Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (7 days)
ARRIVAL IN ARUSHA
You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and are met by your driver-guide, who takes you on the 45-minute drive to your hotel in Arusha, at the foot of Mount Meru. After check-in your guide gives a full briefing on the route, the park rules, the vehicle and what to expect each day, and you can ask any questions about your safari. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight, or to walk to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre and the local markets. Early to bed is wise, since the game drives start at dawn. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
The Serengeti covers about 14,750 square kilometres of open plains, kopjes, woodland and rivers, and holds the largest concentration of big cats and plains game in Africa. On a game drive you cross the Seronera valley, the central area known for lions and leopards resting in the sausage trees and on the granite kopjes. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles and topi graze the plains and hyenas, jackals and cheetahs hunt around them. Hippos and crocodiles line the Seronera and Grumeti rivers, and the birdlife includes ostriches, secretary birds, lilac-breasted rollers and many vultures. Your guide uses park radio reports, tracks and years of local knowledge to find the best sightings and takes a picnic lunch in the bush or at a hippo pool. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and the most animal activity, so most days start with coffee at dawn. From December to March the herds are in the southern plains around Ndutu for the calving season, when tens of thousands of calves are born in a few weeks and predators are everywhere. From June to October the herds move to the northern Serengeti and the Mara River, where the dramatic river crossings take place. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
NGORONGORO CRATER DESCENT AND GAME DRIVE
At dawn you drive down the steep crater road to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres across and 600 metres deep. The crater floor holds roughly 25,000 large animals in a natural enclosure, so the viewing is concentrated and reliable throughout the year. You search for black rhinos, one of the best places in Africa to see them, along with lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffalo, hippos and huge herds of wildebeest and zebra. Flamingos gather on the soda lake, and golden jackals, servals and secretary birds are often found on the grassland. Picnic lunch is at the hippo pool, and vehicles are limited to six hours on the crater floor so you must descend early. You then climb out and continue to your next stop. Mornings can be cool and misty at the rim, so bring a warm jacket. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
FLY TO ZANZIBAR AND EXPLORE STONE TOWN
After breakfast you transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar, where you are met and taken to Stone Town, the old merchant quarter and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide leads a walk through the narrow alleys past carved wooden doors, Arab houses, mosques and the old Portuguese fort, with stops at the Old Slave Market memorial, the House of Wonders and the lively Darajani market. In the afternoon you can visit a spice farm to see cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and black pepper growing and taste fresh tropical fruit, then watch the sun set from a rooftop restaurant or the Forodhani Gardens, where food stalls grill fresh seafood each evening. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
BEACH DAYS ON ZANZIBAR
Your days on the island are free to relax on the white sand beaches of the north or east coast, where the water is warm and clear and coconut palms shade the shore. You can swim, snorkel on the coral reefs, join a dhow cruise at sunset, or try diving, kitesurfing or paddle-boarding with local operators. Popular optional excursions include a boat trip to Mnemba Atoll for snorkelling with turtles and tropical fish, a visit to the Jozani Forest to see the rare red colobus monkeys, a dolphin-watching trip from Kizimkazi and the Prison Island tortoise sanctuary. Your hotel can arrange any of these, and our team can book them in advance. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
BEACH DAYS ON ZANZIBAR
For a further day in the area, you explore a different part of the park with your guide. Your days on the island are free to relax on the white sand beaches of the north or east coast, where the water is warm and clear and coconut palms shade the shore. You can swim, snorkel on the coral reefs, join a dhow cruise at sunset, or try diving, kitesurfing or paddle-boarding with local operators. Popular optional excursions include a boat trip to Mnemba Atoll for snorkelling with turtles and tropical fish, a visit to the Jozani Forest to see the rare red colobus monkeys, a dolphin-watching trip from Kizimkazi and the Prison Island tortoise sanctuary. Your hotel can arrange any of these, and our team can book them in advance. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
DEPARTURE FROM TANZANIA
After breakfast you check out and your driver-guide takes you to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination. Allow plenty of time for the transfer and for check-in, and your guide will help with your luggage and any last-minute shopping for souvenirs. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your safari and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Please let us know if you would like to add a beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb or a cultural experience to your next trip.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Zanzibar.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport or Mwanza Airport and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar) are the common arrival points for this itinerary, depending on your route.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.