2 Day Tanzania Safari from Zanzibar (Fly-In)

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Zanzibar → Lake Manyara – Elephants, Flamingos & Forest Giants

After a morning flight from Zanzibar, your professional Hazina Afrika guide greets you at the Manyara airstrip. The day builds steadily: first, the groundwater forest reveals blue monkeys and hornbills; then the lakeshore opens to brilliant bands of flamingos. Because Manyara’s habitats change rapidly over short distances, you can spot elephants in shade and, with luck, lions resting in acacia branches—sometimes within the same hour.

• Morning flight from Zanzibar to Manyara airstrip
• Warm welcome by your professional Hazina Afrika guide
• Full-day game drive through Lake Manyara National Park
• Spot tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, flamingos, and baboons along the groundwater forest and lakeshore
• Picnic lunch inside the park with scenic views of the Rift Valley escarpment
• Late afternoon transfer to your luxury lodge near Karatu
• Dinner and overnight stay in a stylish safari lodge

Highlights: Lake Manyara’s biodiversity, flamingos, lions in acacia trees, and superb photo opportunities.

Want to add more big-cat time right away? Consider extending to our 4-Day Fly-in Serengeti for two extra days on the plains.

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater – The Eden of Africa

You’ll start early and descend through mist into the caldera. Almost immediately the crater floor comes alive: zebra herds under volcanic walls, hyenas working the edges, elephants moving deliberately between fever trees. Because the crater concentrates so much wildlife, the chances of encountering several members of the Big Five in a single morning are unusually high. By midday, you’ll enjoy a bush picnic near the hippo-filled Ngoitoktok spring before continuing your circuit toward the Lerai Forest and open grasslands.

• Early breakfast and descent into the Ngorongoro Crater
• Full-day crater tour – home to the Big Five, including rare black rhinos
• Watch herds of wildebeest, zebras, lions, elephants, hyenas, and more against dramatic volcanic backdrops
• Enjoy a bush picnic at the hippo-filled Ngoitoktok spring
• Late afternoon transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar
• Arrive in Zanzibar in the evening, just in time to enjoy dinner by the beach

Highlights: Big Five sightings, crater lake vistas, dramatic landscapes, and brief glimpses of Maasai culture.

If this day leaves you wanting more (it usually does), step up to our 5-Day Fly-in from Zanzibar for a deeper Serengeti immersion.

Flights & Logistics

If you’re in Zanzibar, you’ll fly to the mainland to begin your safari. Depending on your routing, you may fly via Arusha and then continue by road, or you might land directly at a park airstrip such as Manyara or Tarangire. Typically, flights take about 2–2.5 hours when non-stop; however, occasional en-route stops can add a brief connection time.

On arrival, your private guide meets you with a well-equipped 4×4 (pop-top roof, charging points, and a fridge). Consequently, you spend more time in wildlife areas and less time in transit. For even more time on the plains, you can extend easily to the 4-Day or 5-Day versions.

Why You Should Extend Your Safari Beyond Zanzibar

While Zanzibar offers a perfect mix of turquoise waters and Swahili charm, extending your holiday to include a mainland safari unlocks an entirely different world—one of roaring lions, ancient craters, and endless savannah. By adding just a few extra days, you can witness the high drama of the Great Migration, track the Big Five across golden plains, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater—often called Africa’s Eden—or stand beneath the towering baobabs of Tarangire National Park.

A longer itinerary also slows everything down. With an extra day or two, you can linger at waterholes, wait patiently for a cheetah to stir, and enjoy those quiet moments between sightings that make safaris so memorable. In addition, extra time lets you meet the Maasai or the Hadzabe, and it gives your guide more flexibility to choose the right light, the right route, and the right angles for your photos.

If you’ve come all this way, don’t rush it—Tanzania’s wild soul deserves more than a quick glance. Start with this 2-day fly-in and then build toward a deeper experience such as the 4-Day Serengeti, 5-Day Fly-in, or go all-in with our 13-Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Combo.