Tanzania & Zanzibar
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TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR Explore Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti & Zanzibar 14 Days starting DAR Es SALAAM AUG 1 – AUG 14, 2016 with Richard Mole TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR Trip Outline Tour Host – Richard Mole From stunning Indian Ocean beaches to the shores of Lake Richard Mole, director and Victoria, Tanzania is the jewel of East Africa. It is the founder of Byroads, designed this biggest country in the region, formed in 1964 by the union trip and will lead it as tour host of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Its neighbours include Kenya and facilitator. Born in Kenya, he to the north and Mozambique to the south, with multiple spent almost a decade (in the landlocked nations to the west that rely on it for access to 1990’s) designing and operating the coast. Tanzania’s natural beauty and sheer density of lodge-based and camping safaris plant and wildlife species make it a top destination for throughout east and southern eco-tourists. Almost a third of the country is protected, Africa. Africa is in his blood and he providing habitat for scores of species across 14 national is very much looking forward to parks. A fifth of Africa’s large mammals can be found returning to Tanzania! within its borders, including lion, hippopotamus, elephant, Over the past thirty years Richard has set up and led zebra, and wildebeest – and there are also over 1100 numerous tour programmes around the world including native bird species. Morocco, Spain, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, India and Our adventure begins in Dar Es Salaam and the next day Sri Lanka. He still consults to the travel industry and offers we fly north to Arusha, to meet our safari crew. Our first regular courses at Sydney’s WEA, focusing mainly on the wildlife destination is Tarangire National Park, the sixth architecture and decorative arts of western Islamic lands. largest reserve in Tanzania and often overshadowed by its A particular feature of his tours is the chance to see places more famous neighbours. It receives a fraction of the that others often miss (or simply don’t know about!), such visitors to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, yet the as Morocco’s Kasbah-studded Draa Valley, the pueblos game-viewing is often outstanding – particularly in July blancos of Andalusia – or Tanzania’s excellent Tarangire and August. We enjoy two game drives here before Park. Richard enjoys taking the time to make his own heading to our lovely lodge at Karatu. The next day we discoveries and his tours are structured to allow descend into Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact participants to wander off and ‘smell the roses’. But you caldera and one of richest wildlife reserves in Africa. can also be confident you’ll visit all the ‘must see’ Considered one of the best places to see the ‘Big 5’, we attractions – and more – with your safari guides providing spend a full day exploring the crater floor, seeing a plenty of information on the native flora and fauna. considerable variety of animal and bird species. Heading west towards the Serengeti we stop at Olduvai Gorge, where Louis Leakey discovered fossil remains that convinced most anthropologists humans originally evolved in Africa. We then spend three nights at a classic tented camp, a highlight of our safari. Located within the vast plains of the Serengeti, we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as we search for lion, elephant, numerous antelope species and more. Evenings are spent around the flickering campfire, listening to the whispering grasslands. The last leg of our journey takes us south to the fabled spice – and slave – island of Zanzibar, where we have three full days to relax and explore before returning to Dar Es Salaam for our final night. Itinerary - starts IN DAR ES SALAAM MON 1 AUG: DAR ES SALAAM – Upon arrival at Dar Es Salaam Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. TUE 2 AUG: DAR ES SALAAM-ARUSHA – The morning is at leisure. The National Museum is just a short walk from our hotel, so there should be time for an optional visit before we head to the airport for the afternoon flight to Kilimanjaro, and on to Arusha. Once we have settled in to our hotel there’s time to relax before an evening safari briefing. (B) WED 3 AUG: ARUSHA-TARANGIRE – This morning we drive towards Lake Manyara and the adjacent Tarangire National Park. We arrive at our safari lodge, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and then set off in the afternoon to explore the park. Herds of up to 300 elephant can be seen at this time of year, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. We return to our lodge for dinner and overnight. (BLD) THU 4 AUG: TARANGIRE-KARATU – In the morning we enjoy another game drive. Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem – a smorgasbord for predators – and it’s the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed. We return to our lodge for lunch and then drive to Karatu for the night. (BLD) FRI 5 AUG: NGORONGORO CRATER – The Ngorongoro Crater is a breath-taking natural wonder. Within its walls lies one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the world, including lion, zebra, wildebeest, eland, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle. The birdlife is equally spectacular, with both greater and lesser flamingo often sighted at the lake. We spend a full day here before returning to Karatu for the night. (BLD) SAT 6 AUG: NGORONGORO-OLDUVAI-SERENGETI – It’s a longish drive today as we head west to the Serengeti, stopping enroute at Olduvai Gorge, where early humanoid fossils were uncovered in the late 1950’s. We reach our classic tented camp, located in the heart of the grasslands, where we settle in for the next three nights. (BLD) SUN 7 & MON 8 AUG: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – We spend the next two days exploring the park, on extensive morning and afternoon game drives. The Serengeti offers arguably the most sensational game-viewing in Africa: great herds of wildebeest, zebra and buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of eland, topi, impala and Grant’s gazelle. But there’s more to Serengeti than large mammals: gaudy lizards and busy rock hyrax scurry along the surfaces of isolated granite koppies; over 100 varieties of dung beetle have been recorded; and 500-plus bird species can be seen – ranging from the ostrich and bizarre secretary birds of the open grassland, to black eagles that soar above the Lobo Hills. In the evenings, as we sit around the campfire, we can enjoy the liberating sense of space that characterises these great plains, stretching across sunburnt savannah to a shimmering golden horizon at the end of the earth. (BLD) TUE 9 AUG: SERENGETI-ZANZIBAR – Avoiding the long haul back to Arusha, we drive to the Seronera Airstrip and fly to Zanzibar, where we are met and transferred to our seafront hotel in the heart of the old Stone Town. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure to explore. (BL) WED 10 AUG: ZANZIBAR – The history of Zanzibar is inextricably linked to the rest of Tanzania, and Stone Town is rich in cultural interest. From slave markets to elaborate old palaces, it bears witness to a chequered past. More recently, of course, it was the birthplace of Freddie Mercury (!) and is best explored on foot. We enjoy a morning walking tour and the balance of the day is then free to make your own discoveries. (B) THU 11 & FRI 12 AUG: ZANZIBAR – There are many things to see and do in Zanzibar, and we now have ample time for optional excursions and activities. We can arrange a morning spice tour followed by a cooking lesson; alternatively head out in a traditional dhow for a full day excursion to Changuu Island, followed by a lazy afternoon on a sandbank. For wildlife enthusiasts, we may be able to arrange a half-day tour to Jozani Forest, home to a number of endemic species including the red colobus monkey. (B) SAT 13 AUG: ZANZIBAR-DAR ES SALAAM – All good things must come to an end and today we fly back to Dar es Salaam, where we’ll plan to head out for a final evening together. (B) SUN 14 AUG: DAR ES SALAAM – Our tour ends after breakfast. Transfers to the airport can be easily arranged from our hotel. (B) Prices & Inclusions Additional Expenses: All meals are included on safari. In Dar Es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar, allow around US$15-$20 14 Day Tanzania & Zanzibar for lunch and around US$20-$30 for dinner. In addition you should budget for any personal spending. Please also allow Provisional price: $7100 (per person twin-share) extra funds to tip your local crew and hotel porters (full details will be provided in the pre-trip field guide). Single Supplement: $1350 International flights & Transfers: This tour has been designed Price includes: Richard Mole as Tour Escort, local drivers/safari to fit with Emirates or Qatar Airways flights into Dar es Salaam. guides, transfers and transportation as detailed, 13 nights Note that Qatar Airways also flies into Kilimanjaro, so you may accommodation, meals as indicated. wish to consider this option. If you do this we strongly recommend an extra night pre-tour at the Arusha hotel (see Not Included: Visa fees, travel insurance (compulsory), below). You will save the cost of the Dar Es Salaam-Arusha international flights, DOMESTIC FLIGHTS in Tanzania , additional airfare, however you will require a private transfer from meals, drinks, optional tours, spending of a personal nature, Kilimanjaro Airport.