11-day Zanzibar to Serengeti (Camping)

Our tour starts early on day one as we head from Dar es Salaam to the busy ferry port and make our way across the channel to Zanzibar island.

Zanzibar was the base of the great 19th century explorers such as John Hanning Speke, Richard Burton and David Livingstone and once was a major trading centre of slaves & spices. Indeed the spice trade is centuries old: Zanzibaris have traded with the people of the Arabian peninsula for generations, plying the ocean in simple dhow sailboats relying on the annual trade winds for passage. The Arab influence is evident in the architecture and diverse street stall offerings of the capital, Stone Town.

This afternoon we have some free time to explore our new surroundings. Wind your way through the market alleyways, marvelling at the studded wooden doors and Arabic architecture, or pick a spot with a view of the ocean and enjoy a delicious seafood treat or tasty cocktail.

We spend the next two days exploring the Island and it’s many delights. Opt for a tour of the spice and fruit plantations en-route to the north of the island, where there is an opportunity to dive the colourful reefs, or snorkel to see the diverse sea life. The beaches are welcoming with views out across the azure ocean and perfect for relaxing and enjoying a swim in the warm waters.

After a last round of the colorful markets to ensure we have all the souvenirs we need, we make our way back across the channel to the mainland and thereafter to beach camp.

Tonight we enjoy our last night near the ocean before taking the northern road to the base of Kilimanjaro.

Leaving the busy city behind, we start to make our way to ‘safari country’. On our drive today, we pass through flax plantations and as we near the towering Kilimanjaro, weather permitting and on a clear day, we hope to spot the snow-capped peak of the highest freestanding mountain in Africa.

Tonight we stop at Marangu camp at the foot of Kilimanjaro. The camp takes its name from the surrounding area. “Marangu” means “full of water” in the local Chagga language, and the lush green surroundings demonstrate the truth of this.

Today we head to the safari capital – Arusha. Located at the half-way mark of the great Cairo to Cape Town route of days gone by (today the Pan-African Highway), Arusha soon became the base for safari goers in more recent years, due to its proximity to so many great wilderness and conservation areas.

We continue to our camp near Arusha at Meserani, where we explore the local snake park to learn more about these fascinating reptiles. We may also explore the Maasai Museum to learn more about this fascinating culture.

Pack your bags and grab your gear – we’re heading on safari today! We transfer over into the game viewing vehicle and meet our local guide who will take us on our Serengeti and Ngorongoro excursion over the next two days.

From Meserani we drive through Mto Wa Mbo and Karatu and then make our way up the outer Ngorongoro Crater wall, before entering the Serengeti National Park.

It is here that we head out in search of the great herds, predators and open savanna plains that have drawn visitors here for generations. Seek out the ‘great migration’ or search for the solitary leopard lounging on the branches of an acacia tree before heading to the open camp within the park.

We wake early to take advantage of the cool morning hours and head out to see which predators have been active while we slept. Enjoy the hues of the sunrise across the great Serengeti this morning.

On our return from the morning game drive, we pack up our gear and head back across the plains and to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where we will spend our next night. Our camp has fantastic views down into the base of the crater, and we enjoy these this evening in preparation for our game viewing tomorrow.

Another early morning greets us as we rise and prepare for our game drive in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater. We descend the steep crater walls and spot the herds as we travel down. Once at the base, there is much to see, with intense game viewing in store.

After our morning of excitement and thrills, we head back up the crater wall to our camp, and then Arusha where we enjoy a night at the camp bar, recounting the last day’s adventures around the campfire.

On our last morning, we pack up and heads to the Kenyan border. Along the way, we see Mount Meru on the outskirts of Arusha.

After border formalities, we make our way to Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi – where our adventure ends on arrival.