5-Day Private Safari from Zanzibar — Northern Circuit or Serengeti Migration
Safari from $1,450 + flights
The Classic Northern Circuit from Zanzibar
Serengeti National Park
A full day on Tanzania's most famous plains
Ngorongoro Crater
The best Big Five day on a short safari
Tarangire Elephants
Huge herds among baobab trees
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions and flamingos
Fly Back from the Serengeti
No long drive back to Arusha
Private Guide and Vehicle
Your own 4x4 with a pop-up roof
5-Day Safari from Zanzibar — How the Price Works
Safari Price Plus Flights from Zanzibar
| Option | Safari price per person (from Arusha) | Flights from Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| Northern circuit | From $1,450 | Quoted for your dates |
| Serengeti migration | From $2,400 | Quoted for your dates |
Safari prices are per person and start from Arusha. We add the flights from Zanzibar and the Serengeti and send one total price for your dates and group size.
How a 5-Day Safari from Zanzibar Works
Five days is the classic length for a safari from Zanzibar. It is enough to visit four parks, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, and to fly back to the island from a Serengeti airstrip instead of driving back to Arusha.
Option 1 is based on our 5-day northern circuit safari, from $1,450 per person from Arusha. Option 2 follows the Great Migration and is based on our 5-day Serengeti migration safari, from $2,400. We add the flights from Zanzibar and quote one total for your dates.
A typical 5-day safari from Zanzibar includes your flights, park fees, a private guide and 4x4 vehicle, four nights in lodges or tented camps with meals, and drinking water. The table below explains what is and isn't included.
| Departure | Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) |
| Duration | 5 days, 4 nights |
| Parks | Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti |
| Style | Private guide and 4x4 vehicle |
| Includes |
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| Excludes |
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Option 1: The Northern Circuit in 5 Days
Based on our 5-day northern circuit safari, with a flight from Zanzibar on Day 1 and from the Serengeti back to Zanzibar on Day 5.
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Day 1Fly 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 elephants and baobabs. Night near the park.
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Day 2Tarangire to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Highlands
A game drive at Lake Manyara, then up to the Ngorongoro highlands. Night near the crater.
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Day 3Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti
Descend into the crater for a morning game drive, then drive to the central Serengeti for the evening. Night in the Serengeti.
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Day 4Full Day in the Central Serengeti
A full day on the plains, looking for lion, leopard, cheetah and, depending on the season, the herds of the Great Migration. Night in the Serengeti.
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Day 5Morning Drive · Fly Back to Zanzibar
A last morning game drive, then a scheduled flight from a Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar (about 2 hours, sometimes with a stop).
Option 2: Serengeti Migration Safari in 5 Days
Based on our 5-day Serengeti migration safari. Best from July to October, when the herds are in the northern Serengeti.
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Day 1Fly to the Central Serengeti
Fly from Zanzibar to a Serengeti airstrip, usually via Arusha, and start with an afternoon game drive. Night in the Serengeti.
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Day 2Full Day in the Central Serengeti
A full day of game drives in the Seronera area, known for its big cats.
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Day 3To the Northern Serengeti and the Mara River
Drive north towards the Mara River, following the herds. Night in the northern Serengeti.
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Day 4Full Day in the Northern Serengeti
A day near the Mara River, waiting for a crossing. Crossings depend on the herds and can never be guaranteed.
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Day 5Fly Back to Zanzibar
A morning drive, then a flight from a northern Serengeti airstrip back to Zanzibar.
What Is Included in a 5-Day Safari from Zanzibar?
| Usually included | Usually not included |
|---|---|
| Flights between Zanzibar and the parks | International flights and visa fees |
| Park entrance fees and the Ngorongoro crater fee | Travel insurance, and Zanzibar's mandatory visitor insurance |
| Private guide and 4x4 vehicle | Tips for guides and camp staff |
| Four nights' accommodation with meals | Drinks and personal expenses |
| Game drives and drinking water | Excess baggage above the flight allowance |
"All-inclusive" safaris from Zanzibar usually mean everything in the left-hand column. Always check whether flights, park fees and the crater fee are in the price. Our safari cost guide breaks the costs down.
Where Will You Stay?
Five-day safaris use lodges and tented camps near each park. You choose the comfort level, and we match the camps to your budget and route.
| Comfort level | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Budget | Simple lodges or tented camps outside the park gates, with en-suite rooms and set meals |
| Mid-range | Comfortable lodges and tented camps inside or close to the parks, many with pools and views |
| Luxury | Small, high-end tented camps and lodges in prime wildlife areas, with fine dining and personal service |
Well-known lodge groups such as Serena and Sopa have properties in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, alongside many independent tented camps. Tell us your preferences and we will suggest camps that fit.
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 in every park, and July to October is when the herds are usually in the northern Serengeti. January and February bring the calving season in the south.
| 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 | Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro, or Ngorongoro & Serengeti | Safari from $1,300 + flights |
| 5-Day Safari from Zanzibar (this page) | 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 5-Day Safari from Zanzibar
Flights between Zanzibar and the parks, park fees including the Ngorongoro crater fee, a private guide and 4x4 vehicle, four nights in lodges or tented camps with meals, and drinking water. International flights, visas, insurance, tips and drinks are extra.
The safari costs from $1,450 per person from Arusha for the northern circuit, or from $2,400 for the Serengeti migration safari. Flights from Zanzibar are added and quoted for your dates.
Yes. We can include flights, park fees, accommodation, meals, guide and vehicle in one price. Drinks, tips, visas and insurance are usually extra.
We match lodges and tented camps to your budget and route, from simple camps outside the parks to luxury tented camps. Lodge groups such as Serena and Sopa have properties in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Yes, with the right timing. The herds are usually in the northern Serengeti from July to October and in the southern Serengeti for calving in January and February.
Flying from a Serengeti airstrip back to Zanzibar saves a full day of driving back to Arusha, so you have more time with the wildlife.
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.
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.
Yes. See our guide to how many days you need for a safari from Zanzibar, including 7- to 10-day plans.
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.