Take in the best wildlife experiences that Tanzania has to offer, with included game drives in the world-famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater on this 10 day overland adventure. Spend four days relaxing on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar and exploring traditional Stone Town. Discover the port towns of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo, see giant crocodiles at the Meserani Snake Park and catch a glimpse of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
Nairobi – Arusha (Tanzania). Welcome to Kenya! We aren’t staying long as we board our overland vehicle early this morning and drive across the border into Tanzania. We arrive at the country’s safari capital, Arusha, which is located close to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and other important reserves including Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. The city also sits in the shadow of Mount Meru.
We have time to browse the local markets and take a walk to a nearby Maasai village to meet the locals. Our accommodation tonight is at the Meserani Snake Park, which holds a collection of snakes, crocodiles, and other reptiles which we can also visit.
Please note: The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Nairobi the day before your tour. The pre departure meeting will be held on day 1. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.
Arusha – Serengeti National Park. We leave our overland truck behind and transfer to designated safari vehicles this morning. Crossing the Great Rift Valley, we enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We then drive around the rim of this spectacular UNESCO-listed crater and onto the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti. Serengeti derives from the Maasai word siringitu, which means “the place where the land moves on forever” and the scale of this wilderness is sure to impress as much as the wildlife you will inevitably see.
The Serengeti and neighbouring Masai Mara in Kenya play host to the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope. These prey animals follow the rains and the freshest grass, stalked every step of the way by the lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas which feed on them. You are sure to have some amazing wildlife experiences today as we enjoy a game drive en route to our camp. We spend tonight at an unfenced campsite, where we can listen to the sounds of the bush and hopefully see some wildlife from our camp!
Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 3, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife areas.
On day 4 we get our chance to head into the crater itself, following the steep, winding road into the reserve. On our game drive, you will have the chance to spot every major African animal, except for giraffes. Interestingly, they cannot manage the steep climb down the crater rim!
Returning to camp for lunch, we pack up before making the journey back to Arusha and our overland safari vehicle.
Arusha – Bagamoyo. We begin our journey to Zanzibar today, heading towards the Indian Ocean coast. It’s a long but scenic drive, and we pass Mount Kilimanjaro en route. If the weather is clear we should be able to enjoy magnificent views of the iconic snow-capped peak.
Our stop for tonight is the port town of Bagamoyo. It was founded towards the end of the 18th century and was an important trading port along the East African coast. Today it is a centre for dhow building, with many of the boats being sent to Zanzibar and nearby areas. Our accommodation is on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Bagamoyo – Dar es Salaam. Saying farewell to Bagamoyo we make the 2 – 3 hour drive along the coast to Dar es Salaam. This vibrant city is Tanzania’s main port and a kaleidoscope of culture. Impressive Arab architecture and colourful markets give way to blissful beaches and turquoise ocean. We’ll be staying by the beach tonight before our excursion to Zanzibar, and you’ll have time to go for a swim or head into the city and explore.
Dar es Salaam – Zanzibar. On the morning of day 7, we take the ferry to Zanzibar, leaving our overland truck on the mainland. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical forests.
Enjoy free time on the island. Independently explore historic Stone Town on day 7 before we drive to one of the beautiful beaches in the north of the island for two days of Indian Ocean relaxation. Perhaps visit a spice plantation, spend some time on the tropical beaches and enjoy snorkelling at the coast, home to a wealth of marine life. Other optional excursions you can book include massages and yacht trips. You can also enjoy a sunset dhow cruise. Please see the Trip Notes for more details about the optional activities available in Zanzibar.
In Zanzibar, we typically spend day 7 in Stone Town and days 8 and 9 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.
Zanzibar – Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim or some last-minute shopping this morning before we depart Zanzibar aboard the ferry. On arrival back in Dar es Salaam our tour comes to an end.
