Cultural Exploration Zanzibar Safari Tour

A Warm Welcome to Africa!

After pick up, you'll continue on to the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge on the outskirts of Arusha. Operated by the local Maasai people, this luxury lodge blends western comforts with Maasai traditional architecture.

This evening you will meet your fellow guests for an information session with your tour guide followed by a Welcome Dinner that celebrates the unique flavors of the region. Held at the Lodge, this evening promises an unforgettable experience as we indulge in a menu featuring authentic regional dishes.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

Today is all about experiencing Maasai Life!

You'll spend your day participating in Maasai-led activities such as guided nature walks to learn about traditional medicines, spear throwing, handicraft lessons, and more.

Today offers a rare treat for visitors to Tanzania, as you'll have the opportunity to experience life among the famous Masai people who call Tanzania and Kenya home. You'll visit the Amini Life Masai Lodge, where you'll get a mix of both traditional Masai life and luxury accommodations.

Highlights of your day include:

Traditional lunch featuring plenty of meat and vegetablesA guided nature walk through Maasai territory to learn about various herbal remediesSpear throwing demonstrationSunset singing and dancing ceremony

You'll then stay overnight in your very own Masai hut, designed to be authentic while still retaining the creature comforts to which you've become accustomed. Feel the cool night air on your skin as you take a hot shower and fall asleep to the sounds of insects and night birds singing you to sleep.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

Enjoy Kilimanjaro National Park!

After an early breakfast, you'll embark on a scenic two-hour drive to Kilimanjaro National Park.

Upon arrival, you'll be taken to the western side of the mountain, navigating through lush forests to reach the Londorossi Gate at 2,100 meters, where your hike will commence. The trail ascends steadily over 1,000 meters through verdant tropical montane forests, teeming with diverse wildlife and bird species. With guidance from your expert, you might spot colobus monkeys, crested turacos, and more. This less-traveled western route is also a passage for big game migrating from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, and the distant rumble of elephants may occasionally punctuate the forest’s tranquility.

Your hike will lead you to the expansive Shira Plateau at 3,400 meters—a 500,000-year-old volcanic caldera now recognized as a World Heritage Site. Here, you’ll pause for lunch while taking in breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped Kibo Peak and neighboring glaciers.

In the evening, you'll return to Arusha for the night.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

After breakfast, you’ll depart from your Arusha accommodations for a scenic drive to Arusha National Park.

Your visit offers a range of flexible options to experience the park:

Game Drive: Opt for a half-day or full-day game drive through the park, where you'll explore landmarks such as the Momella Lakes and the Ngurdoto Crater, often referred to as 'Little Ngorongoro.'

Canoe Safari: For an additional cost, swap the vehicle for a canoe and embark on a guided safari on the Momella Lakes. Here, you'll have the chance to spot bushbucks, giraffes, hippos, and buffalo from a unique vantage point.

Walking Safari: For a more immersive experience, take a guided walking safari through the park's lush landscapes. As you trek, you'll encounter diverse wildlife including black and white colobus monkeys, zebras, buffalo, and a variety of antelopes. Keep an eye out for over 400 bird species, such as the Crowned Eagle, Lanner Falcon, and Levaillant's Cuckoo.

Feel free to mix and match these activities according to your interests, though please note that the canoe and walking safaris incur additional costs.

You’ll return to Arusha in the late afternoon, with a collection of memories and photos capturing the park's stunning beauty.

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After breakfast, you’ll embark on a scenic two-hour drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, passing through vibrant Masai villages and the iconic African plains that epitomize the continent's wild beauty.

Upon arrival in Tarangire, you'll start your game drive across a vast expanse of golden savannah surrounding the Tarangire River. This year-round water source is crucial for the region's wildlife, drawing large herds of elephants and various herbivores, including zebras and antelopes. The river is framed by striking acacia and baobab trees, adding to the park’s picturesque landscape.

Enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of the river, but stay alert—local monkeys might be eager to investigate your meal!

As you continue your safari, keep an eye out for predators like lions and leopards, as well as cape buffalo and numerous antelope species. If you're fortunate, you might even spot rare animals such as the greater kudu or fringe-eared oryx.

After a rewarding day in the park, you'll head to your accommodation to relax and reflect on the day's adventures.

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You'll depart from Tarangire after breakfast for the approximately three-hour drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Along the way, you'll pass bustling Masai villages and the vast, open plains that have become synonymous with images of Africa.

You'll enter Lake Manyara National Park. The park is truly a photographer's playground and offers some of the best game viewing in the world. You can expect to see many of Africa's best-known animals, with the tree-climbing lions being a particular treat. These proud predators lounge in acacia trees, practically begging to be photographed.

Bird watchers will find Lake Manyara an absolute delight, with a huge variety of birds on display in the park. Even the novice can expect to be amazed by large flamingo flocks, circling birds of prey, and the brightly colored lilac-breasted roller.

After your day's drive is done, you'll retire to your accommodation for the evening.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

Today, you’ll immerse yourself in the vibrant village life of Tanzania on an exciting Tuk Tuk tour. Over the next two hours, you’ll explore the local farming and market village of Mto wa Mbu.

Mto wa Mbu is a cultural melting pot, home to over 120 different tribes from across Africa. Your journey will take you past local farms, schools, kindergartens, homes, and bustling markets, offering a genuine glimpse into daily life in this unique village.

Your morning adventure will conclude with a delicious local lunch served under banana leaves. Experience Tanzanian cuisine with a variety of traditional dishes such as Pilau (spiced brown rice with meat), Makande (corn and beans stew), Ndizi Nyama (green bananas cooked with meat), and Ugali (a stiff porridge). If you're feeling adventurous, try banana beer, a traditional local brew. Bon appétit!

Following lunch, you'll visit a Maasai boma to gain insight into the rich and fascinating culture of the Maasai people.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

One of Africa’s last truly traditional bushman tribes, the Hadzabe have preserved their ancient way of life despite Tanzania’s rapid development. With a population of just 2,000, the Hadzabe offer a unique glimpse into the past, showcasing how life once was in Tanzania.

You will witness an authentic demonstration of Hadzabe hunting techniques, revealing the practical skills they use in their daily lives. This isn’t just a performance; it’s a vivid display of their methods for securing food, including how they use distinctive motions and animal body parts to lure prey within reach of their hand-crafted poisons.

After a late breakfast, you’ll embark on a drive around Lake Eyasi. While this shallow soda lake doesn’t boast the same wildlife diversity as national parks, it’s a great spot for birdwatching and spotting mammals, with occasional sightings of flamingos and hippos.

You’ll also have the chance to meet the Datoga people, primarily farmers and cattle breeders. This encounter provides further insight into the rich tribal culture of Tanzania.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

After breakfast, you'll set off for Ngorongoro Crater, often hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. As you take in the breathtaking view from the panoramic viewpoint, you'll quickly understand why this vast, verdant caldera has earned its stellar reputation.

Home to over 120 species of mammals, including the iconic Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the world's most coveted safari destinations. It's an exceptional place to spot the endangered black rhinoceros grazing on the grassy plains and to see large numbers of hippopotamuses wallowing in the cool waters.

From the comfort of your open-top vehicle, you'll have the perfect vantage point to observe and photograph some of Africa's most famous wildlife. The crater is teeming with predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, alongside a rich array of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It truly stands out as one of Africa's premier safari experiences.

After an exhilarating day of wildlife encounters, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before we make our way back to Arusha.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

Today, we'll rise with the sun to witness the breathtaking sunrise over the Serengeti, capturing a true 'Circle of Life' moment. As birds serenade the dawn, we'll search for leopards and lions on their morning hunts, immersing ourselves in the serene beauty of the Serengeti at daybreak. It's an unforgettable start to your day.

Afterward, we'll return to your campsite or lodge for a late breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Once you've packed your belongings and freshened up, we'll set out again at 10:30 a.m. for a full day of exploration. Depending on the season, we'll follow the trails of the wildlife, guided by your expert Shadows of Africa guide who will ensure you experience the very best of what the Serengeti has to offer.

Dinner and overnight in the heart of the Serengeti National Park

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After breakfast, we'll set off across the expansive Togoro Plains and navigate through the Mbuzi Mawe kopjes—unique small hills—enroute to the northern reaches of the park.

As we journey through the Serengeti, you'll experience a diverse range of landscapes, from wooded hills and rugged kopjes to the vast, open savannah. Keep an eye out for the full spectrum of wildlife, from the tiny dik-dik to the majestic elephants and towering giraffes.

Upon reaching the Kogatende region, you'll embark on an exciting search for the dramatic wildebeest migration and the elusive Big Five.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

After breakfast, we'll start our game drive around the Kogatende area, searching around the kopjes looking for carnivores and the large migration groups that will be preparing to cross the Mara River into Kenya.

Home to large numbers of hippos and Nile crocodiles, the Mara River is the last major obstacle standing between the Wildebeest Migration and the relative safety of the Masai Mara. If you're patient and a little lucky, you may even get to witness the death-defying crossing itself, where wildebeest and zebras brave the river's currents and crocodiles in an attempt to reach safety on the opposite bank.

Dinner and overnight in the heart of the Serengeti National Park.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

After breakfast, you will drive to the airport. You will fly back to Arusha full of wildlife memories.

The driver will meet you in Arusha and take you to the hotel for some rest before your flight tomorrow.

Overnight HB 4-star Lodge

Today is the last day of your Tanzania Adventure!

You can spend the day at leisure - either enjoying the pool and gardens of your hotel - or you can choose to make an easy village walk to learn a bit more about daily life in Tanzania.

You will be picked up by your guide and brought to the airport in time for your Zanzibar flight.

You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your Stone Town hotel. Enjoy this magical town and set off for a dinner in one of the many restaurants. You can taste traditional Swahili food or choose some seafood options. Vegetarian options are available too! Tonight the choice is yours!

Overnight Stone Town

Explore the winding alleyways in the morning, and don't forget to pick some fragrant spices as a souvenir.

In the afternoon, you will be picked up and set off for the famous beaches of Zanzibar.

On the way to the resort, you will see local villages and the picturesque landscape of the island.

Overnight Stone Town

Have a relaxing day - Soak up the sun, sip a cocktail under the palm trees, and explore all that this island has to offer!

You can add a tour on this day or enjoy water sports or diving, depending on the location options.

Overnight Stone Town

Have a relaxing day - Soak up the sun, sip a cocktail under the palm trees, and explore all that this island has to offer!

You can add a tour on this day or enjoy water sports or diving, depending on the location options.

Overnight Stone Town

Today is already your last day on this magical Island!

You will be picked up at your resort and taken to the Zanzibar airport in time for your international departure.