5 Day North Tanzania Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar

Your journey begins with a morning flight from Zanzibar to the heart of Central Serengeti (approx. 2 hrs; exact time may vary by airline). Upon arrival, you're met by your guide for your first game drive across the vast savannah. Expect to see elephants grazing in the open plains, giraffes browsing from umbrella acacias, and lions lounging under shade. A picnic lunch is served under a shaded tree or near a riverbank. After a full afternoon of wildlife encounters, settle into your lodge in the Central Serengeti for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, begin your northward game drive through the Serengeti en route to Kogatende in the northern corridor. The landscape shifts to rolling hills and riverine valleys, ideal for predator-prey sightings. This region is home to massive herds during the migration season and large prides of lions year-round. A packed lunch is enjoyed en route. Arrive in the late afternoon at your camp near the Mara River — home to crocodiles and hippos. Settle in, enjoy sundowners, and prepare for an early morning safari.

Spend the day exploring North Serengeti’s dramatic terrain. If you're traveling between July and October, this region hosts the famed Mara River crossings during the wildebeest migration — a raw, intense spectacle. Outside migration season, it remains rich with predators and grazers. Enjoy a hot breakfast early or return to camp mid-morning, depending on wildlife movement. After a relaxed lunch and siesta, head out again for a golden-hour game drive. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Begin your journey back south after breakfast with a long but rewarding game drive (approx. 6–7 hrs with stops). You’ll traverse from the northern zone through Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildlife continues throughout the route, from cheetahs in the grasslands to elephants along the woodlands. A bush lunch is served en route. In the evening, arrive in Karatu or Ngorongoro highlands for dinner and overnight in the cool, elevated landscape.

Set out before sunrise for your descent into Ngorongoro Crater (20–30 min drive from Karatu). This volcanic caldera holds nearly every major species found in East Africa, including black rhinos, lions, hyenas, zebras, flamingos, and more. Enjoy a picnic breakfast or mid-morning snack beside a hippo-filled pool. After lunch inside the crater or back at the lodge (depending on time), begin your return drive to Arusha (~3.5–4 hrs) for your scheduled afternoon flight to Zanzibar. Exact flight time may vary by carrier.