Who it suits
For travellers who want wildlife and beach time in one coordinated holiday. It can suit couples or families; we adapt the room choices, activities and pace to your party.
Pinnacle Tanzania · Privately planned
12-Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
Follow a private northern Tanzania safari with the softer rhythm of Zanzibar. This twelve-day starting point gives the wildlife journey a proper shape, then leaves room for Stone Town and the ocean.
- Holiday length
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Safari portion
- 6 nights on the mainland
- Zanzibar portion
- 1 Stone Town + 4 beach nights
- Connections
- Local flight quoted with the trip
Know the route.
Choose with confidence.
- 01Arusha
- 02Tarangire
- 03Ngorongoro
- 04Serengeti
- 05Arusha
- 06Stone Town
- 07Zanzibar coast
How the pace works
This sample follows a central-Serengeti-focused mainland itinerary, then flies to Zanzibar on Day 7. It does not include the northern Northern Serengeti - Mara River extension. The island stay is deliberately open so you can choose activities without turning every day into a transfer.
A glimpse of Tanzania
A closer look at the journey.
A glimpse of the wildlife and landscapes along the route.
Your journey,
day by day.
This is the proposed itinerary. Your written proposal confirms accommodation, inclusions and any changes for your dates. Conditions and safe operating decisions can change the daily plan.
- Day 01
Arrive in northern Tanzania
Meet your arranged transfer and settle into Arusha. Review the safari plan and rest before the parks.
Overnight: Arusha · night 1
- Day 02
Tarangire safari → Karatu
Explore Tarangire with your private driver-guide, then continue to Karatu for the night.
Overnight: Karatu · night 2
- Day 03
Ngorongoro Crater → Serengeti
Combine an early crater programme with the journey into central Serengeti. Plan for a full road and wildlife day.
Overnight: Central Serengeti · night 3
- Day 04
Central Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring from the same base, allowing your guide to shape the drive around your interests and current conditions.
Overnight: Central Serengeti · night 4
- Day 05
Serengeti → Karatu
Take a final morning in the park, then travel through the highlands toward Karatu.
Overnight: Karatu · night 5
- Day 06
Karatu → Arusha
Return to Arusha and prepare for the coast. Confirm luggage arrangements for the flight and keep the afternoon flexible.
Overnight: Arusha · night 6
- Day 07
Fly to Zanzibar → Stone Town
Transfer to the booked departure airport and fly to Zanzibar on the confirmed routing. Meet your island driver and settle into Stone Town.
Overnight: Stone Town · night 7
- Day 08
Stone Town → beach
Discuss a guided town or spice visit before moving to your beach accommodation. Activities are included only when specified in the quote.
Overnight: Zanzibar beach · night 8
- Day 09
A day at your own pace
Keep the day for the beach and your hotel, or ask about an optional excursion suited to your chosen coast.
Overnight: Zanzibar beach · night 9
- Day 10
Ocean time
A snorkelling or boat outing may be arranged separately, subject to sea conditions and supplier availability. A quiet hotel day is equally welcome.
Overnight: Zanzibar beach · night 10
- Day 11
Your final full beach day
Leave room to enjoy where you are staying. Check your departure transfer with the team and avoid overloading the last afternoon.
Overnight: Zanzibar beach · night 11
- Day 12
Transfer to Zanzibar airport
Leave at the agreed time for your onward flight, allowing a suitable road and airport buffer.
Overnight: Departure; no overnight included
What’s included
in your journey.
Included in your proposal
- The private mainland safari described in your confirmed programme
- Eleven nights split between mainland, Stone Town and the chosen beach
- Mainland park visits, meals and fees listed in the proposal
- The domestic flight and its exact baggage allowance when included in your quote
- Airport and hotel transfers listed for both mainland and Zanzibar
Budget separately
- International flights, visas and personal travel insurance
- Tips, drinks, laundry and personal purchases unless specifically included
- Balloon flights, cultural visits and other optional activities
- Any extra nights or route changes outside the confirmed itinerary
- Zanzibar hotel meals or island excursions outside the selected board basis
- Any mandatory destination insurance or local visitor charges not expressly included; check current requirements before departure
The final written quote is the agreement on services and costs. Please check room sharing, transfers, meals, fees and any optional upgrades before confirming.
Getting ready
for your trip.
Timing
Choose dates for both parts of the trip. Mainland wildlife conditions and coastal weather are not identical. Discuss your priorities before assuming the best safari month is automatically the best beach week.
Arrival and departure
Plan an arrival into northern Tanzania and a departure from Zanzibar if the international flights work for you. We check the actual domestic schedule, baggage rules and transfer connections before confirmation.
Choose the coast carefully
Discuss swimming preferences, tides, beach atmosphere, restaurants and the hotel's location before selecting a property.
Pack for the flight
Domestic baggage limits vary by carrier and aircraft. Confirm your allowance and the treatment of extra luggage before booking.
Agree the board basis
Breakfast-only, half-board and other meal arrangements change both flexibility and total cost. Your quote should spell them out.
Adjust the length
Shorter or longer variants are possible. We change the programme consciously rather than silently removing recovery or travel time.
The details
worth asking.
Can we fly straight from Serengeti to Zanzibar?
We can check a fly-out variation for your dates. It changes the road itinerary, accommodation nights and cost, so it needs a separate complete proposal.
Does this include Kilimanjaro?
No. This sample combines safari and Zanzibar. A mountain climb requires additional days and its own preparation.
Can this become a honeymoon?
Yes. We can adapt the accommodation, privacy and pace, or use our dedicated luxury honeymoon safari as the mainland starting point.
Safari tipping
with clear expectations.
Tips are customary and appreciated, but voluntary. These are Pinnacle’s suggested planning ranges for good service, not compulsory fees. Tips are additional to your package price unless your written quote expressly includes them, and never replace wages or determine the care you receive.
| Role | Suggested amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Private safari driver-guide | US$20–30 | Per vehicle, per safari day, shared by your party |
| Dedicated camping-safari cook | US$10–15 | Per cook, per safari day, shared by your party |
| Lodge or camp staff | US$5–10 | Per guest, per night, through the shared staff tip box |
Example: a four-person party choosing US$25 per vehicle per day for a seven-day safari would give its driver-guide US$175 in total, or US$43.75 per guest. Lodge tips are budgeted separately for the nights actually stayed.
Give your driver-guide and dedicated cook their tips directly at the end of their service. Use each lodge’s shared staff tip box and check whether a gratuity is already included. Separate walking guides, rangers and activity teams have their own arrangements; ask before budgeting for them.
Cash in Tanzanian shillings or accepted US-dollar notes is practical; agree the currency and conversion beforehand. Prepare smaller denominations. EUR and GBP amounts depend on the exchange rate, so agree any equivalent rather than assuming the website’s package conversion applies to tips.
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