Tanzania
Tanzania itineraries: 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks
For 7 days, fly into Kilimanjaro (JRO), sleep 1 night in Arusha, then run Tarangire 2 nights, Ngorongoro 1, Serengeti 3, and fly back from the Serengeti on day 7 instead of driving. Two weeks adds Zanzibar or a Kilimanjaro climb; three weeks adds the southern parks or Mahale.
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GuideTanzania
Key facts
- Best 7-day shape
- Arusha 1 night → Tarangire 2 → Ngorongoro 1 → Serengeti 3 → fly out
- Do not do on 7 days
- Southern parks (Nyerere, Ruaha) or Mahale — transfers eat the trip
- Entry airport
- Kilimanjaro (JRO) for the northern circuit; Dar es Salaam (DAR) for the south
- Fly, don't drive back
- Serengeti to Arusha or JRO by light aircraft saves a full day
- Long rains
- April–May close many camps and roads
- Buffer night
- Keep one night near JRO or DAR before the international flight
- Peak season
- Jul–Oct and Dec–Feb; book lodges 6–12 months ahead
- Insurance
- Mandatory US$44 inbound insurance from 1 October 2026
Summary by length, route and cost
Pick the length first, then the route. Anything under 7 days is a single-park trip and rarely worth the flights.
Costs below are 2026 estimates for a mid-range lodge safari, per person sharing, excluding international flights. Budget camping and fly-in luxury sit well below and above these bands.
| Length | Route | Nights split | Cost 2026 estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → fly out | 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 | US$2,200–3,500 |
| 10 days | Same, then fly Serengeti → Zanzibar | 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 4 | US$3,000–4,800 |
| 14 days | Kilimanjaro climb (Machame 7 days) then Ngorongoro + Serengeti | 1 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 | US$5,500–8,500 |
| 21 days | Northern circuit + Zanzibar + southern parks (Nyerere or Ruaha) | varies | US$7,500–12,000 |
Per person sharing, mid-range lodges, 2026 estimate. Park fees and concession fees are a large share and rise most years.
7 days: northern circuit only
Day 1: land at Kilimanjaro (JRO), transfer to Arusha, one night. Use the afternoon for the Cultural Heritage Centre on the airport road or the Central Market. Day 2: drive to Tarangire, two nights — elephants and baobabs, and a gentler start than the crater.
Day 4: Ngorongoro, one night on the rim, crater descent at dawn on day 5. Day 5–7: Serengeti, three nights, then a light aircraft back to Arusha or JRO on day 7. Flying out rather than driving back is the single change that makes 7 days work.
If your international flight leaves the same evening, book the morning aircraft and keep 3 hours between arrival and check-in.
- Book the Serengeti–Arusha flight with the safari, not separately
- Crater descent is a half day; do not plan anything else that morning
- Tarangire first, crater at dawn, Serengeti last
10 days: safari plus Zanzibar
Same northern circuit compressed by one Tarangire night, then a direct light aircraft from the Serengeti to Zanzibar on some days of the week. Four nights on the island: two in Stone Town, two on the beach at Nungwi or the east coast.
This is the shape most first-timers should aim for. Safari mornings are early and cold; the island is where you recover. Do not reverse it — beach first means you arrive at the crater tired.
| Day | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha | 1 night, arrive JRO |
| 2–3 | Tarangire | 1 night, then Ngorongoro |
| 4 | Ngorongoro | Rim night, dawn descent |
| 5–7 | Serengeti | 3 nights |
| 8 | Fly to Zanzibar | Stone Town |
| 9–11 | Nungwi or east coast | Beach |
| 12 | Fly home | From Zanzibar or via Dar |
14 days: Kilimanjaro then safari
Climb first while you are fresh and the safari becomes the rest. Machame is 7 days on the mountain including the descent, plus 1 night in Moshi before and 1 in Arusha after.
Then Ngorongoro 2 nights and Serengeti 4. Fourteen days is the shortest length where a climb and a full northern circuit both fit without rushing. Mount Meru (3–4 days) is the cheaper acclimatisation option if you want a warm-up.
Budget separately: a Kilimanjaro climb is usually quoted as its own package with park fees, crew tips and gear rental.
- Climb first, safari second
- One rest night in Arusha between the two
- Tips for porters and guides are expected and budgeted separately
3 weeks: add the south or the west
Three weeks lets you add one of the remote regions without wrecking the trip. Two sensible add-ons: the southern parks (Nyerere/Selous for boat and walking safaris, Ruaha for lions) reached by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam, or Mahale Mountains for chimpanzees on Lake Tanganyika, which needs its own flights and 3–4 nights.
Keep the northern circuit in the middle, not at the end, so a delayed light aircraft does not threaten your flight home. Southern parks are best June–October; Mahale July–October.
| Add-on | Nights | Best months | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyerere (Selous) | 3 | Jun–Oct | Light aircraft from Dar |
| Ruaha | 3 | Jun–Oct | Light aircraft from Dar or Dodoma |
| Mahale Mountains | 3–4 | Jul–Oct | Charter via Kigoma |
| Pemba | 3 | Oct–Mar | Flight from Zanzibar |
Notes that change the plan
April and May are the long rains: many camps close, some roads become impassable, and rates drop. June to October is peak and the northern Serengeti is where the herds are; January to March they are in the south. Match the sector to the month or you will drive past the wildlife.
Book lodges and internal flights 6–12 months ahead for July–October and December–February. Internal light aircraft have strict luggage limits, often 15 kg in soft bags; confirm with the operator before you pack.
Buy the e-visa before you fly, and from 1 October 2026 the mandatory US$44 inbound insurance. Carry US dollars issued after 2009 for park fees and tips; older notes are often refused.
- Long rains Apr–May: closures and mud
- Peak Jul–Oct and Dec–Feb: book early
- Soft bag, 15 kg limit on light aircraft
- US dollars post-2009 for fees and tips
Questions people ask
What is a good 7-day itinerary for Tanzania?
Land at Kilimanjaro, 1 night in Arusha, then Tarangire 2 nights, Ngorongoro 1, Serengeti 3, and fly back from the Serengeti on day 7. Skip the southern parks — transfers would eat the whole week.
How many weeks should I spend in Tanzania?
One week covers the northern circuit only. Ten days adds Zanzibar. Two weeks fits a Kilimanjaro climb plus safari. Three weeks lets you add the southern parks or Mahale without rushing.
What is the best route through Tanzania?
Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti, then fly out rather than driving back. Add Zanzibar after the safari, not before, so you arrive at the crater rested.
Should I do Zanzibar before or after the safari?
After. Safari days start before dawn and the crater descent is cold and early. The island works as recovery, and direct light aircraft from the Serengeti to Zanzibar run on some days of the week.
How much does a 7-day Tanzania safari cost?
A mid-range lodge safari is roughly US$2,200–3,500 per person sharing in 2026, excluding international flights. Park and concession fees are a large share and change most years.
Can I climb Kilimanjaro and do a safari in two weeks?
Yes. Machame is 7 days including descent, plus 1 night in Moshi before and 1 in Arusha after, then Ngorongoro 2 nights and Serengeti 4. Climb first while you are fresh.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTanzania Tourist Board
- officialTanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
- officialNgorongoro Conservation Area Authority
- officialTanzania Immigration Department – e-visa
- secondaryWikivoyage – Tanzania