Tour Marian Adventures – November 2026

After breakfast we head to Tarangire National Park. It's a park of open savanna and ancient baobabs, but what it's really known for are its large elephant herds. It's not unusual to see dozens of elephants moving together, from tiny calves to the older matriarchs leading the herd. The heart of the park is the Tarangire River, the only constant water source in the area. Zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and buffalo gather around it, with lions and leopards never far behind. For bird lovers, the park is home to over 500 species. Toward evening we arrive at our accommodation, a lodge overlooking Lake Burunge.

We spend the morning in Lake Manyara National Park, a small park but one with varied scenery, tucked between the Rift Valley walls and the lake's waters. Within a compact area you'll find acacia and fig forests, open plains, and an alkaline lake that draws thousands of flamingos. Manyara is known for its tree-climbing lions, a habit rarely seen in other parks. You'll also spot elephants, hippos, buffalo, and baboons, and the park's more than 400 bird species make for a great morning of birdwatching. In the afternoon we head north, toward Lake Natron. It's a long drive through increasingly dry volcanic landscape, but it's worth it. We arrive at our accommodation toward evening, at the foot of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, a mountain considered sacred by the Maasai communities.

Lake Natron is unlike anywhere else on the tour. Its waters have a reddish tint, its shores are crusted with salt, and behind it rises the cone of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. It's the world's most important nesting site for lesser flamingos, and at certain times of year the shoreline turns pink with hundreds of thousands of birds. We take a guided walk along the shore, where you can watch the flamingo colony and learn a bit about the geology and legends of the area from your Timon Safaris guide. The day's other highlight is the hike through the Engare Sero gorge. The trail climbs through a canyon lined with palm trees and tall rock walls, leading to a few waterfalls and natural pools where you can take a swim. It's a more active day, but at an accessible level of effort.

Today we enter the Serengeti, perhaps the most famous safari park in the world. The name comes from the Maasai word "siringet," meaning endless plains, and it's easy to see why: the grasslands stretch to the horizon. In November, with the first rains, the Great Migration moves down from north to south. We arrive in the north of the park, at Kogatende, and set out to follow the herds. We'll see long columns of wildebeest and zebra moving toward the center of the park in search of fresh grazing, closely tracked by lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. Even beyond the big herds, the area is full of wildlife at every turn: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes. We stay at a mobile tented camp set along the migration route, where in the evening you'll fall asleep to the sounds of the savanna.

We continue toward central Serengeti, following the migration. The area around the Seronera airstrip has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the park and offers great safari viewing year-round. Here you have the best chance of seeing all of the Big Five, along with cheetahs, hyenas, and dozens of bird species. The Serengeti is home to more than 4,000 lions, plus leopards and cheetahs, so every game drive turns up something new. The guide knows the area well and knows where to look. We have a packed lunch out in the savanna, somewhere in the shade of a tree. In the afternoon we continue the safari, with stops for photos. In the evening we return to camp, just minutes from the Seronera airstrip.

We still have a full day left in the Serengeti. We set out early, at sunrise, when activity is at its peak. Today we explore different parts of the park, from open plains to the rock formations known as kopjes, favorite lookout spots for lions and leopards keeping watch over the savanna. With a bit of patience, you can catch moments photos can barely capture: an elephant family with calves, a giraffe reaching for acacia leaves, or a cheetah mid-chase. Along the way, your guide explains how the ecosystem works and how everything connects. If you'd like a different perspective, you can opt for an optional sunrise hot air balloon flight, followed by breakfast on the savanna. It's the last evening of the safari, so it's worth savoring. Tomorrow we move on to Zanzibar.

After our last morning in the Serengeti, we head to the park's airstrip and take a flight to Zanzibar. It's a short, scenic flight: the plains gradually give way to the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island. For centuries, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, and cardamom have been grown here, and traces of that history are still felt today, especially in Stone Town. Arriving on the island closes out the safari portion of the trip and opens up the beach days. We transfer you straight to the resort, right on the beach. The rest of the day is free, so you can settle into the island's pace.

Your first full day in Zanzibar is all about relaxation. Breakfast is served outdoors, with tropical fruit, juices, and coffee, and then the day is yours. The beach has fine sand and clear water. You can swim, relax in the shade with a book, or try snorkeling right nearby, where the coral reefs teem with life. The resort also offers a few water sports for anyone wanting a bit more activity. Meals are all-inclusive, with local and international dishes, including fresh seafood. If you'd like to book any excursion on the island, your Timon Safaris guide will help you arrange it.

You spend these days at your own pace, with all meals included. Mornings are great for the beach, swimming, or activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. If you're interested in the cultural side, you can take a trip to Stone Town, the island's historic center and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its narrow lanes, markets, and old carved teak doors. Another option is a tour of the spice plantations, where you'll see how cloves and cardamom are grown and taste fruit straight from the tree. For days on the water, you can choose between snorkeling at Prison Island and the nearby sandbanks, encounters with giant tortoises, or a dolphin excursion at Kizimkazi. Evenings are relaxed, with dinner on the beach. You mix as much beach time and exploring as you like.

This is the last day of the tour. Depending on your flight time, you'll have time for an unhurried breakfast and, schedule permitting, one last walk on the beach. You can stop by the local shops for souvenirs: handmade jewelry, wooden crafts, or spices. We'll then transfer you to Zanzibar International Airport for your return flight. And with that, we close out a tour that linked a safari in northern Tanzania with a few days on the beach in Zanzibar, organized by Marian Adventures together with Timon Safaris.