What You Need to Know: This 9-day family safari and Zanzibar holiday costs from US$4,610 per adult for two adults at mid-range level (US$3,525 budget, US$6,795 luxury), including the flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar. Children aged 5 and under travel free, children from 6 to 15 get 30% off, and every family booking gets an 8% family discount. The safari runs in your own Land Cruiser through Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater, the central Serengeti and two nights at Kogatende by the Mara River, followed by three nights at a Zanzibar beach resort. It is best from July to October in 2027 and 2028, when the migration herds are in the north and Zanzibar is dry.
Who Is This Safari and Beach Holiday For?
We first put this trip together for a family of three traveling in August, who wanted the migration and the beach without spending days on the road. The answer was to fly out of the northern Serengeti directly to Zanzibar, so the safari ends at its high point and the children swap the Land Cruiser for the sea the same afternoon.
| Choose this holiday if… | Look at another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want a safari and a beach in about nine days | You'd rather skip the beach: the 8-day family migration safari adds a Maasai village and ends in Arusha |
| Your children are about 6 or older | Your children are toddlers: start from the 3-day safari with short drives and add Zanzibar |
| You travel in July, August, September or October | You travel January to March: see the 10-day family calving safari |
9-Day Family Safari and Zanzibar Itinerary
Every lodge is "or similar" and confirmed for your dates; for families we ask for family rooms or rooms side by side.
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Day 1: Land at Kilimanjaro, night in Arusha
We meet you after baggage reclaim at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to Arusha, about an hour. The evening is free for the family to settle in and sleep off the journey.
Stay: Parachichi House (budget), Njiro Luxury Resort (mid-range) or Arusha Coffee Lodge (luxury), or similar.
Airport pickupArushaMeals on your own -
Day 2: A full day in Tarangire
Your safari begins in Tarangire, where baobab trees as wide as a car stand among the grass and elephant families come down to the river in the dry season. With a whole day here there is time for lions resting in the shade, giraffes and zebras, and a picnic in the park. Late in the afternoon you continue to Karatu, 3 to 4 hours of driving in total for the day.
Stay: Karatu Villas (budget), Karatu Tented Lodge (mid-range) or Gibbs' Farm (luxury), or similar.
Full-day game driveTarangire, KaratuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater, then the central Serengeti
An early breakfast and down into the Ngorongoro Crater, where elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos and the rare black rhino share one enormous bowl. After the crater you climb out and continue across the plains to the central Serengeti, watching for wildlife on the way; the whole day is about 6 to 8 hours.
Stay: Maboresho Tented Camp (budget), Mberesero Serengeti Central Lodge (mid-range) or Naisula Serengeti Camp, for couples and families only (luxury), or similar.
Crater game driveNgorongoro, central SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Through the Serengeti to Kogatende
The journey north crosses some of the Serengeti's most beautiful country, 5 to 7 hours depending on what you stop for: cheetahs on the plains, lions, leopards, elephants, and finally the migration herds around Kogatende, famous for the wildebeest crossings of the Mara River.
Stay: Serengeti Classic View Kogatende (budget), Olmorijo Camp (mid-range) or Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp (luxury), or similar, for two nights.
Northbound game driveNorthern SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Following the herds along the Mara River
A full day in the north, following the wildebeest and zebras across the plains and visiting the river where crossings may happen when the herds are ready. Your guide picks the spots and the timing; you decide how long to wait. A sunrise balloon flight is an optional extra, US$490 per person.
Migration dayKogatendeBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 6: Fly from the Serengeti to Zanzibar
After breakfast your guide drives you to Kogatende airstrip for the scheduled light-aircraft flight to Zanzibar; these flights often stop at other airstrips on the way, and the exact times are confirmed when you book. On Zanzibar you are met and driven to your beach hotel for the afternoon.
Stay: Tembo Kiwengwa Beach Resort or Zanziblu Waves, Kiwengwa (mid-range and luxury), or a budget hotel at Kendwa such as Sunset Kendwa Hotel, or similar, for three nights.
Bush to beachKogatende, ZanzibarBreakfast -
Day 7: A beach day on Zanzibar
Nothing planned: swim, build sandcastles, walk the beach at low tide and enjoy the hotel. After a week of early starts, this is the day the children remember too.
Free dayZanzibar beachBreakfast -
Day 8: Beach or an island excursion
Stay on the beach, or add one of our Zanzibar excursions that families enjoy most, US$105 per person with children at half price: the giant tortoises of Prison Island, the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest, or the lanes and markets of Stone Town.
Optional excursionZanzibarBreakfast -
Day 9: Fly home from Zanzibar
A last swim, then the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport near Stone Town, timed to your flight.
Airport transferZanzibarBreakfast
How Much Does the 9-Day Family Safari and Zanzibar Holiday Cost?
From US$4,610 per adult for two adults at mid-range level, US$3,525 at budget level and US$6,795 at luxury level. That covers the safari, the flight from Kogatende to Zanzibar, the beach hotel and every transfer. Mid-range and luxury prices use Kiwengwa beach resorts; the budget price uses a hotel at Kendwa, as Kiwengwa has no budget options on our list.
| Adults | Budget (Kendwa) | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$4,755 | US$6,295 | US$9,305 |
| 2 | US$3,525 | US$4,610 | US$6,795 |
| 3 | US$3,120 | US$4,270 | US$6,350 |
| 4 | US$3,110 | US$4,195 | US$6,380 |
| 5 | US$2,950 | US$4,075 | US$6,195 |
| 6 | US$2,975 | US$4,055 | US$6,240 |
The prices include the Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti fees, the crater service fee (US$295 per vehicle) and the concession fees for three nights inside the Serengeti. Rates for 2027 and 2028 are confirmed in your quotation; see our park fees guide for the 2026 figures.
What Children Pay
| Traveler | Price at mid-range, 2 adults |
|---|---|
| Child 5 and under | Free |
| Child 6 to 15 | US$3,227 (30% off the adult price) |
| Family discount | 8% off the whole booking |
Two adults and a 9-year-old, for example: US$9,220 plus US$3,227 makes US$12,447, and the 8% family discount brings it to about US$11,451. Optional Zanzibar excursions are charged separately, with children paying half. Every family's quotation lists each traveler's price; the rules are on our family safaris page.
What the Holiday Includes
- Airport pickup at Kilimanjaro and drop-off at Zanzibar airport, and the transfer from Zanzibar airport to your beach hotel
- A private 4x4 Land Cruiser and driver-guide for the five safari days
- The scheduled flight from Kogatende to Zanzibar
- Eight nights' accommodation: four safari nights with full board, one night in Arusha and three beach nights with breakfast
- All park entry, conservation and concession fees, and the crater service fee
- Drinking water during the safari
Not included
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance (US$44 per adult), which also covers Zanzibar, and your own travel insurance
- Zanzibar excursions (US$105 per person, children half) and the Serengeti balloon flight (US$490 per person)
- Lunches and dinners on Zanzibar, dinner on Day 1, drinks, tips and personal items
Choosing Your Zanzibar Beach with Children
Our first family on this route stayed at a beach resort in Kiwengwa, on the east coast. The east coast is tidal: at low tide the water goes out a long way, so swimming there depends on the time of day. If your children mainly want to swim, Kendwa and Nungwi in the north have swimming at most tides, and we can price the holiday with a hotel there instead. Our Zanzibar holidays page compares the beaches.
Zanzibar is warm and mostly dry from July to October, which suits the safari months exactly. The inbound travel insurance covers both the mainland and the island, so you only buy it once.
Tips for Families on This Trip
- Luggage: light-aircraft flights have strict weight limits, so pack soft bags; we confirm the allowance for your flight when you book.
- Long days: Days 3 and 4 are the long drives. Bring snacks, games and a pillow; your guide stops whenever needed.
- Health: ask your doctor about malaria tablets for the safari and Zanzibar, and pack plenty of sunscreen for the beach. See vaccinations and travel health.
- Add a rest day: if the flights are long, a second night in Arusha before the safari helps everyone; we add it on request.
Other Family Trips with Zanzibar
For a dry-season trip with more time in the classic parks and a Stone Town night, see the 10-day Big Five safari and Zanzibar, from US$5,315 per person. If your family is already on Zanzibar and wants only a short safari, the 3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari from Zanzibar flies you in and out. With three weeks, our 20-day family safari and Zanzibar holiday adds Arusha, Lake Manyara, the crater rim and a full beach week. Every family trip is listed on our family safaris page.
How to Book the Family Safari and Zanzibar Holiday
Let us know your travel dates, how many adults and children are coming with each child's age, your lodge level and whether you prefer Kiwengwa or the north coast, through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or at jaynevytours@gmail.com. We check the Kogatende camp and the flight together, then send a written itinerary and quotation with every adult and child price and the family discount. A 30% deposit confirms the booking, the rest is paid on arrival, and our booking terms explain refunds.
Common Questions About the Family Safari and Zanzibar Holiday
Is the flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar included?
Yes. The scheduled flight from Kogatende airstrip to Zanzibar is in the price, along with the transfer to your beach hotel.
How much do children pay on this holiday?
Children aged 5 and under travel free; children from 6 to 15 pay 30% less than an adult, US$3,227 at mid-range for two adults; and every family gets 8% off the total.
Which Zanzibar beach is best for children?
For swimming at most tides, Kendwa and Nungwi in the north. Kiwengwa, on the east coast, has big beach resorts, but the tide goes out a long way there, so plan swims around high tide.
When is the best time for this trip?
July to October, when the migration herds are around the Mara River and Zanzibar is dry. August and September usually bring the most river crossings.
Can we do it in the calving season instead?
Yes, with Ndutu instead of Kogatende from January to March; we fly you to Zanzibar from the Serengeti in the same way. Ask us for a quotation.
How much luggage can we take on the flight?
Light aircraft have strict weight limits and take soft bags only. We confirm your airline's allowance when we book, so the family can pack for it from the start.
The Bottom Line
For a first family trip to Tanzania with a beach at the end, this is the easiest shape: five safari days from Tarangire to the Mara River, a flight straight to Zanzibar and three days of rest. It costs from US$4,610 per adult at mid-range, children aged 5 and under travel free, and older children up to 15 get 30% off. Book early for July and August.