The highlights of Tanzania
Itinerary
Day 1 & 2 – Overnight flight from the UK – Kilimanjaro airport
After your international flight, you will arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and be met by one of our team and transferred to your accommodation in Moshi, which will take around 45 minutes. The warm climate and cheerful people ensure a warm welcome, and you have the rest of the day to relax at your hotel and get on African time!
Day 3 – Coffee farm tour
After breakfast today, you will be collected from your accommodation in Moshi and drive into the foothills of Kilimanjaro, and – if it’s a clear day you might get a glimpse of the mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you’ll likely see local women balancing huge baskets on their heads and heading to the market and after around an hour you will reach the village of Uru. Here, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a member of the Coffee Cooperative and learn about how the community works together and thrives through sustainable coffee production. After a fresh cup of Tanzanian coffee, you’ll stroll through the lush coffee plantations.
Your enthusiastic local guide will tell you all about the process from growing the beans to brewing the coffee itself. You’ll get a chance to help out with the production where you will pick, dry, roast and grind the potent coffee beans before enjoying a fresh cup of Tanzanian coffee hand-crafted by you. Although Tanzanian coffee is renowned in Africa, not many people can say they have produced it themselves. This hands-on experience offers a glimpse into local culture while supporting a meaningful social project that empowers the community. After saying goodbye to your warm hosts, you will hike from the coffee plantations back to your starting point, where your lunch will be waiting for you. After lunch, you will return to your hotel in Moshi and enjoy the afternoon as you wish.
Day 4 – Elephants and Baobabs in Tarangire National Park
Your English-speaking private driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Moshi or Arusha. After a short briefing and explanation of what the coming days will look like, what to look out for and how best to spot wildlife, you’re off. After all, you are in the ultimate wildlife destination in the world. From Moshi or Arusha, you will be driven around 3 hours to your first national park, and it’s not just any national park! Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s hidden gems, known for its massive elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and diverse wildlife. The national park is popular with many wildlife fans as it is home to large herds of elephants. Unlike the more famous Serengeti, Tarangire offers a quieter, less crowded safari experience with stunning landscapes including rolling savannahs, woodlands and swamps.
Since you will be far away from civilization in the coming days, it’s a good idea to stop at a local supermarket to buy drinks and snacks for the journey. This is particularly useful if you spend a lot of time in the national parks. After lunch, it is finally time to go in search of the majestic grey giants…
After spending the whole afternoon in the game park and as the sun slowly sets, it is time to head to your tented camp for the night. You will spend the night in a lodge on the edge of the park, where you will sleep in your own safari tent. In the evening you will enjoy a delicious dinner in the on-site restaurant, where you may be lucky enough to see elephants passing by. Since you are staying in a tented camp inside the national park, where wildlife roams freely, around the camp, an armed ranger will accompany you in the evening to make sure you are safe.
Day 5 – Jeep Safari in Tarangire en route to the Serengeti
It’s an early start today, as you’ll be heading back into the national park for sunrise. This time of day is ideal for a game drive when the temperatures are cooler and many of the animals are at their most active, including elusive wildlife such as leopards and lions. You’ll continue exploring the park and looking out for wildlife with your guide who will tell you all about the game park and answer any questions you have – they know this park inside out. Lunch will be served at a picnic area in the middle of the reserve, eating among the wild animals is an experience you won’t forget! After lunch, you will go on another game drive and head towards the exit of the park. Since the drive to your next destination of the Serengeti is very long, you will be driven around an hour towards the cultural town of Mto Wa Mbu and continue your journey the following day.
Day 6 – Ndutu to Seronera
After two nights in the southern part of the Serengeti, you will be travelling to the central area of the national park, Seronera. Unlike other areas of the Serengeti, Seronera offers wildlife sightings all year, as many animals rely on the permanent water sources that are here. This area is also known as a big cat paradise, with large populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs and renowned as one of the best places in Africa to see leopards, thanks to the riverine woodlands.
You will spend the night at a small, eco-friendly tented camp surrounded by the beauty of the wilderness. As permanent construction is no longer allowed in the Serengeti, you will not see any fixed buildings disrupting the natural landscape. Here, too, an armed ranger will accompany you from your tent to the restaurant in the evening – after all, you’re sharing this wilderness with its wild inhabitants.
Day 7 – The Ngorongoro Crater: The Eighth Wonder of the World
Today, you’ll be saying goodbye to the Serengeti and travelling east, but don’t worry – the adventure isn’t over yet. You will enjoy one last game drive as you make your way back towards the same gate you entered. After three days in the wilderness of the Serengeti, it is time to move on, reaching the gate towards the end of the morning. As you continue your journey, the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater comes back into view – the largest caldera (collapsed volcano) in the world and is home to the world’s highest concentration of wildlife.
Around midday, you will drive down into the crater and see the wild animals appear before your eyes. The Ngorongoro Crater offers a particularly beautiful landscape with high crater rims (up to 600 meters in height difference) and one of the best chances to spot the endangered black rhino. However, you have to look closely as they are experts in hiding among the trees. In the late afternoon, you will be driven to your next safari camp, where you will spend the night in a luxurious safari tent, in the village of Rhotia just outside the reserve.
Day 8 – Back to civilization
Today, you will drive back to Arusha and rejoin civilization following your safari adventures in the African bush. You will have one night in Arusha to relax and explore your final stop on the mainland before you set off for the tropical shores of Zanzibar tomorrow.
Day 9 – Arrival in Zanzibar
You’ll be travelling from Arusha to reach Zanzibar, which is a flight time of around an hour. On arrival, you will be met at the airport by one of our friendly representatives, who will take you over to the East Coast. Driving through the lush green interior of this beautiful island, you’ll pass swaying coconut palms and dense banana groves, with glimpses of daily life in small villages as you go.
The east coast of Zanzibar is known for its incredible beaches, vibrant marine life and rich cultural heritage. We have selected some of the most beautiful beach hotels for you, with friendly and accommodating staff. The bungalow resorts are also located directly on the beach (see photos at the end of the page), so it’s the ideal place to end a special trip through Tanzania.
Days 10 & 11 – Free time in Zanzibar
We have not planned anything for the next two days, so you can spend them however you wish. Unwind and read a good book in your hammock, or have a dip in the calm azure waters. However, if you’d like to do something a bit more active, there are plenty of activities you can arrange at reception. Explore the underwater world on a snorkelling trip and discover the vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life with crystal-clear waters and warm sea temperatures year-round. For around $15, you can take a boat to a nearby reef, or spend a bit more ($80) and visit the tropical islands of Memba or Fumba, where there are some fantastic diving opportunities. One thing is for sure: you will not be bored during your stay in Zanzibar!
Day 12 – Overnight in Stone Town
After breakfast, you will be collected by our driver and say goodbye to this tropical paradise. If you would like a longer stay here, just let your travel specialist know. Next, you’ll be heading across the green island to Zanzibar City. Hundreds of years ago, Zanzibar City was the lively trading center between Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Today, it still has a mystical, Arabian charm, with its winding streets and warm, welcoming locals.
We have chosen a beautiful and authentic hotel in the middle of the old town, where you can easily spend hours strolling through the small alleys and browsing for souvenirs. If you’re a fan of coffee, ask for directions to the Zanzibar Coffeehouse, where they also serve delicious brownies. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of narrow alleys, but don’t worry, the friendly locals are always happy to help point you in the right direction. You can book a guided tour of all the historical sights and discover Zanzibar’s mysterious past, ending the day enjoying a delicious dinner at one of the local waterfront restaurants.
Day 13 – Departure from Zanzibar
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport, which takes roughly 10 minutes. From here, you can catch an international flight back to the UK, or head on to your next destination in Tanzania.
Accommodation
