Safari from Zanzibar
Tanzania safari from Zanzibar — packages, prices and how it works.
You're already in Zanzibar — why not add a safari? This page explains exactly how fly-in safaris from the island work, what shapes the price, the Migrations seasons to plan around, and which of our private 2 to 7 day journeys fits you best.
Departure
Zanzibar (ZNZ) — daily light aircraft
Flight time
40–90 minutes to most bush airstrips
Luggage
15kg soft bag — laundry at every lodge
Trip length
2 to 7 days, private and tailor-made
Start here
What a safari from Zanzibar actually involves
Zanzibar sits off the coast of Tanzania, roughly 600km from the northern safari circuit. On a map that looks far. In practice it is a short hop: light aircraft leave the island every morning and land on gravel airstrips inside the parks themselves, where your guide is already waiting with the vehicle.
That means no day lost driving to Arusha and no backtracking. A two-day safari genuinely gives you two days of wildlife, not two days of transit. It is the reason most of our guests who are staying on the beach add three to five days inland rather than planning a separate trip entirely.
Every safari we run from Zanzibar is private. That means your own guide, your own 4x4 with a guaranteed window seat, and a pace set by you — not by a group timetable or a fixed departure date.
A typical day one
- 07:30Collected from your Zanzibar hotel and driven to the airport.
- 09:00Light aircraft departs ZNZ. Coastline, then plains, below you.
- 10:30Land at Arusha or a bush airstrip. Meet your guide and vehicle.
- 11:30First game drive begins, with a picnic lunch in the park.
- 17:30Arrive at camp for sundowners as the light drops.
How it works
Three steps from the beach to the bush
You don't need to travel to Arusha independently or endure a long drive to reach the parks. We handle the flights, the transfers, the park permits and the lodges as one arrangement, so your beach holiday simply pauses for a few days and picks up again.
Fly from Zanzibar
A scheduled light aircraft departs Zanzibar (ZNZ) in the morning. Land at a bush airstrip inside the park 40–90 minutes later.
Start your game drive
Your private guide and 4×4 are waiting at the airstrip. You begin wildlife viewing the moment you step off the plane.
Return or continue
Fly back to Zanzibar, or continue to Arusha, Kilimanjaro, or your next destination. No backtracking, no lost days.
Prices
What shapes the price of a safari from Zanzibar
We don't publish a single headline figure, because a private safari isn't a shelf product — the same four days can be arranged at very different levels. These are the four things that move the number, and we're happy to talk them through honestly before you commit.
Season
June to October and the Christmas period are peak season — camps charge their highest rates. April, May and November are green season, when the same lodges can cost noticeably less.
Comfort level
The single biggest driver. Standard uses well-run mid-range lodges, Premium moves you into classic tented camps, and Signature places you in small luxury camps deep inside the parks.
Flights and park fees
Light-aircraft seats from Zanzibar and park entry fees are fixed, non-negotiable costs. They are the reason a two-day safari never costs half of a four-day one.
Group size
Every safari is private. Because the vehicle, guide and 4x4 costs are shared across your group, the per-person price falls as you add travellers.
Included in every package
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and window seat guaranteed
- Professional English-speaking Tanzanian guide
- All park and conservation area fees
- Accommodation on full-board safari basis
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- Airport or hotel transfers as per the itinerary
- Return light-aircraft flights between Zanzibar and the safari circuit
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic drinks and personal items
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural visits)
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
Timing
When to add a safari to your Zanzibar holiday
June – October
Dry season · peak wildlife
The classic window. Vegetation thins, animals gather at water, and the migration is in the western and northern Serengeti. Zanzibar is dry and breezy. Book early.
December – March
Short dry · calving season
Hot, green and beautiful. Wildebeest calve on the southern Serengeti plains from late January, drawing predators. Excellent beach weather on the island too.
April – May, November
Green season · best value
Rain comes in bursts rather than all day. Parks are quiet, landscapes are dramatic, birdlife peaks, and lodge rates drop significantly. Our value pick.
Safari Packages
Short safaris from Zanzibar — 2 to 5 days
These are the packages most guests choose when they are based on the island. Each one departs Zanzibar by light aircraft and returns you there, is fully private, and is tailor-made around your dates and chosen comfort level.
Fly-in2 days
2 Days Tarangire & Ngorongoro Fly-in Safari
Step away from the shore and into Tarangire’s elephant country, then feel the scale of Ngorongoro. A short journey can still hold real wonder when you travel with someone who knows the way.
Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater
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Fly-in3 days
3 Days Serengeti Fly-in Safari
From the sea to the Serengeti’s open horizon, find yourself in a different kind of calm. Your local guide helps you settle in so you can simply watch the plains come alive.
Serengeti National Park
View day-by-dayFly-in3 days
3 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
Leave the beach for the wide Serengeti and the green embrace of Ngorongoro. With a trusted guide taking care of the journey, you are free to feel fully present.
Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater
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Fly-in4 days
4 Days Classic Northern Circuit Fly-in Safari
Exchange ocean breezes for baobabs, open plains and crater light. Fly between Zanzibar and Arusha on your first and last day, with someone beside you to make each transition easy.
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
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Fly-in5 days
5 Days Best of Northern Tanzania Safari
From Zanzibar, discover the gentler rhythm of Tanzania’s north. Two nights in the Serengeti offer room to listen, linger and feel like you belong before returning to the coast.
Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
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Longer journeys — 6 and 7 days
With a week you can follow the Great Migration properly and cover the full northern circuit without rushing a single day.
Migration6 days
6 Days Great Migration Fly-in Safari
Let the season lead you from Zanzibar to the migration landscape. Three nights near the herds mean time to watch with wonder, knowing the wild will always move on its own terms.
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
View day-by-dayFly-in7 days
7 Days Ultimate Tanzania Fly-in Safari
A week to wander from Zanzibar through Tanzania’s northern wilderness and back again. Allow the landscape to surprise you while your local guide makes every day feel cared for.
Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
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Read more before you decide
Our Zanzibar guides go deeper on the island itself and on combining the beach with a safari — helpful reading while you weigh your options.
Zanzibar Travel Guide
The complete guide to Zanzibar — beaches, Stone Town, seasons and how to pair it with a safari.
Read the guide5-Day Zanzibar Itinerary
Pacing, key activities and FAQs for a five-day Zanzibar trip, with notes on adding safari days.
Read the guide7-Day Zanzibar Itinerary
A week on the island and beyond — how to split beach days and a short fly-in safari.
Read the guideQuestions
Safari from Zanzibar — frequently asked
Is it really possible to do a safari from Zanzibar?
Yes — and it is one of the easiest ways to see Tanzania's parks. Scheduled light aircraft fly daily from Zanzibar (ZNZ) to Arusha and on to bush airstrips inside the Serengeti and Tarangire. You leave the island in the morning and are on a game drive the same day.
How many days do I need?
Two days is the realistic minimum and works well for Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Three to four days lets you add the Serengeti properly. Five days is the sweet spot — enough time to slow down, follow wildlife rather than a schedule, and still return to the beach.
Do I fly back to Zanzibar afterwards?
Most guests do, and every package includes the return flight to the island. If your holiday ends after the safari, we can instead route you out through Kilimanjaro International Airport at no extra planning cost.
What luggage can I take on the flight?
Light aircraft allow 15kg in a soft duffel bag, plus a small day pack. You can leave the rest of your luggage stored at your Zanzibar hotel — nearly all of them offer this free of charge, and every safari lodge does laundry.
Is it safe, and what about malaria?
Tanzania's northern parks are safe and well travelled, and your guide stays with you throughout. Both Zanzibar and the parks are malaria areas, so speak to your doctor about prophylaxis before you travel and bring repellent for evenings.
How far in advance should I book?
For June to October and December, three to six months ahead — small camps and flight seats sell out. In green season, four to six weeks is usually enough. Once your dates are held we hold the flights for you.
Your safari starts here
Tell us your dates in Zanzibar and we'll build the rest.
Share your beach stay dates and how many days you'd like to add. We'll design a fly-in safari that fits seamlessly around your Zanzibar holiday — with a clear, itemised price and no pressure.
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