local guide
- National park and conservation area fees and taxes
- Three nights of luxury accommodation as listed
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- All activities in the itinerary, including the Maasai village visit
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
- Optional extras such as a hot-air balloon flight
Questions about this safari
Why fly into the Serengeti instead of driving?
The road from Arusha to the central Serengeti takes most of a day. Flying gets you there by mid-morning, so your first afternoon is spent on a game drive rather than in the vehicle. You still see the highlands and the crater by road on the way out, so you get a feel for the landscape as well.
Can I start the trip in Arusha rather than Zanzibar?
Yes. We can collect you from your hotel in either Arusha or Zanzibar on the first morning. The trip finishes with a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar; if you are not heading to the coast, ask us about ending the safari in Arusha instead.
Is there a luggage limit on the safari flight?
Yes. Light aircraft used on bush flights have strict weight allowances and usually ask for soft-sided bags rather than hard suitcases. We confirm the exact allowance for your flight when you book, so you can pack to suit it.
Will I see the Great Migration from Seronera?
It depends on the month. The herds move around the Serengeti through the year and only pass through the central area at certain times. Seronera is chosen because it holds resident wildlife all year, especially big cats, so there is plenty to see whether or not the herds are nearby.
Before you go
- Best Time To Visit Tanzania
- How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?
- Top Safari Packing List in Tanzania
- The Best Guides on Tanzania Visa Requirement
- Tanzania Travel Insurance
- Tanzania Travel Safety
- Tipping In Tanzania Safari
- Tanzania Safari Faqs
Listed in Cultural safaris
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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