9-Day Kilimanjaro, Safari & Zanzibar Tour from Arusha

Descend into Ngorongoro Crater, hunt with the Hadzabe, then trade the savanna for Zanzibar's turquoise water.

A 9-day tour from Arusha combining mountain trekking, safari game drives across Tarangire and Ngorongoro, cultural encounters with the Hadzabe people, and beach time in Zanzibar. You trek Kilimanjaro's lower slopes, descend into the crater for full-day wildlife viewing, participate in traditional hunting, cycle through villages, then fly to the coast for relaxation. Expert English-speaking guides lead all activities. Accommodations, meals, park fees and transport are included throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

• Pickup at Kilimanjaro Airport
• Transfer to hotel in Arusha
• Relax or explore Arusha town

Day 2: Kilimanjaro Day Trek Experience

• Full-day Kilimanjaro trek
• Enjoy scenic forests and viewpoints
• Return to Arusha

Day 3: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

• Depart for Tarangire National Park
• Game drives spotting wildlife
• Proceed to Karatu for overnight

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
• Full-day game drive
• Picnic lunch by hippo pool
• Return to lodge

Day 5: Big Cat & Wildlife Photography

• Search for lions, cheetahs, leopards
• Photography at strategic viewing areas
• Return to lodge

Day 6: Cultural Cycling Tour

• Cycling tour around Karatu villages
• Meet local people and learn traditions
• Enjoy nature trails

Day 7: Hadzabe Bushmen Cultural Experience

• Drive to Lake Eyasi
• Visit Hadzabe tribe
• Participate in traditional hunting
• Return to lodge

Day 8: Fly to Zanzibar & Beach Relaxation

• Drive to airport and fly to Zanzibar
• Transfer to beach hotel in Nungwi
• Relax on beach or swim

Day 9: Zanzibar Highlights & Departure

• Relax or explore Stone Town
• Transfer to airport for departure

The experience

Arusha is your starting point. After airport pickup, you spend a day acclimatizing before heading into the mountains for a full-day Kilimanjaro trek, not the summit push, but a guided walk through the forests and viewpoints that frame Africa's highest peak. The next morning you drive to Tarangire National Park, where the Tarangire River concentrates wildlife during the dry season: elephant herds, baobab trees, lions, giraffes and zebras move through the landscape in front of your private 4x4 jeep.

The crater itself is the centerpiece. Ngorongoro is a UNESCO site and a closed ecosystem. You descend 2,000 feet into the caldera for a full-day game drive where the Big 5 (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino) share the crater floor with hippos, flamingos and thousands of wildebeest. A picnic lunch sits beside the hippo pool. Two more days in the Karatu area let you hunt for big cats and predators with your guide, then cycle through local villages to meet people and learn how they live. On day seven, an early drive takes you to Lake Eyasi to spend the morning with the Hadzabe tribe. You join their traditional hunting activity and sit with them as they explain their way of life, a direct exchange that most safaris skip.

On day eight you fly from the airstrip to Zanzibar and transfer to Nungwi, on the island's north coast. The final day is yours to swim, rest on the beach or explore Stone Town's narrow streets and spice markets before your departure flight. All meals come with the tour: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodges and on the road. Your guide speaks English and is with you throughout. The operator provides 24/7 support from the moment you book.

What’s included

• All park fees and game drives.
• full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) throughout the safari.
• drinking water in the jeep.
• airport pickup and all transfers.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• private 4x4 safari jeep.
• all accommodations as listed.
• Ngorongoro Crater entry.
• 24/7 client support from booking to departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 44 years) · Senior (45 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years): free · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Losarea Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private jeep and guide for the full nine days, combining mountain trekking, wildlife viewing and cultural immersion in one itinerary. The fixed route hits Kilimanjaro, both major parks and the Hadzabe experience before ending on the beach. If you want to customize the stops or swap activities, the operator can tailor it to your interests at booking.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years): free; Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Ngorongoro Crater and why does a full day inside it matter?

Ngorongoro is a massive volcanic caldera in northern Tanzania, a UNESCO World Heritage site where you descend 2,000 feet into a closed ecosystem. The crater floor concentrates wildlife year-round: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, hippos and flamingos all live and hunt within its walls, making it one of the highest concentrations of large animals in Africa. A full-day game drive lets you watch predator and prey interact in a landscape that feels separate from the rest of the continent.

Do I actually participate in the Hadzabe hunting, or just watch?

You participate. The Hadzabe are hunter-gatherers who live around Lake Eyasi, and the tour includes a morning spent joining their traditional hunting activity. You move through the bush with them, learn how they track and hunt, and sit with them as they explain their lifestyle and relationship to the land. It is a direct cultural exchange, not a staged performance.

How much time do I spend on the beach in Zanzibar?

You arrive in Zanzibar on day eight and have the full day nine before your departure flight. Day eight is leisure time at Nungwi beach: swimming, relaxing at the lodge or exploring on your own. Day nine is also yours, though you can opt to visit Stone Town if you want to see the historic quarter before heading to the airport. The exact hours depend on your flight time.

What kind of accommodations will I stay in?

The tour uses mid-range lodges throughout. In Arusha you stay at a mid-range or luxury hotel; in the Karatu area (near Tarangire and Ngorongoro) you stay at Eileen's Tree Inn for four nights; in Zanzibar you stay at Amaan Beach Bungalows. All accommodations are included in the tour price, along with all meals.

Is the Kilimanjaro trek on day two a full climb to the summit?

No. Day two is a full-day trekking experience on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes: your guide leads you through the forest and up to scenic viewpoints where you see the peak and get photography moments, then you descend and return to Arusha the same day. It is a taste of the mountain, not a multi-day summit expedition.