5-Day Zanzibar & Mikumi Fly-In Safari

This five-day fly-in itinerary is the most refined way to pair Zanzibar with a genuine Tanzanian safari. Instead of a long road transfer, both legs of the trip are joined by short scheduled flights, which means you spend your time on the beach and in the bush rather than in a vehicle. The result is a compact, easy trip with two nights of Indian Ocean beach at Essque Zalu Zanzibar on the north-east coast and two nights at Vuma Hills Tented Camp on a private ridge above the Mkata plains in Mikumi.

You start in Zanzibar, met at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and transferred to Essque Zalu, a boutique property on the quieter north-east coast famous for its cliff-top pool, over-water bar and long stretch of private beach. Day two is a full day on the island, entirely at your leisure - swim, snorkel over the fringing reef, take a spice tour or a Stone Town half-day, or simply do nothing and let the trip settle in.

Day three you fly across to the mainland (Zanzibar to Mikumi via Dar es Salaam or direct on a light aircraft, roughly one to two hours in total) and land at the Mikumi airstrip in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive on the Mkata plains. Vuma Hills sits high on a wooded ridge with panoramic views south over the park, and the camp itself is old-Africa in style with canvas suites, a pool and outstanding food.

Days four covers the full game-viewing day in Mikumi: sunrise drive, breakfast at camp, a mid-morning drive to the Hippo Pool and Chamgore, a hot lunch back at camp and an afternoon drive to Mwanambogo dam for elephant, buffalo and birds. On day five you take a final sunrise drive, then fly back to Dar es Salaam for onward connections. The itinerary combines easily with a longer Zanzibar stay, a Nyerere (Selous) extension or a Ruaha add-on for the full southern circuit.