Zanzibar & Tanzania

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. Welcome to Tanzania. We depart from Dar es Salaam early this morning and travel by ferry to Zanzibar island. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical forests. Our time on Zanzibar island is free for you to relax and explore at leisure. We spend our first night at a hotel in historic Stone Town.

In Zanzibar, we will be staying in simple hotels, with breakfast included. We typically spend day 1 in Stone Town and days 2 - 4 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.

Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 07:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Dar es Salaam the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.

On day 2 we travel from Stone Town to the northern beaches of the island, a true tropical paradise. These three days are free for you to do as much or as little as you please. Lounge on the sunkissed beaches of Kendwa, snorkel in the tropical sea, or take a yacht or dhow trip. You could also book an optional spice plantation tour, go scuba diving, or enjoy a relaxing massage - it's up to you!

Zanzibar - Bagamoyo. We have the morning to do any last-minute shopping or enjoy one last swim before catching the ferry back to the African mainland, Dar es Salaam and onwards to Bagamoyo for the evening. The quaint town of Bagamoyo was founded at the end of the 18th century and was one of the most significant trading ports along the East African coast. Our camp for the evening is situated close by to the palm fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Bagamoyo - Marangu. Departing early we drive north past the Usambara and Pare Mountains to Marangu. This small town is nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain famed for its near-permanently snow-capped peak. If the weather is clear you will be able to enjoy magnificent views of the mountain from our campsite and the surrounding area.

Marangu - Arusha. We make the drive to Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital and our base for exploring the Serengeti and famed Ngorongoro Crater. We enjoy a walk to one of the local Masai villages. Here we visit a local school and clinic, browse the small Masai museum and see the crocodiles, pythons, and other species at the Meserani Snake Park. There is optional camel riding available too.

Arusha - Serengeti National Park. Leaving our overland truck behind, we transfer to smaller 'game park friendly' vehicles and drive west across the Great Rift Valley to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We drive around the rim of the crater and down onto the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti, one of the last great wildernesses in the world.

Millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate across these plains throughout the year, followed by the predators, such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We game drive to our camp, stopping whenever we see anything of note. Tonight is spent at an unfenced campsite, where we can listen to the sounds of the bush and hopefully see some wildlife from our camp!

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 9, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural

Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. This morning we wake early and drive down a steep road into the crater to enjoy a game drive in this incredible wildlife haven. On our game drive, you will have the chance to spot every major African animal, except for giraffes. Interestingly, they cannot manage the steep climb down the crater rim!

After our game drive, we returning to camp for lunch and pack up before making the journey back to Arusha.

Arusha - Nairobi (Kenya). This morning we cross the border into Kenya. We then journey to the capital, Nairobi, where our tour comes to an end on arrival later afternoon.