Experience · Bush & Beach

Bush & Beach Combos

Five days of safari, four on the Indian Ocean. The quintessential Tanzania combination.

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The Experience

How We Do This

The real, practical version — not the brochure.

The magic of Tanzania is that you can see the Big Five on Monday and snorkel with whale sharks on Friday — the country holds both in one geography.

Our Bush & Beach itineraries combine 4–6 days on the mainland safari circuit with 3–5 nights on the coast (Zanzibar, Pemba, or Mafia).

Signature Moments

What Makes It Different

The specific moments that define this experience.

— Moment 01

Signature Moment

Why the combination works

After the intensity of safari — dawn starts, dust, long days — the beach is the nervous-system reset every traveller needs. Most clients tell us the first beach day after safari is the happiest day of the whole trip.

— Moment 02

Signature Moment

The three beach options

**Zanzibar:** the default, excellent variety. **Pemba:** wilder, better diving, fewer hotels. **Mafia:** smallest, whale sharks Oct–Mar, genuine remote feel.

— Moment 03

Signature Moment

Logistics

Most Bush & Beach trips end with a short flight from the safari area to the beach. Internal flight is included. Zanzibar airport is the best-connected island hub.

What You'll See

The Species You'll Encounter

The wildlife focus of this experience — what to realistically expect.

Panthera leo Year-round

Lion

The Serengeti holds 3,000+ lions — the densest population on Earth. Look for coalitions of 4–6 males in Seronera.

Loxodonta africana Year-round

Elephant

African bush elephants, up to 6 tonnes. Matriarch-led family groups of 15–50 individuals.

Connochaetes taurinus Year-round

Wildebeest

Two million of them. The central character of the Great Migration. Synchronised calving in Feb.

Rhincodon typus Oct–Mar

Whale Shark

The largest fish in the sea — up to 12m. Mafia Island channels them in from October plankton blooms.

Where You'll Stay

Camps We Use

The lodges and camps we typically build this experience around.

Mid-range $340 / night

Bush · 2 nights

Serengeti Serena Lodge

Classic central Serengeti lodge. Plains views, pool, wildlife at doorstep. Good starting point for most travellers.

66 roomsPoolPlainsFull board

Premium $520 / night

Beach · Zanzibar

Matemwe Lodge

Twelve bungalows on Matemwe beach facing Mnemba Atoll. Barefoot luxury, Mnemba snorkel access, excellent food.

12 bungalowsMnemba accessPoolFull board

Luxury $1,450 / night

Beach upgrade · South coast

The Residence Zanzibar

Palatial villas on a private beach. Private pools per villa, butler service, multiple restaurants, spa.

66 villasPrivate poolsButler5 restaurants

Activities

What You'll Do

The core experiences built into this trip.

— 01

Classic Northern Circuit

Days 1–5: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. Full Big Five potential, senior guide, private 4×4.

Day 1–5

— 02

Direct Flight Transfer

Day 6: direct flight from Serengeti or Arusha to Zanzibar. 90 minutes. We meet you at both ends.

Day 6

— 03

Mnemba Snorkel

Protected reef off Zanzibar's northeast coast. Reef sharks, turtles, hundreds of species. Best in East Africa.

Half-day

— 04

Stone Town Visit

Optional half-day en route to the airport. UNESCO-listed old city. Perfect bookend to the trip.

Half-day

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Five days safari and four on Zanzibar was exactly the balance we needed. We came home rested, not exhausted — and the Mnemba snorkel was a highlight."

— The Kim Family · Korea · March 2026

What's Included