- +255 695 723 805
- info@serengetisons.com
- Njiro, Arusha, TZ
Tour Guides Language:
Start in: Arusha
End in: Arusha
Recommended Packing list: Camera with enough zoom and memory space and extra batteries, binoculars, light clothes, safari boot, mosquito repellents, sunhat, sunglasses with UV radiation filtering etc.
Tour Guides Language:
Arrive in Moshi, the gateway, and capital of the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.
There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive at Arusha International Airport (airport code JRO), which is 25 miles, around 45 minutes from the airport.
Your local leader will meet you on the morning of day 2. If your flight arrives earlier in the day you can use the hotel swimming pool or take a walk on the hotel’s extensive grounds.
Our Leader plans to meet you at the hotel reception at 8.30 for the welcome meeting.
Heading directly from the lodge, the day starts with a walk around the grounds, comprising 30 acres of arable land, all situated in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. We stroll through lush gardens, visit the coffee plantation and learn how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed.
Heading further afield, we drive to the small village of Materuni, a short distance outside of the town of Moshi, and set within a dramatic landscape covered in the tropical rainforest. The village is home to the Chagga tribe. From the village, it is a short walk to a 150m high waterfall. We pass along a network of waterways and irrigation systems feeding farmland where coffee, bananas, and other fruit are grown.
There is ample opportunity for a refreshing swim near the waterfall, after which we return to our vehicle and drive back to Moshi. The rest of the day is free.
Today we visit Lake Duluti, a small crater lake located to the east of Arusha. The dense forest around the lake is home to a variety of mammals, reptiles, and over 140 species of birds including giant kingfishers, fish eagles, darters, and barbet.
Take a canoe trip and paddle for a couple of hours on the tranquil waters of the lake, allowing us the chance of getting close to nature in these beautiful surroundings. Returning to Moshi and our hotel in the afternoon we make a stop at the Meserani Snake Park. Here we learn about some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, from the Black and Green Mamba, Egyptian Cobra, and Puff Adders as well as watch the crocodiles at feeding time.
This afternoon we will embark on our first game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Despite being one of Tanzania’s smaller parks its incredible diversity has earned its status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and much of the 360 sq km of parkland is taken up with water, affording a spectacular variety of habitats along the shoreline for a dazzling concentration of animal and birdlife. The algae-rich waters of the lake attract huge flocks of flamingos, while the rich vegetation and cooling pools attract elephants, hippos, and buffalo in large numbers. Antelope, zebra, giraffe, and baboons also graze along the lakeshore and the rare sight of tree-climbing lions has also been seen in the park sharing the branches with some of the 380 recorded species of birds found here.
Please note that drones are not permitted in any Tanzania National Park without a permit, please refer to the equipment section of the trip notes for more information.
Today we have a long but rewarding journey into the world-famous Serengeti National Park. The scenery and views are spectacular as we drive along the Ngorongoro Crater and through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We pass several Maasai homesteads before arriving at Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959, anthropologists Dr. and Mrs. Leakey discovered the remains of an almost intact human skull named Nutcracker Man. It was here at this important prehistoric site, together with other startling discoveries, that have contributed to the furthering understanding of early human development. Olduvai Gorge and the fossils that it contains give a unique insight into the way that this part of the world has changed and humans with it. Accompanied by a local guide we visit the Olduvai Gorge’s visitor center and museum to learn more about this fascinating place and its secrets.
Later today we will enter the Serengeti at Naabi Hill Gate. Serengeti is the Maasai name that means the endless grass plains and it is through these plains interspersed with granite outcrops that we travel to our lodge. Once in the Serengeti, we’ll move slowly through the park, keeping a close eye out for the game
Covering some 15,000 sq km the Serengeti is the oldest and largest park in Tanzania. It is on these plains that we focus most of our attention with early morning and late afternoon game drives in search of the ‘Big 5’ and so much more. Our exact movements are dependent upon the location and concentration of wildlife.
We may head to the Ratina Pool, the Moru Kopjes or perhaps the Seronera River area in search of leopard and lion. Cheetahs are often seen out on the Serengeti plains and during the annual migration, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra move north-westward, covering some 800 km from the central plains through the park’s ‘long corridor’, towards richer grazing lands and fresh water. These spectacular journeys are often fraught with danger as their long trek invariably draws the attention of the ever-present predators – lion, leopard, hyena, and crocodile. This is nature in its rawest sense, where the struggle for survival is played out daily across these expansive plains.
This morning we may have the opportunity of visiting a village orphanage in Mto Wa Mbu before returning to Arusha for our onward flight to Zanzibar. If you would like to give useful gifts such as stationery, footballs, and toys to the children, this is possible – mention this to your local leader before the visit itself.
The exotic spice island of Zanzibar is a land of sun-kissed beaches, Arabian dhows, and swaying palms, where the rich smell of spice in Stone Town’s old quarter mingles with colonial and Arabic architecture to create a perfect getaway island. Zanzibar’s glorious scenery, fascinating culture, and remarkable history make any visit to the island a captivating experience, with beaches and reefs to explore, plantations to wander through and a rich history of conquests, slavery, and pirates to investigate.
Your Tour Leader will be with you throughout the safari however they will not continue with you to Zanzibar. Upon arrival on the island, our local representative will meet you, assist with the transfers and be available for booking excursions, but essentially from this day onwards the tour is unaccompanied.
Today we take a walking tour of Zanzibar’s ancient capital of Stone Town, meandering through a landscape of labyrinthine alleys and whitewashed houses, where the pungent aroma of coffee and spices permeate the town and the backstreets are filled with a cacophony of noise and color. Much of the town was built on the back of trade and slavery, which at its height saw some 60,000 unfortunate souls processed through these narrow streets, to be shipped off to the far lands of Arabia, India, and the overseas colonies of the European powers.
The town still retains the feel of its Arab roots, many of the existing buildings dating back to the reign of Sultan Barghash in the 19th century. The end of the slave trade and a devastating cyclone saw the end of Zanzibar’s heyday. The island passed from Arab to British to African hands over the intervening years and neglect followed, until Stone Town’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Listings saw a return to something of its previous glory. Those who wish to learn something of Zanzibar’s rich history, visit the Sultan’s palace, and see clove plantations established by the Sultan in the 19th century can take an optional ‘Spice Tour’ of the island (including lunch).
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel on the coast.
It’s possible to extend your holiday with additional nights on the coast or request a late checkout, please speak to our reservations team should you wish to do so.
There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Zanzibar at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to depart from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ), which is around 90 minutes drive, 40 miles.
Tour Includes
● All Park entrance fees & taxes
● All Accommodation
● All prices are quoted in US Dollars
● Game safari to national park as specified
● Private 4×4 wheel drive vehicle with a roof hatch and sliding windows for 360 degree view of the wildlife surrounding you
● First aid kit – Every safari vehicle comes standard with a fully stocked first aid kit. Our guides
are all trained in providing basic first aid
● Spare tires – for any unforeseen issues that may arise on bumpy African outback
● Charging station – Each car includes a charging station so you can charge your phone, camera
battery, or laptop while on the road
● Binoculars – 1 pair per car
● Professional English speaking safari and tour guide / driver
● Mineral Water during safari
Tour Excludes
● Visas
● Tips
● Personal Items
● Insurance
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