2 Day Serengeti Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar
Swap the beach for the Serengeti overnight: fly in from Zanzibar, game drive with a private guide, sleep in a tented camp and fly back.
- Duration
- 2 days
- Route
- Zanzibar – Seronera (Serengeti) – Zanzibar
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Zanzibar (pick-up from your hotel or Zanzibar Airport)
- Best time
- Possible year-round; June to October is dry with easy game viewing, and the central Serengeti is good in every season, though flights can be affected by heavy rain in April and May.
- Trip style
- Private game drives in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and your own guide, with seats on scheduled shared light-aircraft flights and a mid-range tented camp.
Tour overview
Short on time but can't leave Tanzania without seeing the Serengeti? This overnight safari flies you straight from Zanzibar to the heart of the park. Within minutes of landing at Seronera you are on a game drive across the plains where lions, leopards, cheetahs and huge herds roam.
A night in a tented camp lets you hear the sounds of the bush after dark, and an early-morning drive catches predators at their most active before you fly back to the coast. It is an ideal add-on for beach holidaymakers, honeymooners and anyone who wants a true taste of safari without long drives.
Highlights
- Scenic light-aircraft flight from Zanzibar over Tanzania
- Afternoon and morning game drives in the central Serengeti
- Excellent chances of lions and leopards in the Seronera area
- A night under canvas in a comfortable tented camp
- Back on Zanzibar by the next evening
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Fly Zanzibar to the Serengeti, Afternoon Game Drive
After an early pick-up from your Zanzibar hotel, check in for your scheduled light-aircraft flight to the Seronera airstrip in the central Serengeti. The flight usually takes around 3 hours, often with a short stop on the way, and offers wonderful views over the mainland. Your guide meets you on the airstrip with the Land Cruiser and a packed lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the Seronera River valley in search of lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes and buffalo, then arrive at camp for dinner around the fire.
Day 2Morning Game Drive, Fly Back to Zanzibar
Rise early with a hot drink and head out at dawn, the best time to find big cats on the move and hyenas returning from the night. Your guide will check the kopjes and river crossings for the latest action, and you stop for breakfast in the bush or back at camp depending on your flight time. Around midday, return to the Seronera airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar, arriving in the afternoon. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
What is included
- Return scheduled flights Zanzibar – Seronera
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and professional guide in the Serengeti
- Serengeti park and concession fees
- 1 night in a tented camp
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Hotel and airport transfers on Zanzibar
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance (mandatory for this trip)
- Tips for guides, pilots and camp staff
- Alcoholic and premium drinks unless stated
- Optional activities such as hot air balloon safaris
- Personal items, laundry and souvenirs
Good to know
- Light aircraft typically allow around 15 kg of luggage per person in soft-sided bags; leave larger cases at your Zanzibar hotel.
- Flight times are set by the airline and can change; game drive length depends on the final schedule.
- The Serengeti is cool in the early morning and evening, so bring a fleece and long trousers.
Frequently asked questions
Is one night in the Serengeti worth it?
Yes, if your time is limited. Flying in avoids long drives, and the central Serengeti around Seronera has some of the best resident wildlife in Africa, so even two game drives usually deliver memorable sightings.
Can we extend to more nights?
Of course. Adding a second Serengeti night gives you a full day of game driving, or see our 4 Day Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar, which also includes the Ngorongoro Crater.
Will we see the wildebeest migration?
It depends on the season. The herds move through the central Serengeti at certain times of year, typically around April to June and again in November and December, but resident wildlife is excellent year-round.
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