We're planning a Northern Tanz safari circuit . . combined with time at Zanzibar. Most itineraries I have seen have you go from JRO airport to some combination of Tarangire/Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro/Serengeti and then head back to JRO/Arusha to fly to Zanzibar. But since there is an airstrip in the Serengeti (Seronera) then doesn it make more sense to fly from Seronera to Zanzibar? Then you don t need to drive all the way back to JRO.

It's rare to drive back from the Serengeti w/o a stop somewhere; w/o a stop it would take almost a full-day to drive.

Of course, you can fly to the farthest point... Seronera, and work your way back by road - Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha - or vice versa. Most flights from Seronera connect in Arusha or Kili for onward to Zanzibar.

For drive only the route often taken is - Tarangire, Manyara, Seronera, Ngorongoro, Arusha.

After surviving our "African massage" I was grateful to fly back to Arusha from Seronera. Those bumpy roads get old after a while. And even though the main roads are paved, they are not in the best condition.

I definitely second jill_h's recommendation. As we were driving from the Crater to the Serengeti, I kept thinking, "Man, am I glad we don't have to drive back all this way on these roads." The flight (1 stop at Kilimanjaro) from Seronera to Zanzibar was a much better way to go.

hguy, what airline?
Thanks, Jane

Zanair. Current flight schedule info is a little tough to get on the internet, and sometimes changes with little notice, but your agent should be able to help you out.

We flew Coastal Aviation or Coastal Air. Just be sure to talk to the pilot to make sure the plane is going where you want to go! Ours made a stop in Lake Manyara and let some people off and some people on, then we were dropped off in Arusha and then it went on to Zanzibar.

Jane,
Look here for the various carriers that fly this route and links to their schedules http://www.go-safari.com/safari_Tanzania.htm

Thanks, Patty, hguy, and Jill!

Thanks everyone . . . . I think we will fly from Seronera to Zanzibar instead of driving back to Arusha. . .