12 Day Savannah to Sandbank: Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar
Amboseli, Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then three nights of Zanzibar sand and Stone Town.
Go beyond the expected.
A twelve-day safari and beach journey. Eight days of game viewing across Kenya and Tanzania, then a short flight to Zanzibar for beach days and an afternoon in Stone Town and the spice farms.
- Amboseli below Kilimanjaro
- Tarangire's baobabs and elephants
- Two nights in the Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater descent
- Mnemba boat trip with dolphins and snorkelling from Kendwa
- Stone Town and a spice tour
What's included
Included
- All accommodation as specified
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Guided activities as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Your guide meets you for a briefing.
Day 2 Nairobi to Amboseli
Nairobi and Amboseli National Park
Drive south to Amboseli National Park for an afternoon game drive with Kilimanjaro behind the herds.
Day 3 Amboseli to Arusha
Amboseli National Park, Namanga Border and Arusha
A morning game drive, then cross at Namanga into Tanzania and continue to Arusha.
Day 4 Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
A full day in Tarangire among elephants, baobabs and birdlife.
Day 5 To the Serengeti
Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park
A long scenic drive over the Ngorongoro highlands and Olduvai Gorge into the Serengeti.
Day 6 Full day in the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives on the Serengeti plains.
Day 7 Serengeti to Ngorongoro
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A last Serengeti morning, then drive to the Ngorongoro rim.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha
Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha
A morning descent into the crater, then drive to Arusha via Lake Manyara.
Day 9 Fly to Zanzibar
Arusha, Zanzibar and Kendwa
A morning flight from Arusha to Zanzibar, then transfer to your beach hotel on the north coast at Kendwa, with the afternoon free on the beach.
Day 10 Mnemba boat trip, dolphins and snorkelling
Kendwa, Nungwi and Mnemba Atoll
A four-hour boat trip that leaves the beach at about 8:00 am. Cruise the coast looking for wild dolphins, then snorkel over the coral reefs of Mnemba Atoll's protected waters (the island itself is private, so you stay on the water). Depending on the tide, relax and swim at the Mnemba sandbank, or at Muyuni or Jomba Beach if the tide is high. Back at the beach around 12:30 pm, with fruit, soft drinks and snorkel gear provided. You need to be comfortable swimming in the sea, and the trip is not suited to anyone prone to motion sickness. The afternoon is free.
Day 11 Stone Town and spice tour
Stone Town and Zanzibar spice farms
A morning spice-farm tour, then a guided walk through Stone Town's alleys, markets and the Old Fort.
Day 12 Departure
Zanzibar
Transfer to Zanzibar's airport for your flight.
On this safari
Places you will visit
NairobiExplore place →
Nairobi National ParkExplore place →
Amboseli National ParkExplore place →
Arusha National ParkExplore place →ArushaExplore place →
Tarangire National ParkExplore place →
Serengeti National ParkExplore place →
Ngorongoro Conservation AreaExplore place →
Zanzibar Stone TownExplore place →
Kendwa BeachExplore place →Nungwi BeachExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
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Gorilla and Beach Safari: Combine Gorillas with Zanzibar
Pair a forest trek with a few days on the coast.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 12 Day Savannah to Sandbank: Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes. Pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
How do I get to Zanzibar?
Zanzibar has its own international airport near Stone Town, served by direct international flights and short connections from Dar es Salaam and the northern safari circuit’s airstrips near Arusha and Kilimanjaro. A fast ferry also runs from Dar es Salaam, typically around two hours.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days. We shape the length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country: from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.