Tanzania
Day One: Arrival in Tanzania
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, you’ll be met and transferred to Arusha, the lively town that’s the gateway to Tanzania’s top safari spots. The rest of the day is yours to relax: perhaps you’ll eat at one of its great restaurants, haggle for souvenirs among the Technicolour stalls of the Maasai Market, or simply take in the incredible views of Mount Meru (the country’s second highest peak) rising above the town.
Overnight in Arusha
Premium - The African Tulip Lodge
Meals included: None
Day Two: Surrounded by Elephants
After breakfast, you’ll make the two-hour journey to the Tarangire National Park, and elephant country. Here, among a scorched landscape dotted with Baobab trees, thousands of these great animals come to drink at the Tarangire River, the only source of water in the area. During an afternoon game drive, you’ll spot plenty of them, alongside other wildlife including lion, cheetah and leopard. Then you’ll overnight in a camp or lodge within the park, with all the sounds and smells of this incredible place for company.
Overnight in Tarangire
Premium - Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Three: Spectacular Serengeti
Time to head to one of Africa’s most beautiful National Parks, the Serengeti, a protected area that’s home to the oldest ecosystem in the world. Famous for its wildebeest and zebra migrations, it’s also home to a huge array of other wildlife, including lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and a plethora of rainbow-coloured birds. You’ll make the four-hour drive during the morning, so you can spend your afternoon on a game drive between high grass and skittish gazelle before a night in one of the park’s atmospheric camps.
Overnight in Serengeti National Park
Premium - Angata Serengeti Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Four: Dawn Searches
You’ll wake early today, to try and catch a glimpse of the Serengeti’s big cats before they retreat from the blazing African sun. You’ll spend a few hours driving around the incredible landscape in the peace and gentle light of the morning, before making the three-hour journey to the Ngorongoro Crater, where you will find your accommodation for the night. Formed from an ancient volcanic caldera, its lush, fertile plains are the best place in Tanzania to see the Big Five, and also home to some of the country’s most incredible scenery – expect dazzling purple sunsets over its glittering lake and green and gold plains.
For an even more unforgettable adventure, Awesome Experiences can arrange two optional activities for Day Three. The first is a balloon ride over the Serengeti – one of the most incredible experiences we’ve had. With no power lines or fences, you have an unobstructed view of this vast area and can spot hyenas, hippos and elephants from high above, savouring absolute peace. Another option is to make a stop off at Olduvai Gorge, a deep ravine that offers an incredible insight into human development. Here, hominid footprints were found embedded in rock that’s 3.6 million years old. Wander the museum, with its hominid replicas, and listen museum staff explain the challenging years of earliest man, on this very spot. For the costs of these optional excursions, please see the Extras tab.
Overnight at Ngorongoro Crater
Premium - Sopa Lodge Ngorongoro
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Five: Into the Crater
Start your day by descending into the crater, formed three million years ago by a volcanic explosion. Its lush, fertile landscape is a haven for many types of wildlife – rhino, prides of lion and cheetah are regularly spotted. After your drive, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the hippo pond, where you can spot these gigantic animals as their heads bob above the water. Then you’ll begin the two-hour drive to Lake Eyasi, a lesser-visited and strikingly beautiful lake, filled with flamingos from June to November, and eerily empty for the rest of the year. This afternoon is for settling in to your camp here ready for exploration tomorrow.
Overnight at Lake Eyasi
Premium - Kisema Ngeda Tented Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Six: Tribe Life
This morning you’ll spend time with the Hadzabe Bushmen who call Lake Eyasi their home. Living entirely in harmony with their natural surroundings, they communicate using a clicking language and are one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes left on earth. Join them as they hunt through the bush with traditional bows and arrows and you’ll gain a once in a lifetime insight into their culture and ways. After this fascinating experience, you’ll have lunch before being driven back to Arusha, from here you'll fly on to Zanzibar.
Upon arrival at Zanzibar airport around 6pm (flight 7.45pm), you will be met and transferred to Ocean Paradise Resort for check-in. With the rest of the day to relax, you can settle in and take in the stunning landscape around you. During your stay breakfast and dinner are included.
Overnight in Zanzibar
Premium - Ocean Paradise Resort
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Zanzibar
Days Seven & Eight: Time to Relax
The next two days will be at your leisure to enjoy this beautiful island paradise. You could go snorkeling, visit Stone Town, go on a boat trip to swim with wild dolphins, take a spice tour, go horse riding through coconut groves or just relax on the beach, it’s all up to you. Your Zanzibar extension can be as active or relaxing as you like.
Day Nine: Heading Home
This morning you will be transferred back to Zanzibar airport for your flight home after your incredible African adventure!
Accommodation:
Premium - Ocean Paradise Resort (Garden Room)
Your hotel option for this experience is Premium:
Premium ★★★★
Premium hotels are typically upper mid range (usually four star), with more amenities than our classic choices. They all have comfortable rooms with private facilities and have received good client feedback.
When booking an experience, please remember that the hotel category you select is for the whole holiday. The table below displays the hotels listed for each category. Please note that the actual hotel selection will be driven by availability at time of booking.
Overall meals included: 6 Breakfasts; 6 lunches; 5 dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
What's not included:
- International flights to/from the start/end point of our experiences
- Tips for guides, drivers, porters and other staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry and equipment to hire
We will send you a detailed packing list upon booking, or you can hire equipment locally.
For Home Office travel advice to this country, read more here.
If you would like the thrill but don't have time for the chill, check out our 7-day Serengeti Safari experience here!
To check all of our Tanzania trips, click here!
GETTING THERE
Your transfer from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar is included in the experience price, along with private transfers to and from your hotel. However, flights home from Zanzibar are not included once the experience has finished.
Experience start point: Kilimanjaro (JRO). Arrive any time.
End point: Zanzibar (ZNZ). Hotel check out 12pm.
All holiday departures up to 30th June 2019 are part of our Pioneers' Club promotion. Click here for more information.