Ultimate 10 Days Tanzania Safari Itinerary Ideas & Costs
Ten days suffices to experience the finest of Tanzania and beyond. One can embark on safaris in various national parks, including the Serengeti, relax on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar, and ascend Mount Kilimanjaro. Alternatively, maximise enjoyment within a single itinerary by amalgamating Tanzania with a visit to Kenya’s premier attractions, such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve and cultural experiences with tribal warriors.
This 10 Days Tanzania itinerary focuses on immersing yourself in the country’s incredible wildlife, with a focus on the renowned Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, while also exploring the unique ecosystems of Lake Manyara and the chimpanzee haven of Gombe National Park.
10 Days Tanzania Safari Itinerary Ideas
Itinerary #1: Tanzania Wildlife Safari & Beach Holiday
This 10-day expedition to Tanzania commences with 4×4 game safaris in the most renowned national parks, subsequently concluding on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar, one of East Africa’s most exquisite locales.
Arrive at Arusha, adjacent to Tanzania’s premier safari locales. Day two commences with a journey to Lake Manyara National Park, where the lake is adorned with several vibrant pink flamingos. Your next destination is the preeminent wilderness area in Tanzania: Serengeti National Park. It encompasses 5,700 square miles (14,763 square km) of expansive savanna and facilitates the yearly Great Wildebeest Migration. Thousands of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles move to new pastures during this annual event. You will traverse this park on an all-day wildlife drive, during which, if fortunate, you may observe a leopard.
On the fifth day, you will proceed to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the largest volcanic caldera globally, with a depth of 1,968 feet (600 m) and an area of 100 square miles (260 square km). The rich valley floor hosts thousands of animals, including the renowned Big Five safari species: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and black rhinos. Following game drives on the crater bottom, you will proceed to Tarangire National Park, which is inhabited by thousands of bush elephants. Subsequently, relish a few days unwinding on the pristine white-sand beaches and transparent waters of Zanzibar, the Indian Ocean’s premier treasure.
10 Days Tanzania Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive in Arusha Arusha
- Day 2 Transfer to Karatu, Lake Manyara Game Drives Karatu
- Day 3 Transfer to Serengeti National Park Serengeti National Park
- Day 4 Serengeti Game Drive Serengeti National Park
- Day 5 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Ngorongoro
- Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater and on to Tarangire Tarangire National Park
- Day 7 Tarangire Game Drive Tarangire National Park
- Days 8-9 Transfer to Zanzibar, Optional Activities Zanzibar Beach
- Day 10 Depart
Itinerary #2: Kenya & Tanzania Adventure
Experience the highlights of two of the world’s foremost safari destinations on a 10-day expedition in Kenya and Tanzania, featuring game drives and interactions with tribal warriors.
You will arrive in Nairobi, located adjacent to a national park teeming with wildlife. The initial activity is a conservation tour of two wildlife sanctuaries: one dedicated to rescued elephants and the other serving as a breeding centre for Rothschild’s giraffes, which you will have the opportunity to feed. On the third day, engage with authentic Maasai tribe warriors and spend the night in a conventional bush camp. Subsequently, proceed to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a 580-square-mile (1,510-square-kilometer) park adjacent to the Serengeti, renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration. Embark on game drives over two days, or choose an aerial safari via hot-air balloon.
On the sixth day, you will traverse the border into Tanzania and proceed to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. You will stay overnight and possibly engage in fishing. Subsequently, allocate several days for morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ecological reserve. If you did not observe any rhinos, do not be concerned, as on day nine, you will be visiting the Ngorongoro Crater. Thanks to anti-poaching patrols, a robust population of black rhinos exists here, ensuring a high likelihood of sighting them.
10 Days Kenya & Tanzania Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive in Nairobi
- Day 2 Conservation & Culture Tour of Nairobi
- Day 3 Transfer to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp
- Day 4 Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Day 5 Maasai Mara Game Drives Maasai Mara
- Day 6 Maasai Mara to Lake Victoria
- Days 7-8 Lake Victoria to Serengeti National Park
- Day 9 Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro
- Day 10 Ngorongoro to Nairobi, Depart
Itinerary #3: Active Tanzania
Select this premier highlights expedition encompassing the notable attractions of Tanzania, including the Serengeti, Zanzibar, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Upon arrival in Arusha, you will go to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in north-eastern Tanzania. Although you will not have the opportunity to reach the summit of Africa’s most renowned and highest mountain, you will do a 5-6 hour day climb up 2,723 feet (830 m) to a vantage point that provides expansive views of Kilimanjaro’s peak and the surrounding landscape extending into Kenya. Subsequently, go on a brief trip to the Serengeti for two days of wildlife drives, either by vehicle or air. Be advised that if you visit between June and November, you will witness the Great Migration of thousands of plains game across the savanna.
A final safari awaits you in Ngorongoro Conservation Area before boarding another trip to Zanzibar. In addition to its world-class beaches, this island archipelago is renowned for its significant spice production, and you will visit a farm to gain insights into the cultivation of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In the forthcoming days, partake in optional activities such as snorkelling, surfing, caving, and others. It is advisable to see Stone Town, Zanzibar’s mediaeval city centre, which is exceptionally well-preserved and holds UNESCO World Heritage status.
10 Days Tanzania Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive in Arusha, Transfer to Moshi Moshi
- Day 2 Pre-Climb Briefing, Optional Activities Moshi
- Day 3 Transfer to Kilimanjaro National Park, Hike to Machame Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 4 Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 5 Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp, Stop at Lava Tower Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 6 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 7 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 8 Barafu Camp to the Summit, Descent to Mweka Kilimanjaro National park
- Day 9 Kilimanjaro National Park to Moshi Moshi
- Day 10 Moshi to Arusha, Depart
Itinerary #4: Hiking Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Safari
Prepare your climbing boots and trekking poles for a 10-day expedition to ascend Kilimanjaro, the largest freestanding mountain globally.
You have viewed the photographs and heard the tales; now it is your opportunity to tackle this African icon personally. From Arusha, you will proceed to the town of Moshi, located at the base of the mountain. Following preparation on the second day, you will commence a six-day ascent of this 19,341-foot (5,895 m) behemoth. The ascent is striking as you traverse five distinct ecosystems, ranging from the warm and humid tropical woods at the base to the icy glacier summit zone at the peak. The Kilimanjaro and Tanzania Safari journey commences at the Machame Gate and traverses a renowned path that offers the most spectacular vistas of any circuit within Kilimanjaro National Park.
Daily hikes span several miles and require a minimum of four hours to finish. Each night, you will pause to rest at campsites located among distinctive geological formations, offering breath-taking vistas. You will traverse alpine deserts and navigate rocky walls throughout your journey to the crater rim of this extinct volcano. Ultimately, you will reach Uhuru Peak, the highest of Kilimanjaro’s three summit zones at 19,340 feet (5,895 m). Subsequently, there is a relatively swift descent back to Machame Gate, where you will obtain your certificate of completion.
10 Days Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive in Arusha, Transfer to Moshi
- Day 2 Day Hike in Mount Kilimanjaro
- Day 3 Moshi to Serengeti National Park, Serengeti National Park
- Days 4-5 Serengeti National Park Game Drives
- Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive, Transfer to Arusha
- Days 7-9 Arusha to Zanzibar, Optional Activities
- Day 10 Zanzibar to Arusha, Depart