Safari & Beach: How to Plan the Perfect Tanzania and Zanzibar Trip
Few trips give you as much in one holiday as a Tanzania safari followed by a few days on a Zanzibar beach. You spend your mornings watching lions and elephants, then finish with warm sea, seafood suppers and nothing to do at all. The two fit together easily, because Zanzibar is a short flight from the main safari parks.
The hard part is the planning. How many nights should you spend in each place? Which park should you choose? Should the beach come first or last? These are the questions our specialists are asked most. This guide answers them.
How long do you need?
Ten to fourteen nights is ideal, with roughly half on safari and half on the beach. Under 10 nights, the travel days start to eat into the holiday. At 14 nights, you can add a second park or a night or two in Stone Town.
| Trip length | Safari | Beach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 nights | 4–5 nights in one or two parks | 5–6 nights | A first trip, honeymoons, couples on a set amount of annual leave |
| 14 nights | 6–7 nights in two parks | 6–7 nights, with 1–2 in Stone Town if you like | More variety, families, anyone who wants the beach to feel like a proper holiday |
Two rules of thumb:
- At least 3 nights in each park. Two nights gives you only one full day of game drives. A third night makes it far more likely you'll see the animals you came for.
- At least 4 nights on the beach. The first day is for unpacking and recovering from safari's early starts. You need a few more days after that to properly unwind.
Safari first or beach first?
For most people it's safari first, then beach. Safari days start before dawn and are full of excitement, so they can be tiring. Ending on the beach means you fly home rested, with a tan and a camera full of photos.
It can make sense to start on the beach when:
- Your international flight lands in Zanzibar. Starting there saves an extra connection on day one.
- You want to recover first. This suits families with young children, or anyone who wants a few slow days before the early starts.
- Timing matters for wildlife. Moving the safari a few days later can mean better odds of seeing a particular part of the Great Migration.
Your specialist will suggest the order that works best with your flights and the time of year.
Which safari: Serengeti, Nyerere or Ruaha?
Choose the Serengeti for the classic safari and the Great Migration. Choose Nyerere for a quieter, more varied trip that's easy to combine with Zanzibar. Choose Ruaha for real wilderness and big lion prides. All three combine well with Zanzibar.
| Park | Best for | Wildlife highlights | How it feels | Ways to explore | Getting to Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti (often with the Ngorongoro Crater) |
First safaris, the Great Migration, big cats | Wildebeest herds, lions, cheetahs, leopards; the Big Five in the Crater | Iconic open plains; busier in peak months | Game drives, hot-air balloon flights | Light aircraft, usually via Arusha with a stop or two |
| Nyerere (formerly the Selous) |
Short trips, combining with the beach, repeat visitors | Elephants, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, lions | Wild and uncrowded, with rivers and lakes | Game drives, boat safaris, walking safaris | A short light-aircraft hop |
| Ruaha | Seasoned travellers, anyone who wants to get away from it all | Large lion prides, big elephant herds, kudu, wild dogs | Remote, rugged, very few vehicles | Game drives, walking safaris | Light aircraft, often via Dar es Salaam or with Nyerere |
Not sure? Nyerere and Ruaha pair especially well, combining water-based safaris with big-cat country, and both are in the south. For something unusual, add chimpanzee trekking at Mahale on Lake Tanganyika.
Getting from safari to beach
Small scheduled planes connect the parks with Zanzibar, so you won't spend a day on the road. You fly from the camp's own airstrip, often over the plains you've just explored. On Zanzibar, a driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel, which takes about an hour to most beaches.
A few things to know:
- Getting there from the UK. One-stop flights land at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, depending on where your trip starts.
- Pack light. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits and usually need soft bags. We'll confirm the exact allowance for your flights.
- Short stops are part of the plan. Some flights stop at other airstrips to drop off or collect guests, and we build in time for this.
- Everything's in one booking. International flights, internal flights and transfers are all arranged by us and ATOL-protected.
Three ways to do it
Most safari and beach trips follow one of three patterns. Each can be tailored, so you can add nights, upgrade camps or swap beaches.
- Short and simple: one southern park, then the beach. Nyerere is a short flight from Zanzibar, so you spend less time travelling. It's ideal for a first safari or a honeymoon.
- The classic: the Serengeti, then the beach. Add the Ngorongoro Crater for the Big Five, and time your trip around the Great Migration.
- Off the beaten track: two southern parks, then the beach. Nyerere's rivers and Ruaha's lion country make a great contrast, with very few other vehicles.
Want to go further? Add mountain gorillas in Rwanda or chimpanzees at Mahale, or swap the safari for a few of Tanzania's quieter islands. Browse all our Tanzania & Zanzibar holidays.
When to go
The best times for a combined trip are June to October and January to February, when the parks are dry and Zanzibar's beaches are at their best.
| Months | Safari | Zanzibar | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| June–October | Dry season and the best game viewing in every park; river crossings in the northern Serengeti from July | Sunny, dry and breezy | The best overall, but book early |
| January–February | Calving season in the southern Serengeti, with lots of newborns and predators | Hot and calm | Excellent, especially for the Serengeti |
| November–December and March | Short rains; lush and green, with fewer visitors | Mostly sunny, with brief showers | Good value, especially for the Serengeti |
| April–May | Long rains; some camps in Nyerere and Ruaha close | Wettest months | Best avoided for a combined trip |
Quick answers
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. Many camps welcome children, though some set minimum ages for walking or boat safaris. Nyerere's short flight to Zanzibar is especially easy with kids.
Is it good for a honeymoon?
It's one of our most popular honeymoon combinations. Private dinners in the bush followed by a beach villa are hard to beat.
Do I need a visa or vaccinations?
Entry rules can change, so check the latest visa and health advice on GOV.UK and with your GP before you travel. We'll remind you of everything when you book.
Can I add Stone Town?
Yes. One or two nights in Zanzibar's old town, with its spice markets, carved doors and rooftop restaurants, fits well between safari and beach.
Still not sure? Talk to a specialist
Every trip we plan is tailor-made, so we can adjust the nights, parks, camps and beach to suit you. Call our Tanzania specialists on 0333 7000 747 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or send us an enquiry and we'll put together an itinerary for you.
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