4-Day Tanzania Safari from Zanzibar: Ngorongoro & Serengeti

4-Day Private Safari from Zanzibar — Ngorongoro, Tarangire or Serengeti

Safari from $1,300 + flights

Four Days: Enough Time for the Crater and More

Ngorongoro Crater

Lion, elephant, buffalo and black rhino in one caldera

Tarangire or Serengeti

Elephant country, or Tanzania's most famous plains

Lake Manyara

Tree-climbing lions and flamingos

Private Guide and Vehicle

Your own 4x4 with a pop-up roof

Flights from Zanzibar

Start and finish on the island

Three Nights in the Bush

Lodges or tented camps near each park

4-Day Safari from Zanzibar — How the Price Works

Safari Price Plus Flights from Zanzibar

Option	Safari price per person (from Arusha)	Flights from Zanzibar
Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro	From $1,300	Quoted for your dates
Ngorongoro & Serengeti	From $1,500	Quoted for your dates

Safari prices are per person and start from Arusha. We add the flights from Zanzibar and send one total price for your dates and group size.

How a 4-Day Safari from Zanzibar Works

Four days is the length where a safari from Zanzibar stops feeling rushed. You fly to Arusha, spend three nights near the parks and have time for a full day in Ngorongoro Crater, the best place in Tanzania to see the Big Five on a short trip.

There are two routes. The first combines Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater and is based on our 4-day Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro safari, from $1,300 per person from Arusha. The second adds the Serengeti and is based on our 4-day Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire safari, from $1,500. We add the flights from Zanzibar and quote the total for your dates.

Our safaris are private, so your group has its own guide and vehicle and can stop wherever the wildlife is; shared-vehicle departures cost less if you prefer. If you would like to arrange a private safari of four days or more, tell us your dates and we will send an itinerary and a quote.

Departure	Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
Duration	4 days, 3 nights
Parks	Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro, or Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Style	Private guide and 4x4 vehicle
Includes	Return flights between Zanzibar and Arusha (and a Serengeti airstrip on Option 2) Park entrance fees and the Ngorongoro crater service fee Private English-speaking safari guide Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof Three nights in lodges or tented camps with meals Drinking water on game drives
Excludes	International flights and visa fees Travel insurance and Zanzibar's mandatory visitor insurance Gratuities for guides and camp staff Drinks and personal expenses Excess baggage above the bush-flight allowance

Option 1: Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro

Based on our 4-day Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro safari, with flights from Zanzibar. Flight times are confirmed when you book.

Day 1

Fly to Arusha · Tarangire National Park

Morning flight from Zanzibar to Arusha (about 1–1.5 hours), then the drive to Tarangire for an afternoon game drive among elephant herds and baobabs. Night near the park.
Day 2

Tarangire to Lake Manyara

A morning in Tarangire, then on to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive along the lake shore, home to tree-climbing lions and flamingos. Night in the Manyara or Karatu area.
Day 3

Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro

Drive up to the Ngorongoro highlands and the crater rim, with views over the caldera. Night near the crater.
Day 4

Ngorongoro Crater · Return to Zanzibar

Descend to the crater floor early for a game drive among lion, elephant, buffalo and black rhino, then drive back to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar. If the last flight has left, we arrange a night in Arusha and an early flight next morning.

Option 2: Ngorongoro and the Serengeti

Based on our 4-day Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire safari, finishing with a flight from the Serengeti back to Zanzibar.

Day 1

Fly to Arusha · Ngorongoro Highlands

Morning flight from Zanzibar to Arusha, then the drive to the Ngorongoro area. Night near the crater.
Day 2

Ngorongoro Crater to the Central Serengeti

A game drive on the crater floor, then on to the central Serengeti for an afternoon drive on the plains. Night in the Serengeti.
Day 3

Full Day in the Serengeti

A full day following the wildlife across the plains, with lion, cheetah and, depending on the season, the herds of the Great Migration. Night in the Serengeti.
Day 4

Morning Drive · Fly Back to Zanzibar

A last morning game drive, then a scheduled flight from a Serengeti airstrip back to Zanzibar (about 2 hours, sometimes with a stop).

Which 4-Day Route Should You Choose?

	Option 1: Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro	Option 2: Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Best for	Variety of landscapes and the Big Five in Ngorongoro	The Serengeti plains and the Great Migration
Travel	Mostly by road from Arusha	Road in, flight out from the Serengeti
Safari price from	$1,300 per person + flights	$1,500 per person + flights
Migration	Not on this route	Depends on the month; see the calendar below

For the herds, January and February bring the calving season to the southern Serengeti, and the river crossings in the north usually happen from July to September. For the crossings, our 5-day safari from Zanzibar allows more time in the north.

What Vehicle and Guide Will You Have?

Safaris in northern Tanzania are run in 4x4 vehicles with a pop-up roof for game viewing and photography, usually a Toyota Land Cruiser. On our private safaris the vehicle and the guide are for your group only, so you choose how long to stay at each sighting.

Read more about vehicles, operators and booking in our guide to planning a safari from Zanzibar.

What Should You Pack?

Bush flights allow about 15 kg per person in a soft bag, so pack light and leave your beach luggage in Zanzibar. Ngorongoro is about 2,300 metres above sea level, so bring warm layers for the crater rim.

Neutral-coloured clothing in layers: mornings and evenings can be cold, especially on the Ngorongoro rim
A warm fleece or jacket and a hat for early game drives
Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
Sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent
Comfortable closed shoes
Any personal medication, plus copies of your passport and insurance

The full list is in our guide to planning a safari from Zanzibar.

When Is the Best Time to Go?

June to October is the most reliable time for wildlife in every park. Ngorongoro Crater has resident wildlife all year, so it is good in any month.

Months	What to expect
June – October	Dry season: the most reliable wildlife viewing in every park; the busiest and most expensive months
November – December	Short rains; green scenery and fewer visitors
January – February	Calving season in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu), with peak predator activity; good value
March – May	Long rains, heaviest in April and May; the lowest prices, and some camps close

See the best time for a Tanzania safari and our safari cost guide for how the season affects prices.

Compare Our Safaris from Zanzibar

All of our safaris from Zanzibar start and end on the island, with flights, park fees and your guide arranged in one booking. Choose by the time you have and the parks you want to see.

Safari	Parks	Price per person
2-Day Safari from Zanzibar	Tarangire & Lake Manyara, or Nyerere	Safari from $750 + flights
3-Day Safari from Zanzibar	Nyerere, or Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara	From $1,200, flights included
4-Day Safari from Zanzibar (this page)	Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro, or Ngorongoro & Serengeti	Safari from $1,300 + flights
5-Day Safari from Zanzibar	Northern circuit incl. Serengeti, or Serengeti migration	Safari from $1,450 + flights

Still deciding? Read how many days you need, what a safari from Zanzibar costs and how the flights work, or see every option on our safaris from Zanzibar page.

Questions About a 4-Day Safari from Zanzibar

What does a 4-day safari from Zanzibar include?

Return flights from Zanzibar, park fees including the Ngorongoro crater service fee, a private guide and 4x4 vehicle, three nights in lodges or tented camps with meals, and drinking water on game drives.

How much does a 4-day safari from Zanzibar cost?

The safari costs from $1,300 per person from Arusha for Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, or from $1,500 with the Serengeti. Flights from Zanzibar are added and quoted for your dates.

Can I see the Serengeti in 4 days from Zanzibar?

Yes, on Option 2: Ngorongoro Crater, then two days in the Serengeti, flying back to Zanzibar from a Serengeti airstrip.

Will I see the Big Five?

Ngorongoro Crater gives you the best chance on a short trip: lion, elephant, buffalo and black rhino are seen fairly consistently, and leopard sometimes.

Can I arrange a private safari of 4 days or more?

Yes. Our safaris are private, with your own guide and vehicle. Tell us your dates, group size and the parks you would like to see, and we will send an itinerary and quote.

What is the baggage limit on the flights?

Most scheduled safari flights allow 15 kg per person in total, including hand luggage, in a soft-sided bag; some airlines allow 20 kg. Leave your main suitcase at your Zanzibar hotel. See our guide to flights from Zanzibar to the safari parks.

Do I need a separate visa for the mainland?

No. Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania share one visa, so the visa you entered with covers the safari. Zanzibar also requires visitors to hold its mandatory travel insurance. Our planning guide covers entry rules and packing.

When is the best time for a 4-day safari?

June to October for the most reliable wildlife, or January and February for the calving season in the southern Serengeti. Ngorongoro is good all year.

Can I combine the safari with a beach stay?

Yes. Most guests spend a few days in Zanzibar before or after. See our Zanzibar packages.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations made more than 7 days before the start date receive a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days may incur a partial fee, depending on bookings already made on your behalf, such as flights and camps. We recommend travel insurance.