3 week Tanzania itinerary -

La Tanzania is a destination that makes us dream so much by its essential activities that we can do there only by its beauty. The country is more and more open to tourists who come in particular to make a safari, try the ascent of Kilimanjaro or even enjoy a few heavenly days on the Zanzibar archipelago.

I had the chance to go live for 3 months in Tanzania to volunteer there and visit the country a bit, which allowed me to get a first glimpse of the country.

If you are about to go to Tanzania, here is the itinerary that I recommend for a 3-week stay in Tanzania:

A week of safari
A week to do the ascent of Kilimanjaro
A week of rest at Zanzibar

Read on for program details!

3-week itinerary in Tanzania: some practical information

First of all, here is some information that he can be useful to know when preparing your trip to Tanzania:

Language : the official language is Swahili but English is spoken in tourist areas such as Arusha, Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar. Do not worry, tourism is very developed in Tanzania with safari, Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro, you will easily find agencies offering their service with English-speaking and sometimes even French-speaking guides.
The currency: the local currency is the Tanzanian shilling however dollars are accepted almost everywhere and especially for safaris etc.
Culture / religion: in Tanzania there is a real mixture of cultures and religions, there are Muslims, Christians, Catholics and many kinds of beliefs. Be open and be careful not to shock the locals.
The cost of living: the cost of living for the locals is low, on the other hand, the prices charged to tourists are not that low. Indeed, the prices of restaurants, activities can be relatively high.
Accommodation: Accommodation in Tanzania is easy when you travel to tourist-friendly cities. On the other hand, if you get off the beaten track, you may have more trouble although you will find "pension" type establishments allowing you to stay at very attractive prices.
Transportation : to move within a city you can use taxis / ubers, buses or tuk-tuk. For long distances and depending on the time you have available it is possible to take the plane, train, boat or bus. The country is relatively well served in terms of transport.

3 week itinerary in Tanzania

I offer you this itinerary of 3 weeks in Tanzania which includes:

In this article I will not go into deep detail, however, I invite you to read the articles detailing each itinerary by clicking on the links above.

One week tour of Tanzania on safari

Start your first week of this 3-week itinerary in Tanzania for a safari. This is undoubtedly themost famous activity in Tanzania. Indeed, who does not know the famous Serengeti park which inspired "the Lion King" ?!

It is therefore the perfect opportunity to discover the Tanzanian plains and its many wild animals.

Day 1 in Tanzania - Arrival in Arusha (Tanzania)

On your first day, take the time to land and acclimatize to the jetlag as well as the climate and culture.

Days 2 & 3 in Tanzania - Safari Days 1 & 2 in Tarangire National Park

It's time to go on an adventure, and trust me you won't forget this one.

For your first two days of safari, take the time to discover the Tarangire National Park, known for its baobabs and the many elephants that can be found there. This park is home to many animals and you will have the opportunity to observe a magnificent view of this green park.

As everywhere during a safari, there is a part of luck when it comes to the animals that you can meet. Be patient and on the lookout!

Day 4 - Day 3 of the Lake Manyara safari

Only a few kilometers from Tarangire National Park is that of Lake Manyara. Another wonderful reserve where many animals coexist around Lake Manyara. You will have the chance to see many birds and animals such as hippos etc. living together.

Days 5 & 6 - Safari Days 4 & 5 in Serengeti National Park

Probably the two days you are looking forward to! The Serengeti, come and get lost and live to the rhythm of the wild life. Fall asleep with the cries of hyenas at night and you wake up at the same time as nature at the rising sun. It is a wonderful experience that awaits you. Perhaps you will have the chance to see a leopard and its cub, a jaguar hunting, a herd of wildebeest in full migration; so many animals to observe in their natural environment.

Day 7 - Day 6 of the safari in the N'Gongongoro Crater reserve

We continue with the N'Gorongoro crater reserve which is an ancient crater which houses the largest population of animals in a small area. You will be able to observe absolutely everything and with luck you will see one of the last rhinos in the area.

Day 8 - Last day of the safari and return to Arusha

After your last moments in the midst of nature and animals, it's time to head back to Arusha to get ready for the next amazing adventure that awaits you.

3 week tour in Tanzania: the ascent of Kilimanjaro in 1 week

Several options are available to you if you wish to launch into the ascent of Kilimanjaro. Indeed, the ascent of Kilimanjaro can be done by different paths and on a different duration ranging from 5 days to 9 days. I therefore invite you to vContact us to choose the route that suits you best. For my part I opted for the Machame route in 7 days (doable in 6 days).

Day 9 - Preparation day for the ascent of Kilimanjaro

Before your departure, take the time with your guide to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment before you go on this climb. To help you, Here is the list of equipment to take to climb Kilimanjaro.

Also take the time to rest before the long week ahead.

Days 10 to 15 - Climbing Kilimanjaro

The course of this week of ascent of Kilimanjaro will therefore depend on the route chosen and its duration.

By choosing the Machame route, you will see magnificent landscapes, each one more beautiful than the other with camps having splendid views of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area. You will hike between "tropical" forest and lunar landscapes.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a truly magical adventure allowing you to surpass yourself and find yourself facing the vastness and grandeur of nature.

3 week stay in Tanzania: one week in Zanzibar

After such an adventure, nothing better than spending your last week of your 3 week stay in Tanzania by going relax on the Zanzibar archipelago.

Day 16 in Tanzania - Travel from Arusha to Zanzibar

To reach Zanzibar from Arusha, several options are available to you. It all depends on the time you have and your budget:

Travel by plane: there are direct connections between Arusha airport and Zanzibar airport
Travel by bus then boat or bus then plane: many bus companies allow you to reach Dar Es Salaam from Arusha, however the journey can be long (between 12 hours and 16 hours). Once in Dar Es Salaam, you can fly to Zanzibar or take a boat across.

Days 17 to 21 - Discover Zanzibar

For these few days left, I advise you to take the time to visit Zanzibar or to take advantage of the beautiful beaches to rest and bathe after the effort you have just made.

There is many things to do in Zanzibar with notably :

Visiting Stone Town
Visiting Prison Island
Dive or snorkel around the island
Swim with dolphins
Visit Jozani Forest
Take the spice route
And lots of other activities like just swim or relax on the beach.

If you want more information or have contacts with local guides, do not hesitate to contact me at this address: [email protected]

5 Replies to “3 Week Tanzania Itinerary”

Unforgotable Tanzania said:

25/08/2021 à 06:17

Great article. You give us a great idea 😅💡 on how to plan our next trip to Africa 🌍.

Thank you very much for sharing.

LECLERC Alice said:

08/11/2022 à 23:50

Hello,
Thank you very much for your articles and videos, it's really great to help prepare and get an idea of the trip!
Do you have any specific recommendations for the companies or guides whether for the safari or the ascent of Kililmanjaro?
Thank you in advance if you have any advice or contacts 😉

1. Margaux said:
  
  20/11/2022 à 15:21
  
  Hello Alice,
  thank you very much
  For companies or guides, I tend to recommend the guide I necessarily went through since it went really well 🙂
  I'll send it to you by email 😉
  
the gal said:

05/12/2022 à 01:58

Hello,

Could you estimate the price of these 3 weeks around?
What if there could be smaller, cheaper alternatives?

Thank you:)

1. Margaux said:
  
  16/01/2023 à 19:35
  
  Hi,
  It's hard to say.. it all depends on the type of hotel chosen, the restaurants chosen, etc.
  At a glance and going to the simplest / cheapest, I would say to count at least 3000$ for 3 weeks, without counting the flights.

3 week Tanzania itinerary