Everything starts in Arusha

The 29 places we plan trips through, set out by how far they are from our office on Sokoine Road. Start close, go further, end on the coast. We fit the route to your dates.

Times are approximate, from Arusha in the dry season. Your trip designer confirms them for your dates.

KENYAUGANDAZAMBIAMOZAMBIQUEINDIAN OCEANAbout 3 h by roadAbout a day by roadMount KilimanjaroNgorongoro CraterSerengetiRuahaNyerereKataviZanzibarArusha
Tanzania, from Arusha outwardRings show roughly how far you get by road.

A few hours by road

The northern parks and the two mountains sit close to Arusha. Most safaris start here, and you can reach any of them on the first morning.

  1. Arusha National Park

    About 1 h by road

    Walking safaris, colobus monkeys and the Momella lakes below Mount Meru.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  2. Mount Meru

    About 1 h by road

    A four-day climb, and the best warm-up for Kilimanjaro.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  3. Mount Kilimanjaro

    About 2 h by road to Moshi

    Africa's highest summit, climbed over six to nine days.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  4. Lake Manyara National Park

    About 2 h by road

    Groundwater forest, a soda lake and the wall of the Rift Valley.

    On two of our routes: 6-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari and 10-Day Great Migration, Culture and Lake Natron Safari

  5. Mto wa Mbu

    About 2 h by road

    Village walks, markets and banana farms below the Rift escarpment.

    On two of our routes: 6-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari and 10-Day Great Migration, Culture and Lake Natron Safari

  6. Tarangire National Park

    About 2.5 h by road

    Baobabs and large elephant herds, at their best in the dry season.

    On nine of our routes: 4-Day Classic Tanzania Safari, 6-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari
    and 7 more

  7. Ngorongoro Crater

    About 3.5 h by road

    A day on the crater floor for lion, black rhino and buffalo.

    On ten of our routes: 4-Day Classic Tanzania Safari, 4-Day Fly-In Drive-Out Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari from Zanzibar
    and 8 more

A day's drive or a short flight

The Serengeti and the lands around it are a full day on the road through Ngorongoro, or about an hour in a light aircraft.

  1. Olduvai Gorge

    About 4.5 h by road

    The fossil gorge on the road to the Serengeti.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  2. Lake Eyasi

    About 4.5 h by road

    Hadzabe hunters and Datoga herders by a Rift Valley soda lake.

    On one of our routes: 10-Day Great Migration, Culture and Lake Natron Safari

  3. Lake Natron

    About 5 h by road

    Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and hot, empty country.

    On one of our routes: 10-Day Great Migration, Culture and Lake Natron Safari

  4. Serengeti National Park

    About 1 h by air, or 8 h by road

    Open plains, big cats and the Great Migration, month by month.

    On 11 of our routes: 3-Day Fly-In Fly-Out Serengeti Luxury Safari from Zanzibar, 4-Day Classic Tanzania Safari
    and 9 more

  5. Ndutu

    About 6–7 h by road, or a short flight

    The Great Migration's calving grounds, December to March.

    On one of our routes: 7-Day Calving Season Safari

Fly-in wilderness

The southern and western parks are reached by light aircraft. Fewer vehicles, longer distances, and a different kind of safari.

  1. Ruaha National Park

    About 3 h by air

    Big lion prides and baobab country, with very few vehicles.

    On two of our routes: 7-Day Nyerere and Ruaha Fly-In Safari and 10-Day Nyerere, Ruaha and Zanzibar Safari

  2. Nyerere National Park

    About 2.5 h by air

    Boat safaris on the Rufiji River and walking safaris.

    On three of our routes: 4-Day Nyerere National Park Safari with Boat Safari, 7-Day Nyerere and Ruaha Fly-In Safari
    and 1 more

  3. Mikumi National Park

    A flight to Dar, then about 4.5 h by road

    Open floodplain game viewing, easy to add to a Dar es Salaam stay.

    On one of our routes: 5-Day Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains Safari

  4. Rubondo Island National Park

    A flight to Mwanza, then road and boat

    A forest island in Lake Victoria: boats, birds and sitatunga.

    On one of our routes: 5-Day Rubondo Island Lake Victoria Safari

  5. Udzungwa Mountains National Park

    A flight to Dar, then most of a day by road

    Forest trails, Sanje Waterfalls and primates found nowhere else.

    On one of our routes: 5-Day Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains Safari

  6. Mahale Mountains National Park

    Half a day by air, then by boat along the lake

    Wild chimpanzees in the forest above Lake Tanganyika.

    On three of our routes: 5-Day Mahale Mountains Chimpanzee Safari, 8-Day Katavi and Mahale Luxury Safari
    and 1 more

  7. Katavi National Park

    About 4 h by air, on seasonal flights

    Remote plains and hippo pools, with almost no other visitors.

    On three of our routes: 6-Day Katavi Fly-In Wilderness Safari, 8-Day Katavi and Mahale Luxury Safari
    and 1 more

The coast and islands

Zanzibar is about an hour and a half by air from Arusha. Most guests end their safari on the Indian Ocean.

  1. Zanzibar Island

    About 1.5 h by air

    White beaches, reefs and spice farms, an easy end to a safari.

    On six of our routes: 3-Day Fly-In Fly-Out Serengeti Luxury Safari from Zanzibar, 10-Day Nyerere, Ruaha and Zanzibar Safari
    and 4 more

  2. Stone Town

    About 1.5 h by air

    Zanzibar's old town: carved doors, markets and the sea front.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  3. Nungwi Beach

    A flight to Zanzibar, then about 1 h by road

    The northern tip of Zanzibar: swimming at any tide and sunsets.

    On two of our routes: 14-Day Great Migration and Zanzibar Luxury Safari and 15-Day Great Migration and Zanzibar Luxury Safari

  4. Kendwa Beach

    A flight to Zanzibar, then about 1 h by road

    A long west-facing beach just south of Nungwi.

    On two of our routes: 10-Day Nyerere, Ruaha and Zanzibar Safari and 14-Day Great Migration and Zanzibar Mid-Range Safari

  5. Paje Beach

    A flight to Zanzibar, then about 1 h by road

    A wide east-coast lagoon, known for kitesurfing.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  6. Jambiani Beach

    A flight to Zanzibar, then about 1 h by road

    A quiet fishing village beach with seaweed farms at low tide.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  7. Pemba Island

    About 2 h by air, via Zanzibar

    Green hills, clove farms and deep-water diving.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  8. Mafia Island

    A flight to Dar, then about 40 min by air

    A marine park with whale sharks from October to March.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  9. Kilwa Kisiwani

    A flight to Dar, then about 5 h by road

    Ruins of a medieval Swahili trading city, a UNESCO site.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

  10. Bagamoyo

    A flight to Dar, then about 1.5 h by road

    An old caravan town on the mainland coast north of Dar es Salaam.

    Planned to order: we build it into your route.

Watch Tanzania before you go

Real footage from the field: wildebeest crossing the Serengeti, flamingos in the Ngorongoro Crater and the tide coming in on Zanzibar.

Serengeti migration

Routes that join the places

Three starting routes, from a few days on the northern circuit to a fly-in from Zanzibar. Each one is tailored to your dates.

All safari routes
  1. 4-Day Classic Tanzania Safari4 Days · 3 Nights · Tarangire · Serengeti · NgorongoroFrom $1,899 per person
  2. 7-Day Great Migration Luxury Safari7 Days · 6 Nights · Northern Serengeti · Ngorongoro · TarangireFrom $5,702 per person
  3. 3-Day Fly-In Fly-Out Serengeti Luxury Safari from Zanzibar3 Days · 2 Nights · Central Serengeti · from ZanzibarFrom $2,260 per person