11 Day Tanzania Great Migration Safari + Zanzibar Beach
Overview
Enjoy the best of both worlds with this 11 Days Tanzania Great Migration Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience the thrill of wildlife and rest and relaxation on the tropical island of Zanzibar. This itinerary has been thoughtfully put together for the traveller seeking the ultimate East African experience and combines the world famous Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti with unforgettable cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. Whether you are a honeymooner, wildlife lover, photographer or family this safari is the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation.
Your journey starts in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, before heading to the elephant sanctuary of Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is a great place to start your wildlife safari in Tanzania and is famous for its amazing baobab trees, ancient landscapes and some of the largest elephant populations in East Africa. The park is home to large herds of elephants, graceful giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and many predators. It is a paradise for bird lovers with over 550 species of bird.
Journey continues to the cultural heart of northern Tanzania with a visit to Lake Eyasi, the home of the intriguing Hadzabe Tribe, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer groups in Africa. With local guides you will learn about their unique way of life, their traditional hunting techniques and ancient survival skills handed down for thousands of years. You will also visit the neighbouring Datoga Tribe renowned for their amazing blacksmithing skills and rich cultural traditions, a rare opportunity to experience authentic Tanzanian heritage.
Then drive into the beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you will descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera and one of Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts an incredible density of wildlife, with the endangered black rhinoceros, lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, jackals and many bird species amongst the animals found there. The crater’s lush grasslands, forests and soda lake make it one of the most incredible safari destinations on earth.
From Ngorongoro we journey into the legendary Central Serengeti with its vast golden plains and excellent game viewing all year round. In the Seronera Valley, you can see some of Africa’s best predator viewing, with lions, leopards and cheetahs hunting amongst vast herds of grazers. Each game drive brings new wildlife encounters and highlights the incredible biodiversity that has earned Serengeti National Park a spot as one of the world’s most famous safari destinations.
Your safari highlight is the Northern Serengeti where the legendary Great Wildebeest Migration hits its most dramatic phase. Between roughly July and October, over two million wildebeest, and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, herd their way to the Mara River in search of greener pastures. Watching thousands of animals bravely crossing crocodile-ridden rivers with predators lurking is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Your full-day game drive allows plenty of time to search for these famous river crossings, as well as elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and many other species.
Following your unforgettable safari, board a scenic domestic flight from the Northern Serengeti to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar Island, where a whole new adventure awaits you. Famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters, powder white beaches, vibrant reefs of coral and rich Swahili culture Zanzibar is a snorkeler’s paradise. For the next three full days you can relax on the stunning beaches of Nungwi, Kendwa or Kiwengwa, enjoy some swimming and sunbathing or explore the island with optional activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, dolphin tours, spice farm visits, traditional dhow cruises, Prison Island excursions and the historic streets of UNESCO-listed Stone Town.
Whether you are relaxing on the beach beneath swaying palms with the Indian Ocean lapping at your toes, or experiencing the wonderful blend of African, Arab and European cultures that Zanzibar has to offer, the island is the perfect place to end your Tanzanian adventure.
You will be travelling in a professionally maintained 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser Safari Vehicle with a pop up roof and driven by an experienced professional Driver Guide dedicated to providing you with the best possible wildlife viewing opportunities and personalised service throughout your journey. Throughout your holiday, carefully selected lodges, tented camps and beachfront resorts ensure your comfort, relaxation and the best in authentic African hospitality.
The 11 Days Tanzania Great Migration Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday is the ideal combination of the best safari destinations in Tanzania and one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world. Each day is packed with experiences that will give you memories to last a lifetime, from witnessing the awe-inspiring Great Migration and visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, to meeting indigenous tribes and relaxing on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. This is the ultimate East African trip for travellers seeking wildlife, culture, adventure and luxury all rolled into one extraordinary vacation.
Safari Itinerary
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by your professional Tanzaniatrail representative who will give you a warm welcome. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you will be transferred to your comfortable hotel in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Safari Circuit. Depending on when you arrive you might want to relax at the hotel, enjoy the gardens, or tour the area. Later your safari guide will give you a detailed briefing about the journey ahead including the wildlife destinations, cultural activities, domestic flight and Zanzibar beach stay. Have Dinner and Overnight. Get ready for your unforgettable Tanzania Great Migration Safari and Zanzibar holiday.
Meals: Not Included
Comfort Accommodation: Forest Hill Hotel
Premium Accommodation: Ngaresero Lodge
After breakfast, leave Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park for your first exciting game drive. The park is famous for its large herds of elephants, ancient baobab trees and the beauty of the Tarangire River scenery. Keep an eye out for lions, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, warthogs and an impressive array of birdlife. In the dry season large numbers of animals congregate around the river and provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before continuing with your afternoon game drive. Drive through the scenic highlands to Karatu, after Tarangire, where you will have dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge
Premium Accommodation: Kitela Lodge
After an early breakfast depart for the Lake Eyasi region for an unforgettable cultural experience with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities. Spend time with the Hadzabe, one of Africa’s last hunter-gatherer communities, and explore their traditional way of life, survival skills and deep connection with the natural world. Depending on the programme for the day you might see demonstrations of traditional hunting, fire making and food gathering. Then move on to the neighbouring Datoga community, who are known for their livestock keeping, metalworking and traditional craftsmanship. Discover how local blacksmiths forge tools and jewellery using techniques passed down through generations. After this meaningful cultural experience, return to Karatu for relaxation, dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge
Premium Accommodation: Kitela Lodge
After an early breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend approximately 600 metres into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy a rewarding game drive across the crater floor, in search of lions, buffaloes, elephants, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas and the endangered black rhinoceros. The grasslands, forests, wetlands and soda lake of the crater support an extraordinary density of wildlife all year round. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a scenic spot and then drive up the rim of the crater. Continue through the Ngorongoro highlands across the plains towards Central Serongeti. After an evening game drive in the wildlife-rich Seronera area, transfer to your lodge or tented camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Serenity Camps and Lodges
Premium Accommodation: Serengeti Luxury Retreat
After breakfast, head out for a game drive through Central Serengeti on the way north to the remote and spectacular Northern Serengeti. The scenery changes from the riverine habitats and rocky kopjes of the Seronera Valley to the rolling plains and wooded landscapes of the north throughout the journey, providing continuous wildlife viewing. Look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas and many plains animals along the way. In the season of the Great Migration, herds of wildebeest and zebra pour through this area on their way to the Mara River. Arrive in the Northern Serengeti in the afternoon, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring and then head to your lodge or migration camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Serengeti Kifaru Tented Lodge
Premium Accommodation: In The Wind
Full day exploring Northern Serengeti, the heart of the Great Migration during the river crossing season. Your expert guide will follow the game movements and look for herds congregating around the Mara River. River crossings can't be timetabled or guaranteed, but if you're patient you may be rewarded with one of nature's most dramatic spectacles as wildebeest and zebras make their way through the water. The area also boasts some great resident wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, topis and elands. Have a picnic lunch in the bush before continuing with your afternoon game drive. Return to your lodge after sunset for dinner and a relaxed evening in the Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: Serengeti Kifaru Tented Lodge
Premium Accommodation: In The Wind
Get up early for your last morning game drive in Northern Serengeti, when the wildlife is active and the soft light provides excellent photography opportunities. Continue looking for migration herds, predators and other wildlife across the northern plains before returning for breakfast or enjoying a packed meal depending on your flight schedule. Later you will be transferred to Kogatende Airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar. Enjoy the changing Tanzanian landscapes from the air during the flight before touching down on the island in the Indian Ocean. On arrival the Zanzibar representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your selected beach resort. Check in, relax and enjoy your first evening by the turquoise ocean.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: The Z Hotel Zanzibar
Premium Accommodation: Zuri Zanzibar
Relax on the stunning beaches of Zanzibar for the next three days, with white sands, turquoise waters and swaying palm trees providing the perfect tropical escape. You can relax at your beachfront resort, swim in the warm Indian Ocean, or enjoy optional activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, a traditional dhow sunset cruise, or the famous Safari Blue excursion. Also you could explore the historic streets of Stone Town, visit a traditional spice farm or discover the giant tortoises on Prison Island. Zanzibar is the perfect ending to your Tanzania Great Migration Safari and whether you are looking for adventure or total relaxation you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the island, its warm hospitality and its unforgettable coastal atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Comfort Accommodation: The Z Hotel Zanzibar
Premium Accommodation: Zuri Zanzibar
Enjoy breakfast and some final leisure time at your resort, depending on your international flight schedule. Later, you will be transferred privately to Zanzibar International Airport for your onward journey. Your 11 Days Tanzania Great Migration Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday concludes with unforgettable memories of Tarangire’s elephants, the traditions of the Hadzabe and Datoga communities, the wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater, the endless Serengeti plains, the Great Migration and Zanzibar’s beautiful beaches. Arrive at the airport with sufficient time to complete check-in and departure procedures. We wish you a pleasant journey home and hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another remarkable adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
MID-RANGE INCLUDES
- All Meals as per Itinerary
- Airport Transfers
- National Park Fees
- Private 4x4 safari Jeep with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Government taxes and levies
- Soft Drinks & Wines/Beers
- Domestic Flight
MID-RANGE EXCLUDES
- Travel Insurance
- International Flights
- Tipping
- Personal Equipments
- Visa fees
LUXURY INCLUDES
- All Meals as per Itinerary
- VIP airport pick-up and drop-off
- All national park and conservation area fees
- Private 4x4 safari Jeep with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Government taxes and levies
- Soft Drinks & Wines/Beers
- Premium accommodation in high-end lodges or luxury tented camps
- Domestic Flight
LUXURY EXCLUDES
- Travel Insurance
- International Flights
- Tipping
- Personal Equipments
- Visa fees
- Premium wines and spirits (unless specified)
FAQs
The Great Migration is the largest land-based wildlife migration on Earth, involving over 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras, and thousands of gazelles as they move in a circular path through the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water. This incredible journey is filled with dramatic scenes of river crossings, predator hunts, calving, and long-distance movement—making it one of the most breathtaking wildlife spectacles in the world.
The migration is year-round, but the best time depends on what you want to see:
Dec–Mar (Calving Season): Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) – Wildebeest give birth; predator action is intense.
Apr–May (Green Season): Central Serengeti – Herds begin moving north.
Jun–July (Grumeti River Crossings): Western Serengeti – Smaller river crossings; good predator sightings.
Aug–Oct (Mara River Crossings): Northern Serengeti – Dramatic river crossings, crocodile attacks.
Nov: Herds return south toward Ndutu.
No. While wildebeest dominate the scene, the migration includes zebras, gazelles, and eland, as well as predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and vultures. It's an interconnected drama of prey and predators across the plains.
The migration is continuous and cyclical, with the herds covering 1,800+ km (1,100+ miles) each year. It’s a full-year phenomenon, not just a single event.
Ideally, 6–12 days allow for deep exploration, including time in Serengeti, Ndutu, and/or Ngorongoro Crater. This provides flexibility to track the herds and enjoy other parks along the way.
Yes! The migration can be part of a romantic honeymoon, family safari, or photography tour. It’s perfect for all ages, although kids under 6 may need custom arrangements.
While Kenya's Maasai Mara is part of the migration route, Tanzania hosts 80% of the migration—including calving season and longer durations of the herds' stay. Tanzania offers more diversity and larger wildlife populations over a longer period.
Yes. Popular combinations include:
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara
Zanzibar beach extension
Tanzaniatrail can tailor your trip based on your interests and timing.
Dec–Mar (Ndutu): Warm days, occasional showers, green scenery
Jun–Oct (Serengeti North): Dry season, cooler nights, best for river crossings
April–May: Rainy, but fewer tourists and lush landscapes (great for photographers)
Tanzaniatrail offers expert-guided, mid-range photographic safaris with flexible routing, small group sizes or private tours, and up-to-date tracking of herd movements. We personalize each safari to ensure you’re in the right place at the right time—with comfort and great service.
Contact us directly:
📧 info@tanzaniatrail.co.tz
📱 +255 764 987 596
We’ll help you plan the perfect route, pick the best dates and locations, and ensure you get the most from this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.
Yes. The Great Migration is one of the world’s most popular wildlife events, and lodges fill up quickly—especially in Ndutu (calving season) and the Northern Serengeti (river crossings). Booking 6–12 months in advance is highly recommended.
Yes. The migration is a year-round circular movement. Even outside the famous seasons, you can still witness massive herds, predator action, and dramatic scenes across the Serengeti.
June to October and December to February are the best months—sunny skies, calm seas, and warm temperatures. Zanzibar is beautiful year-round, but April–May are rainy.
Nungwi and Kendwa in the north have crystal-clear water and the least tidal movement—perfect for swimming and beach activities. Paje and Jambiani are best for kitesurfing.
Most travelers prefer 3–6 nights, depending on whether they want pure relaxation or a mix of activities.
Yes. There are daily flights from Serengeti airstrips to Zanzibar, saving time and avoiding returning to Arusha.
Giving Back Through Every Journey
At Tanzaniatrail, we believe that travel should create lasting memories and make a positive difference. That’s why 1% of every safari package you book goes directly back to local communities in Tanzania. We regularly visit and support orphanages and community centers, and our dream is to establish a dedicated children’s home under Tanzaniatrail’s care. When you travel with us, you’re not only exploring Tanzania’s beauty — you’re also helping provide education, food, and brighter futures for vulnerable children. Your adventure changes lives. Travel with purpose.