
5-Day Honeymoon Safari & Zanzibar Beach
A short honeymoon that still has both halves: elephants and baobabs in Tarangire, a morning in the Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Zanzibar for white sand and the Indian Ocean.
About this safari
A short honeymoon that still has both halves: elephants and baobabs in Tarangire, a morning in the Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Zanzibar for white sand and the Indian Ocean.
This 5 days private safari starts in Arusha and takes you to Tarangire's elephant herds and giant baobabs, The Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places to see the Big Five in a day, A highland lodge night between the parks, Flight to Zanzibar and beach time to finish. Your own vehicle and guide set the pace, and every stay and transfer is confirmed around your dates.
Safari snapshot
A quick look at the route, day by day.
| Day | Place | Highlights | Hotel options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tanzania | Arrival · guide briefing · rest in Arusha | Mid-range: Forest Hill Hotel · Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar |
| Day 2 | Tarangire National Park | Elephant herds · baobabs · Tarangire River game drive | Mid-range: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge · Luxury: Nimali Tarangire, or similar |
| Day 3 | Ngorongoro Crater | Crater floor game drive · black rhino · Lerai forest | Mid-range: Marera Valley Lodge · Luxury: Acacia Farm Lodge, or similar |
| Day 4 | Fly to Zanzibar | Beach time · optional snorkelling or dhow trip | Beach hotel on Zanzibar's east or north coast |
| Day 5 | Zanzibar and departure | Beach time · optional snorkelling or dhow trip | Departure |
Ways to customise this trip
- Add a night in the bush, a cultural visit or a balloon flight
- Upgrade your stays or finish with beach time in Zanzibar
Route
- Day 1Arusha
- Day 2Tarangire
- Day 3Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 4Zanzibar
- Day 5Zanzibar
Day by day
Here is how the days run. We can adjust the route around your dates and the pace you want.
1Day 1Arrive in TanzaniaMid-range: Forest Hill Hotel · Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar / Dinner

Your driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the hour-long transfer to Arusha. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight; your guide stops by in the evening to talk you through the safari. Your guide or driver meets you and handles the transfer to your hotel in Arusha, where the rest of the day is yours to recover from the journey, change money or walk to a local café. You return to your mid-range: Forest Hill Hotel · Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Dinner is included today.
- Main stop
- Arusha
- Accommodation
- Mid-range: Forest Hill Hotel · Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar
- Meals
- Dinner

2Day 2Tarangire National ParkMid-range: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge · Luxury: Nimali Tarangire, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leave after breakfast for the two-hour drive to Tarangire. The park is known for big elephant families walking between ancient baobabs, and the Tarangire River draws giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo — and the lions that follow them. Picnic lunch in the park, an afternoon game drive, then on to your lodge. Tarangire is elephant country: families of twenty or more move between the baobabs and the Tarangire River, especially from June to October when the river is the only reliable water for miles. Your guide follows the riverbanks for lions resting in the shade, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo, and stops for the birdlife — more than 500 species, including the yellow-collared lovebird found almost nowhere else. A walking safari with an armed ranger adds a different perspective — reading tracks, learning about plants and approaching animals quietly on foot. Lunch is a picnic in the park, usually at a viewpoint or under a big tree, so no time is lost driving back to camp. In the late afternoon you check in at your mid-range: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge · Luxury: Nimali Tarangire, or similar, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Tarangire
- Accommodation
- Mid-range: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge · Luxury: Nimali Tarangire, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3Day 3Ngorongoro CraterMid-range: Marera Valley Lodge · Luxury: Acacia Farm Lodge, or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

An early start for the crater rim and the descent onto the crater floor, where wildlife lives year-round inside the old volcano. Spend the day looking for lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and black rhino, with lunch by a hippo pool. Climb out in the afternoon to a lodge in the cool Karatu highlands. Ngorongoro Crater is a world of its own: grassland, swamp, the yellow-barked Lerai forest and a soda lake, all ringed by steep walls. Going down early gives you the best light and the quietest hour on the crater floor before you climb back to the rim. Your guide picks a shady spot for a picnic lunch in the field, keeping the whole middle of the day for wildlife. The evening is spent at your mid-range: Marera Valley Lodge · Luxury: Acacia Farm Lodge, or similar: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation
- Mid-range: Marera Valley Lodge · Luxury: Acacia Farm Lodge, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4Day 4Fly to ZanzibarBeach hotel on Zanzibar's east or north coast / Breakfast

A slow breakfast, then the drive to Arusha airport for the flight to Zanzibar. Your driver takes you to your beach hotel — the afternoon is for the pool, the sea and a sunset dinner on the sand. Today could include a short boat ride to Prison Island to meet its giant Aldabra tortoises, or a picnic on the Nakupenda sandbank, a strip of white sand that appears with the tide. The night is spent at your beach hotel on Zanzibar's east or north coast, with dinner by the sea if you wish. Breakfast is included today.
- Main stop
- Zanzibar
- Accommodation
- Beach hotel on Zanzibar's east or north coast
- Meals
- Breakfast
5Day 5Zanzibar and departureBreakfast

A last morning swim or a walk on the beach before the transfer to Zanzibar airport for your flight home. Ask us to add more nights — most couples wish they had. Early risers can join a boat from Kizimkazi in the south to look for dolphins; otherwise the day is for swimming, reading and a long lunch by the water. Depending on your flight time there may be a last swim or a walk through Stone Town before the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Ask us if you would like a late check-out or a day room.
- Main stop
- Zanzibar
- Meals
- Breakfast
Accommodation
Where you stay on this trip. We can move the comfort level up or down when we plan your dates.
Day 1Gran Meliá ArushaLuxury / Arusha CityView accommodation
Day 2Sangaiwe Tented LodgeMid-range / Tarangire National ParkView accommodation
Day 3Marera Valley LodgeMid-range / KaratuView accommodation
Day 4Beach hotel on Zanzibar's east or north coastTour rates
Your price depends on your dates, group size and the stays you choose. We confirm it in writing once we have checked availability.
Prices are per person and assume shared rooms. Season, park fees, group size, flights and lodge availability all affect the final quote.
Get my exact quoteWhat’s included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance and conservation fees for the itinerary
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed and bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport or hotel transfers at the start and end
- Domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
- Zanzibar airport and hotel transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges and personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Travellers who explored Tanzania with us
From the journal

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Ngorongoro Crater Safari Guide: Everything You Need to Know
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Tarangire National Park: Tanzania's Best-Kept Wildlife Secret
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Read guideFrequently asked questions
Can this 5 days itinerary be changed?
Yes. We can review your dates, daily pace, room preferences and interests, then build a specific proposal. Changes to flights, activities or park nights may affect cost and availability.
Which accommodation will I stay in?
Your proposal will name the properties and room categories for each night. Any stays shown here are planning options and remain subject to availability; alternative properties are agreed before confirmation.
What wildlife will we see?
On this route, look out for — Ngorongoro Crater: black rhino, lion, spotted hyena; Tarangire: elephant, lion, yellow-collared lovebird. Sightings depend on the season and the animals themselves, so particular species, migration movements and river crossings can't be guaranteed.
Can I change the route and accommodation?
Yes. The published routes are starting points. Tell us your dates, interests and preferred comfort level so we can adjust nights, transfers and activities before quoting.
What determines the final price?
The travel season, number of travellers sharing a vehicle, park fees, room arrangements, lodge availability and domestic flights all affect cost. Your written proposal will identify inclusions and optional extras.
Can the safari finish in Zanzibar?
A mainland safari can connect with Zanzibar by a separately arranged domestic flight. Leave enough time for the transfer and confirm baggage allowances before booking flights.
When is the best time to do this safari?
For the places on this route — Ngorongoro Crater: Year-round; driest June to October. Tarangire: June to October for the elephant herds. Zanzibar: June–October and December–February. Tell us your month and we will set the route and camps to match.
How many days do I need?
Two or three days suit Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Four to six days let you add the Serengeti without rushing, and seven or more give time for extra parks, a cultural visit or the coast. Fewer long drives usually means a better trip.
Is the safari private?
Our tailor-made safaris are private: your own vehicle and guide, and a daily pace set around your group. Shared departures can sometimes be arranged for solo travellers — ask us and we’ll explain the options.
What vehicle will we travel in?
Game drives are in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography. Your proposal confirms the vehicle and seating for your group size.
Is a safari suitable for children?
Yes, with the right planning. We keep drives shorter, choose family-friendly rooms and build in rest time. Some camps and activities have minimum ages, so please share each child’s age when you enquire.
Can you cater for dietary needs?
Most lodges and camps can prepare vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other meals with notice. Tell us about allergies or requirements when you enquire and we’ll pass them to every property on your route.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Requirements depend on your nationality and recent travel, and a yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from certain countries. Malaria precautions are generally advised. Please check with a travel health clinic before you go.
What should I budget for tips?
Tipping is not compulsory but is customary for guides and lodge staff. We include current guidance with your proposal so you can plan for it in advance.
Will there be Wi-Fi and charging?
Many lodges and camps offer charging points and some Wi-Fi, but the connection can be slow or limited to main areas in remote parks. A spare power bank is useful on game drives.
How far in advance should I book?
For July to October and the holiday season, three to nine months ahead gives the best choice of camps. Shorter notice is often possible — send us your dates and we’ll check availability.
A few details.
A good beginning.
Tell us who is coming and what you would love to find here. We’ll send back a route you can read, question and make your own.
- Planned around your dates and interests
- Midrange or luxury, at your pace
- A personal conversation with our local team


