Road to Zanzibar

Visiting: Kenya, Tanzania

Road to Zanzibar

Mingle with the Chagga people, Lose yourself in Tanzania's secluded Usambara Mountains, Roam fragrant spice plantations, Relax on sun-kissed beaches in Zanzibar, Meet the children of Amani, Learn about village life in Mto Wa Mbu, Walk the busy streets of thriving Nairobi, Go on safari in the Ngorongoro Crater, Seek out the iconic Big Five in the Serengeti

Visit Africa and travel along the road to Zanzibar through Kenya and Tanzania. Cross vast savannas where magnificent herds of elephants roam, enjoy warm village welcomes in lush jungles and see where white sand and palm trees meet the deep, blue sea on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Discover Kenya and Tanzania's spectacular scenery, superb wildlife and fascinating cultures as you travel across East Africa towards the legendary and exotic spice island of Zanzibar.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.

You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If your flight arrives too late, we recommend that you consider arriving a day early and book a night's accommodation prior to the trip so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your kitty, insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.

Nairobi - which takes its name from a Maasai phrase meaning 'place of cool waters' - has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants, while markets and shops have most things you could want or need, as well as various arts and crafts from the region.

If you arrive early, you can head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum (author of Out of Africa) or Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village.

Optional Activities

Bomas, Nairobi - USD10.00

Carnivore Restaurant, Nairobi - KES2000.00

Karen Blixen museum, Nairobi - USD14.00

Langata Giraffe Sanctuary, Nairobi - KES1000.00

Nairobi National Park safari walk, Nairobi - USD20.00

Accommodation

Hotel (1 nt)

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Our journey to Arusha takes about 8-9 hours (300 km). The trip includes a border crossing from Kenya into Tanzania so be sure to have your passport handy.

Our campsite is in Meserani, on the outskirts of Arusha, and has flush toilets and showers.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

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Our journey to Mto wa Mbu takes about 1.5hrs.

A small village community, Mto Wa Mbu offers an excellent way to get a close-up look at life in an African town away from the main tourist trail.

Join the local community with a guided stroll around the farming areas - including visits to a kindergarten, milling machine, local homes and farmlands. This is a great way to have fun and find out more about the life of the locals. You'll also have the chance to look around the town and visit the local market. You may wish to indulge in a spot of shopping - wood carvings and local artworks are the specialities of this area.

Depending on the following day's schedule, we may stay here for the night or travel further west ( 40 minutes ) to the village of Karatu.

Stay at a campsite with flush toilets and showers.

Included Activities

Mto Wa Mbu - Village Walk & market Visit

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

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We rise early for our excursions to the Serengeti, leaving the truck behind and putting our camping and personal gear into six-person jeeps.

The wide, open plains of the Serengeti - green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, and home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators - are perhaps the quintessential image of Africa. Flat and rolling with long grasses and dotted with acacia trees, the plains get their name from the Maasai word Siringitu - 'the place where the land moves on forever'.

Game viewing in the Serengeti is amazing and as you camp out at night, don't be surprised to hear lions in the distance as you recount your wildlife sightings from the day. In normal circumstances, we would expect to see the Big Five during our stay in the Serengeti.

Our campsite is within the Serengeti itself so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep. The bush camp is quite basic with drop toilets and cold showers.

For an unforgettable experience, you might like to do an optional sunrise balloon ride over the Serengeti. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and must be arranged in advance. Please enquire when booking your trip to secure this optional activity.

If you have pre-booked this activity, you'll be picked up and driven to the launch site where you receive a safety briefing from your pilot and help inflate the balloon. You'll then float over the Serengeti as the sun comes up gaining an overview of the immensity of the Serengeti, seeing the abundance of wildlife in their early morning activity and sometimes descending to tree height for amazing wildlife photography opportunities. Upon landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast before being returned to your accommodation.

You'll notice many Maasai villages in the region of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. While it's of course fascinating to visit different cultures, past experience has shown that these villages exist primarily as tourism businesses offering somewhat contrived performances of their traditional ways. You'll be charged an entry fee of approx US$20-35 and the Maasai will try very hard to sell souvenirs to you. While many clients still enjoy the experience, others have found it artificial and uncomfortable. We recommend our travellers bypass this activity as our Kenyan colleagues observe that it negatively impacts the Maasai culture and travellers' perception of this culture.

Included Activities

Serengeti - Game drive

Optional Activities

Balloon ride, Serengeti National Park - USD500.00

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nts)

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We rise early for our excursions to the Serengeti, leaving the truck behind and putting our camping and personal gear into six-person jeeps.

The wide, open plains of the Serengeti - green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, and home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators - are perhaps the quintessential image of Africa. Flat and rolling with long grasses and dotted with acacia trees, the plains get their name from the Maasai word Siringitu - 'the place where the land moves on forever'.

Game viewing in the Serengeti is amazing and as you camp out at night, don't be surprised to hear lions in the distance as you recount your wildlife sightings from the day. In normal circumstances, we would expect to see the Big Five during our stay in the Serengeti.

Our campsite is within the Serengeti itself so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep. The bush camp is quite basic with drop toilets and cold showers.

For an unforgettable experience, you might like to do an optional sunrise balloon ride over the Serengeti. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and must be arranged in advance. Please enquire when booking your trip to secure this optional activity.

If you have pre-booked this activity, you'll be picked up and driven to the launch site where you receive a safety briefing from your pilot and help inflate the balloon. You'll then float over the Serengeti as the sun comes up gaining an overview of the immensity of the Serengeti, seeing the abundance of wildlife in their early morning activity and sometimes descending to tree height for amazing wildlife photography opportunities. Upon landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast before being returned to your accommodation.

You'll notice many Maasai villages in the region of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. While it's of course fascinating to visit different cultures, past experience has shown that these villages exist primarily as tourism businesses offering somewhat contrived performances of their traditional ways. You'll be charged an entry fee of approx US$20-35 and the Maasai will try very hard to sell souvenirs to you. While many clients still enjoy the experience, others have found it artificial and uncomfortable. We recommend our travellers bypass this activity as our Kenyan colleagues observe that it negatively impacts the Maasai culture and travellers' perception of this culture.

Included Activities

Serengeti - Game drive

Optional Activities

Balloon ride, Serengeti National Park - USD500.00

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nts)

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We start early today, exiting the Serengeti and heading for the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater (approx 3 hrs drive). After a picnic lunch, we descend onto the floor of the crater.

Make the most of our safari in the crater, spending between four and five hours exploring this area.

A huge, perfectly intact volcanic crater, Ngorongoro is home to some 30,000 animals including endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round and the photographic opportunities here are unrivalled.

Departing the Crater late in the afternoon, we return to our campsite at Karatu for an evening relaxing at the campsite's bar reliving our safari experience.

Our campsite tonight has flush toilets and showers.

With red dirt streets, green hills in the distance and plenty of smiling children, Karatu is a small town near the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Included Activities

Ngorongoro Crater - Game drive

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

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Our journey to Marangu (via Moshi) is 270 km and takes approx 5-7 hrs.

In Moshi we meet the very special kids of the Amani Children's Home. Amani supports street children, giving them a safe place to stay and educational and emotional support. Check out the new school, which has been built with the help of donors, and be inspired by this project which is changing these children's lives. For more information on this project visit www.amanikids.org.

Our camp ground in Marangu is basic with flush toilets and showers and situated on the lush green slopes of Kilimanjaro.

Included Activities

Amani Children's Home visit

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

 

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Take a walking tour of Mshiri Village, the base for the Village Education Project, and witness the day-to-day life of the Chagga people, long established as crop-growers on the fertile slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. Walk around their shamba (farm) and have the chance to sample the local Chagga food, which is very filling. For more information on the Village Education Project visit www.kiliproject.org.

Visit nearby waterfalls and stop to admire the view of the plains below. If the weather is clear, get a view of Kilimanjaro - the magnificent snow-capped mountain and Africa's highest peak at 5,895 m (19,340 ft).

It's then time to get off the well-beaten track and head into the remote Tanzanian mountains (265 km, approx 7 hrs).

The Usambara Mountains are a lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this area so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. The mountains are located in the north-east of Tanzania, between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean, and overlook the vast Masai steppe. They are wonderfully lush and green and the area has been dubbed the Galapagos of the plant world. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. As beautiful as the place is, its real jewels are the local people and villages.

Explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains and experience this area's gentle hospitality on a visit to some of its small communities. From our base, we'll organise a walking trip out to the beautiful Irente viewpoint. We recommend you pack some water and snacks in a day pack for the trip. On our way back, visit a local cultural and ecological project based at Irente farm and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Our base is the old German colony of Lushoto where we stay in the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa. Our campsite has flush toilets and showers.

Included Activities

Irente - walk & local lunch

Usambara Village Education Project visit, village walk & lunch

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)

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Take a walking tour of Mshiri Village, the base for the Village Education Project, and witness the day-to-day life of the Chagga people, long established as crop-growers on the fertile slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. Walk around their shamba (farm) and have the chance to sample the local Chagga food, which is very filling. For more information on the Village Education Project visit www.kiliproject.org.

Visit nearby waterfalls and stop to admire the view of the plains below. If the weather is clear, get a view of Kilimanjaro - the magnificent snow-capped mountain and Africa's highest peak at 5,895 m (19,340 ft).

It's then time to get off the well-beaten track and head into the remote Tanzanian mountains (265 km, approx 7 hrs).

The Usambara Mountains are a lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this area so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. The mountains are located in the north-east of Tanzania, between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean, and overlook the vast Masai steppe. They are wonderfully lush and green and the area has been dubbed the Galapagos of the plant world. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. As beautiful as the place is, its real jewels are the local people and villages.

Explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains and experience this area's gentle hospitality on a visit to some of its small communities. From our base, we'll organise a walking trip out to the beautiful Irente viewpoint. We recommend you pack some water and snacks in a day pack for the trip. On our way back, visit a local cultural and ecological project based at Irente farm and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Our base is the old German colony of Lushoto where we stay in the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa. Our campsite has flush toilets and showers.

Included Activities

Irente - walk & local lunch

Usambara Village Education Project visit, village walk & lunch

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)

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Our journey to Dar is 380 km and takes approx 9-11 hrs.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's old capital, means 'Haven of Peace'. Many of its buildings display Arabian influence and the port area is fascinating to visit with its ocean-going dhows and inshore ngalawas (out-rigger fishing canoes).

The camp is on the grounds of a hotel and has flush toilets and showers. Feel free to jump in the ocean and have a swim.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

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We catch a ferry to the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar, taking approx 90 mins.

Filled with idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar's rich history involves everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast invokes images of what the island was like back in the days of Livingstone.

The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town. The best way to see this exotic port town is on foot, exploring the bazaars, shops, mosques, palaces, courtyards and myriad intricate alleyways. When the sun is setting, why not enjoy a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront before trying one of the island's local seafood curries at one of the town's many restaurants.

Spend a night in Stone Town at a basic inn with double/twin-share rooms.

Drive to the spice plantations where you'll receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, as well as teas made with these spices. At the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to buy some of the locally grown spices.

On our second and third days here, we head to the northern beaches and enjoy white sand and sparkling blue sea - the Indian Ocean at its best.

Try snorkelling and diving, eat sumptuous seafood or simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.

Instead of the group catching the ferry back to the mainland together, this trip now finishes in Zanzibar at the Safari Lodge. Your leader can help you organise the return leg of the ferry if you wish which costs approximately 35USD

Ferries depart Zanzibar for Dar Es Salaam daily at 0730hrs, 0930hrs, 1230hrs and 1530hrs and take approx. 2hrs.

Please allow enough time to get back to the mainland if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar Es Salaam. Speak to your leader about the best way to do this.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Included Activities

Zanzibar Spice tour

Optional Activities

Dhow trip, Zanzibar - USD50.00

Prison island tour, Zanzibar - USD25.00

Scuba diving, Zanzibar - USD90.00

Snorkelling, Zanzibar - USD40.00

Accommodation

Bungalow (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt)

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We catch a ferry to the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar, taking approx 90 mins.

Filled with idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar's rich history involves everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast invokes images of what the island was like back in the days of Livingstone.

The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town. The best way to see this exotic port town is on foot, exploring the bazaars, shops, mosques, palaces, courtyards and myriad intricate alleyways. When the sun is setting, why not enjoy a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront before trying one of the island's local seafood curries at one of the town's many restaurants.

Spend a night in Stone Town at a basic inn with double/twin-share rooms.

Drive to the spice plantations where you'll receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, as well as teas made with these spices. At the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to buy some of the locally grown spices.

On our second and third days here, we head to the northern beaches and enjoy white sand and sparkling blue sea - the Indian Ocean at its best.

Try snorkelling and diving, eat sumptuous seafood or simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.

Instead of the group catching the ferry back to the mainland together, this trip now finishes in Zanzibar at the Safari Lodge. Your leader can help you organise the return leg of the ferry if you wish which costs approximately 35USD

Ferries depart Zanzibar for Dar Es Salaam daily at 0730hrs, 0930hrs, 1230hrs and 1530hrs and take approx. 2hrs.

Please allow enough time to get back to the mainland if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar Es Salaam. Speak to your leader about the best way to do this.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Included Activities

Zanzibar Spice tour

Optional Activities

Dhow trip, Zanzibar - USD50.00

Prison island tour, Zanzibar - USD25.00

Scuba diving, Zanzibar - USD90.00

Snorkelling, Zanzibar - USD40.00

Accommodation

Bungalow (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt)

!item

We catch a ferry to the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar, taking approx 90 mins.

Filled with idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar's rich history involves everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast invokes images of what the island was like back in the days of Livingstone.

The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town. The best way to see this exotic port town is on foot, exploring the bazaars, shops, mosques, palaces, courtyards and myriad intricate alleyways. When the sun is setting, why not enjoy a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront before trying one of the island's local seafood curries at one of the town's many restaurants.

Spend a night in Stone Town at a basic inn with double/twin-share rooms.

Drive to the spice plantations where you'll receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, as well as teas made with these spices. At the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to buy some of the locally grown spices.

On our second and third days here, we head to the northern beaches and enjoy white sand and sparkling blue sea - the Indian Ocean at its best.

Try snorkelling and diving, eat sumptuous seafood or simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.

Instead of the group catching the ferry back to the mainland together, this trip now finishes in Zanzibar at the Safari Lodge. Your leader can help you organise the return leg of the ferry if you wish which costs approximately 35USD

Ferries depart Zanzibar for Dar Es Salaam daily at 0730hrs, 0930hrs, 1230hrs and 1530hrs and take approx. 2hrs.

Please allow enough time to get back to the mainland if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar Es Salaam. Speak to your leader about the best way to do this.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Included Activities

Zanzibar Spice tour

Optional Activities

Dhow trip, Zanzibar - USD50.00

Prison island tour, Zanzibar - USD25.00

Scuba diving, Zanzibar - USD90.00

Snorkelling, Zanzibar - USD40.00

Accommodation

Bungalow (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt)

!item

We catch a ferry to the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar, taking approx 90 mins.

Filled with idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar's rich history involves everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast invokes images of what the island was like back in the days of Livingstone.

The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town. The best way to see this exotic port town is on foot, exploring the bazaars, shops, mosques, palaces, courtyards and myriad intricate alleyways. When the sun is setting, why not enjoy a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront before trying one of the island's local seafood curries at one of the town's many restaurants.

Spend a night in Stone Town at a basic inn with double/twin-share rooms.

Drive to the spice plantations where you'll receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, as well as teas made with these spices. At the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to buy some of the locally grown spices.

On our second and third days here, we head to the northern beaches and enjoy white sand and sparkling blue sea - the Indian Ocean at its best.

Try snorkelling and diving, eat sumptuous seafood or simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.

Instead of the group catching the ferry back to the mainland together, this trip now finishes in Zanzibar at the Safari Lodge. Your leader can help you organise the return leg of the ferry if you wish which costs approximately 35USD

Ferries depart Zanzibar for Dar Es Salaam daily at 0730hrs, 0930hrs, 1230hrs and 1530hrs and take approx. 2hrs.

Please allow enough time to get back to the mainland if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar Es Salaam. Speak to your leader about the best way to do this.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Included Activities

Zanzibar Spice tour

Optional Activities

Dhow trip, Zanzibar - USD50.00

Prison island tour, Zanzibar - USD25.00

Scuba diving, Zanzibar - USD90.00

Snorkelling, Zanzibar - USD40.00

Accommodation

Bungalow (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt)

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@variation

Key: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner