11-Day Incredible Safari & Beach Holiday

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Tarangire National Park, named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. In places, the vegetation is quite dense, including elephant grass and acacia woodlands. Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population density of elephants compared to anywhere in Tanzania. Its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and distinctive location to visit. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire National Park than anywhere else on the planet. After lunch, drive to the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Dinner and your overnight: Eileen’s Tree Inn

After an early breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and on to Serengeti National Park with game viewing en-route. Serengeti is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value. It has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa and is home to the great migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November. They then swirl west and north after the long rains in April and May. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back. The Serengeti is where safari-goers come to truly experience an African safari. Late in the afternoon, you’ll arrive at your lodge.

Dinner and overnight stay: Embalakai Camp

After an early breakfast, drive out of the Serengeti and on to Ngorongoro Crater for a game viewing drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and is said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. Sometimes its described as the ‘Eighth Natural Wonder of the World’ and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Crater has achieved world renown status, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors each year. You are unlikely to escape other vehicles here, but you are guaranteed great wildlife viewing in a genuinely mind-blowing environment. There is nowhere else in Africa quite like Ngorongoro! It is one of the best places in the country to see the endangered black rhinoceros. The park is home to the entirety of the Big Five and is a particularly good place to see lions and Cape buffalo all year-round. A packed lunch will be served at a picnic site. Later, drive to your campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Dinner and your overnight: Eileen’s Tree Inn

Early morning after breakfast, we’ll depart for Lake Manyara National Park, an unspoilt paradise, best known for its abundance of birds and tree-climbing lions. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the park’s western border. To the east is the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara, which covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons. It is also home to thousands of flamingos during the rains. The name Manyara comes from the Maasai word ‘emanyara’, a popular plant which is used to build the protective enclosure around a family homestead (boma). The park’s vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to evergreen forest. On your exploration of the park, you may see giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalo, elephants and if you are lucky; lions lounging in the trees. After lunch, we’ll head back to Arusha in time for a flight to Zanzibar. On arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Marumaru Hotel.

Overnight at: Marumaru Hotel

After breakfast, you will have a short guided tour of Stone Town and thereafter head straight to the northern coast of Zanzibar known as Nungwi. It has the kind of white coral sand that seems to glow even after nightfall. Nungwi’s expansive coastline is wide open for swimming and snorkelling in some of Africa’s most pristine, reef-rich waters. It’s one of the rare Zanzibari beaches untroubled by severe undulations of high and low tides, making it perfect for all-day water activities. Deep-sea fishing near Nungwi is top-notch, with opportunities to catch kingfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna and enormous striped marlin from the Indian Ocean. There are plenty of activities on offer – walking tours, sunset cruises, diving excursions and parasailing to name a few – but all it really takes is a sunset sighting of traditional dhow boats bobbing in the sea to be captured by this enchanting African beach. You will spend 4 nights with dinner and breakfast included at the Z Hotel.

Dinner and breakfast at: Z Hotel

After breakfast and a bit of relaxation at the hotel in Zanzibar, depending on the time of your flight you will be transferred straight to the airport/ferry which marks the end of your epic adventure.