The trip
Overview
Flying out of Dubai in the evening puts you in northern Tanzania the next morning with the whole safari circuit ahead of you: Tarangire's elephant herds and baobabs, the Ngorongoro Crater floor, and the open plains of the Serengeti. Six nights is enough to do all three without the drive-heavy pacing that spoils cheaper itineraries — we use a light aircraft hop where it saves half a day.
The second act is Zanzibar. A short flight from the Serengeti airstrips drops you on the island by early afternoon, and the contrast is the whole point: four nights on a powder beach on the north or east coast, a half day in Stone Town, and nothing more ambitious than deciding between the pool and the ocean.
This is the journey we suggest most often to UAE couples and families who want a first serious safari but refuse to give up the beach week. It fits neatly into the winter school holidays or an Eid break with added leave.
Highlights
- ✦Game drives in Tarangire among some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa
- ✦A full day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, one of the densest wildlife areas anywhere
- ✦Two nights in the Serengeti with the option of a dawn hot-air balloon flight
- ✦Light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti straight to Zanzibar
- ✦Four nights on a Zanzibar beach with a guided Stone Town afternoon
Who it suits
- ●First-time safari travellers who want the beach week as part of the deal
- ●Couples marking an anniversary or honeymoon with something more than a resort
- ●UAE families with children old enough to enjoy long game-drive days, roughly eight and up
Why this journey works
- ✓The overnight flight from Dubai lands you in the safari heartland with no wasted day
- ✓Three distinct parks in six nights, sequenced to cut driving time
- ✓The Serengeti-to-Zanzibar air link makes bush-and-beach genuinely effortless to run
Day by day
Days 1–2
Arusha and Tarangire — first game drives
Overnight flight from Dubai, landing at Kilimanjaro in the morning. Your guide drives you into Tarangire National Park for a first afternoon among the elephants and baobabs, with two nights in a tented camp inside or beside the park. Expect early starts, long golden light and a picnic lunch in the bush.
Days 3–4
Ngorongoro — the crater floor
A morning drive up onto the crater rim, where lodges look two thousand feet down onto the caldera. The centrepiece is a full day on the crater floor: lion, buffalo, flamingo on the soda lake and — with luck — black rhino. Evenings are cool up here; pack a fleece even in the warm months.
Days 5–6
Serengeti — the open plains
Continue north through the highlands into the Serengeti, positioning your camp to match the season and the herds. Two nights of long game drives, sundowners and camp dinners under canvas. The optional balloon flight launches at dawn and is worth booking before you travel.
Days 7–10
Zanzibar — beach and Stone Town
A light aircraft takes you from a Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar in time for a swim before sunset. Four nights on the north or east coast: snorkelling trips to Mnemba Atoll, a spice farm visit, and a guided wander through Stone Town alleys and the old dhow harbour. Beach-house style hotel with a good pool and unfussy dining.
Day 11
Home to the UAE
Transfer to Zanzibar airport for the flight back to Dubai, arriving the same evening with a camera full of proof.
When to go
June to October is the dry season and the busiest period, with the migration usually in the northern Serengeti mid-year. January to March brings the calving season in the south and greener scenery. April and May see the long rains, when some camps close but prices drop sharply. Zanzibar is at its most reliable June to October and December to February.
Planning around seasons, regions and style? Read the full Tanzania & Zanzibar destination guide →
What’s included
- ✓Return flights from Dubai or Abu Dhabi
- ✓Internal light-aircraft flights between the Serengeti and Zanzibar
- ✓Six nights in safari lodges and camps on a full-board basis with game drives
- ✓Four nights in a Zanzibar beach resort with breakfast
- ✓Park fees and crater permits as itinerated
- ✓PCT travel consultant support before and during travel
Not included
- —Visas where required
- —Travel insurance
- —Hot-air balloon flight unless quoted
- —Tips for guides and camp staff
- —Personal spending
Ways to extend it
- +Add two nights in the southern Serengeti for the calving season
- +Extend Zanzibar to a full week
- +Begin with a night in Arusha to break the journey
- +Upgrade to a private safari vehicle and guide throughout
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