A safari and Zanzibar holiday is Africa's classic double: a week of early starts and lions on the plains, then white sand, warm sea and the alleys of Stone Town. Zanzibar is a short flight from the Serengeti, Arusha and Nairobi, so a Zanzibar safari and beach holiday works from Tanzania or Kenya, and our Travel Designers plan every one around your dates.
This page is about putting the two together: the routes that work, how many nights to give each, how you get from the safari to the island, which coast suits you after a safari, and the months that are good for both. For the parks themselves, see our Tanzania safari and Kenya safari pages; for the island, the Zanzibar holiday guide.
Safari and Zanzibar routes that work
Almost every Zanzibar holiday with safari follows one of these four shapes. Nights are a guide; a Travel Designer will tune them to your flights.
| Route | On safari | On Zanzibar | Total | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Tanzania and Zanzibar | Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater (6 to 7 nights) | 5 to 7 nights | 12 to 14 nights | First safaris and honeymoons; the most popular route |
| Kenya and Zanzibar | The Masai Mara, often with Amboseli or Laikipia (4 to 6 nights) | 5 to 7 nights | 10 to 13 nights | Short transfers and the private Mara conservancies |
| Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar | The Mara, the Serengeti and the crater (7 to 8 nights) | 4 to 5 nights | 12 to 14 nights | Migration fans from July to October |
| Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar | Nyerere or Ruaha by light aircraft (4 to 6 nights) | 5 to 7 nights | 10 to 13 nights | Second safaris; fewer vehicles, boat and walking safaris |
Safari first, beach second
Put the beach at the end. Safari days start before dawn and can be dusty and tiring, so the island is the reward, and you fly home rested. Beach first only makes sense if you arrive exhausted and want a couple of days to adjust before the early starts, or if the flights force it.
Don't skip Stone Town
Give Stone Town one night, either on the way in or before your flight home: its carved doors, markets and the former slave market are a world away from the beach hotels, and the Forodhani Gardens night market is the best dinner on the island.
How many nights on safari and on Zanzibar?
The commonest mistake is too short a safari. The Serengeti is huge, and one night there is mostly driving. Here is how we would split the time.
Getting from the Serengeti to Zanzibar
By light aircraft
The quickest link: from a Serengeti airstrip to the island in an afternoon, with soft bags only.
Safari first
Start with the Serengeti and the crater, when you are fresh enough for the early starts.
A night in Stone Town
The old town, the night market and a sunset dhow trip. Close to the airport.
From the safari to the island
- From the Serengeti: scheduled light aircraft fly from the park's airstrips to Zanzibar, often with a stop on the way, in roughly one and a half to two hours. You can be on the beach the same afternoon.
- From Arusha or Kilimanjaro: if your safari ends by road, short flights from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport reach Zanzibar in about an hour or two.
- From the Masai Mara: light aircraft fly to Nairobi, usually to Wilson airport, then a direct flight takes about an hour and a half to Zanzibar, often with a transfer across the city to the international airport.
- Luggage: light aircraft have strict weight limits and usually need soft bags, so pack light for the whole trip, beach clothes included.
Flights from the UK
From 29 May to 31 October 2027, British Airways flies from London Gatwick three times a week on a triangle route: Gatwick to Kilimanjaro, on to Zanzibar, then non-stop from Zanzibar back to Gatwick. That suits a safari and Zanzibar holiday perfectly: land at Kilimanjaro for the safari and fly home from the island. The flight between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar isn't part of the BA ticket, so we book that leg, or a light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti, separately. Outside that season, most people connect through Europe, the Gulf, Nairobi or Addis Ababa. Holidays with flights are ATOL protected.
Which Zanzibar coast after a safari?
The tides decide more than you would think. After a safari most people want easy swimming and very little driving, which points north. More detail in our Zanzibar holidays page.
Nungwi and Kendwa (north)
The tide barely goes out here, the beaches face west for sunsets, and there is plenty going on. The easiest choice after a safari.
Matemwe and Mnemba (north-east)
Quiet villages facing Mnemba Atoll, a marine conservation area with turtles and reef fish. Low tide pulls the sea back.
Paje, Jambiani and the south-east
Wide, powder-white beaches with big tides and seaweed farms in the lagoons. Lovely, but swimming depends on the tide.
When to go: the months that suit safari and Zanzibar
The good news: the mainland and the island share the same seasons. June to October and December to February are good for both; the long rains of April and May are the months to avoid.
| Month | On safari | On Zanzibar | Rain, Serengeti | Rain, Masai Mara | Rain, Zanzibar | Both together |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains for calving | Hot and mostly dry, calm seas | 85 mm | 75 mm | 40 mm | Very good |
| Feb | Calving peak in the south, with predators close by | Hot and humid; good diving | 70 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm | Very good |
| Mar | Herds still in the south; rains building | Hot; rains arrive late in the month | 85 mm | 85 mm | 115 mm | Fair |
| Apr | Long rains; some safari camps close | The wettest month; some hotels close | 135 mm | 135 mm | 335 mm | Avoid |
| May | Rains easing; herds moving west and north | Still very wet | 40 mm | 60 mm | 200 mm | Poor |
| Jun | Dry season; herds in the Western Corridor | Dry, breezy and a little cooler | 15 mm | 45 mm | 50 mm | Very good |
| Jul | First Mara River crossings in the north and in Kenya | Dry and sunny; peak season | 5 mm | 15 mm | 45 mm | Excellent |
| Aug | Mara River crossings in Tanzania and Kenya | Dry and sunny | 10 mm | 25 mm | 40 mm | Excellent |
| Sep | Crossings continue; superb for big cats | Dry and sunny | 20 mm | 35 mm | 40 mm | Excellent |
| Oct | Herds start to turn south late in the month | Dry and warm | 45 mm | 55 mm | 85 mm | Very good |
| Nov | Short rains; herds stream south | Short rains, mostly showers | 110 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm | Fair |
| Dec | Herds back on the southern plains | Hot; festive weeks book up early | 115 mm | 90 mm | 95 mm | Good |
Weather: 2014–2023 averages from ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo) for Seronera in the central Serengeti, the Masai Mara (Talek area) and Stone Town, rounded. Herd positions are typical, not guaranteed: the rains move them, not the calendar.
Kenya safari and Zanzibar
Zanzibar isn't only for Tanzania safaris. Kenya has direct flights from London to Nairobi and short light-aircraft hops to the Masai Mara, so a Mara safari followed by Zanzibar is a smooth trip, and the Mara's private conservancies are among the best places in Africa for a small-camp safari. From July to October you can see the migration in the Mara, then fly on to the island. For a beach in Kenya itself, see the coast section of our Kenya safari page.
Crossing two countries means two sets of entry rules: Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorisation and Kenyan government travel health insurance, then a Tanzanian visa and Tanzania's inbound travel insurance. Kenya is on the list of countries with a risk of yellow fever, so ask your GP or travel clinic whether you need a certificate to enter Tanzania after Kenya.
Safari and Zanzibar trips we sell
A tailor-made multi-centre trip, a small-group tour with Zanzibar built in, a short break you can add to any safari, and two long overland journeys.
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
Arusha, Tarangire, two nights in the Serengeti and a night on the crater rim with a private driver-guide, then seven nights on Zanzibar.
East Africa Safari & Zanzibar: Maasai Mara to Nungwi – 13 Days
The Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi, then a flight to Zanzibar for Stone Town and three days at Nungwi.
Zanzibar Short Break: Stone Town & the North Coast – 4 Days
A night in Stone Town, a spice farm tour and two nights on the north coast: the simplest way to add a beach to a group safari.
Overland from Kenya to Victoria Falls via Zanzibar – 27 Days
Nairobi to Victoria Falls by safari truck: the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, two nights on Zanzibar, Lake Malawi, South Luangwa and Matobo.
Overland from Victoria Falls to Kenya via Zanzibar – 28 Days
The same journey north-bound: the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa, Lake Malawi, Stone Town and the beaches of Zanzibar, then the Serengeti.
Add Zanzibar to a group safari with the 4-day short break
Compare every pairing in our guide to safari and beach holidays, or see all escorted tours in Tanzania.
Safari and Zanzibar honeymoons and family holidays
Honeymoons
Two or three nights in a small Serengeti tented camp, a dawn balloon flight, then a quiet beach on the north-east coast facing Mnemba is a honeymoon classic. Fly between them so you lose as little time as possible, and let us know it is your honeymoon when we book. See our honeymoon holidays.
Families
Choose a safari camp that welcomes children (many set a minimum age for game drives, often around six), a private vehicle so you can stop when you need to, and the north coast of Zanzibar, where the sea stays in at low tide. Our Zanzibar short break welcomes children aged five and over. Children love the giant tortoises on Prison Island and the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest. For older children, see family adventure holidays with teenagers.
Climbers
Kilimanjaro sits next to the safari airport, so a climb, a safari and a beach week make one memorable trip. Read about Kilimanjaro routes.
Before you go: visas, insurance and health
- Tanzania visa. British passport holders need a visa for mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Apply for an e-visa before you travel; single-entry visas are also available on arrival at the main entry points.
- Tanzanian inbound travel insurance. Visitors must also buy the Tanzanian government's inbound travel insurance, even with their own policy. You only buy it for your first point of entry: from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation if you arrive on Zanzibar first, or the National Insurance Corporation if you arrive on the mainland. You still need your own full travel insurance.
- Kenya. If your safari is in Kenya, you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before you go, and from 5 October 2026 most visitors must also buy Kenyan government travel health insurance as part of it.
- Health. We don't give medical advice. Speak to your GP or a travel clinic at least eight weeks before you go about vaccinations and malaria tablets, which are usually advised for both the parks and Zanzibar, and about a yellow fever certificate for your route.
- On the island. Zanzibar is mainly Muslim: swimwear is fine on hotel beaches, but cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and the villages.
Check the current FCDO Tanzania travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
Going via Kenya? Check the current FCDO Kenya travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
Safari and Zanzibar FAQs
When is the best time for a safari and Zanzibar holiday?
June to October and December to February are good for both. July to September brings the Mara River crossings and dry, sunny weather on Zanzibar; January and February bring calving on the southern Serengeti plains and calm seas. Avoid April and May, the long rains.
How many days do I need for a safari and Zanzibar?
Twelve nights is a good balance: six or seven on safari, with three in the Serengeti, and five or six on Zanzibar, including a night in Stone Town. Ten nights is the minimum for northern Tanzania; fourteen lets you add Kenya's Masai Mara.
How do you get from the Serengeti to Zanzibar?
By scheduled light aircraft from the Serengeti airstrips, often with a stop on the way, in roughly one and a half to two hours. If your safari ends by road, short flights also leave Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Light aircraft need soft bags with strict weight limits.
Should I do the safari or the beach first?
Safari first for most people. The early starts are easier when you are fresh, and you finish relaxed on the beach before flying home. Beach first can suit you if you want to recover from the long flight before the safari begins.
Can I combine a Kenya safari with Zanzibar?
Yes. Fly from the Masai Mara to Nairobi by light aircraft, then on to Zanzibar in about an hour and a half. You need Kenya's entry authorisation and travel health insurance as well as a Tanzanian visa and Tanzania's inbound travel insurance.
Are there direct flights from the UK for a safari and Zanzibar holiday?
Yes, in summer 2027. From 29 May to 31 October 2027 British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro three times a week, continuing to Zanzibar, with a non-stop flight home from Zanzibar to Gatwick. You land at Kilimanjaro for the safari and fly home from the island; the hop from the safari to Zanzibar is booked separately. At other times most routes connect through Europe, the Gulf, Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
Which part of Zanzibar is best after a safari?
The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, for swimming at any tide and sunsets. The north-east, around Matemwe, for quiet and snorkelling at Mnemba. The south-east for long beaches and kitesurfing, although the tide goes out a long way.
Is a safari and Zanzibar holiday good for a honeymoon?
It is one of the most popular honeymoons we plan: a few nights in a small tented camp, perhaps a balloon flight over the Serengeti, then a quiet beach on the north or north-east coast of Zanzibar.
Keep planning
Plan your safari and Zanzibar holiday
Tell a Travel Designer when you want to go, how long you have and what matters most: the migration, a quiet camp, a family-friendly beach or a honeymoon. We will balance the nights, arrange the flights between the park and the island and send live prices. Holidays with flights are ATOL protected.