Tanzania

GETTING THERE

• Flights to Nairobi to connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
• It is 46kms drive from Kilimanjaro Int Airport to Arusha town and 8km drive from there to Arusha Domestic Airport which services the Northern Safari Circuit
• Flights from Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar, to Arusha and visa versa
• Zanzibar Island is within easy reach of the mainland with flights and ferries departing for Zanzibar and Pemba Island daily

(All Airline carriers, air flights & routings are subject to change).

OVERVIEW

Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is known for its impressive population of wildlife,  most notably the Big 5. This vast land of 1.5 million hectares is world renowned for the annual Great Migration, fondly known as “The Greatest Show Of Nature” when millions of wildebeest, gazelles, zebra follow the rains seeking better grazing areas by migrating south in the Serengeti, then west and north, running the gauntlet from predators crossing the Mara River into the Masai Mara, Kenya before eventually returning to do “The Circle of Life” once again. Visiting in the right season will promise astonishing sites of this natural phenomenon.

With it’s large predator population and general game, the Serengeti offers wonderful game-viewing all year round and some of the most remarkable safari opportunities in the country. The variety of birdlife is a birder’s dream. It is thrilling to get up early, go on a morning game drive across the savannah just as the sun rises.  The animals are most active when it is cool. In the heat of the day, the wildlife tend to lie in the shade or drink from the nearby rivers or waterholes.  Elephants love to bathe and enjoy mud baths in the pools and river, home to countless hippo pods and crocodiles.  It is very peaceful to sit in an open 4×4 at the water’s edge and watch nature going about it’s business; relaxing, eating, hunting always with an eye out for it’s enemy.

Highlights

• The Serengeti hosts the Great Migration before it crosses the Mara River, Masai Mara, Kenya
• Millions of  wildebeest, zebra, gazelles trek across its plains annually in search of better grazing areas
• Big 5
• Amazing game-viewing and safaris all year round
• Grasslands, vast plains, rocky outcrops, rivers, volcanoes, and forests

Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A huge density of around 30,000 animals traverse the vast floor of the fertile caldera, the only intact caldera in the world. The crater is densely populated with wildlife including a thriving lion population, endangered black rhino, elephants and an impressive number of resident wildebeest, reaching an estimated 6,000. The scenery is spectacular, predators in abundance, it’s not unusual to see the Big 5 in one day.

Highlights

• One of the natural wonders of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The crater heaves with wildlife, home to the Big 5 and a huge variety of plains game
• Ngorongoro Crate combines seamlessly with the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara where you might see the tree climbing lions.  The lake is a haven for flamingo and other wild life
• Luxury accommodation perched on the rim offers breath taking views, putting you first in the queue to drive to the crater floor morning and evening

Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro commands an air of respect from the heights of its snow-capped peaks and glacier-ridden valleys. The slopes range from cloud, olive and montane forest, to grasslands and alpine desert. It is home to an array of wildlife. Kilimanjaro National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climbers flock to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent, all hoping to successfully navigate any of the seven trails, before summiting Uhuru Peak – the highest point on the rim of Kibo crater.

Highlights

• Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the continent
• Kilimanjaro National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Diverse terrain makes for an interesting array of inhabitants from bush babies to the Kilimanjaro shrew
• The Kilimanjaro International Airport near the park serves nearby towns such as Arusha
• A worthwhile addition to an itinerary including the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park has a high elephant population, baobab and acacia trees.

Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is a haven for flamingo, hippo, impala and a variety of birds.  The tree climbing lions are sometimes seen here.

Selous Game Reserve
A reserve outstandingly wild and beautiful, raw, remote and filled with wildlife.  It is one of Africa’s largest protected areas, nearly 4 times the size of the Serengeti. It lies in Southern Tanzania, attracts less visitors than it’s northern counterparts and is known as one of Africa’s last remaining wildernesses. The Rufiji River of the Selous Reserve creates a series of interconnected lakes and palm-fringed channels overflowing with crocodiles, elephants, water birds. Many of the lodges lie on the river and offer boat safaris along with game drives in open-top vehicles.

The Selous offers game drives, river cruises, guided walking safaris with overnight options at fly-camps where one can experience the thrill of being on foot in big game country in the company of armed rangers and expert guides. Off-roading is permitted, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the areas residents. The best time to visit the Selous is during the dry season, June to October when wildlife congregates around permanent water. Selous Game Reserve is the perfect add-on to a Zanzibar trip with flights departing from Dar es Salaam and landing in the reserve. If you would prefer to add on another safari area instead of a beach, Selous could be combined with Ruaha or Katavi, the other savannah parks in the Southern circuit, an adventure into the unexplored and wild Africa.

Highlights

• Less crowded than the northern circuit reserves of Serengeti,  Ngorongoro Crater
• Pristine and untouched landscapes—one of Africa’s last remaining wildernesses teeming with wildlife
• Largest faunal reserve in the world and one of the continent’s largest protected areas
• Off-roading is permitted in the reserve, allowing visitors to get closer to the wildlife
• Guided walking safaris in fly-camps (on request)
• Perfect add-on to a Zanzibar trip with flights departing from Dar es Salaam and landing in the reserve
• Combine Selous with Ruaha or Katavi, the other savannah parks in the Southern circuit, an adventure into the unexplored and wild Africa

Zanzibar
Imagine palm-fringed, sun soaked beaches, coral reefs, white-sailed dhows on an azure blue sea, spice markets, picturesque fishing villages and the old city named Stone Town – that is Zanzibar. Lazily lying a short distance off the Tanzania coast, it is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It provides the ideal place to relax, soak up the sun and take a break after an exhilarating safari.  Water sports provide fun for the adventure seekers.  A visit to Stone Town, a World Heritage Site with winding alleyways, bustling bazaars, mosques and exotic Arab houses will provide a cultural and sightseeing experience

Highlights:

• Relax on the white powered beaches and enjoy an indulgent beach holiday in luxury accommodation including spa
• Go on a Spice tour, taste local dishes
• Explore and walk the cobbled streets of the capital’s old quarter Stone Town, now a World Heritage Site, visit night markets and local food vendors
• Experience the colourful back-street markets and local flavours.
• Dar es Salaam, the travel hub to Zanzibar can be easily combined with safari parks such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

Arusha
Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania’s gems, it acts as an overnight stop for visitors en-route to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvi Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Manyara and mountaineers eager to hike Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru. It is a city of flavour, culture, nightlife, traditional markets, museums, and restaurants reflecting the multicultural nature of the city. Visitors can conveniently fly directly from Zanzibar, making the Arusha region an easy add-on to a Zanzibar itinerary or visa versa.

Highlights

• The gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Mount Meru, and Mount Kilimanjaro
• The area is easily accessed via Arusha Airport (offering direct flights from Zanzibar) and the Kilimanjaro International Airport (subject to change)
• An overnight stop on a coffee plantation before heading into the Serengeti