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Tanzania and Zanzibar Island Tours, 13 Days

Itinerary Briefing

Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Vacation

Experience an exciting combination of Tanzanian safaris and Zanzibar. Take in the wonders of the amazing Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha National Park, the world famous Serengeti National Park, Tarangire’s gigantic Baobab trees and huge elephant populations, and the tree climbing lions of Lake Manyara, all before ending up on the exotic island of Zanzibar.

You’ll be living the high life in comfortable accommodation deep in the bush, staying in large rooms with private verandahs and full en-suite facilities, as well as small lodges, such as the fabulous lodge located on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. After it all, you’ll unwind on the white sands of Zanzibar Island. You’ll be amazed by all that Tanzania has to offer!

Itinerary Day Description

Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) – Arusha

Upon arrival you will be met at the Kilimanjaro International Airport by me and our driver. After being taken to your hotel, your safari manager will come and meet you for a safari briefing. Whichever you choose, tonight you can sit back, enjoy your dinner and settle into the African way of life.

1^st night Ilboru Safari Lodge (meals on half board basis)

Day 2: Arusha – Arusha National Park

After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park, once the site of the action packed Hollywood movie Hatari starring John Wayne and Hardy Kruger

You pass by herds of zebra, buffalo, and giraffe on the savannah. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Momella Lake, famous for huge flocks of colorful flamingos and its views at majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. You continue in the afternoon with a game drive around the different habitats in this truly beautiful national park.   There are black and white colobus monkeys (unique to this location northern Tanzania), Sykes’s and vervet monkeys, shy forest duikers, elusive leopards and substantial herds of antelope.
If you wish, you can hike at the slopes of Mt Meru in dense forest or at the Crater rim while an armed ranger escorts you to protect you from some of the larger animals.

2^nd night at Ilboru Safari Lodge  or similar (meals on half board basis)

Day 3: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park

Tree Climbing Lions & Pink Flamingoes

After breakfast you will depart for Lake Manyara. Nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. You can see many game animals such as buffalo, elephant, giraffe, impala, hippo and others. Eventually you will arrive and stay overnight at beautiful Lake Manyara, which Ernest Hemingway once called the “The loveliest lake in Africa.” The national park is home to the unique tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara, which you’ll have the chance to see lounging in the high tree branches.

Accommodation at: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge or similar, all meals included.

Day 4: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast you start on your way to Serengeti National Park (driving time some 4 hours, but with plenty to see on the way!) En route you will see grazing zebras, antelopes and giraffes and sometimes some buffalos hiding in the bush. The South Serengeti ecosystem belongs partly to the Serengeti National park and partly to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Depending on the time of year and the migration of the herds you can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species. After the game drive, you enter the Serengeti National park and drive to your lodge at Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar, in Serengeti, where you arrive in time for your dinner. All meals included

Day 5 – 6: Wildebeest Migration game drives in Serengeti

Endless Plains of the Serengeti

Since January is another best season to witness the wildebeest migration on the Southern part of Serengeti National Park, bordering Ngorongoro Crater, on the famous area of Lake Ndutu (Ndutu Area). It’s where the wildebeest will have given birth to young ones and ready to start moving forward to crossing Grumeti River.

You will have an early start on the second day for an early morning game drive to see also nocturnal predators returning from hunting and animals waking up in early morning light. The third day I Serengeti National park will be either take breakfast boxes with you and have a bush breakfast when the sun is up before you visit the interesting documentation center about Serengeti at Seronera. Return to your lodge for a relaxed lunch at this stunning Serengeti Serena Lodge. Afterwards, you will go on with your ast day game drives in the Serengeti.

There is an optional hot-air balloon safari (not included in the package cost), which will take place in the morning, just as the sun rises. You’ll float in whichever direction the morning winds take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon; at times he will ascend to 1000′ or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. After the landing you celebrate with champagne and a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in ‘Out of Africa’ style. After breakfast you receive your Serengeti balloon certificate and drive back to your lodge or proceed with your day’s activities and game drives around the Serengeti.

2^nd & 3^rd Dinner and overnights at Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar, in Serengeti All meals included

Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast you will depart Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater, after arrival you will descend into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater on World Heritage Site holding a permanent population of more than 30 000 animals.

As only very few of those migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. The Crater is also home to the rare black rhino almost extinct in Tanzania. With a bit of luck you will see the ‘Big Five’ during one game drive.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or similar, All meals included

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire National Park

After breakfast you will depart for Tarangire, Tanzania’s third largest national park and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Animals concentrate along the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply in the area.

There is a great diversity of wildlife including lion, leopard, and cheetah and up to six thousand elephant.

Overnight at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar, all meals included.

Day 9: Tarangire National Park – Arusha – Zanzibar Island

Morning after breakfast we will take you to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar Island.

The Spice Island of Zanzibar

After breakfast at your lodge it’s time to head to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel on Nungwi Beach. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon free to take in the amazing white sand beaches and clear blue waters of the island.

1^st night: Accommodation at: Doubletree Resort by Hilton Zanzibar or similar,  on half board basis.

Day 10 – 11: Zanzibar Beach holidays extension

Relax and enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar. Do as much or little as you like. This day is totally up to you!

2^nd & 3^rd nights: Accommodation at:  Doubletree Resort by Hilton Zanzibar or similar,  on half board basis.

Day 12: Spice Farms & Old Stone Towns

After breakfast you will heard out to Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, you can take the famous Spice Tour, where you can get to know not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicine, cosmetics and cooking.

After the tour you will be invited for an opulent lunch, where you can taste these spices and some fruits. Later in the afternoon you will visit Historical Stone Town Tour. This tour takes you through the fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People’s Palace) and the Arab Fort, amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar.

You will see Zanzibar’s bustling markets, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques!

 4^th night accommodation at Doubletree Resort by Hilton Zanzibar or similar,  on half board basis

Day 13: Zanzibar Island – Zanzibar International Airport

Out of Zanzibar Island to Arusha / Kilimanjaro

Today you will have to say goodbye to Zanzibar Island. After breakfast from hotel, your driver will come to pick you up and drive to Zanzibar International Airport for your international flight. Farewell and we’ll see you again in Tanzania & Zanzibar Island.

       —- End of service — *** routing subject to changes if necessary ****