There is no savannah on the island
Zanzibar is an island of beaches, reef and tropical forest. It has wildlife, some of it very special, like the red colobus of Jozani forest, which lives nowhere else, or the dolphins off Kizimkazi. But there is no savannah, and no lions, elephants or giraffes.
The “Safari Blue” advertised all over the island is a boat trip with snorkelling and seafood, not a wildlife safari. For that you go to the mainland.
The options from Zanzibar
| Option | How you get there | Days | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A day in the south | Return light aircraft to Mikumi or Nyerere | 1 | Anyone with a single day who is happy with a taster |
| Tarangire and Ngorongoro | Fly to Arusha or Kilimanjaro, then by road | 2-3 | Seeing a lot in little time: elephants, lions and the crater |
| Full northern circuit | Fly to Arusha and drive, or fly into the Serengeti | 4-6 | Anyone who wants the Serengeti and the migration |
We work in the north, from Arusha: we meet you at the airport when you land from Zanzibar and the safari starts that same day. The flight takes an hour and a quarter.
How many days are worth it
In a single day you see animals, but most of the time goes on the plane and at the airport. Three days give you Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater without rushing. With four or more the Serengeti comes in, which is the reason to come to Tanzania.
Better the other way round: safari first
If you have not booked yet, swap the order. A safari means early starts, hours on the tracks and changing lodges often; the beach works far better at the end, as the rest. We go through the numbers in the guide on how many days to give each part.
If you are already on the island, it works too: fly to Arusha, do the safari, and fly back to Zanzibar or home from Kilimanjaro.
Worth knowing
- Luggage. Light aircraft usually limit you to about 15 kilos in a soft bag. Check with the airline before you pack.
- Something warm. You go from beach heat to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, above 2,000 metres, where nights are properly cold.
- Paperwork. Zanzibar and the mainland are the same country: no new visa and no different vaccinations to go between them.
Official sources
- TANAPA — Tanzania National Parks — The authority that runs the mainland parks, with current fees.
- Zanzibar Commission for Tourism — Zanzibar’s official tourism body.
