- Tanzania Multi-Centres
- Classic Tanzania Safari and 5* Zanzibar Beach Stay
Embark on an unforgettable safari through the heart of northern Tanzania, from the sweeping plains of the Serengeti, towering baobabs of Tarangire, and lush forests of the Ngorongoro Crater, to the welcoming villages of the Great Rift Valley. Whether you’re tracking the Big Five or simply soaking in the beauty of the African wilderness, this journey promises a once-in-a-lifetime adventure filled with wonder and discovery. After your safari, reward yourself with a retreat on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. The turquoise waters, soft white sands, and gentle ocean breeze offer the perfect contrast to your days on safari—ideal for relaxation, rejuvenation, and reflecting on unforgettable memories.
Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Tanzania.
Meet your guide at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha. As you settle into the peaceful surroundings, take the opportunity to relax and prepare for the incredible safari adventure that lies ahead.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel from Arusha to embark on a morning 4x4 game drive into Tanzania’s iconic wilderness at Tarangire National Park. This beautiful park covers 2,600 km² of grasslands and swamps, stretching from the plains of the Maasai Steppe to the lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Tarangire holds one of the largest concentrations of elephants in the world as well as great prides of lions, as well as over 400 species of birds. The park’s lifeline, the Tarangire River, sustains an incredible variety of animals, particularly during the dry season. Admire the sun that filters through the branches of epic baobab trees while large herds of buffalo and zebra graze peacefully on the plains.
After a relaxing lunch, enjoy a second game drive. Amongst the woodlands and forest expect to see a wide variety of wildlife, such as wildebeest, zebra, impala, giraffe, and buffalo. Leopard and hyena are often spotted, while cheetah, black rhinos and the unusual gerenuk and bat-eared oryx can be more elusive.
Return to your Lodge for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leaving behind the fertile highlands of Ngorongoro with its coffee and tea plantations, pass into the open plains of the Serengeti, where the Maasai people continue their pastoral traditions alongside some of Africa’s greatest wildlife. Discover the world-famous Serengeti National Park, created in 1951, on an afternoon game drive. One of the largest in Africa, covering over 14,000km2, the park is renowned for the beauty and diversity of its landscapes and for its incredible variety of wildlife. The Serengeti is the bustling home of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, and monkeys, alongside over 500 species of birds, including ostriches and bustards. The park is also famous for its many predators: lions, cheetahs, hyenas and leopards have all been recorded. Dinner is taken at your camp.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A morning game drive in the Seronera region of the Serengeti National Park provide further opportunities to spot the area’s captivating array of wildlife. The Seronera River and its surrounding areas are prime wildlife hotspots, drawing predators and prey alike to its vital water source. Expect to see prides of lions lounging in the grass, elusive leopards draped over tree branches, and cheetahs scanning the plains for their next hunt.
Return to camp to enjoy a freshly prepared lunch before your afternoon safari, providing another opportunity to spot animals as they seek shade, hunt, or visit watering holes. Keep your camera ready for sightings of giraffes moving gracefully across the plains, elephants meandering through the woodlands, and possibly the dramatic scenes of predator-prey interactions.
As the sun begins to set, the golden light casts a magical glow across the landscape, creating perfect photo opportunities and unforgettable memories. After a full day of seeking out the Park’s enchanting residents, enjoy dinner at your camp.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Journey to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area for an afternoon game drive. This stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site is located within the crater highlands of Tanzania and covers vast highland plains, savannahs, and forests. Within it lies the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest volcanic caldera, globally-renowned for its dense presence of endangered animal species, such as black rhino. The crater’s unique landscape, shaped by varying altitudes and climates, supports a variety of habitats—from sweeping short-grass plains and montane forests to lush wetlands and highland savannahs. If during your safaris you have not yet encountered lions, Ngorongoro should not disappoint - it holds the highest density of lions anywhere in the world!
Breakfast
After breakfast, begin your final journey through the diverse landscapes of northern Tanzania. Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch enroute, surrounded by the serene Tanzanian countryside, before you board your onward flight.
Upon arrival in Zanzibar, transfer to your hotel for check-in.
After breakfast, 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.
Set on the soft white sands of Kiwengwa Beach, Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa offers a tranquil retreat on the east coast of Zanzibar. Surrounded by tropical gardens and shaded by swaying palm trees, this resort blends relaxed island living with a touch of Swahili elegance.
The resort’s rooms and suites are spacious and designed to reflect the warmth of the island, with handcrafted furniture, rich textiles, and private balconies or terraces overlooking the ocean or gardens. All accommodations include air conditioning, satellite TV, a minibar, a safe, and tea and coffee-making facilities to ensure comfort throughout your stay.
Dining at Bluebay is a vibrant experience, offering a mix of local Zanzibari flavours and international cuisine. Guests can enjoy laid-back beachside meals, fresh seafood, or elegant evening dining under the stars. The bars offer a variety of refreshing drinks, from tropical cocktails to rich Tanzanian coffee.
For relaxation, the spa provides a calm oasis with a range of treatments using natural products. There’s also a large swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness centre, and opportunities for water sports, such as snorkelling and diving, to explore the nearby reef. Families are welcomed with dedicated children's facilities, and entertainment includes cultural performances that reflect the spirit of Zanzibar.
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
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Our 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.
Tanzania requirements
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 or on arrival. The visa may take a while to be issued and there are certain requirements that must be completed so please make sure if you choose this option you do it well in advance of your travel date, it is valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival in to Tanzania.
Upon arrival, you will also be asked to fill in a declaration form before going through customs.
Zanzibar 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.
We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding these.
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 finalised 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.
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 and Zanzibar 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.
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.
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.
There is no minimum number of passengers required to run this trip, as the safari portion is shared with other travellers, not exclusive to Mercury Holidays customers. If we are not able to operate your departure date for any other reason, 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.
For your safari portion, guests will be met by drivers who are fully trained as driver guides with a wide knowledge of each destination.
For the beach portion of your holiday, you will not be 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 safari or by a representative in the hotel.
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. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels/lodges.
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 walking 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 has banned all plastic carrier bags from being brought into, used, or sold in Mainland Tanzania. Visitors should not pack or carry plastic bags in their luggage. Disposal desks are available at all entry points for any bags brought inadvertently.
Exceptions include plastic packaging used for medical, industrial, construction, agricultural, food, sanitary, and waste‑management purposes. Zip‑lock toiletry bags are allowed, as they stay in the traveller’s possession and are not disposed of in the country.
For more information, contact: ps@vpo.go.tz / +255 685 333 444 / +255 743 715 62.
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
