REVIEWS

The Beauty of Tanzania and Zanzibar

 

Overview

 

An African safari and beach holiday together to give you the very best  Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar has to offer-unique wildlife and incomparable beaches. Going to sleep to the sound of jackals and waking up before the sun to track elephant and buffalo and maybe witnessing a lion kill is an experience like no other. However, early mornings and intense concentration can take their toll. What a better way to relax than on a tropical African beach with a well-earned umbrella-decorated drink.

 

Combining these destinations is easier than you might think: modern air travel and slick logistics will have you on the bush the same day that you leave the beach- wake up to the sound of hippos and elephants, go to sleep to the sound of lapping waves and rustling palms.

Day 1: Arrival Day - Stone Town

 

Welcome to Zanzibar! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 3 pm where you will meet your team leader at the Swahili House. Aside from this important meeting, there are no planned activities for the day and you are free to explore on your own. Filled with pristine white-sand beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars. Zanzibar has had a colourful history – everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town and the best way to experience this is on foot exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. When the sun is setting, why not grab a drink from a bar overlooking the seafront. A seafood curry at a local restaurant is also a great choice. You will spend the night in Stone Town at a Swahili House.

 

Destination: Stone Town

 Meal Plan: Dinner

 Accommodation: Swahili House/ Similar

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Day 2: Explore Stone Town

 

Morning at 09:00am, the Stone Town City Tour takes you around the historical culture and architectural important town of Zanzibar with a century history. It includes a visit to former slave market site (now stands as Anglican church built in 1871), town market, visit the Zanzibar Memorial Museum, House of Wonder built in 1883 (Beit-Al-Ajab), Old Arab Fort, Palace Museum, Old Indian dispensary.

 

At 02:00pm trip to Spice Tour. On this tour you will see and taste the tropical fruits, spices plantation or plots in the island. A variety of spice plants used as ornament, medicines, flowers, fruits. Another interesting flora can be seen during spice tour and a visit to Kidichi bath built in 1850 by the first Sultan for his wife Sheharzad and then back to town for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Swahili House/ Similar

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Day 3: Trip to Safari Blue & Dolphin Tour

 

An early start takes us to Safari Blue. A full day sailing/snorkeling/sunbathing on a traditional dhow and seafood barbecue. Setting sail from Fumba, you will explore the Menai Bay where dolphins are often sighted. When dropping the anchor at Kwale sandbank, you can snorkeling the coral reefs. At Kwale Island you will be served a buffet of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, chickens and coconut rice.The boat sails to a stunning natural lagoon where there is an opportunity to swim before the day is over and back to town for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

 

Overnight at Fumba Beach Lodge.

 

Fumba Beach Lodge is a small scale, peaceful hideaway set on one of Zanzibar's most secluded beaches. With only 26 free standing spacious cottages, the essence of Fumba Beach Lodge is privacy space, relaxation, nature and attention to detail.

 

Fumba Beach Lodge offers well-designed elegance with friendly first class service. 30 minutes from Zanzibar's capital Stone Town, the lodge is far away from all the busy tourist areas. This is a perfect venue to enjoy the tranquility and dream, swim, dive, walk amongst tropical gardens, or have a special romantic occasion in one of the many secluded spot.

 

Destination: Fumba Beach

Meal Plan: Breakfast,  Dinner

Accommodation: Fumba Beach Lodge

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Day 4: Beach Relaxation

 

Enjoy free time in this beautiful archipelago today. There are many ways you can spend your day – perhaps talk to your leader for any recommendations they might have. Snorkelling in search of exotic fish is an excellent option or you could take a traditional dhow boat on the water. You might also like to feast on a sumptuous lunch of grilled local seafood, or just relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book. It's totally up to you! Overnight at Fumba Beach Lodge.

 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Fumba Beach Lodge

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Day 5: Journey to Dar es Salaam

 

After breakfast, take a half day walk in Stone Town and lunch before heading to the airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam and  transfer to your hotel.

 

Destination: Dar es Salaam

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mediterraneo Hotel

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Day 6 & 7: Journey to Mikumi

 

Two days exploring the wildlife at a glance”

 

This morning after breakfast we leave Dar es Salaam for Mikumi National Park, arrive late afternoon and enjoy a game drive inside Mikumi park. The park is home to a wide variety of bird species, zebras, hippos, hartebeests, wildebeests, impalas, warthogs, elands antelope, giraffes, buffalos, and elephants.

 

On the second day exploring the park at our own pace enjoying morning and afternoon game drive tracing the great sighting of buffaloes and giraffes the park is known for.

 

Your driver guide will tour you to the heart of the wilderness of the Mikumi National Park, an adventure in the park will guarantee you a memorable and magical safari experience that you will not forget for the rest of your life.

 

Main Destination: Mikumi National Park

Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Accommodation: Hondo Hondo Camp

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Day 8, 9 & 10: Safari in Ruaha

 

Two days exploring nature

 

Leaving Mikumi National park after a relaxed breakfast, we drive to Ruaha national park which is 274 km. A packed lunch sustains you on the way as we pass through the countryside enticed with nice scenery, beautiful valleys and mountains. Upon arriving in Iringa we will visit the museum which holds the head of the great local chief Mkwawa who resisted the Germans in Iringa town before a drive to our accommodation at Tandala Tented Camp.

 

The two days will be used to explore this undiscovered park by vehicle. Ruaha’s varied terrain is home to a wide variety of wildlife including large herds of buffalos, hippos, more unusual antelope species such as sable and lesser kudu and  if you are really lucky, the wild dogs which roams huge distances each day in search of their next meal making sightings impossible to predict.

 

Your accommodation at Tandala Tended Camp lies on one of the most stunning stretches of the Great Ruaha wilderness where you can see game throughout the day from the comfort of your veranda; there can surely be few other camps as perfectly situated from the heart of it all.

 

Main Destination: Ruaha National Park

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Tandala Tented Camp

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Day 11: Journey to Morogoro Agricultural Town

 

After breakfast we will start our journey back to Dar es salaam. On the way we will stop at Maasani Village for cultural tour before a stopover at Morogoro town for lunch, dinner and overnight at a beautiful farm lodge. 

 

Main Destination: Morogoro

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Mbuyuni Farm  Retreat

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Day 12: Journey to Cosmopolitan City

 

After a last morning farm retreat walk, we continue our safari for Dar es Salaam to arrive  just before sunset. After a hot shower at our hotel, we just relax reminiscing the experiences earned during the previous days.

 

Destination: Dar es Salaam

Meal Plan: Dinner and Breakfast

Accommodation: Mediterraneo Hotel

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Day 13: End the Adventure on Tanzanite Bridge

 

After a last tropical breakfast, we pack our bags and our driver guide takes us past the Tanzanite crossing bridge in Dar es Salaam city centre for the final leg of our journey to Julius Nyerere International Airport. Take a moment to reflect on the unforgettable memories our journey has given us - the warmth of the African sun on our skin, the scent of wild sage, the sound of lions greeting the dusk , the extraordinary places, the gentle people and the thrilling wildlife spectacles we have witnessed.

 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

 

What's Included:

 

• Accommodation as stipulated in tented lodges and lodges

• Guide ( English-speaking)

• Meals as per itinerary. This tour offers Jain, Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal and kosher food-options on request. Simply let our customer support team know the food option that you prefer

• Emergency Evacuation Cover

• All transfers and activities as mentioned above, park fees, conservation fees and community development fees.

• Transport by 4x4 safari pop up roof

• Flight from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam

• Bottled water, winery, local beer, soda

 

Price per person sharing the safari USD$2,935