Tanzania is perhaps the most beautiful country in Africa and this tour will show you the best this country has to offer and will leave you with memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Follow the Great Migration on the ethereal planes of the majestic Serengeti, watch lions roam on the prehistoric Ngorongoro crater, relax by the mountain lakes of the Great Rift Valley and dance with Maasai warriors.
Dotted with small fishing villages, deserted islands and home to historic Stone town, the Zanzibar archipelago evokes tales of myth and romance filled with Swahili princes, Omani Sultans and Shirazi merchants - the paradisal 'Spice Islands' offer the perfect relaxing end to your adventure.
Begin your African adventure with an overnight flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, the gateway to Tanzania's wild heart.
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel just outside Arusha. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to unwind, relax, and prepare for an incredible Tanzanian experience ahead.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Your safari adventure kicks off with a journey to the stunning Tarangire National Park. As you open the roof of your jeep, be prepared to witness Africa’s majestic elephants roaming the vast savannah, framed by the iconic Baobab trees that dot the landscape. Tarangire is also a haven for birdwatchers, offering some of the best birdlife viewing in Tanzania. After a treasured day of safari, you’ll head to your lodge on the peaceful shores of Lake Burunge for an overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, travel towards the highlands of the Great Rift Valley for a scenic and relaxing day. Stop in the bustling Mto Wa Mbu Village, home to a mix of approximately 120 tribes, where you'll enjoy a traditional lunch. Continue your journey to Karatu, where you'll visit a local coffee plantation for a unique insight into the region’s agricultural heritage.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, ascend to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Experience breathtaking views as you descend into the caldera, and take a moment to visit a Maasai village, where you’ll learn about the Maasai culture, traditions, and way of life. Moving onto the iconic Serengeti National Park, home to one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife experiences. Experience your first safari in the Serengeti’s unparalleled landscapes, spotting some of Africa’s most famous animals. Lunch is served picnic-style, allowing you to enjoy a delightful meal amidst nature before continuing your thrilling safari adventure. After a thrilling afternoon game drive, check into your lodge, where you’ll spend two nights in the heart of the Serengeti.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is a full day safari in the Serengeti, the legendary "endless plains" that stretch over 1.5 million hectares. Known for the Great Migration, where over two million wildebeest and zebras follow ancient migratory paths, the Serengeti is a wildlife enthusiast's dream. You’ll have the chance to witness thrilling predator-prey interactions, with lions, cheetahs, leopards, and more in their natural habitat. Marvel at the vast landscapes and incredible wildlife sightings, making this one of the most memorable days of your safari journey.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an unforgettable time in the Serengeti, head to the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world. This unique ecosystem supports a dense population of wildlife, including the endangered black rhino, lion prides, and large herds of elephants. Enjoy a safari adventure in this natural wonderland, where wildlife roams freely in the crater’s lush grasslands. Lunch is provided in a picnic setup, allowing you to relish a tasty meal in the heart of nature. After an exciting day of game viewing, ascend the ridge to your overnight accommodation in the highlands of Karatu.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Relax this morning and reflect on your incredible safari experience before heading back to Arusha for your final night in Tanzania. Enjoy a farewell dinner and take in the stunning views of Mount Meru before preparing for your journey home.
This morning will be at leisure before your afternoon transfer back to Arusha in order to catch your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival transfer to your chosen beach hotel.
Enjoy your time at leisure to relax or explore the island at your own pace. Zanzibar, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage, offers a variety of experiences. You can unwind on the pristine sands, swim in the turquoise waters, or take a leisurely stroll along the shore.
Transfer back to the airport in order to catch your return flight to the UK.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in June 2026
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Overall an excellent, mind-blowing holiday! The safari was managed so well. The itinerary and guides were 5*. I would definitely use Mercury for guided tours again.
Verity Dechan
30 Sep 24I just want to emphasise that this is a brilliant holiday! The scope of the itinerary and quality of accommodation are fantastic at a very affordable price. As always, tweaks could be made, but well done - you (and African Eagle) smashed it!!!
Pauline Painter
17 May 24A fantastic trip with lots going on at a good pace. Lots of wildlife at close-up range. Great accommodation overall, lovely food, and wonderfully happy and helpful people. Would definitely recommend this safari.
Marian Gomes
04 Nov 23Our guide, Samir, was hard-working and courteous and went out of his way to ensure that we had a good trip. The hotels were fantastic, each one seemingly better than the last - excellent stay. The trip was a holiday of a lifetime.
Benjamin Selby
21 May 23There were so many highlights it is difficult to choose between them. Tarangire NP was a great introduction to the safari sightings of elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, leopard, buffalo, various gazelles, and numerous birds. The Serengeti landscape was quite amazing and although we were too early for the Great Migration, we saw all of the above plus lions. Seeing a pride lazing in a tree was remarkable.
The Ngorongoro Crater will live long in the memory. It is vast and from the rim, vehicles down below look like tiny toy cars. Spotting a Black Rhino was a highlight and seeing a male lion and vultures feeding on a buffalo carcass was truly awesome.
Paul Smith
30 Nov 22Our intention is to adhere to the day to day itinerary as printed here. However, the order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are made aware of them and keep you updated as much as possible. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
To enter Tanzania, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. You will require a tourist visa to enter Tanzania, apply for an “e-visa” online before you travel. The cost of the visa is approximately £80 per person. The visa takes approximately 15 working days to issue, and it is only valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival. Upon arrival, you will also be asked to fill in a declaration form before going through customs. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company, they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Zanzibar visa requirements
British citizens currently need a tourist visa to enter the United Republic of Tanzania (both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar). We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. The cost of the visa is approximately £80 per person. The visa takes around 15 working days to issue. It is only valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival. When calling the Travel Visa Company they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you are due to leave Tanzania. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding these.
Tanzania Safari If you are taking the Tanzania Safari tour, your visa for Tanzania will cover your extension in Zanzibar. Please note this applies ONLY to guests taking the Tanzania Safari Tour. If you are taking any other tour with a Zanzibar extension, you will require a separate visa.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
All visitors to Zanzibar (excluding residents) must have mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the duration of their stay (up to 92 days), with no exemptions for visitors who already have insurance coverage from their home countries. This fee is reported to cover various potential challenges that visitors might encounter while in Zanzibar, including health issues, loss of baggage, accidents, emergency evacuation, loss of passports, and even repatriation in the unfortunate event of death.
You can only buy this insurance from ZIC. Other international travel insurance policies will not be accepted. Go to the Visit Zanzibar website for more information.
You may be refused entry if you do not have the correct insurance.
If you have any questions that are not covered on the website, contact ZIC by emailing inbound@zic.co.tz.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot and includes some hiking, climbing of stairs and getting on and off 4X4 vehicles. Many of the roads in Tanzania are unpaved and so journeys can sometimes be long and bumpy. Please note that this tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) but USD ($) is also widely accepted. Credit cards are not widely accepted and some establishments only accept Tanzanian Shillings, so it is advisable to have cash in both currencies. There will be access to ATMs in most major cities (not available in the reserves) where you will be able to withdraw money in the local currency.
Zanzibar's currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in your local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. We recommend you take a minimum of GBP £200 per person. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in either the local currency or US Dollars for tipping or small purchases.
Tipping
It is at your discretion to tip your driver/guide, waiters, porters, and housekeepers. We recommend tipping approximately $2 per person per day for waiters, porters, and housekeepers and $7 per person per day for your driver/guide. This is a total of $56 per person to budget for tips on your trip for the driver/guide plus extra for the other staff. Tips are accepted US dollars ($).
All visitors to Zanzibar (excluding residents) must have mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the duration of their stay (up to 92 days), with no exemptions for visitors who already have insurance coverage from their home countries. This fee is reported to cover various potential challenges that visitors might encounter while in Zanzibar, including health issues, loss of baggage, accidents, emergency evacuation, loss of passports, and even repatriation in the unfortunate event of death.
You can only buy this insurance from ZIC. Other international travel insurance policies will not be accepted. Go to the Visit Zanzibar website for more information.
You may be refused entry if you do not have the correct insurance.
If you have any questions that are not covered on the website, contact ZIC by emailing inbound@zic.co.tz.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 6, and the maximum will be 20. If in the unlikely event there are less than 6 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
In Tanzania, guests will be met by drivers who are fully trained as driver guides with a wide knowledge of each destination.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your stay in Zanzibar is not escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. Details of your departure transfer will be confirmed by your guide at the end of your tour at Kilimanjaro airport, before you begin your extension stay in Zanzibar.
Throughout your tour, you will travel in a 7 seater vehicle that is adapted for both open road driving as well as safaris.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to camps. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Tanzania. All group tour hotels have private bathroom facilities, other facilities differ depending on the accommodation. The safari lodges may also have restrictions on electricity accessibility at certain times of the day. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Western and international food will be served however some establishments will serve traditional meals giving you a chance to experience local flavours. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Please note that on some days, lunch will be a packed lunch to enjoy whilst on safari.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island and very conservative. Beach wear is acceptable at the beach or the pool, but modest dress is encouraged elsewhere. Woman – cover shoulders, midriff and legs to below the knees. Men – shorts are acceptable but working around shirtless is not. During Ramadan, both men and woman need to keep legs completely covered while in public. Due to the weather in Zanzibar, lightweight clothing is essential.
The Government of Tanzania wish to advise the following: All plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in Mainland Tanzania. However, plastic or plastic packaging for medical services, industrial services, industrial products, construction industry, agricultural sector, foodstuff, sanitary and waste management are not prohibited. Visitors to Tanzania are advised to avoid carrying plastic carrier bags or packing plastic carrier bags in their suitcase or hand luggage before embarking on visit to Tanzania. Special desk will be designated at all entry points for surrender of plastic carrier bags that visitors may be bringing into Tanzania. Plastics carrier items known as “Ziploc” bags that are specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to remain in the permanent possession of visitors and are not expected to be disposed of in the country. The government does not intend for visitors to Tanzania to find their stay unpleasant as they enforce the ban. However, the Government expects that, in appreciation of the imperative to protect the environment and keep the country clean and beautiful, our visitors will accept minor inconveniences resulting from the plastic bag ban. For further details please contact: ps@vpo.go.tz, 00255 685 333 444, 00255 743 715 62. Issued by Government Communication Unit.
On your arrival at Kilimanjaro airport youll be met by a representative from our local agent in Tanzania holding a sign displaying ‘Mercury Holidays’. The representative will transfer you to your hotel on arrival where you will spend your first night. There will be a guide with you throughout the tour and will be able to answer any queries you may have.
If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:
African Eagle: P.O box 7268 Uhuru Rd, Arusha – Tanzania Telephone Number 00255-679-737 609 E-mail: operations@ae.co.tz
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details 24 hour: +254 733 603 500
