L'Heure du Voyage
🇹🇿 Itinerary · Tanzania · 14 days

2-week Tanzania itinerary 2026: safari and Zanzibar

The tested combo: northern circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro) then the beaches of Zanzibar. 14 days, detailed budget, distances and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€3,500-5,500

Total distance

~1,200 km

Profile

Safari + beach

Season

Jun-Oct

Arusha 1d · Tarangire 2d · Serengeti 3d · Ngorongoro 2d · Stone Town 2d · Nungwi 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Tanzania 2-week itinerary map: Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar, Stone Town, Nungwi

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€120/pers

Arusha · Arrival and safari briefing

  • Morning Landing at Kilimanjaro (JRO). Transfer to Arusha (50 km, 1 h, ~€40).
  • Afternoon Rest for jet lag, currency exchange and briefing with the guide.
  • Evening Dinner at the lodge, gear check (binoculars, repellent, neutral clothing).
🛌 🛌 Arusha · e.g. Mount Meru Hotel (1 night)·🚙 Private 4x4 transfer·Tanzania guide →
2

~€250

Tarangire · First elephants

  • 7am Departure for Tarangire National Park (120 km, 2h30). Entry $53/day.
  • Day Game drive among large elephant herds and centuries-old baobabs.
  • Evening Sunset from camp, next-day briefing.
🛌 🛌 Tarangire · e.g. Tarangire Safari Lodge (2 nights)·🚙 4x4 with open roof
3

~€230

Tarangire · Full safari day

  • Morning Game drive at dawn along the Tarangire River.
  • Midday Bush picnic in the shade of a baobab.
  • Afternoon Big cats and birdlife, back to camp at the end of the day.
4

~€280

Tarangire → Serengeti · Heading northwest

  • 8am Drive to the Serengeti via Ngorongoro (230 km, 5 h of track).
  • Midday Enter the central Serengeti (Seronera), $70.80/day.
  • Afternoon First game drive on the plains: lions, cheetahs, gazelles.
🛌 🛌 Central Serengeti · e.g. Serengeti Sopa Lodge (3 nights)·🚙 4x4, long track
5

~€250

Serengeti · Heart of the plains

  • 6am Morning game drive, the best time for predators.
  • Midday Back to the lodge, rest during the hot hours.
  • 4pm Second game drive, golden light on the kopjes.
6

~€250

Serengeti · Migration and leopards

  • Day Tracking the great migration (northern Serengeti in June-July, southern plains in January-February).
  • Option Sunrise hot-air balloon (~€550, book well ahead).
7

~€280

Serengeti → Ngorongoro · Toward the crater

  • Morning Last game drive leaving the Serengeti, stop at Olduvai Gorge.
  • Afternoon Drive to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater (145 km, 3h30).
  • Evening Sunset over the caldera from the lodge.
🛌 🛌 Crater rim · e.g. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (2 nights)·🚙 4x4
8

~€320

Ngorongoro · Descent into the crater

  • 6:30am Descent into the caldera (vehicle fee $295). Rare animal density: black rhino, lions, flamingos.
  • Midday Picnic at Lake Magadi.
  • Afternoon Climb back up, rest at the lodge.
9

~€280

Ngorongoro → Zanzibar · From bush to ocean

  • Morning Transfer to the Manyara airstrip or back to Arusha.
  • 1pm Domestic flight to Zanzibar (1h20, $200-280) with Coastal Aviation.
  • Evening Check-in Stone Town, first seafood dinner at Forodhani Gardens.
🛌 🛌 Stone Town · e.g. Park Hyatt Zanzibar (2 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight essential
10

~€70

Stone Town · History and spices

  • Morning Guided tour of Stone Town (UNESCO): market, House of Wonders, former slave quays.
  • Afternoon Spice tour on a plantation (clove, cinnamon, vanilla).
  • Evening Sunset on a traditional dhow.
11

~€90

Stone Town → Nungwi · Northern beach

  • Morning Transfer to Nungwi, the northern tip (60 km, 1h30, ~€50).
  • Afternoon White-sand beach, swimming with no tidal constraint.
🛌 🛌 Nungwi · e.g. The Z Hotel (3 nights)·🚐 Private transfer
12

~€80

Nungwi · Mnemba lagoon

  • 8am Snorkeling trip to Mnemba atoll (€45), reefs and turtles.
  • Afternoon Beach rest, optional diving course.
13

~€60

Nungwi · Free day

  • Day Relax, kayaking, or a trip to Kendwa for a sunset swim.
  • Evening Last grilled-fish dinner facing the Indian Ocean.
14

Flight

Zanzibar → France · Return

  • Morning Transfer to Zanzibar airport (ZNZ).
  • Afternoon Return flight to Paris via Addis Ababa, Doha or Nairobi.

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€3,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €750
  • 🏕️ Camps and budget lodges: €90/night
  • 🚙 Shared group safari: €1,200
  • ✈️ Domestic flight Zanzibar: €200
  • 🏖️ Zanzibar guesthouse: €40/night
Recommended

Comfort

€4,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €850
  • 🏨 4★ lodges: €180/night
  • 🚙 Private 4x4 safari + guide: €1,800
  • ✈️ Domestic flight Zanzibar: €250
  • 🏖️ Beach resort: €120/night

Premium

€8,500

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €2,000
  • 🏨 Luxury camps: €600/night
  • 🚙 High-end private safari: €3,500
  • 🎈 Serengeti balloon: €550
  • 🏖️ 5★ Nungwi resort: €350/night

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

Short northern circuit or safari + 2 nights Zanzibar.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

Full northern safari then the beaches of Zanzibar.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour: northern circuit, wild south, Kilimanjaro and archipelago.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

The safari is done entirely in a 4x4 with a driver-guide (self-driving is not allowed on the tracks). A single domestic flight links the mainland to Zanzibar, for ~€250 and a 1h20 flight versus a full day of road + ferry.

🚙

4x4 with driver-guide

Included in the safari package · open roof · track

🛬

Kilimanjaro-Arusha airport transfer

~€40 · 1 h · book through the lodge

✈️

Flight Serengeti/Arusha → Zanzibar

$200-280 · Coastal Aviation / Auric Air · 1h20

🚐

Transfer Stone Town → Nungwi

~€50 · 1h30 · private taxi

🛥️

Mnemba boat trip

€45 · half-day snorkeling

Adapt by season

Dry season for safari, avoid the monsoon

This circuit is at its best from June to October: low vegetation, animals concentrated at waterholes and the most reliable sightings in the Serengeti. From January to March, the calving season in the southern Serengeti is also worth it. Avoid the long rains of April-May: muddy tracks, some lodges closed and overcast skies over Zanzibar. Zanzibar stays pleasant outside April-May, with calm seas on the Nungwi side.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In July 2024, at Ngorongoro at 6:30am, we were among the first vehicles down: two black rhinos within 100 m before the other groups arrived. Always descend right at opening.
  • • Keep 3 full nights in the Serengeti: a single day reduces this huge park to a mere passage.
  • • The domestic flight to Zanzibar rather than road + ferry: a full day saved.
  • • Pick a camp on the eastern side of the Serengeti in June-July to match the migration.
  • • The Stone Town spice tour: underrated, and great for understanding the island's history.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Drop one night in Tarangire to add a night in the Serengeti if the budget allows.
  • • Prefer Kendwa to Nungwi if you want a quieter beach.
  • • Avoid April-May: long rains, difficult tracks and some lodges closed.
  • • Book the balloon at least 2 months ahead, slots go fast in high season.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Can you self-drive during a Tanzania safari? +
No, in practice. The parks require a suitable 4x4 and navigating the tracks is hard. The driver-guide also spots animals far better than a traveler would. The safari is therefore booked as a guided package.
What budget should I plan for 2 weeks in Tanzania? +
Count about €3,500 on a budget basis, €4,500 in comfort and €8,500 in premium, per person, flight from Paris included. The safari makes up over half the budget, park fees included.
Do I need antimalarial treatment? +
Yes, Tanzania is a malaria zone, including Zanzibar. See an international vaccination center before departure. Yellow fever is required if you arrive from an at-risk country.
What's the best period for this circuit? +
June to October: dry season, animals concentrated at waterholes and calm sea in Zanzibar. January-February for calving in the southern Serengeti. Avoid April-May, the long rains.
Can you see the great migration on this itinerary? +
Yes, depending on the month. In June-July, the herds cross the northern Serengeti toward the Mara. In January-February, they are in the southern plains (calving). Match your camp choice to the season.
Is Zanzibar safe after the safari? +
Yes. Zanzibar is safe for travelers. Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town out of respect for local customs, and use hotel-recommended taxis at night.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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