5-Day Mara River Migration Safari
Arusha Ngorongoro Crater Central Serengeti Kogatende Arusha
From, per person$2,626
Tanzania safari
5-Day Luxury Serengeti Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar
Overview
This safari doesn’t try to cover several parks. It stays in one and gets to know it well. You fly from Zanzibar to an airstrip inside the Serengeti, so you skip the long road from Arusha. Then you spend four nights at a luxury tented camp out on the plains.
With no long drives between parks, you decide how each day goes. Head out at dawn and come back for lunch, or pack a picnic and stay out until evening. One morning starts with a hot air balloon flight over the Seronera River valley. Later that day, a guided walk shows you the tracks, plants and small creatures you’d miss from a vehicle. On your last morning there’s one more game drive, then the light aircraft takes you back to Zanzibar.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris arranges the flights, the camp, the activities and an open-sided safari vehicle with an experienced guide. Of our short safaris from the island, this is the most comfortable. It suits couples and small groups who want space, quiet and time to watch wildlife without rushing.
Tour highlights
- Fly in and out: no long road transfers
- Four nights at a luxury Serengeti tented camp
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight
- Guided walking safari on the plains
- Flexible game drives at your own pace
Day by day
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Day 1 Light Aircraft from Zanzibar to the Serengeti Stay Luxury tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Lunch, Dinner
We drive you to Zanzibar’s airport for your domestic flight north. You change in Arusha and carry on by light aircraft to an airstrip in the Serengeti, with your first view of the plains from the air. Your guide meets the plane with the safari vehicle, and the game viewing starts on the way to camp. Have lunch and settle in, then go out for an afternoon drive through the grasslands, kopjes and acacia woodland.
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Day 2 Game Drives Shaped Around Your Day Stay Luxury tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today has no fixed plan. Many guests go out before breakfast, when lions and cheetahs are busiest, then come back for lunch and a rest before a late-afternoon drive. Others take a picnic and stay out all day. Your guide keeps track of recent sightings, and in the right season the migrating wildebeest and zebra may be close enough to reach. You’ll often see elephant, giraffe, hippo and eland too.
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Day 3 Following the Herds and the Hunters Stay Luxury tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another slow day lets your guide try a different part of the park. You might wait by a kopje where a pride has been resting, follow a river line looking for leopard, or park beside a herd and see what turns up. Photographers get long sessions in good light, which short trips rarely allow. Evenings are easy, with sundowners and dinner at camp.
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Day 4 Balloon Flight at Dawn and a Walk in the Bush Stay Luxury tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early pickup takes you to the launch site for a hot air balloon flight over the Seronera River valley. The river has water all year, so wildlife gathers here year-round. Back on the ground, a park ranger leads a walking safari. You learn to read tracks and dung, hear how local people use the plants, and spot insects and birds you’d miss from a vehicle. If your camp has permission to run them, you may go on a night drive after dinner.
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Day 5 Final Morning Drive, Flight Back to the Island Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Use the last morning for one more drive while the plains are cool and full of animals. You could go back to a favorite sighting from earlier in the week. After breakfast at camp, your guide drives you to the airstrip for the light-aircraft flight back to Zanzibar, changing in Arusha. From there a transfer takes you to your hotel or the international airport, whichever you need.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $14,912 | $9,942 | $9,008 | $8,596 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $15,697 | $10,465 | $9,475 | $9,048 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $17,442 | $11,628 | $10,528 | $10,054 |
Tour price includes
- Return domestic and light-aircraft flights between Zanzibar and the Serengeti
- Open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle and all ground transport
- Experienced professional safari guide
- Serengeti park entry and service fees
- Four nights at a luxury tented camp
- Hot air balloon flight and guided walking safari
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Government VAT (18%)
- First-aid kit in the vehicle
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
Why fly into the Serengeti instead of driving?
By road, the Serengeti is most of a day from Arusha each way. Flying saves those hours for wildlife and spares you the bumpy roads. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, usually soft bags only. We send you the exact allowance with your booking documents.
Is the hot air balloon flight included?
Yes. One sunrise balloon flight over the Seronera River area is included in the price. Flights depend on the weather, and the balloon company may delay or cancel a flight for safety. When you book, ask us what happens if the weather cancels it, so you know where you stand.
Is the walking safari safe?
A park ranger leads every walk. Rangers know the area and how the animals behave, and they keep a sensible distance from big wildlife. The pace is easy, and the focus is on tracks, plants and birds. Wear closed shoes and neutral colors, and do what the ranger tells you.
Before you go
- Best Time To Visit Tanzania
- How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?
- Top Safari Packing List in Tanzania
- The Best Guides on Tanzania Visa Requirement
- Tanzania Travel Insurance
- Tanzania Travel Safety
- Tipping In Tanzania Safari
- Tanzania Safari Faqs
Listed in Luxury safaris
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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