14 Days. Incredible 5 Day Tanzania Safari & 9 Gorgeous Nights on Zanzibar Island

We will all meet at the airport and go through security together before boarding our flight.

Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro we will take our private transfer to Arusha about a 1-hour drive. Here we will stay overnight at Mount Meru Hotel.

Throughout the trip we will be sharing twin rooms with en-suite. If you would like a room to yourself the supplement is £500 for the trip.

After some time to relax we have an afternoon tour of Arusha.

Arusha is a small town nestled in the shadow of Mount Meru with commanding views of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro. Take your time to discover the beauty of Arusha city from the Clock tower (halfway between Cairo Egypt to Johannesburg South Africa) you will take walk to Maasai Market, proceed to Arusha Declaration monument and museum, central market to learn different African spices, vegetable, and fruits, we then later drive to Cultural Heritage Centre for shopping.

Dinner can be bought in the hotel, then an early night as our Safari element starts tomorrow! 🙂

After breakfast, we will start our safari by heading to Tarangire National Park. Explore the open wilderness with the highest concentration of elephants in northern Tanzania. Mammals like lions, zebras, warthogs, wildebeest, and buffalo can be spotted here. In dry seasons Tarangire comes alive as wildlife and birdlife congregate on the Tarangire River which is a permanent source of water. After a truly unique wildlife experience, we will go to the lodge for some rest, dinner and our overnight stay at Farm of Dreams Lodge or Similar.

After breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest unbroken calderas on the planet with over 25,000 wild creatures in the caldera. It has more pride per capita than anywhere on earth. The Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful setting and the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five, lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants, and buffalo. It is one of the world’s most astonishing and the 8th wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The black rhino can easily be sighted in the crater. Think of another place in the world where you can see such a unique setting with diverse scenery, prolific wildlife and birdlife, it’s an ecosystem like no other. In the afternoon, ascend the crater and drive straight to Serengeti to your accommodation for dinner and your overnight stay at Into Wild Africa or Similar.

Early morning after breakfast, you will continue exploring the vast Serengeti with its endless plains looking for the big cats. The Serengeti hosts the largest mammal migration in the world and is a popular destination for African safaris. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November. They’ll then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May, and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge, or crocodile-infested river can hold them back. After lunch, you will drive straight to your accommodation in Karatu for dinner and an overnight stay at Farm of Dreams Lodge or Similar.

After breakfast at your accommodation, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a game viewing with a picnic lunch. The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of African animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants and Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions. You’ll also see large flocks of flamingos, attracted by the algae in the lake. You will have lunch at a picnic site and afterward, further game viewing. Later, we’ll drive back to the airport to catch our flight to the next destination. Zanzibar!

First stop, Stone town; a place where faded colonial buildings rub shoulders with vibrant, bustling markets, where donkeys navigate tiny narrow streets as children, dashing home from school in traditional dress, weave in and out of them, where ancient carved doorways sit slightly ajar, their secrets just out of reach…

After taking our private transfer we will arrive at the 4* Tembo Palace Hotel Hotel in Zanzibar city where we will be staying for the next 4 nights. It is a gorgeous centrally located hotel close to the center of Stone town and has a pool for relaxing. It is a short walk from the beach.

This evening we will go out for dinner locally for our first taste of Zanzibari cuisine.

After breakfast we embark on a half day tour by boat to Prison Island, the journey across to the island takes around 30 minutes and life jackets are provided.

We will learn about the history of the island and discover the past centuries through the historical buildings, which have served many purposes over the years including a prison, chapel, and hiding place for slaves after the abolition.

Then enjoy a swim or snorkel around the colorful coral rocks and turquoise waters and see the giant tortoises that the island is famous for, after the tour we return to the hotel.

Free afternoon

This evening we will head to Forodhani gardens food market.

From the famous Zanzibar pizza to meat kebabs, local fish, coconut bread, grilled cassava, roasted corn, chunky sweet potato, garlic chapati and amazing fresh fruit selections, we can eat our hearts out amidst a great atmosphere.

Today we have the full day to do as we please, for some of us that will mean relaxing around the pool or heading to the nearby beach, or if you are keen to explore stone town further these are some of the must see and do’s.

Visit the Palace Museum for a great intro to the history of Zanzibar and to learn about the heritage of the island and its wealth of different influences.

The Slave market museum

The Stone Town was host to one of the world’s last open slave markets, presided over by Arab traders until it was shut down by the British in 1873, entrance is around £5

Freddie Mercury was born in stone town so a little visit to the house where he grew up is a must!

Out of town, a Spice Tour is another great Stone Town day trip. Costing around £15, this 2 hour tour can be arranged easily and quickly with the sellers / guides located near the Old Fort. As part of it, we’ll get to sample local spices, as well as learn about their history and production within the context of the great trading port of Zanzibar.

For our last evening and a pre-dinner drink we will go to the Africa House Hotel, the best place to watch the sunset.

Free Day.

After a leisurely morning we will take a private transfer by road to the North East of the island, known for its powder white beaches. We will be staying at a waterfront beach hotel in Paje for the next 5 nights. An oasis to relax, chill out and be as active (or not) as we wish.

Our hotel The 4* Zula Zanzibar has outdoor swimming pools, gardens, a terrace and restaurants. Featuring a bar, the property is located on Paje Beach., a concierge service and free WiFi throughout the property. The rooms at the accommodation have air conditioning and a safety deposit box.

Breakfast is included each morning.

Lots of free time to relax around the pool or on the beach.

There will be some of us who want to see a bit more of the islands so we can book excursions at the hotel.

Zanzibar has amazing beaches and we can explore them by means of public transport. Why not try diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking or kite surfing at one of the nearby dive schools?

Enjoy a magical day exploring Menai bay conservation area in a Traditional Wooden Dhow boat that has been handcrafted in African Mahogany by traditional Zanzibari craftsmen. Watch dolphins at play, swim in a secret mangrove lagoon and feast on a seafood Swahili Barbeque and exotic island fruits. Lunch and return hotel transfers are included.

Free Day.

Evening dinner at a world-famous restaurant, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN !!! known not only for its extraordinary location, but also its fabulous food inspired by the natural resources, a twist of Zanzibar, and Italian love.

The menu compliments the magic of the location. Ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible: much of the sea-food is harvested from the reefs around the restaurant, game fish is caught daily by local fishermen, beef is sourced from Tanzania’s best farms, spices are bought from the spice farms of Zanzibar, vegetables locally grown, and our pastas made in our own kitchen. We will share public transport to the restaurant as we may wish to spend more of the day along the stunning beaches close by. A 10 USD is included towards the price of the meal.

Free Day.

Take our transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK.