Is a 3 Day Serengeti Safari from Zanzibar Worth It?

It depends on what you want from it. A three day fly in safari from Zanzibar is worth it if you have limited time, you want to see the Serengeti’s big cats, and you are happy to trade breadth for depth. It is not the best choice if you want river crossings, the Ngorongoro Crater, or the lowest price per day.

This guide explains how the trip works, what you can realistically see, what it costs and why, and who should choose a longer trip instead. If you would like to compare it with a road safari first, start with our guide to planning your first safari in Tanzania.

The short answer

It is worth it if:

You are already in Zanzibar and have only three days to spare.
The Serengeti is your priority, and you would rather skip the long road transfer from Arusha (Which would require at least 9 hours).
You want a private vehicle and a full day in the park.
You are connecting to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport afterward.

Think again if:

You also want to see Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire or Lake Manyara.
A Mara River crossing is the main goal. That needs more days in the north.
Budget matters most. A road safari from Arusha costs less per day.
You dislike tight schedules or strict baggage rules.

How does the trip work?

Our 3 day Serengeti fly in safari from Zanzibar is two nights in the central Serengeti. Here is how the days run.

Day 1. You take a morning flight from Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to Seronera Airstrip. Flights usually leave between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and take roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, with possible short stops at other airstrips. Your guide meets you at the airstrip and the game drive starts almost straight away. You have a picnic lunch inside the park, keep driving through the afternoon, and reach camp as the light fades.

Day 2. A full day in the park, we recommend you start the game drive before sunrise. You spend the day around the Seronera river valley and the rocky kopjes, with a picnic lunch and a midday break.

Day 3. One last early drive, then a flight from Seronera to Arusha. From there we can arrange a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, or connect you to a longer safari. There is also an option to fly back to Zanzibar.

You stay at Tamba Tented Camp or a similar mid range camp. If you have never slept in a tented camp, read our guide on whether it is safe to sleep in a tented camp in Tanzania.

A same day return from Zanzibar is not possible, because bush flight schedules do not allow it. Two nights is the shortest trip that gives you good game viewing.

What can you realistically see in three days?

You get roughly two full days of game viewing, plus parts of the first and last days, all in the central Serengeti around Seronera. This area has a strong reputation for resident predators.

Big cats. Lions, leopards and cheetahs live around the Seronera river valley, and lions often rest on the kopjes during the heat of the day.
Hippos. The Retima Hippo Pool holds large numbers of hippos all year.
Plains game. Zebra, giraffe, buffalo and many antelope species. Elephants are present, but they are not the highlight here.
The Great Migration, sometimes. Herds pass through the central Serengeti at some times of year, but where they are depends on that year’s rains. Ask us about your month before you book.

What you will not see on this trip: Ngorongoro Crater, the elephant herds of Tarangire, and the northern Serengeti where the Mara River crossings usually happen between July and September. In January and February the calving takes place further south, so ask us where to base if calving is the reason you are going.

Sightings are never guaranteed. With only two full days, one quiet morning matters more than it would on a longer trip. A good guide improves your odds, but nobody controls the animals. Read more about the Serengeti on our Serengeti National Park page.

How much does it cost, and is it good value?

Our three day trip starts from $2,580 per person. That is roughly $860 per person per day, compared with roughly $550 per day on our 6 day classic Tanzania safari, which starts from $3,320. A short Serengeti trip costs more per day for three reasons:

Flights. The flights are a large cost packed into only three days.
Serengeti fees. You pay park entry and the nightly concession fee for sleeping inside the park, and they fall on every night of a short trip. We explain this in our planning guide.
A private vehicle and guide. The cost is shared by fewer days.

The price includes:

Flights from Zanzibar to the Serengeti and from the Serengeti to Arusha.
All national park fees and conservation taxes.
A professional local guide and a private 4×4 safari vehicle.
All airport transfers.
Mid range accommodation as specified.
Bottled drinking water on game drives.
Meals as specified.

The price excludes: international flights, your Tanzania entry visa, travel insurance, and tips for guides and camp staff.

Public listings for three day Zanzibar fly in safaris range widely, from under $1,500 to nearly $4,000 per person. The difference usually comes from the camp standard, whether the vehicle is shared or private, and what is included, such as flights and park fees. Always ask for a written inclusions list before you compare prices.

So is it good value? If you value your time and the Serengeti is your main goal, yes. If you want the most wildlife and the most parks for your money, a longer road safari gives you more days and more variety for a similar budget.

Who should choose something else?

You want more than the Serengeti. A road based Northern Circuit safari covers more parks. See our classic safari packages. You will need a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha first.
You want a beach stay afterward. Look at our 8 day Serengeti fly in and Zanzibar escape or our safari and Zanzibar combo, which give the Serengeti more time and end on the island.
You want to chase the Migration. Add days in the north. A five day version adds the Western Corridor or the northern Mara River area.
You want the lowest price. A road safari from Arusha, or a shorter trip to the parks near Arusha, costs less per day.

Browse all our fly in and fly out safari options if you are still deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a Serengeti day trip from Zanzibar?

No. A same day return is not possible because flight schedules do not allow it. A two night trip is the shortest that gives you worthwhile game viewing.

How long is the flight from Zanzibar to the Serengeti?

Roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on stops at other airstrips such as Arusha.

How much luggage can I take?

Fifteen kilograms per person, including hand luggage, in soft sided bags. Many Zanzibar hotels will store the rest.

Which airstrip do I fly into?

For a three day trip we recommend Seronera, in the central Serengeti, because of its year round resident wildlife and big cats. If you are going for the Migration between July and October, ask us about flying into the north instead.

Will I see the Big Five in three days?

Lions, leopards, buffalo and elephants are possible. Rhinos are very rare in the Serengeti and are more likely in Ngorongoro Crater, which this trip does not include.

Ready to plan your Serengeti trip from Zanzibar?

Tell us your dates and what you most want to see, and we will send you a realistic plan within 24 hours. Start your Tanzania safari plan, or see the full 3 day Serengeti fly in safari from Zanzibar. Spending longer on the island afterward? Look at our Zanzibar tours.