Cultural Safari & Zanzibar
- Duration:14 Days
- Destinations:Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Monduli and Zanzibar.
Highlight
Not many countries in Africa can offer the variety of wildlife, nature and cultures found in Tanzania. Explore some of the fascinating cultures in this safari mecca – from Bushmen to the famous Maasai Warriors. Get a glimpse into the culture and lifestyles of these local tribes. Escape to the exotic Island of Zanzibar to relax after your exhilarating Safari. This Cultural Safari is a beautiful blend of Tanzania’s culture, wildlife and beautiful tropical beach life.
Day 1: Arrival – Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Ambureni Coffee Lodge in Arusha for dinner and overnight. Settle into your accommodation, ready to start your safari proper in the morning.
Day 2: Arusha National Park
After breakfast you drive to Arusha National Park for a morning game drive with picnic lunch. This is one of the smaller national parks in Tanzania, but it has a rich variety of wildlife and landscapes. From the swampy Ngurdoto Crater and alkaline lakes to dense jungle and the towering peaks of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. This is also one of the places where you can see the Black-and-White Colobus Monkey very easily. In the late afternoon return to Ambureni coffee lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
Today starts, after breakfast, with a game drive in Lake Manyara National park. This park is known for its huge soda lake filled with pink-hued flamingos, large population of baboons, incredible birdlife and breathtaking views. You can see giraffes, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, flamingos and if you are lucky you spot a tree-climbing lion. In the late afternoon continue you drive to Manyara Wildlife Camp for dinner. Enjoy a night game drive after dinner. Discover nocturnal animals like porcupines, pangolin, aardvark and others. After the night game drive you return to Manyara Wildlife Camp for overnight.
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Today you go on a morning and afternoon game drive in the famous Serengeti National Park. If you want to spot the Big Five – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo- all in one park, the Serengeti is one of the best places to do so. The abundance of wildlife in this park is unmatched anywhere else in Africa. Depending which time of the year you visit this park, you can also witness the Great Migration. It’s an impressive experience to see all those hoofed mammals, followed by iconic predators, migrate in a clockwise circle every year. Late in the afternoon you return to Serengeti Bush Camp for dinner and overnight
Day 5: Serengeti
Another day of morning and afternoon game viewing in the Serengeti. With so many wildebeest, gazelles and zebras present it is no wonder the Serengeti is also home to 4,000 lions and 1,000 leopards. Apart from the Big Five the Serengeti boasts the cheetah, jackal, hyena, serval, aardvark, pangolin, porcupine, crocodiles, giraffe, python, black mamba, spitting cobra, ostrich, martial eagle, lovebirds and vultures, just to name a few. Enjoy this supreme game viewing and return to Serengeti Bush Camp in the evening.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
Explore the Serengeti for the last time during a morning game drive, then drive back to the camp for a hot lunch. After lunch, you continue your journey to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight. This lodge is located at the highest point on the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim and offers great views across the enormous crater.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Today you set off towards the Ngorongoro Crater for your last game drive. It shelters close to 30.000 animals including the Big Five. The crater teems with zebras, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, warthogs, baboons, elephants, flamingos, ostriches, hippos, cheetahs and a small population of the rare black rhino. The beautiful colours and dancing clouds make the crater almost surreal. Because of its natural beauty the Ngorongoro Crater is chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. In the late afternoon you drive to Lake Eyasi safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Monduli
This day will be full of culture, with interesting encounters with a local tribe. After breakfast, you drive to the Hadzabe Bushmen. This tribe hunt on wild animals with bow and arrows, eating roots, honey and wild fruits. You can join the Bushman on a hunting and gathering trip. Walk behind them and see how they shoot their animals by using bows and arrows, then see how they skin them, roast them and eat. After this fascinating experience and a lunch at the lodge, you drive to Monduli Juu. A Maasai guide welcomes you and leads you around a Maasai village where he introduces you to family members. You can communicate with them, see how they cook and dance and get a real insight into the way of life of the Maasai. After dinner the chief of the village will explain their culture and traditions and you can also share your stories with him. You can spend here the night (we provide some bedding for you if you sleep in the Maasai hut). It’s also possible to a nearby lodge for overnight.
Day 9: Monduli – Arusha
Early wake up today to milk the cows with the Maasai ladies. After breakfast you go fetch water with the ladies and learn how they carry the water buckets on their heads. Later you visit a traditional Maasai doctor and experience how he uses plants to cure different diseases. After lunch you drive to a local market in Arusha to buy some food that you can eat today. The owners of a Home Stay welcome you later this day. There is time for a shower and a little rest. During dinner time you can interact with this family and prepare dinner together. This is a great opportunity to learn about cooking African dishes. Dinner and overnight will be at a Home Stay. We choose a safe and clean home stay for you.
Day 10: Zanzibar
This is the last morning you spend with the family. After lunch you head off to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Next Paradise Boutique Resort for dinner and overnight in a beachfront bungalow.
Day 11: Stone Town
Explore the lively Stone Town today – the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. It is a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways that are a joy to explore. Discover the architectural gems, tasteful restaurants, churches, markets and gardens. There are plenty of interesting places to visit on a cultural tour, like the House of Wonders, Darajani market place, Sultan’s Palace and the Slave Market. The mix of Arab, Persian, Indian and European influences makes Stone Town absolutely unique. In the afternoon you go on a boat trip to visit Prison Island. This island was once used as a place where slaves were detained and later it functioned as a camp where people with deadly diseases were sent. Today the island is a nature reserve for giant tortoises and a place to see the ruins that once functioned as the prison. Dinner and overnight will be at Next Paradise resort.
Day 12 and 13: Zanzibar beach
These 2 days will be at leisure to relax or explore as you like. All meals and overnight will be at Next Paradise Boutique Resort. This resort is protected by a coral reef and set along a white sand, palm-fringed beach offering views of the Indian Ocean.
Day 14. Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to Zanzibar airport for your departure (this will depend on your departure time).
Price Include
- All meals and accommodations during the entire safari
- A very high quality safari land cruiser with pop up roof
- A highly experienced English speaking safari guide
- Unlimited mineral water during the entire safari
- All park fees for all the national parks
- Unlimited game drives
- All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- All transfers in the mainland and Zanzibar
- Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
- Meals and accommodations in Zanzibar are on half board basis
- AMREF flying doctors rescue cover
Price Exclude
- International flights
- Tips
- Drinks at the lodges
- Any other things not mentioned above