17 Days: Safari, Culture and Zanzibar

Early in the morning our driver will take you to Chemka Hot Spring, the journey normally takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Arusha. The hot springs is surrounded by fig and palm trees and winding roots - a real hidden paradise. The crystal clear, turquoise waters invite you for a refreshing swim. You will spend 2hrs here before heading to Materuni Waterfalls. Upon arrival you will walk to Materuni Waterfalls, on your way you will see how local fruit like bananas, mangos, avocados and lemons grow, you will also get an opportunity to learn some of the local history, tradition and cultural life of the Chagga people. When you get to the waterfall, you can refresh yourself in the natural pool, do not forget your swimming costume. The tour will proceed with a visit to the coffee plantations, where you will participate in the entire process of making a cup of coffee, from seed to mug while singing and dancing in the whole process. Local African lunch will be served. Late in the evening you will drive back to Arusha.

Early in the morning after breakfast the driver will pick you up at your hotel in Arusha and begin your journey. Located in Siha district of Kilimanjaro this wildlife sanctuary offers an exclusive and unparalleled experience, it covers 1,000 acres. Animals at this place are ethically obtained from zoos and injured animals from the wild with the aim of instilling natural behavior and eventually rehabilitating them into the wild with the assistance of the Tanzanian Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI). The animals that reside here are owned by the Tanzanian government and they are brought by TAWA as orphans or injured. They treat and train the animals to prepare them for release into their natural habitat with in Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) protected parks. With good weather you will have a view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. This place is a home to a variety of animals like African lion, giraffe, eland, greater kudu, lesser kudu, ostrich, zebra, Thomson Buchback, impala, dikdik, Oryx, Blue monkey, Velvet monkey. This is a perfect destination for anyone who wants to get closer and feed some of the wild animals before heading to the wilderness. You will stay here for dinner and overnight.

In the morning after breakfast our driver/guide will pick you up from the hotel and start your journey heading to Tarangire National Park. The journey will take you 2 hours of drive, upon arrival at the gate you will have 5 minutes break while the driver proceeds with the registration. Our guide knows the wildlife routines better than anyone; where and when the animals like to drink, to eat and where the predators like to hunt. Prepare yourself for extraordinary experience! The park is huge; famous for its diverse landscapes and its astonishing number of elephants (the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country), with luck you will get a chance to see lots of wild animals like lions, wildebeests, leopards, buffalos, gazelles, giraffes, zebras etc. The park is particularly known for the abundance of Ancient Baobab trees the largest trees in the continent which fills the park, creating shades to the animals and nest to some of the birds. After lunch you will proceed with the game drive then exit the park heading to your lodge/camp.

In the morning after breakfast, you will head to Lake Manyara for a full day game drive. Although small in dimension (205 sq. miles), the park is described as one of the hidden gems of Tanzania, this park is famous for its tree climbing lions, lush acacia forest, mahogany trees, giant figs, and large herds of elephant, which are not shy to come straight up to the vehicle, without forgetting the growing population of the baboons and blue monkeys. The lake is also home to a large number of hippos. In the afternoon, transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for overnight. You will have lunch inside the park facing the lake Manyara after lunch you will proceed with the game drive and exit the park heading to your lodge/camp.

After breakfast, you will commence your journey towards Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti. The journey will take long but it is spectacular. Serengeti is home to millions of wildebeest during the migration and over the huge flat plains, you are likely to find predator like lions, cheetah, leopards, hyenas, and many other small predators. It is a home other animals like honey badger, bat-eared foxes, jackals, rock hyrax, baboons, mongoose, monkeys along with nearly 500 species of birds. In the evening, you will drive to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

On this day you will wake up very early in the morning for the balloon safari. Our guide will be waiting for you at the visitors center to proceed with the game drive with a picnic lunch beside you, take your leisure while exploring this world heritage site. After a long drive and animal viewing you will head to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

After an early cup of coffee and biscuits, you will head for a game driver where animals are more active and a beautiful morning sunrise. Our guide will choose the best wildlife viewing, you will spend time at the hippo pool, watching these enormous animals laze about in the cool water, with luck you will see a lion stalking its prey. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide you with the ultimate in-game viewing. With a picnic lunch beside you, take your leisure while exploring this world heritage site. After a long drive and animal viewing you will head to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast, you will head for a game driver where animals are more active and a beautiful morning sunrise. You will then return to the camp for a full breakfast then venture into the Serengeti’s wilderness corners while exiting the park heading to Ngorongoro. With a picnic lunch beside you, take your leisure while exploring this world heritage site. After a long drive and animal viewing you will head to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

On this day it is best to leave the hotel as early as possible so you can do an early morning game drive when the animals are more active (breakfast will be packed in lunchboxes specifically for this purpose). After registration, you will descend into the crater floor for an incredible morning of wildlife in one of the most stunning national parks in Tanzania. Ngorongoro Crater is unique in that almost all the wildlife lives within the crater walls; hence you have the opportunity to find the game easily. With luck you will see elephants, rhino, lions, wildebeests, buffalos, zebras, hippopotamus etc. Flamingos can often be seen in Lake Magadi, which occupies part of the crater floor. You will have lunch inside the crater facing Ngoitoktok swamp (Hippo pool), after lunch you will exit Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Lake Eyasi, where you will have a unique and fascinating cultural experience on the next day.

On this day you will have your breakfast before sunrise, the guide will take you to the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last true nomadic tribes in Africa. You will the meet the Hadzabes for some history for the tribe. You will join them in their daily activities, hunting trip with the men or fruit gathering with the women, you will learn more about their ways of living. The experience itself is out of the beaten track, this will probably be the highlight of your safari. After the activities with the tribe, you will visit lake Eyasi before heading back to Arusha.

The driver will take you back to either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) in time for your flight. Upon arrival at Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, the representative of Serengeti Camping Safari will pick you up and take you to your hotel/lodge. Take your time to relax and then later in the afternoon our guide will pick you up for a walk through the narrow streets and capture the feeling of the old colonial Arabic Architecture. You have the evening at leisure and your dinner tonight will be provided by your hotel.

After breakfast our guide will meet you for a historical walking tour through Stone Town, with lunch in one of the many restaurants in town. In the afternoon you will head to a spice plantation, to discover the richness of Zanzibar’s spices and fruits, many of them used for medical purposes. Later you will head back to your hotel/lodge for a relaxed evening.

Full day of leisure in the beach resort. Take a swim in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, a snorkeling trip from your hotel/lodge or have a lazy day and do absolutely nothing on your sunbed. Fruit and spice

An early start brings you to the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village, to view the amazing bottle-nosed and Humpback dolphins, which are sighted during a short boat trip from the village. Kizimkazi is also the site with the oldest mosque in East Africa, 12 centuries. After a local Swahili lunch, the tour proceeds to Jozani Forest, with the unique Red Colobus monkeys and mysterious mangroves. Later you will return to your hotel/lodge for a relaxing, dinner and overnight.

On this day you can opt to hang out at the beach and have lunch there, or leave for Stone Town for your last shopping. Later in the afternoon board a traditional wooden dhow to enjoy en-route following the coastline from Stone Town with a romantic sunset cruise. End the day and your stay with a special local dinner.