Safari Overview
This 16 Day Africa/Tanzania safari was designed for the traveller with an adventurous spirit, seeking an intimate experience in the African culture, but also still taking advantage of enjoying a wildlife safari which includes visits to Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Parks, Lake Eyasi, and the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area which boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. Often called “the African “. and the adventure doesn’t end there.
We slip over to Zanzibar, the Spice Isle, redolent of nutmeg and cinnamon. It’s a place of white sand beaches and crystal waters, rainbow hues of tropical fish, faded, ancient architecture and midnight cruises. Sail the Indian Ocean in a traditional dhow; drop into crystal waters and picnic on uninhabited atolls. Zanzibar is a perfect relaxing end to your big Tanzania Zanzibar adventure.
Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Kibo Palace Hotel, Arusha.
Arrives into Kilimanjaro International airport. After finishing passport control and customs procedures. Meet & greeting with your safari guide and drive to Arusha for check in, Dinner and Overnight at Kibo Palace Hotel.
Day 2: Salinero Kilimanjaro, Moshi.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Set out and head to Kikuletwa Hot Springs for a refreshing dip. Here, the garra rufa fish (known as nibble fish) will give you a pedicure.
“The water is warm and refreshing, it’s not a “hot spring.” It’s a beautiful place and so relaxing. If you stay still for a minute in one of the areas, you get little fish giving you a pedicure”!
“It is a quiet place, surrounded by beautiful nature and for those who love to swim, Kikuletwa is the best place. Recommendation says; “This is a place do not leave without visit there”.
The hot springs of Kikuletwa, also known as Chemka Hot Springs, are close to the village of Rundugai and are one of the most beautiful places in Tanzania to relax. The small pond is surrounded by palm and fig trees with winding roots. In the morning, Blue Monkeys can often be observed in the trees, whilst the crystal clear, turquoise water invites you to a refreshing bath. Although they are called hot springs, the water in Kikuletwa is not truly ‘hot’ but refreshing, as the water source is fed by Kilimanjaro itself.
Enjoy a wonderful day in just the way you want, in the sun dozing, chatting with the locals at the small bar, or swimming – you determine the course of this day. At noon we will have a picnic lunch, and in the late afternoon we return relaxed to Moshi. Meals and overnight at Salinero Hotel.
Day 3: Salinero Kilimanjaro, Moshi.
Materuni is the home of the Chagga tribe and is still an authentic tribal village. This charming place is just 15km away from Moshi Town and is the last village before the Kilimanjaro National Park.
You will be picked up in Moshi in the morning, by our English-speaking guide, who will drive you to Materuni Village. Upon arrival, you will register at the village office and your trip can begin.
First you will visit the waterfalls, which are around a 40-minute walk away. On the way, your guide will inform you about the culture of the Chagga, village life and explain the surrounding fauna and flora. The views are truly breathtaking, and with some luck you will see the summit of Kilimanjaro. When you reach the waterfalls, you will see that they are more than 80 meters high. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is an inviting place for a refreshing swim so don‘t forgets your swimwear!
After having enjoyed the scenery, you slowly return with your guide to Materuni village, where you will experience a traditional Chagga lunch. You also will have the opportunity to taste our local banana beer – definitely not to be missed!
But that’s not all. Next the coffee experience awaits you. Here you will learn how coffee is cultivated, dried, roasted and further processed. You will also be invited to help with the grinding of the coffee, which is traditionally accompanied by Chagga songs and dances – a fun way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Before you say goodbye and return in the afternoon to Moshi, you can savour the coffee you made and appreciate the views of the surrounding rainforest. Meals and overnight at Salinero Hotel.
Day 4: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge, Karatu.
Breakfast. Depart for Tarangire National Park, which known as the house of the elephant in Tanzania, more than 6000 Elephant in relatively a small area, Cheetah, Leopards, Lions and most of Africa wild animals are in this park together with more than 400 species of birds which make Tarangire one of the most popular national parks for birding. PM drive to Karatu Bougainvillea Safari Lodge for check in, Dinner and an Overnight.
Day 5: Bougainvillea Safari Lodge, Karatu.
Breakfast. Drive to Lake Eyasi for a visit to Hadzabe & Datooga people and interact with them, and learn so much stuff about the life styles and language. Observing the hunting display, gathering honey and traditional dance performances are all part of the experience. It is a cultural experience not to be missed, and it all takes place with the backdrop of beautiful Lake Eyasi. Afternoon drive back to Karatu Bougainvillea Safari Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.
** Hadzabe: is one of the very unique tribes we have in the area, the last hunter-gatherer’s tribe left in Tanzania. Visit Lake Eyasi in the Northern circuit, home to the Hadzabe people, a reclusive tribe of bushmen in Tanzania who live as they did 10 000 years ago. The Hadzabe are among the last hunters and gatherers of Africa alongside the Khoisan bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. You will be fascinated by their clicking language and hunting techniques of the hadza culture.
Activities
Lake Eyasi Cultural Day
Lake Eyasi
Lake Eyasi Cultural Day
In the early morning, after taking tea & coffee in camp, you proceed driving with a local guide into the surrounding hills ridges in search of a Hadzabe encampment; arriving at their last known site of camp you proceed after them on foot. Upon meeting them you are introduced to the camp
members. Visit their tiny huts, follow the women on a gathering foray and see how roots are dug, mice are caught and berries and Baobab fruit are gathered and prepared, or follow the men on a hunt, led in the wildlife rich woodland between towering Baobabs and acacias. The men are armed with long bows with poison tipped arrows, which you can see produced in the village and honey axes. If successful on the hunt, or finding a beehive, you will be offered to share their meal, a small antelope, a Francolin or Guinea fowl as luck dictates that day. Return to your Camp for lunch. In the afternoon Set out and visit a Datoga community and learn about their traditional pastoral way of life. The women still wear leather dresses, traditional jewellery and distinctive facial scarification, and the men armed with spears tend to their vast herds. Visit the traditional homesteads and experience their way of life and time permitting pass by the traditional Datoga black smith, that still resides in the area. In the late afternoon return to your lodge.
Day 6: Tanzania Bush Camps Central Serengeti, Seronera.
Breakfast. From Karatu you will continue on with your safari to Serengeti.
Visit to the Olduvai Gorge and museum. Significant finds from Olduvai range from stone tool types to thousands of animal fossils – both extinct and extant species – and the fossil bones of hominids (pre-Homo sapiens) and early Homo sapiens. Mary & Louis Leakey unearthed here a jawbone in 1959, which has pushed back the beginning of human evolution well past the 1.5-Million-year mark. The different kinds of hominids found here show a gradual increase in brain size and in the complexity of their stone tools. Olduvai has roughly 3000 visitors each day during peak season from all over the world. Most visitors arrive by safari car, stopping for lunch and a museum tour.
Proceed on to Serengeti. You will be stopping several times for wildlife viewing en-route to your Camp in the Central Serengeti. Dinner and overnight at Tanzania Bush Camps-Central.
The Serengeti is the largest park in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes including short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, mountains, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. Depending on the season, you will witness the migration of thousands of animals for which this park is famous for.
Day 7: Tanzania Bush Camps Mara River Camp, Northern Serengeti.
After breakfast, you will set out for a full day of game drives inside Serengeti to the Northern Serengeti for the aim of spotting migration and game drives for other wildlife as well. Then overnight at Tanzania Bush Camps-Mara River Camp.
Day 8: Tanzania Bush Camps Mara River Camp, Northern Serengeti.
The entire day is dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. The areas that you visit will depend upon where the migrating herds are. Predators usually follow closely behind the trekking animals and include lions, leopards (in the acacia trees) and cheetahs. During the short rainy season in November and December the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up north. As the migration is completely dependent on the yearly rainfalls, the location of the herds may vary from year to year but your guide will know where to locate the animals and where to see them best. Meals and overnight at Tanzania Bush Camps – Mara River Camp.
Optional Safari Activities: This morning you can do Balloon safari over the Serengeti on request and incur extra charges. Hot Air Balloon Ride. A hot air balloon ride above the plains of the Serengeti is truly magical. Witnessing wildlife from above at a slow pace is like no other experience you could ever imagine; you really feel as though you are in a live episode of National Geographic. Though not inclusive in our package, if you have the time to embark on this incredible experience, we highly recommend it.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Breakfast. The half day is dedicated to game viewing in the Southern Serengeti/Ndutu area with lunch boxes/hamper, before departing for Ngorongoro. Arrive in the late afternoon and proceed on to Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge – Karatu for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 10: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater.
After an early breakfast, you will drive into the Ngorongoro Crater. Drive down the road that takes you into the crater. The slopes are forested but soon the landscape changes to savannah. Here, the wildlife is just breath-taking and with a little luck, you can observe the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – in just a few hours. You should also see warthogs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After dedicated to game viewing and a picnic lunch, you will leave the crater and drive back to Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge – Karatu for check in, Dinner and Overnight.
Day 11: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, Nungwi.
After breakfast check out and drive to Arusha Airport for afternoon scheduled flight to Zanzibar. Arrive and collected for a Stone town guided walking tour.
STONE TOWN (CITY) TOUR: This two or three-hours tour begins with a visit to Zanzibar’s colorful market, alive with the buzz of locals bartering fresh vegetables and baskets of tropical fruit, amongst the heady aroma of herbs and spices, we continue onto the site of a cathedral built in 1874 then to the Zanzibar Museum, Tippu Tip’s House, the former British Club, the Old Fort and the recently renovated Indian Dispensary. Your tour ends with a stroll through the narrow streets of Stone Town, the tour charge includes the following: – Entrance Fee – Tour Guide – Mineral Water – Transport.
After the tour you will be transferred by private car to The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort for 5nights stays on all-inclusive basis – Superior rooms.
Day 12: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, Nungwi.
Relaxation in The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort on all-inclusive basis – superior rooms & enjoy Resort amenities.
Day 13: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, Nungwi.
Relaxation in The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort on all-inclusive basis – superior rooms & enjoy Resort amenities.
Day 14: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, Nungwi.
SAFARI BLUE This is a full day trip on locally constructed sailing dhows, fitted with outboard motors, marine VHF radios, life jackets and other security requirements. The dhow anchors in a safe and shallow area to allow for snorkelling. High quality snorkelling material are provided, and a large range of sizes is available. Lunch is served on a sand bank or on one of the many uninhabited islands in the region. A traditional dish of barbecued fish, rice, lentils and fish curry is serves. Chilled fruit juice, mineral water, and bottled soft drinks are available throughout the tour. After lunch, clients can sail on an outrigger canoe carved out of a single mango tree, snorkel and swim or just relax. Return to Fumba is by sail, wind permitting, and clients arrive back at their hotel at about 1730 hrs. The price is per person, and includes the following: – Local Boat – Entrance Fee – Snorkelling equipment’s for Snorkelling – Tour Guide – Drinks (Water, soft drinks like fanta, coke, local beer) – Sea food lunch on barbeque – Transport.
Safari Blue
Join the safari blue crew for an epic day of aquatic activities. Laid-back or lively, a safari blue day is filled with choice.
Day 15: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, Nungwi.
Relaxation in The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort on all-inclusive basis – superior rooms & enjoy Resort amenities.
Day 16: End-
Breakfast. Morning at leisure. Check out and transfer to Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for international flight back home. End of African Safari.
Inclusions:
- Service of an English-speaking professional driver/guide.
- Transport whilst on safari in a 4×4 safari Land cruiser with pop-up roof for game viewing.
- All transfers upon arrival and departure as in the itinerary.
- Full Board Accommodations whilst on safari.
- All park entrance fees are as per the itinerary.
- All game drives as detailed in the itinerary.
- Drivers’ salary and allowances plus park fees for driver and vehicle.
- Government taxes & levies.
- Complimentary bottled drinking water whilst on safari.
Exclusions:
- International & internal flights.
- Airport arrival or Departure taxes.
- Tips and gratuities to driver/guide, hotel/camp and restaurant staff, and room service.
- Items of a personal nature i.e., telephone/internet usage, laundry.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, etc.
- Change in itinerary/accommodation rather than those specified.
- Activities, visits, and tours that are not mentioned in the package.
- Extra Expenses, insurances, Visa’s & validity of travel documents.
- Extra drinks and meals that are not mentioned in the package.
- Easter/Festival/High season/New Year’s supplements as per lodge/hotel policy.
