Safari & Beach Holiday | Tarangire – Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara & Zanzibar

Detailed itinerary

• Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha – briefing and welcome dinner

  You will be met at Kilimanjaro Airport by our driver and then driven to your booked hotel in Arusha. The drive takes around one hour and, with a little luck, you may catch a glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. After checking in, your guide will give you a short briefing about your booked trip and then go through your equipment. The rest of the day is at your leisure. In the evening you are invited to a welcome dinner by your guide. Overnight at the Mtoni River Lodge or an accommodation of equal category (D).

• Day 2: Sightseeing tour in Arusha and tour preparation in the afternoon

  
  On the second day in Arusha (1,400 m) you will be able to recover a little from the long journey, prepare for the upcoming trekking tour and get a small insight into the exciting and rich culture of Tanzania. After breakfast you will be picked up for a half-day sightseeing tour. First experience the colourful bustle of the local market in Arusha before being driven on to the Cultural Heritage Gallery, a unique cultural centre on the outskirts of Arusha. Here you will have enough time to browse handicrafts from across Africa. If you are interested, there is also the option to purchase crafts for a fee. In the afternoon, after a thorough exploration of the gallery, you will be driven back to the hotel and can relax for the rest of the day and prepare for the trek. Overnight at the Hotel Mtoni River Lodge or an accommodation of equal category (B).

• Day 3: Transfer to Lake Manyara – Great Rift Valley, flamingos and tree-climbing lions

  In the early morning you will be picked up from your hotel by your safari guide and driven through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park. The landscapes around Lake Manyara are hard to describe in words, and the game drives along the lake offer excellent photo opportunities. Although the park is small (205 square miles), it offers breathtaking scenery and is known for its huge mahogany trees, giant figs, lush acacia woodland, as well as for a growing population of blue monkeys and baboons. Permanent residents of this park also include impala, giraffe, elephant and a large number of buffalo. The lake is also home to a large number of hippos. The park offers a few specialities and is famous for its tree-climbing lions, the flamingos on the shore, the martial eagle and the southern ground hornbill. On this day a few additional excursions are possible, including a cycling tour or a boat trip. In the afternoon, transfer to the hotel in Karatu and dinner. Overnight at Eileen’s Trees Inn (B|L|D).

• Day 4: Wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater and drive to Serengeti National Park

  After a hearty breakfast we drive to the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro is a collapse crater on the edge of the Serengeti. It was formed when a volcanic mountain collapsed in on itself at this spot. The crater stretches over 27 hectares, its rim is more than 600 metres high, which makes it virtually a kind of Noah’s Ark, inhabited by almost all the wildlife species native to East Africa. It is one of the very few places on the entire continent where you can observe the black rhino. Here you encounter the greatest concentration of African wildlife. In addition to a river, there are several marshes, an alkaline lake with a large population of flamingos, a forest and open plains inside the crater. The caldera consists predominantly of open grassland and is the best place in East Africa to see the Big Five. The elephants living here, with their enormous tusks, are the largest on earth. This is attributed to the high mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses. In the afternoon we continue on to Serengeti National Park and end the day with a tasty dinner at our safari camp. Overnight at Embalakai Camp (B|L|D).

  

• Day 5: In Serengeti National Park – the endless plains of Tanzania

  After an early breakfast we drive towards the most famous national park in the world, the Serengeti. The further we venture into the Serengeti, the more you will understand, why the name means “endless plains” in the local language. The park covers an area of 18,000 km² and for the most part the plains stretch all the way to the horizon — our senses play tricks on us and make things in the distance seem much closer. This is the site of a breathtaking spectacle, the world-famous great wildebeest migration, the Great Migration. More than 2 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras and all kinds of antelopes, including the abundant impalas and Thomson’s gazelles, follow the rains through the park in search of food. These large herds naturally attract predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Many spectacular wildlife documentaries have been filmed in this park. The Serengeti is also home to countless smaller, interesting animals such as mongooses, monkeys, baboons, jackals, foxes, honey badgers, rock hyrax and African hares, as well as more than 500 species of birds. Overnight at Embalakai Camp (B|L|D).

  

• Day 6: Morning game drive in the Serengeti – drive to Karatu

  On this day you will get up very early to experience a magical sunrise in the early morning that you will never forget, and to set off on a game drive when the animals are more active. This really is one of the most beautiful experiences. After the game drive we return to the camp for an extensive brunch and then drive on to Karatu. During the drive we have the opportunity to visit Olduvai Gorge, a famous site also known as the “Cradle of Mankind” (fees not included in the price). Here Dr Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the remains of the first man to live on earth. This tour includes a short talk about the archaeological excavations and the geological features of the gorge, as well as a visit to the museum. Along the way there is also the optional possibility to visit a Maasai village and experience the life of these wonderful people, who live in harmony with nature. Overnight at Hotel Eileen’s Trees Inn or Bougainvillea Lodge (B|L|D).

  

• Day 7: Game drive in Tarangire National Park with huge elephant herds, baobab trees and along the Tarangire River

  Tarangire is famous for its varied landscape with nine different vegetation zones. The park’s scenery is shaped by a large number of ancient, imposing baobab trees (the largest on the continent), for which Tarangire is particularly known. The park’s river is the lifeline of many wild animals that live here, from a wide variety of birds to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes and, of course, elephants. The park actually has the largest concentration of elephants in the entire country and offers unique opportunities to watch elephant families. Today’s picnic spot is fascinating and a viewpoint with a magnificent view of the river and the wildlife, with good chances of seeing big game hunting during your picnic. In the afternoon we continue our game drive before returning to Arusha. Overnight at the Hotel Mtoni River Lodge or an accommodation of equal category (B|L).

  

• Day 8: Transfer to the airport – flight to Zanzibar, drive to Matemwe – north-east coast

  Early in the morning you will be driven to the airport to fly to Zanzibar. After your arrival you will be picked up and driven to your accommodation in Matemwe, where you will spend the next four nights. Experience chalk-white sandy beaches, azure-blue sea and a fantastic coral reef. Zanzibar lies in the Indian Ocean and consists of the main islands of Unguja, known as Zanzibar, and Pemba, as well as countless smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is blessed with natural beauty and a rich culture. Warm, sunny climate all year round. Its exciting history with Arab sultans, Portuguese seafarers, slave traders and European explorers has shaped the character of this island and its friendly people in a very special way. Not to forget the delicious Swahili cuisine with a great variety of seafood.

  We can offer you a range of accommodation options in all categories on the island and ensure that we find the most suitable accommodation for your requirements. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel or an accommodation of equal category (B).

• Day 9: Relaxing on the beach – other activities on the island

  Here you have the next few days to relax. If you would like to be active, you can take part in numerous excursions, including visits to historic Stone Town, the Jozani Forest, Prison Island and spice plantations. There are also a variety of adventure activities you can take part in, including hiking, birdwatching, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sea kayaking and sailing. The island also has fantastic coral reefs that are perfect for diving and snorkelling — and you may even be lucky enough at certain times of the year to spot dolphins, green turtles and whale sharks. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel Sea View Room or an accommodation of equal category (B|D).

  

• Day 10: Relaxing by the sea

  The day is at your leisure. On request, guests can book additional activities and excursions locally. We book the hotel only. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel Sea View Room or an accommodation of equal category (B|D).

• Day 11: Relaxing by the sea

  The day is at your leisure. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel Sea View Room or an accommodation of equal category (B|D).

• Day 12: Relaxing by the sea

  The day is at your leisure. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel Sea View Room or an accommodation of equal category (B|D).

• Day 13: Relaxing by the sea

  Enjoy the sun and the sea one more time. On request, activities can be booked locally; otherwise there is time for relaxation and individual activities. Overnight at the Magic Boutique Hotel Sea View Room or an accommodation of equal category (B|D).

• Day 14: Transfer to Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) – return flight home

  Free time until departure. Depending on your flight time, you will be driven back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your international flight home (B).

  We reserve the right to make changes to the programme due to special events, force majeure or weather conditions.

  Legend: B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner