Experience the drama of the southern Serengeti on a 5-day luxury fly-in safari from Zanzibar, trading long road transfers for more time among the wildlife. Your journey takes you through some of northern Tanzania’s most celebrated landscapes, beginning in the Central Serengeti, where big cats patrol the open plains and kopjes. From there you head to the Ndutu region during calving season, when thousands of wildebeest and zebra gather on the southern plains between December and March. It is one of nature’s most spectacular wildlife events, with newborn calves taking their first steps and predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas never far behind. You then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a vast volcanic caldera that shelters one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife, before finishing in Tarangire National Park, famous for its giant baobab trees and large elephant herds. Staying in luxury lodges or camps, and traveling with an experienced private guide, you enjoy comfort, space, and the freedom to focus on the moments that matter most.
The luxury accommodation and private guide details are my additions, so adjust them to match your actual offering.
Life on Safari
Your journey begins with a hotel pick-up, followed by a flight from Zanzibar Airport to the Serengeti airstrip. Arriving in the Serengeti in the late morning, you’ll embark on a series of game drives, exploring the wildlife-rich landscapes until the afternoon. Afterward, you’ll return to the lodge for a satisfying lunch before setting out on another exciting game drive, culminating in the breathtaking spectacle of a Serengeti sunset. This day promises an immersive safari experience in one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations.
Main Destination: Central Serengeti National Park
Accomodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
After an early breakfast, you will embark on a game drive to further acquaint you with the vast expanse of Serengeti National Park and explore some lesser-known areas, providing an opportunity to witness the hippopotamus and other aquatic animals, such as lizards and crocodiles, until lunchtime. After lunch, you will head to the Ndutu area. We hope you will find this experience enjoyable. Your dinner and your overnight stay will be at the lodge.
Main Destination: Ndutu
Accomodation: Ndutu Under Canvas
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You’ll start your day in Ndutu with a bush breakfast on the plains, surrounded by marshlands, woodlands, and soda lakes alive with wildlife. You will witness wildebeest calving on the short-grass plains and big cats nurturing their young in the marshes. As evening falls, you’ll gather by the campfire, enjoy a drink under the acacias, and drift to sleep with the sounds of the wild echoing through the night.
Main Destination: Ndutu (Southern Serengeti NP)
Accomodation: Ndutu Under Canvas
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Non–wildlife viewing time: 3 – 4 hours
After an early breakfast, you will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area supports a wide variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, elands, warthogs, hippos, and giant African elephants. Another big drawcard of this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators. These include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. You will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos, and other waterbirds can usually be seen here. In the late afternoon, you’ll transfer to Mto wa Mbu for an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
Accomodation: Suricata Boma Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You’ll drive to Tarangire National Park, which is famous for its diverse landscape. The park is particularly known for its abundance of ancient baobab trees and for having the largest concentration of elephants in the country. It provides unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families. You will do a game drive through the park, depending on the reported sightings of animals (mostly predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as they are harder to spot). Herbivores like giraffes, wildebeests, and zebras are plenty to see throughout the park.
You will leave the park and return to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar.
Main Destination: Tarangire National Park
Accomodation: No accomodation (End of tour)
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner not included)
High demand: This safari books 4–8 weeks ahead during peak season (June–October).
- All national park entrance fees and conservation levies
- Accommodation as specified
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Soft drinks and bottled water (minimum 3 litres per person per day)
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Transportation in a custom 4×4 safari jeep with pop-up viewing roof and guaranteed window seating
- Expert English-speaking guide/driver (15+ years Tanzania experience)
- Vehicle inverter for device charging, FM radio communications, electric cooler and filtered water
- Government taxes and VAT
- Tips for guides and cook (guideline: $10–15/day guide, $5–8/day cook)
- International and domestic flights
- Additional accomodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tanzania e-visa ($50 USD)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Hot-air balloon safari in Serengeti ($600/person add-on)
- Personal purchases, laundry and phone calls
- Alcoholic beverages
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Note: We have a discount for kids under 15 years old
"Our guide Emmanuel was incredible — he spotted a leopard and two lion cubs that three other vehicles completely missed. The most magical experience of our lives."
"The private setup meant we could spend 45 minutes with a cheetah and cubs without feeling rushed. The lodges were far beyond what we expected."
"As first-time safari travelers, we were nervous. From the moment we arrived, Serengeti African Tours took care of everything. The Ngorongoro Crater literally took our breath away."
"Booked through SafariBookings and couldn't be happier. Every detail was handled perfectly. Guide Abouh is extraordinary — his knowledge of wildlife is encyclopaedic."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
