Safari Quick Facts

Today we drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn ore about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. Finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won't see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater

We head towards the Serengeti National Park. En route there is an opportunity to visit Olduvai Gorge. It is within this steep sided ravine that Louis and Mary Leakey made some of the world's most important archaeological discoveries in the 1950s. Here in a small museum we are able to see evidence of our ancestors that have been dated back 2.5 million years. After lunch we drive into the Serengeti itself and the rest of the afternoon is spent game viewing in the vast plains that are broken only by stands of acacia trees and the occasional kopje. In December, January and February we will normally meet the migration with large herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle. There are always plenty of resident animals, such as giraffe, buffalo, and elephant, and many large predators such as lion, cheetah, and leopard. We return to our lodge for the night.

We return to the Ngorongoro Crater for a further game drive here, an area with some of the most prolific game in all of East Africa. In the late afternoon we travel just outside of Ngorongoro Conservation Area to our permanent tented camp.

From our permanent camp we drive to Tarangire National Park, for more excellent game viewing. Although Tarangire is small by comparison to Serengeti it offers some excellent sights. Generally in the dry seasons Tarangire comes alive as wildlife and birdlife congregate on the Tarangire River, which is a permanent source of water. We return to Arusha for the night.

Today we fly to Zanzibar, and on arrival we transfer to our beach resort on the east coast of the island, a distance of about 70kms. . The remainder of the day is free to relax on the beach or by the pool.

Free time on the beach. At the hotel there is a water sports center. Diving and snorkelling are great options and give you a chance to explore the coral reef and the colourful marine wildlife. For those who wish to dive we would only recommend this to competent certified divers. Snorkelling is open to everyone who can swim! On the other hand, you might want to just to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach and the swimming pool! Another option is a spice tour; much of inland Zanzibar is dominated by the production of exotic spices and we can visit several farms with a professional guide, with the chance to taste and buy!

See day 8 for Itinerary

See day 8 for Itinerary

After breakfast we transfer to Stone Town, a journey of about 45 minutes. Here we can discover the delights of Stone Town, with its twisting, narrow streets, some beautiful old houses, the infamous former slave market - and some good possibilities for buying souvenirs.
An evening celebration dinner can be taken in one of the excellent local restaurants, enjoying the finely spiced food.

Free morning, afternoon transfer to the airport for our flight home via Nairobi.