18 Day Rwanda, Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar

Day 9 Tarangire National Park – Lake Manyara National Park – Karatu

After breakfast, you will leave the Tarangire behind and continue to the Lake Manyara National Park, where you will spend the remainder of the day exploring this small, but beautiful park on game drives. The protected area encloses a large part of the alkaline Lake Manyara which is home to colonies of flamingos and other water birds. Apart from elephants you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, impalas and teeming groups of noisy monkeys and baboons in the forests near the lake. In the afternoon, you will leave the park and drive up the African Rift Valley. Soon, the higher lands will be reached and a wonderful panorama opens up.

Day 10 Karatu – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen.

The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water. In the late afternoon, you will reach your private camp at a remote campsite in the Serengeti National Park. Listen to the sounds of the wilderness while you sit around the camp fire and enjoy your privacy in the middle of the African bush.

Day 11 Serengeti National Park – Balloon Safari

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen.

The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water. In the late afternoon, you will reach your private camp at a remote campsite in the Serengeti National Park. Listen to the sounds of the wilderness while you sit around the camp fire and enjoy your privacy in the middle of the African bush.

Day 12 Serengeti National Park – Masaai Boma – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast you will continue your safari in the Serengeti National Park. In the Seronera Valley you might be lucky to see predators hunt as animals gather at the waters during the dry season. After lunch at a picnic spot you will slowly drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater.

On the way you will stop at a Masaai Boma. As soon as you have reached the crater you will have a superb view of the caldera. This approximate 20 km wide crater is part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 20,000 animals.

Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

Rise and shine! After an early breakfast you will drive down the steep path into the crater just. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest, unbroken and unflooded caldera in the world and it has an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. In addition to zebras and wildebeests, you might also spot the rare black rhino and other members of the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard.

The crater is also home to other animals such as hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, eland and more than 500 bird species. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha, where you will arrive in the early evening.

Day 14 Airport Transfer

After breakfast you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport from where you will fly to Zanzibar (flight at own arrangement). Arriving at Zanzibar Airport you will be greeted by your transfer driver and taken to the northern coast of the island. Along the way you will take part in a spice tour.

Spice Tour

While spices no longer dominate Zanzibar’s economy as they once did, there are still numerous spice plantations in the centre of the island, which make an interesting visit. Friendly and informed guides will escort you on a walking tour of the spice farms, picking bunches of leaves, fruit and twigs from bushes and trees, inviting you to smell or taste them to guess what they are.
Almost all the ingredients of the average kitchen spice rack can be found on this tour. Local children weave small ‘gifts’ from palm leaves as they follow you around and will quickly scamper up a coconut palm to cut a fresh coconut for you.This is a great opportunity to find out why Zanzibar is known as the ‘Spice Islands’.

Day 15 – 17 Beach Holiday on Zanzibar

The following days are for you to enjoy at leisure. Different activities can be booked at hotel reception.

Day 18 Stone Town

After breakfast you will be taken to Stone Town, where you will take part in a tour through the town. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure.

Stone Town Tour

Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, is steeped in history and an outstanding example of cultural fusion and harmonisation. It was recently and deservedly recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.Wander around the fresh produce, fish and meat markets. Stroll down the famed narrow streets, lined with small shops. Visit the Palace Museum and the Old Fort on the seafront, the Anglican Cathedral and the old Slave Market.One of the most striking aspects of a visit to the town is its fascinating architecture, which consists of a hybrid mix of Arabic, Indian, European and African influences.

Day 19 Departure

After breakfast you will check out. During the course of the day you will be taken to Zanzibar Airport from where you can continue your journey.

This marks the end of your 18 Day Rwanda, Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar beach holiday tour