DAY 1: Dar Es Salaam (No meals)
Our trip starts in the busy city of Dar Es Salaam. Tonight we stay in beach bandas at Kipepeo Beach & Village (or similar).
DAY 2 & 3: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar (Breakfast)
A ferry from Dar es Salaam takes us to the "Spice Island,” where we spend the next 3 nights. Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of the major starting points for most East African explorers in their quest for new lands.
History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streets of the old Stone Town still retain their Arabic influence, from the Medina-like shops to the palaces of the Sultans, who founded their vast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade. The island is famous for its spices and an excursion around a spice plantation is always a fascinating experience. Other options include a trip to the beautiful beaches and giant tortoises of Prison Island, a full day scuba dive in Nungwe or a fishing trip in a traditional dhow. Mopeds are available for hire if you’d like to explore the more remote areas of the island. These two nights we stay in twin-share rooms at Amaan Bungalows (or similar).
PLEASE NOTE: Meals are for your own account whilst on Zanzibar, as it is our experience that passengers prefer to explore the island on their own, and in accordance with their own budget. The Trip Leader joins you and will arrange your activities, while meals can be enjoyed from a wide selection of restaurants. Zanzibar is a seafood lover’s paradise. Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of the freshest catch from the ocean - crayfish being a popular speciality. Alternatively, mingle with the locals for dinner at the Forodhani Gardens seafront market, where delicious, inexpensive seafood is on offer. There are also a wide variety of optional excursions on offer.
DAYS 4: Zanzibar (Breakfast)
Today we travel back to the main town & tonight we stay in twin-share rooms at Swahili House (or similar).
DAY 5: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam (Breakfast)
Leaving Zanzibar, we return to the mainland and another night in Dar es Salaam. Arrival back to camp is usually in the late afternoon, Tonight we stay in beach bandas at Kipepeo Beach & Village (or similar)
Day 6: Dar Es Salaam to Pangani (Breakfast / Lunch )
This morning we leave early and leave the hustle and bustle of this major Tanzanian city, and head towards the farmlands of this beautiful country. Today is used as a transit day to get us closer to Serengeti. Tonight we stay in twin-share rooms at the Highway Hotel (or similar).
DAY 7: Pangani to Arusha (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
From Dar es Salaam we have a long day’s drive through vast sisal plantations and African bushveld to Arusha. On the way, we pass The Pare and Usambara Mountain ranges before driving through the town of Moshi. Moshi is the base for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions and weather permitting; we may even catch a glimpse of this magical mountain’s snowy summit. Tonight, we camp at a campsite called Meserani Snake Park (or similar) on the outskirts of Arusha, before heading out to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow.
DAY 8: Arusha to Karatu (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
This morning we visit the Meserani Reptile Park and Masai Cultural Museum. A few minutes’ walk from the campsite is a gallery selling the bright and iconic Tinga Tinga paintings. Alternatively, the town of Arusha is nearby to explore. After breakfast we head off to Karatu on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area. Tonight we camp at the Kudu Lodge and campsite (or similar).
DAY 9: Karatu to Serengeti National Park (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
This morning we depart early and transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation area and on into the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight, we camp Seronera campsite (or similar) in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.
DAY 10: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation, to Arusha (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’! Following our morning drive, we retrace our journey back across the plains and along the lush Crater rim.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature ‘Garden of Eden’. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.
Back in Arusha we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience, camping at Meserani Snake Park (or similar).