Safari Tanzania & Zanzibar
This Safari Tanzania & Zanzibar itinerary takes you from outstanding wildlife areas to Africa’s highest mountain and tropical beaches fringed with palm trees. Explore Tanzania’s best wildlife parks, like the Serengeti, home to the spectacular wildebeest migration, or the Ngorongoro Crater, a wonderful green oasis full of wildlife. From here, travel to the tropical island Zanzibar where you can wash off your safari dust with a dip in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy laid back beach life and explore the many watersport activities or historic Stone Town.
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport your driver-guide will be welcome you and take you to your accommodation in Marangu. Marangu is located in lush green forests on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, dotted with banana and coffee plantations. Settle into your accommodation and take some time to acclimatize. Kilema Paradise is a lovely lodge with great views.
Day 2: Marangu
Start the day with a nice breakfast on the balcony overlooking the mighty Kilimanjaro. For sure, Kilema Paradise is an idyllic place and a real eco-lodge. They have farm animals and their own garden where avocado, banana, mango, spinach and coffee grows. Hence, the food is natural and untainted. This place is so beautiful and peaceful and therefore the perfect spot to relax and adjust. Today is at your leisure. You can walk around the farm, visit the local market, hike to the waterfall or swim in the pool underneath the waterfall.
Day 3: Kilimanjaro
This morning your guide will pick you up at your accommodation to drive you to the Marangu gate where your hike starts. The trail begins at the foot of the mountain, uphill through a tropical rainforest. Hike at your own pace and enjoy the forest and hillsides till you reach after 3-4 hours the Mandara Huts. On a clear day the sight of the massive Kilimanjaro is beautiful. After a break, enjoying the views, we descent in 3-4 hours through the tropical forest to the Marangu gate. Return in the late afternoon to Kilema Paradise for a well deserved rest. So, enjoy the homely atmosphere, hospitality and delicious food.
Day 4: Arusha National Park
After breakfast we drive to Arusha National Park, a lovely park close to Arusha town. Before entering the park we visit Arusha’s only dog shelter, Mbwa wa Africa (Dogs of Africa). This is one of the projects Tanuga Safaris supports and shows the great job these people do to rescue animals in need. After this visit we enter Arusha National Park for a game drive and walking safari of about 2 hours. The park offers a wide variety of landscapes, from savannah to alkaline lakes, rainforest and Mount Meru. The Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater and Mount Meru are for sure the three main features of the park. Enjoy the wide range of animals you can spot during your walking safari and game drives, like giraffes, zebras, flamingos, antelopes and the Black and White Colobus monkeys. Late afternoon we drive to Kilimanjaro Eco Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Tarangire National Park – Makuyuni
Early morning we set off towards one of the most beautiful parks, with thousands of majestic baobab trees dominating the hilly landscape. Tarangire is known to have one of the highest concentration of elephants in the world (3,000). It’s certainly a beautiful sight to see hundreds of elephants roaming the place, drinking at the river or taking a mud bath. Apart from elephants, Tarangire is also a bird paradise with over 500 bird species, such as parrots, lovebirds, hornbills and eagles. The perfect place to spot leopards, cheetahs, lions and even tree-climbing pythons are the swamps. Tarangire is very green and lush since the permanent water of the Tarangire River is running through the park. Specially during the dry season the banks of the river burst to life when wildlife from miles around gather at the river to drink. In the afternoon we drive to an authentic Maasai boma (village) at Makuyuni. Enjoy the dancing of young Maasai warriors, traditional BBQ and spend the night in tents inside the compound.
Day 6: Makuyuni – Serengeti National Park
This morning’s activities include a bush walk and visit to Nashipay Maasai School. This is the only primary school in this Maasai community and built thanks to the generosity of donors. After this school tour we start our journey to Serengeti National Park. Along the way we will pass villages and the scenic rainforest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This protected area covers more than 8,000 km2 (3,200 sq. miles) and is home to a wide range of animals. It consists of the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu, Olduvai Gorge (huge valley), Empakaai, Olmoti Crater and Oldonyo Lengai Mountain. We will stop briefly to visit the tomb of Bernard Grzimek. Grzimek was well known for his conservation work in the Serengeti and is buried on an edge, overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight will be at Kati Kati Tented Camp, located in central Serengeti.
Day 7: Serengeti National Park
Spend all of today game driving in Africa’s most famous national park, the Serengeti. Watch herds of elephants, splashing hippos in a pool, leopards sleeping in a tree or black rhinos hiding in thorny thickets. If you are lucky you can even see herds of wildebeest thundering across the savannah and spectacular sunsets. Is this central part of the Serengeti, wildlife viewing is good year-round. Especially the Seronera Valley is famous for the wealth of lions and leopards that are often quite easy to spot. In the late afternoon we return to Kati Kati Tented Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, we will have our last game drive in the Serengeti while we drive towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving at the crater rim, you can enjoy the spectacular views into the crater floor before descending. This wildlife arena is truly a world within a world, with its own unique ecosystem. It is home to the Big Five and the densest population predators found anywhere in Africa. Therefore the grounds of the crater floor house lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, elephants and even the rare black rhino. It’s easy to spot animals in the Ngorongoro crater, since the crater floor is mainly flat. After an exciting day of game viewing we drive in the late afternoon to Ngorongoro Farm House for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Arusha
After breakfast we start our journey back to Arusha where we arrive around noon at Olasiti Lodge. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to relax by the pool or in the lush garden. This lodge also has an souvenir shop and internet café.
Day 10: Arusha
Today it’s time to explore the safari capital of Tanzania, Arusha. We start off visiting Shanga, a project that provides training and jobs to disabled people who create beautiful glass decorations and other crafts made from recycled products. It’s also possible to attend a Shanga Workshop and create your own handmade item to take home as a memory. To get an insight in day to day life of the local people we can visit a local market, have a drink in a local restaurant or go to the Maasai market to buy souvenirs. Return in the afternoon to Olasiti Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Zanzibar
Early morning will be at leisure before your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport, a shuttle from White Sands Hotel will pick you up and deliver you to this luxurious hotel, located on Paje Beach (East Coast). This white sandy beach stretches as far as the eye can see, with great views of the Indian Ocean. Due to steady winds, it is the best spot on the island for sailing or kite- and windsurfing. The next 4 days will be at leisure to relax or explore Zanzibar as you wish.
Day 12-14: Zanzibar
The east coast of Zanzibar is where the best beaches are located, with white powdery sand and clear turquoise waters, surrounded by coral reefs. A few of the best beaches on the eastern coastline are Paje and Dongwe. These next three days you will stay at Dongwe Ocean View Hotel. The perfect place to unwind and experience laid back beach life. Dongwe Beach offers plenty of opportunities for surfers, snorkelers, divers and sunbathers. A few of the things you can do in Zanzibar: sailing, fishing, island hopping, dolphin or whale tour, visiting Stone Town, Prison Island or Jozani National Park. This can all be arranged at your hotel.
Day 14: Departure
Today will be your last day on Zanzibar. Relax and spend the day at leisure before you will be transferred to the airport by the shuttle from the hotel. Have a pleasant flight!
For more information about the national parks and Zanzibar Island, check destinations. Or check other safari itineraries.
