3-Day Serengeti + Ngorongoro Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar
Three days, two nights, one of the world's most famous parks. Designed for travelers already on Zanzibar who want the actual Serengeti — not just a northern Tanzania safari. Round-trip flights from the island included, with a bush flight directly to the Serengeti airstrip on Day 1.
FROM $1,920 per person
Duration
3 Days
Best For
Beach travelers wanting Serengeti
Parks Visited
2
About This Safari
Year-round
About This Trip
The shortest way to see the actual Serengeti — not just a Tanzanian safari.
The 2-day Tarangire fly-in is the cheaper, faster way to add a safari to a Zanzibar holiday — but it doesn't reach the Serengeti. For travelers who specifically want to see the Serengeti (the open plains, the resident lion prides, the migration if the timing works out), this 3-day trip is the shortest option that makes the geography work.
The trick is the bush flight. Instead of driving from Arusha to the Serengeti (a 5-hour journey), you fly directly to a Serengeti airstrip on Day 1 — typically Seronera, in the heart of the park. That single flight saves a full day each way and is what makes the 3-day window possible.
Two nights on safari gives you Day 1 afternoon, all of Day 2, and Day 3 morning of actual game viewing — plus the Ngorongoro Crater on the way back to Arusha. By the time you land back in Zanzibar on Day 3 evening, you've spent meaningful time in both the Serengeti and the crater. Not a substitute for a longer trip, but the right amount when the safari is an add-on to a beach holiday.
"If your beach holiday is in Zanzibar and you really want to see the Serengeti specifically, this is the trip. The bush flight is what makes 3 days enough."
Send Your Enquiry
Get a personal quote
From us directly. Usually within 4 business hours.
OR
Day by Day
The 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Zanzibar → Arusha → bush flight → Serengeti
- Flight: ~1 hour Zanzibar to Arusha
- Bush flight ~1 hour to Serengeti
- Afternoon game drive
Early morning transfer from your Zanzibar hotel to the island’s airport for the one-hour flight to Arusha. On arrival, a brief transfer to the domestic terminal for your bush flight directly to the Serengeti — typically landing at the Seronera airstrip in the heart of the central Serengeti.
Your safari guide and 4×4 vehicle meet you at the airstrip with chilled drinks and a picnic lunch. The afternoon is the first game drive — easing into the central Seronera Valley, the area with the densest predator population in Africa. Lions, possibly leopards, resident herds of zebra and wildebeest, and depending on the season, segments of the Great Migration on the move.
Late afternoon return to your tented camp for sundowners and dinner under stars that look impossibly close at this altitude.
Meals
Lunch (picnic), dinner at camp
Accommodation
Safari Haven Serengeti Camp or similar (mid-range tented)
Today's highlight
First view of the Serengeti from the bush plane — the scale of it from the air
Day 2 — Full day in the Serengeti
- Two game drives: morning and afternoon
- No transfers
The heart of the trip. A full day in the Serengeti with no driving between camps — just game drives. Pre-dawn game drive to find the predators before they retreat from the heat — lions and cheetahs are most active in the first hours of light. Return to camp for a late breakfast, then a quieter midday rest.
Afternoon drive focuses on whatever the morning revealed — following lion prides on the move, finding the resident leopards in acacia trees, or simply watching the long lines of zebra and wildebeest move across the plains. Depending on the season, the Great Migration may be visible (different parts of the migration are in different regions of the Serengeti month by month — Judith will advise on what to expect for your specific travel dates).
Return to camp at sundown. Dinner around the fire pit, surrounded by the sounds of the bush.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation
Same camp as Day 1
Today's highlight
The afternoon when you finally stop trying to count the animals and just watch
Day 3 — Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha → Zanzibar
- Driving: ~4 hours to crater
- Half-day in the crater
- Evening flight back to Zanzibar
Early breakfast and the drive out of the Serengeti through the southern plains, climbing into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The descent into the crater is dramatic — 600 meters of switchbacks down the crater wall into what is essentially a self-contained ecosystem. Inside the 260 square kilometer crater floor live roughly 25,000 large animals, including approximately 50 critically endangered black rhinos.
This is the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa, all visible in a single afternoon. Lions (resident prides), elephants, buffalo, hippos in the central lake, flamingos at Lake Magadi, and — with luck — black rhino. Picnic lunch inside the crater. Ascend the crater wall in the late afternoon for the drive to Arusha Airport.
Evening flight back to Zanzibar. Your beach hotel meets you at Zanzibar Airport on arrival.
Meals
Breakfast, picnic lunch
Onward
Return flight to Zanzibar, transfer to your beach hotel
Today's highlight
The contrast — Serengeti sunrise, crater wildlife, beach sunset, all in one day
Full Transparency
What's Included & What's Not
The price you see covers everything below. We list the exclusions clearly so there are no surprises.
What's Included
Flights:
- Round-trip domestic flights between Zanzibar and Arusha (~1 hour each way)
- Bush flight from Arusha to the Serengeti airstrip (~1 hour)
- All airport transfers in both Zanzibar and Arusha
Safari portion:
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Professional English-speaking safari guide for all 4 days
- All park entry fees (Tarangire and Ngorongoro)
- Ngorongoro Crater service fee
- 2 nights tented camp accommodation in the central Serengeti
- All meals during the safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Drinking water in the safari vehicle (refilled daily)
- Government taxes and conservation levies
- All game drives as per itinerary
General:
- All government taxes and conservation levies
- Rebleko 24/7 guest support throughout the trip
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Tanzania
- Tanzania entry visa ($50 USD for most nationalities, available on arrival)
- Travel insurance (mandatory — we can recommend providers)
- Hotel accommodation before or after the safari (your Zanzibar hotel continues)
- Alcoholic beverages and bottled soft drinks
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, laundry, phone calls
- Tips for guides and drivers (industry standard: $40–$60 per day for safaris)
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Vaccinations and personal travel medications (yellow fever, malaria prophylaxis)
Where You'll Sleep
Accommodation on This Trip
SERENGETI · MID-RANGE TENTED CAMP
Safari Haven Serengeti Camp or similar
Mid-range tented camp in the heart of the central Serengeti — close enough to the Seronera airstrip that bush flight transfers are quick. Each tent has a proper bed, en-suite bathroom with hot water, and a sunset-facing veranda. The camp is unfenced — animals genuinely walk past your tent at night, and you'll be escorted to and from your tent after dark. WiFi and solar power. The two nights here give you a real safari atmosphere rather than just one passing night.
ZANZIBAR · YOUR EXISTING HOTEL
Whatever beach hotel you're already booked at
Your existing Zanzibar accommodation holds your main luggage during the safari and welcomes you back on Day 3 evening. We coordinate with most major Zanzibar hotels (Nungwi, Kendwa, Stone Town, Paje, Matemwe) on transfer logistics. If you have not yet booked Zanzibar accommodation, we can recommend properties that pair well with this safari.
SERENGETI · LUXURY UPGRADE OPTION
Sayari Camp, Namiri Plains, or Four Seasons Bilila
For travelers who want a genuinely luxury safari experience in the Serengeti, we can upgrade to a premium camp — Sayari (in the northern Serengeti for migration river crossings), Namiri Plains (cheetah specialist area), or Four Seasons Bilila (resort-style lodge with pool). Adds $600–$1,800 per person depending on choice. Worth considering for honeymoons or once-in-a-lifetime trips.
You Might Also Like
Other Trips
8 DAYS · CHIMPS + BEACH
8-Day Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking + Zanzibar Relaxation
Track wild chimps where Jane Goodall worked, then unwind on Zanzibar. For travelers who've already done a safari.
From $4,570
Per person
4 DAYS · CALVING SEASON
4-Day Ndutu Great Migration Safari
The calving season at Ndutu — 400,000 newborn wildebeest and the densest predator action of the year. From Zanzibar.
From $2,139
Per person
2 DAYS · FROM ZANZIBAR
2-Day Tarangire + Ngorongoro Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar
The cheapest, fastest way to add a real safari to a Zanzibar holiday. Both flagship parks in 2 days.
From $1,570
Per person
Ready for a Short Safari from Zanzibar?
Send your Zanzibar dates. We will design the trip.
Tell us your Zanzibar travel dates and which beach you're staying at — We will check flight availability and put together a tailored quote. Personal reply within 4 business hours. The earlier you enquire, the better the flight options.