14 Day Ultimate Tanzania Safari And Zanzibar
Destinations: Tanzania, Ruaha National Park, Nyerere National Park, Mikumi National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar
This 14-day Tanzania trip runs through Ruaha, Nyerere, Mikumi, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, linked so the travelling is done between the wildlife. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. Its Mkata floodplain draws comparisons with the Serengeti for the way lion, buffalo and elephant sit out on open grass.
Day By Day
Day 1 Arrival At Ruaha
You fly in from Dar es Salaam, the flight lifts off from Dar es Salaam and turns inland over the coast, and land near Ruaha National Park, where your guide meets you and the transfer to camp works as your first afternoon out in the park. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day.
You settle into camp as the light goes. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink.
Day 2 Game Drives In Ruaha
A full day in Ruaha National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The park list runs to more than 570 bird species so the river fringe stays busy through the day. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania at over 20,000 square kilometres and it sees a fraction of the vehicles the northern parks do. The park holds around ten percent of the world’s lions in prides that can top twenty animals. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
As the dry season bites, the shrinking Great Ruaha River pulls elephant, buffalo and antelope down to drink. Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan show themselves here in ways they rarely do up north. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light.
Day 3 Transfer To Nyerere
A short morning out on game drives at first light in Ruaha, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Nyerere National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Nyerere in the afternoon. You head out on a boat safari and game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. Sundown over the water, with hippo surfacing, closes the day.
The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.
Day 4 Boat Safari In Nyerere
A full day in Nyerere National Park. You are out on a boat safari and game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Unlike the parks up north, Nyerere lets you walk with an armed ranger. Nyerere is 30,893 square kilometres gazetted in 2019 from the northern Selous and a UNESCO World Heritage area. The Rufiji, the largest river in Tanzania fans out through the park into channels, sandbanks and lakes. The birding from the water is the best of the trip.
A boat safari puts you at water level with hippo pods and big crocodiles hauled out on the banks. The park holds big herds of elephant and buffalo, good lion and leopard, and a strong wild dog population. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush.
Day 5 Transfer To Mikumi
A short morning out on a boat safari and game drives at first light in Nyerere, then to the road for the move to Mikumi National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Mikumi in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Mikumi is 3,230 square kilometres and the fourth-largest park in Tanzania, reached on the tar road from the coast. Its Mkata floodplain draws comparisons with the Serengeti for the way lion, buffalo and elephant sit out on open grass. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
Zebra, wildebeest, impala and tall Masai giraffe spread across the plain. Lilac-breasted rollers sit on every third bush, and the birding is strong year round. The Hippo Pools in the north hold pods you can watch on foot from a viewing point. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars.
Day 6 Transfer To Serengeti
A short morning out on game drives at first light in Mikumi, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Serengeti National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Serengeti in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.
Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set.
Day 7 Game Drives In Serengeti
A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.
The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count.
Day 8 Transfer To Ngorongoro Crater
A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Serengeti, then to the road for the move to Ngorongoro Crater. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon. You head out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.
Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino completing the Big Five in a day. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count.
Day 9 Transfer To Zanzibar
A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Zanzibar. The country changes on the way, and you reach Zanzibar in the afternoon. You reach the coast as the light softens, salt in the air after a week of dust. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. The tide, the reef and a long lunch set the pace.
The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.
Day 10 On The Coast At Zanzibar
A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, and the day is yours to shape around the tide, the reef and the old town. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. It is proper downtime after the early mornings of the safari.
Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Away from Stone Town the pace is slow, and most days need no plan beyond deciding when to swim.
Day 11 On The Coast At Zanzibar
A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, and the day is yours to shape around the tide, the reef and the old town. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. Fresh seafood by the water closes the day.
The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good.
Day 12 On The Coast At Zanzibar
A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, and the day is yours to shape around the tide, the reef and the old town. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. The tide, the reef and a long lunch set the pace.
Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools.
Day 13 On The Coast At Zanzibar
A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, and the day is yours to shape around the tide, the reef and the old town. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. It is proper downtime after the early mornings of the safari.
Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.
Day 14 Departure
A final morning by the sea before you leave, the best window of the trip for anything still on your list. You make the most of the early light, then your light aircraft flies you back toward Dar es Salaam. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. This 14-day trip links Ruaha, Nyerere, Mikumi, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, with the travelling done between the wildlife so your days stay on the ground that matters. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef.
Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.
What’s Included
- All internal flights and road transfers on the route
- Full-board accommodation on safari as shown
- Game drives and the activities named in the day plan
- Park entry fees for the days shown
- Airport and airstrip transfers, drinking water in the vehicle
What’s Not Included
- International flights and any visa
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, tips for guides and staff
- Activities not listed and items of a personal nature
What Makes This Tanzania Safari Itinerary Worth It?
This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. Ruaha is one of Africa’s last strongholds for the endangered African wild dog. Ancient baobabs stand over the sand rivers, glowing gold in the low afternoon light. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. Linking Ruaha, Nyerere, Mikumi, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar in one route means you cover more of Tanzania than a single park allows, and the travelling between them is short. On 14 days you get range without the trip feeling rushed, the set-piece wildlife, the quieter corners, and the change of country from one stop to the next. For a traveller who wants variety over a single famous name, this is a strong, well-balanced way to see the region, and it works whether it is a first trip or a return.
Can You Have a Good Tanzania Safari in 14 Days?
14 days across Ruaha, Nyerere, Mikumi, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar is a well-judged length, though it is a read of each stop rather than a deep stay. You get a full day or more at the main parks, enough to see the headline wildlife and still catch the quieter moments. It suits travellers who value breadth and do not mind moving every couple of days. What this length cannot do is exhaust any one park, the biggest of them could fill a week on their own, so the remote corners stay for another trip. If a single place is your priority, spend the nights there instead. And if you have longer, the route takes an easy add-on, whether that is more time with the wildlife or a stretch on the coast to finish. As it stands, this 14-day trip is balanced and full.
How Much Money Should You Budget for a Tanzania Safari?
What you pay turns mostly on the camps and the season. In Tanzania, park fees run from about USD 35 per adult per day at Ruaha to roughly USD 70 to 85 in the northern parks, all of those with 18% VAT counted in; Ruaha’s is a USD 30 gate rate before the tax is added, and the Ngorongoro Crater sits at the top of the range. The park authorities review these rates each fiscal year, so treat them as indicative. As a rough guide, most trips of this length run from around USD 4,200 to 9,100 per person sharing, higher in the peak dry months and cheaper in the green season. Camp and lodge level is the big lever, from simple tented camps to the smarter river and bush camps, and a shared vehicle between four brings the per-person cost down. Tell an operator your dates, group size and the standard you want and it can be quoted to the figure.
Before the Long Version
Fourteen days is a lot of moving, and the Ruaha opening is the part most people know least about. What Makes Ruaha National Park Unique? and Which Animals Can You See in Ruaha National Park? cover what you are looking for, What Should You Pack for a Ruaha Safari? matters more on a trip that ends at the sea, and the Ruaha National Park: Complete Safari Guide is the full reference.
Shorter versions: the 12 Day Grand Tanzania Safari keeps the parks and drops the beach, and the 10 Day Southern Circuit And Zanzibar stays in the south. The 8 Day Ruaha And Zanzibar Beach Safari is the simplest safari-and-sea option.
This is an independent guide with nothing to sell. When the dates and camps are settled, the operators who run Ruaha safaris will quote it, and the enquiry form on the homepage is the quickest way to reach them.