The ultimate combination:- The main wildlife areas of Northern Tanzania combined with the culture of Zanzibar's stone town, and the white sand beaches of exotic Zanzibar's coastline.
Day 01: Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park
[3 1/2 hours approximately]
Depart Arusha after lunch, and drive across the Masai Steppe to the Great Rift Valley, and up the escarpment to your hotel perched on the rim and overlooking the park below. From which ever direction you approach Lake Manyara, you get a spectacular view. Approaching from the east the Great Rift Valley wall forms an impressive backdrop to the Lake. From the west, with a pause at the top of the escarpment, the park lies below, a green strip beside a glistening lake.
Lake Manyara National Park covers an area of 330 square kilometers, of which about two thirds is the lake itself, and the rest is forest, acacia woodland and some grasslands by the lake shore. The wildlife can be migratory between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park across the lake, but you should see elephant, hippo, Cape buffalo, giraffe, several species of primate and antelope, and prolific birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Manyara Hotel or similar.
Day 02: Lake Manyara National Park- Serengeti National Park
[6 hours approximately]
After breakfast there is a game drive in the park. There are normally plenty of hippo around, and you may be lucky enough to see the elusive tree climbing lions for which this park is famous.
After lunch continue to the Serengeti National Park. This is one of the most popular and spectacular game areas in East Africa, covering an area of 14,765 square kilometers, teaming with game. A particular feature of the Serengeti is the annual migration of the wildebeest and zebra herds. Each year, after the traditional "short" rains in November the migration starts when the herds amass in their thousands on the plains below the Ngorongoro highlands.
During February they move north and west following the rains and the new grasslands, and they start to move into the Masai Mara in July. In October they move back to Tanzania .This annual phenomenon involves more than 1.5 million animals, including the Lion and other predators that follow the herds for easy pickings. The whole process affects the lives of thousands of other species who rely on the passage of the migration for their survival, even the insects, not to mention the trees and plants which rely on the droppings for their fertilization. Dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge or similar
Day 03: Serengeti National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge or Similar
Day 04: Serengeti National Park- Ngorongoro Crater
[5 hours approximately]
Depart after breakfast and drive back across the Serengeti Plains viewing game all the time and arrive at Ol Duvai Gorge. The Gorge is about 50 kilometers long and in some places 90 meters deep. Commonly heralded as the "Cradle of Mankind" it was made famous by the discovery in 1959 of the remains of early man.
Your stop includes a visit to the small museum overlooking the Gorge. After a picnic lunch you continue on to your lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim for dinner and overnight.
This is how the Crater is described by Bernard Grzimek in his classic "Serengeti Shall Not Die". The area is given over to Wildlife Conservation and comprises 8300 square kilometers of which the Crater is 260 square kilometers, and consists of grasslands, swamps, forests, rivers, and even an arid area of shifting dunes. The Crater supports a year round resident population of varied wildlife, and as the game is concentrated into a relatively small area you are likely to see Lion, Elephant, Hyena, Jackal, Cheetah, the very rare Black rhino, primates and many more
The area is also home to the proud and colourful Masai tribe. Dinner and overnight Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or similar.
Day 05: Ngorongoro Crater
Early breakfast, descend into the Crater in a 4 x 4 vehicle for a half day of game viewing with a picnic lunch taken on the Crater floor. Late afternoon you leave the Crater drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Drive back to Arusha [Two and a half hours approximately] with a drop off at the airport for the mid afternoon scheduled service flight [one hour and forty five minutes] to Zanzibar, arriving late afternoon. On arrival you transfer to the Mtoni Marine Centre in Stone Town. Few places evoke such romantic connotations as the " Spice Island " of Zanzibar, a dreamy paradise where green cloves, bread leaf, rice, cinnamon and coconuts grow . The old Stone Town is a fascinating warren of narrow streets, overhanging balconies and intricately carved doors and furniture.
The bustling souk [bazaar] where traders frantically bargain is full of the pungent perfume of exotic spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and pili pili.
This is where the famous 19th Century explorers Livingstone, Speke, Burton, Grant and Thomson began their fearful journeys into the "Dark Interior". Outside the town there are many places of historic interest including the Maruhubi Palace--formerly the Sultan's harem, Mangwapani Village, site of the notorious slave pits, and the 12th. Century Persian Mosque. As well as all this historical interest , Zanzibar is a tropical island with marvelous white sand beaches, swaying palms and a warm azure ocean
Days 07 to 09: Zanzibar, Mapenzi Beach Resort.
Spend the day exploring Stone Town on foot on your own [ guides can be booked and paid for locally if required], and later in the afternoon you will be collected from the Mtoni marine and transferred to the Mapenzi Beach Resort. Mapenzi Beach Club is situated on the East Coast of Zanzibar, only 40km from Stone Town. Mapenzi is set in four hectares of tropical gardens facing the Indian Ocean. The four stars all-inclusive Resort offers 87 spacious en-suite rooms all single storeys, with air-conditioning, fitted with hair-dryer, mosquito net, safe deposit box, telephone and ceiling fan.
Public area consists of 2 restaurants, 2 bars, large lounge, 2 boutiques ad a library. Recreational activities include daily gymnastic activities, windsurfing, canoeing, beach volleyball, football, archery, table tennis, darts and in-door games, floodlit tennis court, bicycle tours, snorkeling, catamaran or laser boat excursion, fishing with traditional Dhow, scuba diving or just relaxing around the swimming pool or on the beach. You spend three nights relaxing on the beach, or enjoying the facilities.
Day 10: Depart
You are transferred to the airport or for your onward or homeward arrangements.
Please note that alternative accommodation in Zanzibar is available:-
(Bluebay Resort, Breezes Beach Club or tamarind, Ras Nungwi Bungalows.
Flight connections Zanzibar to Nairobi Route are on daily basis
COST INCLUDES
Airport transfer
Accommodation as per itinerary
All meals
Services of our Professional Guide/Driver
All park entrance fees
All game drives
NOT INCLUDED
International Air fare
Personal Insurance
Items of personal nature
Alcoholic & Soft drinks
Tips & porterage
Visas
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