Self-Launched 2-Day Tanzania Safari from Zanzibar (Tarangire & Ngorongoro)
2 days · Tanzania
Africa Natural Tours charges £550
No-markup version: ~£340 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the popular 2-day Zanzibar-to-Arusha safari: fly or ferry across to Arusha, then join a budget-friendly scheduled or small-group safari covering Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. This self-launched plan swaps the operator's packaged flights and transfers for local flights/buses, books camping or hostel beds in Arusha and a public/backpacker safari departure, and uses shared vehicles and picnic lunches. You'll see elephants and baobabs in Tarangire, camp near Karatu/Ngorongoro, then descend into the crater for the Big Five before returning to Arusha (and onward to Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro airport). Costs are approximate per person, based on current backpacker and budget-safari rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Zanzibar to Arusha, then Tarangire National Park game drive
Zanzibar → Arusha → Tarangire National Park
Take an early morning domestic flight from Zanzibar (Abeid Amani Karume International) to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport — book a few weeks ahead on Coastal Aviation, Precision Air or Air Tanzania (approx. £60–90 one way). Alternatively take the Azam/Sea Star fast ferry to Dar es Salaam and an overnight bus up to Arusha (cheaper, ~£30–40, but adds a day). Land by mid-morning, meet your shared safari vehicle (pre-booked via a reputable Arusha operator or a backpacker hostel's scheduled departure), and drive ~2 hours west to the Rift Valley escarpment. Enter Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive among giant baobabs and the elephant herds lining the Tarangire River. Picnic lunch en route (or bring your own from Arusha market). In the late afternoon, head to Karatu/Mto wa Mbu area for a budget tented camp or hostel with dinner.
🚌Domestic flight (~£60–90) + shared 4x4 safari vehicle (included in shared safari fee)
🛏Budget tented camp or hostel near Karatu / Mto wa Mbu (e.g. Ngedere-style tents, ~£15–25 pp with dinner)
- →Domestic flight Zanzibar–Arusha/Kilimanjaro
- →Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park along the Tarangire River
- →Elephant and baobab spotting
- →Picnic lunch and sunset drive to Karatu
Ngorongoro Crater game drive and return to Arusha/Zanzibar
Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha → Zanzibar
Early breakfast and departure before dawn to catch the crater at its best, driving up to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate and descending onto the crater floor. Spend ~5 hours on a game drive in search of the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and — with luck — leopard), plus flamingos and hippos at the Hippo Pool / Ngoitokitok springs, where you'll eat a picnic lunch. Climb back out and drive ~3 hours back to Arusha. If you're returning to Zanzibar, book an evening flight back from Kilimanjaro or Arusha (approx. £60–90), or stay a night in an Arusha hostel and take a bus/flight the next morning. Solo travellers can often share a crater vehicle with other backpackers booked through an Arusha hostel — ask in advance for a seat-share.
🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle back to Arusha + evening flight (or bus) to Zanzibar (~£60–90)
🛏None included (optional Arusha hostel ~£10–20 if staying the night)
- →Sunrise drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- →5-hour game drive in Ngorongoro Crater (Big Five viewing)
- →Hippo Pool picnic lunch
- →Optional Maasai village visit (small fee, ~£5–10)
Self-launched vs. Africa Natural Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Africa Natural Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£340 | £550 |
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £210 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Africa Natural Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£340
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched 2-Day Tanzania Safari from Zanzibar (Tarangire & Ngorongoro) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £340 per person for 2 days in Tanzania. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Africa Natural Tours?+
Yes — Africa Natural Tours charges around £550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £340 — a saving of roughly £210 (38%) per person.
How long is the Tanzania trip?+
This itinerary runs 2 days, covering 2 day-by-day stops through Tanzania.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, budget trip through Tanzania, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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