3-Day Tanzania Safari from Zanzibar — Routes, Prices and Packages

Our six 3-day packages with flights included cost $1,385 to $2,046 per person. The budget package is $1,385. Mid-range packages cost $1,463 to $2,002, and luxury packages cost $2,030 to $2,046. One more package, to Selous (Nyerere), starts at $680. Its page does not say if flights are in that price, so ask us before you book. These are the "from" prices on each package page. Not included: international flights to Zanzibar, the Tanzania visa, travel insurance, tips and drinks other than water. See the packages.

Yes. Five of our 3-day packages visit the Serengeti, and all five list flights as included. They cost $1,385 to $2,046 per person. Some fly straight to the Serengeti, which takes about 3 hours with 1 stop. Others fly to Arusha and drive. For flight times and airstrips, read our Zanzibar to Serengeti flights and fly-in safaris page.

Yes. You fly from Zanzibar on day 1, spend two nights in the bush and fly back on day 3. You do not lose a day to driving. You can go to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Selous or Mikumi. Flights leave Zanzibar every morning, so you can fit the trip into a beach holiday.

It depends on what you want. The Serengeti with Ngorongoro Crater is the choice for most first-timers. Tarangire is good for elephants and baobab trees, with a shorter flight. Selous has the shortest flight, at 1 hour 15 minutes, and offers boat and walking safaris. Mikumi costs less. Compare the parks.

Three days is enough for a real taste of safari in one to three parks. You get about 12 to 15 hours of game viewing across the three days. It is not enough to see everything. Our packages visit two or three parks, so each park gets a short visit. If you want more time, look at the 7-day safari from Zanzibar.

Each package page has its own list. The packages above list a driver-guide, park fees, taxes, meals, accommodation, all activities and transport, and round-trip airport transfers. Six of them also list all flights during the tour. The Selous package does not list flights, so ask us. Not included: international flights to Zanzibar, the Tanzania visa ($50 to $100), travel insurance, tips (about $75 per person for the driver-guide and $30 for camp staff on a 3-day trip), and drinks other than water. A balloon safari in the Serengeti costs $599 per person. A walking safari in Selous costs $120 per person.

Our estimate is 60 to 75 percent odds of seeing all five, against 85 percent or more on a 7-day trip. Lions, elephants and buffalo are easy to find. Leopards take some luck, and rhinos are the hardest. If the Big Five is your main goal, book a longer trip.

Selous (Nyerere) has the shorter flight, 1 hour 15 minutes direct. It offers Rufiji River boat safaris and walking safaris, which are rare in Tanzania. Mikumi is a 1 hour 45 minute flight. It has open plains with zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, elephant and lion, and it costs less. Choose Selous for variety and Mikumi for budget. See the Selous (Nyerere) package, or ask us about Mikumi.

Two nights on safari leaves five nights at the beach. We suggest the safari first, then the beach to rest. You can also do four beach nights, two safari nights and one more beach night, but that last beach night can feel rushed. See both plans.

Probably not. The river crossings happen from July to October in the north of the Serengeti. The herds move every day, and you need 4 to 5 days to line up with a crossing. For crossings, choose a longer trip, such as the 7-day safari from Zanzibar. From December to March the herds are in the south for calving, which suits a 3-day trip better.

The limit is 15 kg per person, including hand luggage and your camera bag. Use soft bags only. Hard cases are refused at check-in. Most Zanzibar beach hotels keep a spare bag for free while you are on safari, so you can leave your beach clothes behind. See our packing list.

For July to October and December to March, book 4 to 6 months ahead. In the rainy months of April, May and November, 6 to 8 weeks is enough. For a last-minute trip, ask us about Mikumi, where space is usually easier to find. We book direct from our Arusha office, so you skip the 15 to 25 percent that booking sites add. Read why direct booking matters.