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9-Day Tanzania Safari Tours
There are many itineraries to choose from when booking a 9-day safari in Tanzania. The country is home to a lot of parks and reserves, all different in general vibe and landscape. It therefore makes sense to do some research as to which destinations are likely to fulfill your expectations. For ticking off the Big Five, the northern parks, including the world-famous Serengeti National Park, are perhaps your best bet. The southern parks are less densely populated, but are home to some unusual animals, including endangered wild dog. Or you can head to the very remote western parks to go chimp trekking in the jungle-clad mountains towering over Lake Tanganyika.
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Luxury Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Zanzibar & Others
$3,911 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Northern Serengeti NP, Nungwi (Zanzibar), Zanzibar (End)
Savannah Explorers
5.0/5 – 574 Reviews
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Best Seller
9-Day Best of Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Beaches
$2,519 to $2,574 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar), Zanzibar (Tanzania Beaches), Zanzibar Airport (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 45 Reviews
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9-Day Luxury Honeymoon Safari & Zanzibar Beach
$3,498 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Lake Manyara NP, Nungwi (Zanzibar), Zanzibar Airport (End)
Imani Excursions
4.9/5 – 40 Reviews
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9-Day Spectacular Tanzania Safari
$2,600 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Mto wa Mbu (Town), Arusha (End)
Safari360
4.9/5 – 118 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Tanzania Northern Circuit Mid-Range Safari
$3,410 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Kilimanjaro Airport (End)
Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 402 Reviews
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9-Day Luxury Western Tanzania Chimp Trekking and Safari
$12,500 to $15,356 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Katavi NP, Mahale Mountains NP, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.8/5 – 172 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Tanzanian Grand Safari - Elephants to Flamingos
$3,406 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Paradise & Wilderness
4.8/5 – 209 Reviews
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9-Day Luxury Safari Private Adventure Tour
$20,243 to $21,289 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Your Luxury Safaris
5.0/5 – 10 Reviews
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9-Day Epic Great Migration Safari
$2,933 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Northern Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Mto wa Mbu (Town), Arusha (End)
Golden Trips Tanzania
5.0/5 – 61 Reviews
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Best Seller
9-Day Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Mid-Range Tour
$2,826 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Brilliant Adventures and Safaris
5.0/5 – 80 Reviews
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9-Day Great Wildebeest Migration & Lake Natron
$3,740 pp (USD)
Tanzania & Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Northern Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
African Qingshan Adventure
4.9/5 – 15 Reviews
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9-Day Amazing Tanzania Kiboko
$3,860 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha NP, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Karatu (Town), Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Natamani Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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9-Day Migration Safari Adventure and Cultural Experience
$3,135 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Northern Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, West Kilimanjaro (Area), Arusha (End)
Ultra Africa Adventures
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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9-Day Tarangire, Serengeti NP & Ngorongoro - Migration
$4,235 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Central Serengeti NP, Northern Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Endito Nagol Adventures
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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9-Day Best Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture Experiences
$4,610 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Central Serengeti NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Kilidove Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 34 Reviews
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9-Day Comfort Tanzania Wildlife & Zanzibar Beach Safari
$2,473 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar), Nungwi (Zanzibar), Zanzibar Airport (End)
Paws and Claws Safaris
5.0/5 – 6 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day African Big 5 (Budget)
$2,310 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Kilimanjaro Airport (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 318 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Private Budget with Walking Safari & Kilimanjaro
$2,420 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Mto wa Mbu (Town), Central Serengeti NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Wakanda Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 559 Reviews
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9-Day Tanzania Wildlife and Zanzibar Beach Holiday
$2,892 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Kilimanjaro Airport (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Ozon Light Tours
5.0/5 – 139 Reviews
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9-Day Ultimate Safari Experience Comfort
$3,757 to $3,834 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Sunset Adventure Safari
5.0/5 – 119 Reviews
5 Questions About 9-Day Tanzania Safaris
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband write and update many Bradt guides together, including the ‘Tanzania’ guide. She first visited Tanzania 25 years ago, and returns to visit the parks and reserves at least every three to four years. She has led several group safaris in Tanzania.› More about Ariadne
5 Questions About 9-Day Tanzania Safaris
Is 9 days a good length of time for a safari in Tanzania?
“Nine days is a good length of time for a Tanzanian safari. When going on safari, longer is better. You’ll have to make some hard decisions on which parks and reserves to visit. There is so much to see, and you can’t possibly do it all in one holiday. The secret to a wonderful safari is not to cram too much into the itinerary. Rather, spend time at fewer destinations. It works really well to settle into a place. That way, you can enjoy the perfect rhythm of an African safari. Game drives and other safari activities are usually conducted in the early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. The middle of the day is usually spent at leisure. Many lodges have a view over a waterhole, and you never know what thirsty animals might visit in the middle of the day. When moving between camps most days, you miss out on this special time spent at the lodge. Spending a few days in one place also gives you the opportunity to get to know the staff, and more often than not, you’ll leave as a friend. A 9-day safari affords you quality time. It also allows you to get away from the busy places, which, for logistical reasons, tend to be the focus on shorter packages.”
1What can I fit in during a 9-day safari in Tanzania?
“What you can fit in on a 9-day safari mostly depends on whether you’re flying or driving. There are three safari circuits in Tanzania. On a 9-day road safari, you would focus on one of them. Most popular is the Northern safari circuit, which comprises Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, as well as Ngorongoro Crater. On a 9-day safari you could consider making a side trip to the Lake Natron area, at the base of the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. The Southern safari circuit, comprising Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), as well as the lesser-known Udzungwa Mountains and Mikumi National Parks, is known for its incredible wilderness appeal. With much lower visitor numbers, you get a very exclusive safari experience here. There are also optional activities, such as boating excursions and walking safaris, offered alongside game drives. The remote Western safari circuit is best visited on a fly-in safari. Katavi National Park, a Dry-season savannah reserve, is often paired with Mahale Mountains National Park for chimp trekking. Gombe National Park, known as the place where Jane Goodall conducted her research in the 1960s, offers a similar chimp trekking experience. A fly-in safari opens up options of mixing and matching between the different circuits. You could, for instance, add a chimp trekking experience at Mahale or Gombe to a Serengeti safari. Or combine the best of the north and the south by flying between Serengeti and Ruaha.”
2What kind of accommodation can I expect?
“There is no shortage of accommodation options in Tanzania for your safari. All the main parks and reserves have lodges and hotels at different comfort and price levels, ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury. Budget lodges and guesthouses are often outside the parks and reserves. They might be in the bush on the outskirts of the park or they might be in a nearby town. Most of the mid-range accommodation is in no-frills hotels, but there are some small tented camps offering a bit more safari ambience in this category as well. If you prefer to escape the bush at night and have all the mod cons you are used to, a larger hotel is probably your fit. Luxury lodges are usually very exclusive. Some of them have as few as six rooms or tents. They usually try to blend into the environment, and the décor is often understated sophistication. These top-end lodges are mostly used for fly-in safaris. Aside from great food and service, they provide guided activities of the highest standards. On the other side of the scale, but also very much in keeping with nature, are camping safaris. The campsites in the parks and reserves are often in fantastic locations. You’ll be at the heart of where all the wildlife action takes place. On top of that, you’ll get to listen to the sounds of the bush at night with nothing but canvas between you and the animal world outside.”
3Which animals can I expect to see?
“Wherever you go in Tanzania, you’ll be able to see a wealth of wildlife on a 9-day safari. For sheer numbers, you can’t beat the Northern safari circuit. The Serengeti ecosystem supports huge numbers of ungulates and predators. Many visitors want to see the wildebeest migration. This yearly spectacle involves millions of blue wildebeest, plains zebra and gazelle following the rains for greener pastures. Predators, such as lion and cheetah, are never far off. Four of the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard) are usually seen on a 9-day safari. But black rhino is very rare or even absent in Tanzanian parks except from the Ngorongoro Crater and Mkomazi, where they are quite easy to spot. Leopards are relatively common throughout, but their elusive behavior makes sightings hit-and-miss. Guides will do their best to find one though. The southern parks and reserves, such as Nyerere and Ruaha, have slightly lower animal densities, but you’re in for a treat when it comes to variety. Here, you might see some of the more unusual species, such as sable and roan antelope. Lesser and greater kudu are also present. But most sought-after are the endangered wild dog, which thrive in this area. If you are a primate-lover, consider Mahale or Gombe in the Western circuit. These forested parks offer some of the best chimp trekking in Africa. The idyllic location on the shore of Lake Tanganyika (the world’s longest freshwater lake) is great for relaxation.”
4How much will this safari cost?
“A wide range of price tags is attached to Tanzanian 9-day safaris. At the budget end, 9-day safaris are advertised from about US$1,800 per person. Mid-range tours range between US$2,500 and US$4,000 per person, while luxury tours generally range between US$4,500 and US$9,000 per person. The biggest factor determining the cost of a tour is the accommodation level. Camping and tours using budget accommodation, which is often located outside the parks and reserves, are at the lowest price bracket. Slightly more expensive are tours using mid-range accommodation. This accommodation is often inside the parks, but can be outside as well. It might be simple tented camps or large hotels. The latter will be most comfortable, but might be lacking in safari ambience. Top of the range are the luxury tented camps and designer ecolodges. Fly-in tours are usually more expensive than road safaris. For some tours, fly-in is the only option, but when visiting parks in the Northern circuit, a road trip is very feasible on a 9-day safari. If you’re not aiming to see the wildebeest migration, consider traveling during the low season. The Emerald season, as it is usually called, is a lovely time to get away from the crowds. Aside from fresh green scenery, you can enjoy birding and lots of healthy baby animals. Although this coincides with the Wet season, it rarely rains for long.”
5Tanzania Reviews
Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.
The Serengeti and so much more.
Tanzania is “the” classic safari destination and should be top of every Africa lover’s wish list. The starting point for most visitors is the northern safari circuit, comprising the iconic Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater, with Lake...
Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including 'Kenya', 'Rwanda' and 'Tanzania'.
African Safari Clichés at their Best
Tanzania is everything you ever thought Africa would be. Perhaps nowhere else on the continent has such huge expanses of animal packed savannah grasslands or areas of wilderness where it’s still possible to imagine how East Africa looked...
Absolutely amazing for wildlife
I have recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime. What an experience - the Serengeti surpassed all expectations. I was amazed at how close the animals - especially the big cats - came to our vehicle, walking in between cars and even...
Fantastic
We were in a 3 days safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara starting from Zanzibar Island. It was fantastic. Brenda took care of everything and she was great. We had transfers to and from our hotels to the airport, plane tickets,...
Beautiful country with quality hospitality
We visited Tanzania in the first week of October. The weather was great. We had one day of light rain, but otherwise it was sunny and warm (not too hot). We visited Tarangire (so many elephants!), Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and the...
Priceless Experience!
amazing experience with Safari Bookings/Obag! we did a 3 day, 2 night safari from Dar to Mikumi by train (including all transport - car and train, 2 nights hotel stay and all meals/snacks/drinks) definitely recommend the train option (1...