Tanzania Deluxe Safari with Zanzibari Spices. A Deluxe Safari ‘Spiced’ with a Zanzibar Beach Holiday
11 Nights / 12 Days
Another fantastic opportunity to explore Tanzania’s Game and Culture on an exclusive deluxe Safari; while visiting the unique Ngorongoro Crater, known as Africa's Eden and Serengeti National Park, famous for its big cats and Predators, and which contains the largest concentration of wildlife in the world.
Nothing more exciting than spending days in this unspoiled wilderness in a deluxe style and have the uninterrupted joy of a lifetime safari experience. And add to this the ‘spices’ of Zanzibar. Although it is the unique history and culture that really characterize this island, it has to be acknowledged that the first reason for coming here are the beaches.
The east of the island is the location for the famous palm-lined beaches and beautiful coral lagoons with its fascinating marine life and local culture, whilst the west has some wonderful soft-sand beaches, which are ideal for swimming. All yours to explore and enjoy.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive into Arusha. Karibu – Welcome in Kiswahili. We are warmly welcomed at the Arusha International Airport and transferred to our Hotel. Arusha is considered to be the exact centre-point between Cape Town and Cairo, the southern & northern extremes of the African Continent. Also from here we can enjoy the stunning view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Overnight: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. (1 night)
Day 2: Arusha / Tarangire National Park. After an early breakfast we leave (at 08.00 am) for our first Safari experience, strait to Tarangire National Park. Once we reach the Park we will go for our morning Game Drive. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons.
It's the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared Oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.
After our ‘picnic-style’ Lunch, we continue with the wildlife observation, since the swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. (2 nights), (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park. After breakfast we’ll enjoy a full day Safari at Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is one of the most scenic parks that we will encounter on our journey in Tanzania, and it is situated on the base of the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley.
While driving up the rift wall, Lake Manyara appears behind us. The view is breathtaking, as we take in this massive lake with its silver shimmer and surrounding vegetation. Like most Rift Valley lakes, the water is alkaline.
This attracts vast flocks of flamingos, which form pink foam against a silver background of water. There are numerous water birds in the area, including pelicans that waddle around next to short grasses on the shore of the lake. The park is a bird lover’s haven with a variety of local species inhabiting the forest and bush. The best time to observe these birds is in the late afternoon and early morning.
Animals also found in the area include zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck and warthog. Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions. These majestic animals find shelter in the branches of trees from the heat and biting flies. There is a particular belt, which they frequent along the woodland, south of the Msasa River.
These lions also have a peculiar specialization of killing buffalo. An adult buffalo weighs in the proximity of one and a half tons, being far larger than the average weight of an adult male lion. After our phenomenal experience, we’ll go to our Lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Lake Manyara / Ngorongoro Crater (drive). From Lake Manyara we drive to Ngorongoro Crater, and better prepare yourself for ‘Africa's Eden’: The Crater. Twelve miles wide, the Ngorongoro Crater is a home to the rare Black Rhino and has its own Soda Lake. The highest concentration of wild animals in the Crater area means that you are likely to see the ‘African Big Five’ in a short period of time.
As we descend 2,200 feet into the Crater, we’ll experience a thrilling day among Africa's Big Five: the Lion, the Elephant, the Buffalo, the Black Rhino and the Leopard. After a picnic lunch and a phenomenal of game viewing, we will go to our lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. (1 night), (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Ngorongoro / Serengeti National Park (drive). After breakfast we leave the Ngorongoro Highlands via Malanja and proceed to Olduvai Gorge, where we will visit the local Museum, and within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area we’ll have the chance to see a Masai Boma (or a family village). After we’ve enjoyed our picnic lunch, en-route to Serengeti National Park we’ll continue with our game observation. Overnight: Serengeti Serena Lodge (2 nights), (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Serengeti National Park. Today we begin exploring the famous Serengeti National Park. Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequaled for its natural beauty and scientific value. With more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson's gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa.
The wildebeest and zebra moreover form the star cast of a unique spectacular - the annual Serengeti migration. A unique combination of diverse habitats enables it to support more than 30 species of large herbivores and nearly 500 species of birds.
Its landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculptured by the concerted action of wind, rain and sun. It now varies from open grass plains in the south, Savannah with scattered acacia trees in the center, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.
Small rivers, lakes and swamps are scattered throughout. In the southeast rise the great volcanic massifs and craters of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Each area has its own particular atmosphere and wildlife. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Serengeti National Park / Arusha (drive) & Arusha / Zanzibar (flight). After breakfast we say farewell to our Deluxe Tanzania Safari and drive back to Arusha. Once arrived here, we are transferred to the airport in time to catch our flight to Zanzibar Island. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, we are met by our Hotel hosts and taken to our Hotel. This will be our ‘residence’ for the next six days. Overnight: Blue Bay Beach Resort. (5 nights / superior room), (Breakfast, Dinner)
Days 8-11: Zanzibar Island. These are the well-deserved free days for us to enjoy the Sun on the Beach, or to dive into the Indian Ocean, to explore the magical spirit of this Island, to scent the aroma of exotic spices and ‘talk’ to the friendly Zanzibaris’.
Daily tours are offered to Stone Town by the hotel and we encourage you to visit this historical place. Stone Town is the oldest city and the cultural heart of Zanzibar; little has changed in the last 200 years.
It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, and mosques and grand Arab houses. You can spend many idle hours just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. Stone Town was declared recently and deservedly a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 12: Zanzibar / Homebound. After a luxurious Safari experience and a relaxing beach holiday, we bid farewell to Tanzania and we are transferred to the airport for our flight home (via Dar Es Salaam or Nairobi). (Breakfast)
- End of our tour and services -
Price includes:
- Hotels & Lodges as per itinerary
- Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- All game drives and transfers by jeeps (all window seats & pop-up roofs)
- Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
- Services of local English-speaking professional Safari drivers cum guides
- Entrance fees at all Parks and Sites (except Masai Villages!!!)
- Complimentary drinking water on game drives
- Air ticket for the Arusha / Zanzibar sector and all airport transfers
Price does not include:
- Any airport taxes
- International flight tickets
- Air ticket from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam or to Nairobi, at the end
- Visa fees (for Tanzania)
- Insurance (trip cancellation & medical insurances are recommended)
- Masai Village Tour / Masai Bomas – the ‘entrance fee’ is a local donation (~ USD 30 per person)
- Drinks / beverages with meals
- Tips / gratuities or other such costs
- Personal expenses (phone or laundry bills)
Optional Excursions:
* Serengeti Balloon Safari: USD: 450.00 / CAD: 540.00 - per person.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area - visit a ‘Masai Bomas USD: 30.00 per person.
Guaranteed Departures in 2008
Jan 16 & 30, Feb 13 & 28, Mar 12 & 26, Apr 09 & 23, May 07 & 24, Jun 11 & 25, Jul 16 & 23, Aug 06, 20 & 23, Sep 10 & 23, Oct 08 & 22, Nov 11 & 19, Dec 03 & 16.
* Tour Size: This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 12 participants.
* Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS):
- Tarangire National Park
- Lake Manyara National Park (WHS)
- The Ngorongoro Crater
- Serengeti National Park (WHS)
- Stone Town, Zanzibar (WHS)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour prices for 2008
Low season (Mar to Jun): USD: 3,000.00 / CAD: 3,150.00 - per person in double occupancy. Single supplement, USD: 555.00 / CAD: 585.00
High season (for the rest): USD: 3,145.00 / CAD: 3,300.00 – per person in double occupancy. Single supplement USD: 585.00 / CAD: 620.00
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Tanzania
Cultural Journey
Wildlife Viewing
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