Zanzibar After a Safari: How to Combine Tanzania's Wildlife and Beaches
Quick answer
Zanzibar is the classic way to end a Tanzania safari. Fly from Arusha or Kilimanjaro (about 1–1.5 hours) or from a Serengeti airstrip (about 2 hours, often with a stop) and spend 3 to 6 days on the island. Most travellers do the safari first. Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast are the easiest beaches for swimming at any tide.
Last updated: 16 October 2026 · By Innocent Fraterine, Livingwell Tours and Safaris
After early starts, dusty roads and the excitement of the Big Five, Zanzibar offers the opposite: warm sea, white sand, fresh seafood and slow island days. Combining the two is one of the most popular trips in East Africa, and it is easy to arrange. This guide explains how to connect them and how long to stay.
Sample Safari and Zanzibar Trips
These combinations use our own safaris from Arusha and our Zanzibar packages. Each can be adjusted to your dates.
| Total trip | Safari | Zanzibar | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 3-day Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro | 4-day package | A short holiday with the Big Five and a beach |
| 8–9 days | 4-day Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro | 4-day or 5-day package | First-time visitors |
| 10–12 days | 5-day northern circuit or 6-day northern circuit | 5-day package | The classic combination with the Serengeti |
| 12–14 days | 7-day Serengeti migration safari | 5-day package or 7-day itinerary | The Great Migration and a long beach stay |
Safari First or Zanzibar First?
Most travellers do the safari first and finish on the beach. The safari is active, dusty and full of early starts, so ending in Zanzibar gives you time to rest before the long flight home, and you can fly out of Zanzibar's international airport.
Starting in Zanzibar works well too, especially if you are already on the island. In that case, see our safaris from Zanzibar, from a 2-day trip to a 5-day northern circuit.
How Do You Get from the Safari to Zanzibar?
| From | Flight time to Zanzibar | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arusha (ARK) or Kilimanjaro (JRO) | About 1–1.5 hours | The usual route after a northern circuit safari ending in Arusha |
| Serengeti (Seronera) | About 2 hours, often with a stop | Saves the long drive back to Arusha at the end of your safari |
| Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) | Longer, usually with stops | For migration safaris from July to October |
| Nyerere (Selous) | About 45–75 minutes | From the southern circuit |
- Bush flights allow about 15 kg per person in a soft bag, so plan your luggage for the whole trip
- Road and ferry is possible but takes a full day or more and is not recommended after a safari
- If your safari ends late, fly to Zanzibar the next morning rather than rushing the last game drive
Our guide to flights between Zanzibar and the safari parks covers airlines, airstrips and baggage in detail.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Zanzibar?
| Days on the island | What fits | Our packages |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 days | One excursion and a beach day | 2-day and 3-day packages |
| 4–5 days | Two excursions and two relaxed beach or free days | 4-day and 5-day packages |
| 7 days | Stone Town, the north coast and the east coast | 7-day Zanzibar itinerary |
Three to four days suits most travellers after a four- or five-day safari. On a two-week trip, plan four to six days on the island.
Which Beach Is Best After a Safari?
| Area | Why choose it |
|---|---|
| Nungwi and Kendwa (north) | Calm water you can swim in at almost any tide, plenty of restaurants and easy boat trips |
| Paje and Jambiani (east) | Wide, quiet beaches, kitesurfing and a relaxed café scene; large tides, so plan swims around them |
| Matemwe (north-east) | Very peaceful and close to Mnemba Atoll for snorkelling |
| Stone Town | One or two nights for history and food before or after the beach |
Our Zanzibar beach guide compares every beach and gives example hotels by budget. Our Zanzibar packages use our private villa in Shakani on the west coast, with transfers to the excursions and to the north-coast beaches included.
What to Do in Zanzibar After a Safari
You don't need to do much, but if you would like some light activity:
- A day on the water with Safari Blue: snorkelling, a sandbank and a seafood lunch
- A Stone Town walking tour and spice farm
- The giant tortoises of Prison Island
- Swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave, included in our 3-day packages
- Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, a sunset dhow cruise or a spa day
Practical Tips
- Your Tanzanian visa covers Zanzibar; no separate visa is needed
- Zanzibar requires visitors to hold its mandatory travel insurance, which you can buy online before you arrive
- Continue any antimalarial medication for as long as your doctor advises after the safari
- A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you arrive from, or have spent time in, a country with a risk of yellow fever
Our safari planning guide covers entry rules and packing in more detail.
More on safaris from Zanzibar
Guides
- How much does a safari from Zanzibar cost?: prices by length and comfort level, what is included and how to save
- How many days do you need for a safari from Zanzibar?: 2- to 10-day plans, including the best 7-day itineraries
- Flights from Zanzibar to the safari parks: airlines, airstrips, flight times and baggage rules
- How to plan and book a safari from Zanzibar: choosing an operator, vehicles, US visa rules and a packing list
- Best safari tours departing from Zanzibar: the complete overview
Safari packages from Zanzibar
- 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 (Northern circuit incl. Serengeti, or Serengeti migration): Safari from $1,450 + flights
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I do the safari or Zanzibar first?
Most travellers do the safari first and finish on the beach to relax before flying home. Starting in Zanzibar also works, with a short fly-in safari from the island.
How do I get from my safari to Zanzibar?
Fly. Flights from Arusha or Kilimanjaro take about 1–1.5 hours, and from a Serengeti airstrip about 2 hours, often with a stop. Road and ferry take a full day or more.
How many days should I spend in Zanzibar after a safari?
Three to four days after a four- or five-day safari works well. On a two-week trip, plan four to six days on the island.
Which Zanzibar beach is best after a safari?
Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast, where you can swim at almost any tide. Paje and Jambiani on the east coast are quieter but have large tides.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Your Tanzanian visa covers Zanzibar. Visitors do need Zanzibar's mandatory travel insurance.
Can I fly from the Serengeti straight to Zanzibar?
Yes. Scheduled flights connect Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar, which saves the long drive back to Arusha.
Can Livingwell arrange the safari and the beach together?
Yes. We arrange the safari, the flight to Zanzibar and your stay on the island as one trip. See our Tanzania safaris and Zanzibar packages.
Plan Your Safari and Zanzibar Trip
Tell us your dates and the balance you want between bush and beach. We will send a day-by-day plan with the safari, the flight to Zanzibar and your island stay arranged together.
Get a Custom Quote