Family Safari Holiday

This afternoon we will take a walk around our lodge which is situated in the foothills of Kilimanjaro and comprises of 30 acres of arable land.  We will stroll through the lush gardens and visit the coffee plantation which today grows arabica coffee. We learn about how coffee is grown, harvested and processed.

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Dinner Swimming available

Today we head out to the small village of Materuni a short distance outside Moshi and set in a dramatic landscape with hills and deep valleys covered in tropical rain forest. You will get a taste of life of the local Chagga tribe who live here. From the village it is a short walk to a 150m high waterfall passing smaller waterways and irrigation systems on the way. You will also see farmland where local famers grow coffee, bananas and other fruit and vegetables. You can even take a swim near the waterfall.

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner Swimming available

Today will will visit Lake Duluti, a small crater lake located 11km east of Arusha. The dense forest around the lake is home to a variey of wildlife, reptiles and over 140 species of birds including giant kingfisher, fish eagle, darters and barbet. The canoeing will last a couple of hours on  the tranquil waters of the lake, allowing you the opportunity of getting close to nature in the serene surroundings. We will then continue onwards to Arusha and our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the Meserani Snake Park. Here you will learn about some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, from the Black and Green Mamba, Egyptian Cobra, Puff Adders and many more. If you choose you can even hold a real live snake! You can also watch the crocodiles at feeding time and maybe touch a baby crocodile. There is also a Masaai cultural museum to learn more about these local tribes and their way of life.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner Swimming available

Our adventure begins this morning as we drive toward the Great Rift Valley, one of the continent’s most geologically important features. We continue our journey on to the western escarpment and the dramatic setting of Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake that abounds with prolific populations of birds, hippos and elephants. On arrival at our lodge you may like to take an optional walk down to the edge of the lake with a local guide from our lodge to enjoy the surroundings with the local baobabs and prolific birdlife in the area. Alternatively you may prefer to relax and take a swim in the pool. In the afternoon we will embark on our first game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Despite being one of Tanzania’s smallest parks its incredible diversity has earned it status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and much of the 360 sq km of parkland is taken up with water, affording a spectacular variety of habitats along the shoreline for a dazzling concentration of animal and birdlife. The algae rich waters of the lake attract huge flocks of flamingos, while the rich vegetation and cooling pools attract elephant, hippo and buffalo in large numbers. Antelope, zebra, giraffe and baboons also graze along the lakeshore and the rare sight of tree-climbing lions has also been seen in the park sharing the branches with some of the 380 recorded species of birds found here.

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

Today we have a long but rewarding journey into the world famous Serengeti National Park. The scenery and views are spectacular as we traverse the Ngorongoro Crater and transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We pass several Maasai homesteads and then arrive at the Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959, anthropologists Dr and Mrs Leakey discovered the remains of an almost intact human skull named ‘Nutcracker Man’. It was here at this important prehistoric site, together with other startling discoveries, that have contributed to the furthering understanding of early human development. Olduvai Gorge and the fossils that it contains give a unique insight into the way that this part of the world has changed and humans with it. Accompanied by a local guide we visit Olduvai Gorge visitor centre and museum to learn more of this fascinating place and its secrets. Later today we will enter the Serengeti at Naabi Hill Gate. Serengeti is the Maasai name that means the “endless grass plains” and it is through these plains interspersed with granite outcrops that we travel to our lodge. Once in the Serengeti we’ll move slowly through the park, keeping a close eye out for game.

Overnight Comfortable Permanent Tented Camp Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Covering some 155000 sq km the Serengeti is the oldest and largest park in Tanzania. It is on these plains that we focus most of our attention over the next two days as we take early morning and late afternoon game drives in search of the ‘Big 4’ and so much more. Our exact movements are dependent upon the location and concentration of wildlife. We may head to the Retima Hippo Pool, the Moru Kopjies or perhaps the Seronera River area in search of leopard and lion. Cheetahs are often seen out on the Serengeti plains and during the annual migration hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra move north-westward, covering some 800 km from the central plains through the park’s ‘long corridor’, towards richer grazing lands and fresh water. These spectacular journeys are often fraught with danger as their long trek invariably draws the attention of the everpresent predators – lion, leopard, hyena and crocodile. This is nature in its rawest sense, where the struggle for survival is played out daily across these expansive plains.

Depending on the weather, there may be the possibility to take an unforgettable optional early morning balloon safari today, allowing you to see the Serengeti from a completely unique and different perspective. This can be pre-booked direct with the supplier before departure to guarantee a place. (Please see details below)

Overnight Comfortable Permanent Tented Camp Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This incredible natural amphitheatre presents us with the perfect setting for some remarkable game viewing and this morning we enter the caldera in search of big game. Not that we have to look far, as this setting provides a rich haven for herbivores and carnivores alike. The open plains thunder beneath the hooves of countless zebra, buffalo, black rhino and antelope, whilst predators like lion, hyena and cheetah thrive amidst this plentiful open-air buffet, and all against a stunning backdrop of dramatic cliffs and lush vegetation that present the perfect photo opportunities. After our morning’s safari we head to Karatu were we stay overnight.

Overnight Comfortable Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we may have the opportunity of visiting a village orphanage in Mto Wa Mbu before returning to Arusha for our onward flight to Zanzibar. The exotic spice island of Zanzibar, a land of sun-kissed beaches, Arabian dhows and swaying palms, where the rich smell of spice in Stone Town’s old quarter mingles with colonial and Arabic architecture to create a perfect getaway island. Zanzibar’s glorious scenery, fascinating culture and remarkable history makes any visit to the island a captivating experience, with beaches and reefs to explore, plantations to wander through and a rich history of conquests, slavery and pirates to investigate.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today we take a walking tour of Zanzibar’s ancient capital of Stone Town. We meander through a landscape of labyrinthine alleys and white washed houses, where the pungent aroma of coffee and spices permeate the town and the backstreets are filled with a cacophony of noise and colour. Much of the town was built on the back of trade and slavery, which at its height saw some 60,000 unfortunate souls processed through these narrow streets, to be shipped off to the far lands of Arabia, India and the overseas colonies of the European powers. The town still retains the feel of its Arab roots, many of the existing buildings dating back to the reign of Sultan Barghash in the 19th century. The end of the slave trade and a devastating cyclone saw the end of Zanzibar’s heyday. The island passed from Arab to British to African hands over the intervening years and neglect followed, until Stone Town’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Listings saw a return to something of its previous glory. Those who wish to learn something of Zanzibar’s rich history, visit the Sultan’s palace and see clove plantations established by the Sultan in the 19th century can take an optional ‘Spice Tour’ of the island, (including lunch).

Overnight Comfortable Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today we drive to Zanzibar’s north coast an enchanting community of fishing vessels, coral reefs and wild beauty.   The rest of the day is free to explore, or just relax on the beach.

Overnight Standard Bungalow / Chalet Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Our final day on the island has been left free for optional activities. It’s easy to spend time watching the fishermen bringing in their catch. Stroll along the beach admiring the idyllic vistas, or venture out by boat onto the colourful offshore reefs with mask and snorkel. The rich seas around the island teem with a colourful array of tropical fish and marine life, everything from sharks and turtles to tiny bright damsel fish. For anyone qualified these waters also present fabulous opportunities to scuba dive.

Overnight Standard Bungalow / Chalet Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today we drive back to Stone Town, where our tour ends.

Included meals: Breakfast