Incredible Safaris (Tanzania) Ltd
Suggested Tanzania Itinerary
Northern Tanzania Safari with Zanzibar Extension
(15 day Tour)
Day 1 & 2
Arrive at Zanzibar Airport. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Breezes Beach Club for two nights of tropical bliss.
Overnight at Breezes Beach Club on B&B basis
Day 3
The following morning, transfer back to Zanzibar Airport for your flight to Arusha. Flight departs from Zanzibar at 0930 hours. On arrival our driver / guide will meet you an drive towards the Masai Steppe and Tarangire National Park, arriving at the superbly sighted Tarangire River Camp in time for lunch. This is a tented camp and we think offers some of the best tented accommodation in Tanzania.
Each tent is raised on stilts with a local thatched roof, en suite toilet, wash hand basin and shower. Water is scarce in this part of Tanzania; however, the camp has been well constructed and offers flushing toilets. The hot water for the shower is carried to each tent when required, by very discreet Masai.
After lunch you wil be taken on a game drive in the park. Tarangire is a lovely park, intersped with baobab trees. The Tarangire River is the life blood of the park and large herds of elephants and buffalo can be seen here. After your game drive, return to camp for a delicious dinner and a real camp fire experience.
Overnight at Tarangire River Camp on FB basis
Day 4
You will be woken at day break by one of the camp Masai, and taken on an early morning game walk, escorted by local Masai warriors. He will show you how they survive in the bush, using traditional methods, and if you are lucky various animals can also be seen. It is a real privilege to experience this. Return to the camp for breakfast before heading towards the rift valley and Lake Manyara National Park.
Despite being so close to habitation and farmland, it has remained a unique sanctuary for wildlife and birds. This wil be the start of your encounter with some of Tanzania’s fabulous wildlife, including gazelle, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and monkey. You may be interested to know that the scene around the lake is where the two stars fly in the small plane in the film ‘Out of Africa.’ Check into Wild Africa for a welcome swim and dinner looking out across the vast masai plains.
Overnight at Wild Africa on FB basis
Day 5
Following breakfast and a sumptuous sleep, check out of Wild Africa and head towards the Ngorongoro Highlands, up the rift with opportunities to savour the spectacular view back down into Lake Manyara and beyond. This journey is all on tarmac road, passing through the town of Karatu (now booming since the construction of the road). Karatu is an interesting place and now has internet cafes and banks. So, if you need a convenience stop, this is the place. Coffee is pretty good too!
Continuing on to the gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this is the end of the tarmac road and where you will feel as though your safari has begun and why you are in a 4 x 4, after a brief stop for permit checks (all handled by your guide) and yet another convenience stop, if required. You will skirt the rim of the Crater (saving this marvel for later!), stopping for photos, drive down off the western edge and onto the Serengeti Plains. These immense grasslands are intersped with acacia forest and scrub and river courses and hold resident herds of animals. Drive through the short grass plains in the direction of the Seronera Valley to arrive at the Sopa or Serena Lodge in time for sundowners and dinner.
Overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge on FB basis
Day 6
Following breakfast, you will head out with your guide for a whole day game drive in search of the predators and to once again see the amazing sight of the plains dotted as far as the eye can see with wildebeest, zebra and gazelle.
Overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge on FB basis
Day 7
Following breakfast, re-trace your steps back towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a picnic lunch, stopping at Oldupai Gorge Visitors’ Centre and palaeontological aea. The site curator gives visitors a brief history of the area, which is where the skull of ‘Zinjanthropus’ - early man - was unearthed. It is quite fascinating to see this if you are interested. Continue with your journey back to the Highlands to arrive at the superbly sited Ngorongoro Farm House in Karatu. The Farm House is exactly as the name suggests. Once a large coffee plantation, it has undergone major refurbishment and now offers superb accommodation in hand made red brick self contained private bungalows, with huge high ceilings, which give the room a lovely spacious and airy feel. The recreational areas include a souvenir shop, lounge, dining room, small bar and stunning gardens with a swimming pool.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Farm House on FB basis
Day 8
An early start with a picnic lunch. Descend into the crater for a ½ day crater tour to tick off any animals not yet seen and, hopefully, catch a glimpse of the elusive rhino. The crater is now the only place left in Tanzania where you will see this mighty beast and is a unique haven for mammals. Sightings of cheetah, lions and hyena are all possible, not to mention large bull elephants. Return to the Farm House for a relaxing late afternoon and overnight.
Dinner an overnight at Ngorongoro Farm House on FB basis
Day 9 - 14
Depart the Farm House following breakfast, drive back down the rift to Arusha Airport to connect with your flight to Zanzibar. On arrival you will be met by a driver who will drive you to Pongwe Beach Lodge. It is a lovely hotel set on the shores of the Indian Ocean on the eastern coast of Zanzibar. The food is delicious and it really is a great place to relax for six nights.
You are close enough to Stone Town to enjoy a trip round the old city, or a spice tour, all of which can be arranged by the hotel.
6 nights at Pongwe Beach Lodge on B&B basis
Day 15
Our driver will collect you after breakfast and take you back to Zanzibar Airport to connect with your short flight from Zanzibar to Dar, ensuring you are at Dar es Salaam in time to connect to the Gulf Air flight departing at 1635 hours.
Price includes
- Internal flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
- All park and entrance fees
- Private safari vehicle and guide
- All private transfers as specified
- Full board accommodation at all lodges on safari
- Half board accommodation at Breezes Beach Club
- B&B accommodation at Pongwe Beach Lodge
Price does not include
- International flights
- Tourist Visa for entry to Tanzania, currently $50.00 US
- Travel and Medical Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Telephone, fax and internet
- Additional excursions
- All additional meals or special requests
- Departure tax from Zanzibar, currently $20.00 US (this may vary)