ABOUT 11-Day Big 5 Safari & Zanzibar - Mid -Range - Tanzania safari
Prepare for an 11-day journey that will bring you face to face with a diverse range of wildlife. From the majestic herds of elephants and ancient baobab trees in Tarangire, to the endless plains of Serengeti. Then, onto Ngorongoro for the elusive Big 5, Lake Manyara for the tree-climbing lions, and finally to the serene white sand beaches of Zanzibar!
- Duration: 11 Days
- Route: Tanzania safari
- Starts at: USD 4139
Highlights for 11-Day Big 5 Safari & Zanzibar - Mid -Range - Tanzania safari
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
Day 3: Manyara National Park
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Day 6: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 7: Zanzibar - Nungwi Beach
Day 8: Zanzibar, Nungwi Beach
Day 9: Zanzibar, Nungwi Beach
Day 10: Zanzibar, Stone town
Day 11: End of the Tour
Day 1: Arrival
>> Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Tales of Tanzania Transfer Driver and driven to your lodge where the remainder of the day is at leisure – rest in your room, enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool or explore Arusha and the surrounding areas.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
>> Today after breakfast you will drive to Tarangire National Park. The drive to Tarangire National Park is about 110
Km and takes about 2 hours from Arusha.
Tarangire National Park is a vast wilderness, renowned for its large herds of elephants, which can often be seen bathing in the Tarangire River. But it's not just elephants that make this park special. It’s also home to lions, leopards, and a myriad of bird species, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.
The park provides water not only from the swamp but also from the Tarangire River — and during the dry season, it’s the primary source of water for animals from the entire area, making for fantastic viewing.
You will enjoy a hot lunch at Tarangire Safari Lodge, followed by a thrilling game drive
As the day draws to a close, you'll be transported to the tranquil Burunge Lodge, where you'll comfortably spend the night. A delicious dinner awaits you, providing the perfect end to an exciting day of wildlife exploration.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3: Manyara National Park
>> This is another lovely park, lying roughly between Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. The park is home to a beautiful little groundwater forest, a unique ecosystem where you can spot a variety of wildlife. Blue Monkeys lots of giraffes, elephants, lions, leopard, And a very pretty lake dusted pink in the distance, with Flamingos.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Manyara, a scenic gem with a setting that Ernest Hemingway himself described as "the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.
As you journey through the park, be prepared for thrilling wildlife encounters. Spot hundred-strong baboon troops, blue monkeys, and out sized forest horn-bills in the high canopy, ancient mahogany trees, dainty bush-buck tread through the shadows, and out sized forest.
Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favoured haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants.
You will be driven to your next lodge in time for dinner.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
>> Today after breakfast your driver guide will pick you from your lodge and you will drive to the famous Serengeti.
You will visit a Maasai Village in the Ngorongoro Highlands (optional) where you will meet the Elders, Warriors, women and children and learn about the culture, beliefs and traditions of Tanzania’s last nomadic tribe
The central Serengeti boast those spectacular “endless plains,” dotted with acacia trees and the occasional rocky kopjes — What is special about Central Serengeti is the wide-open spaces, driving through the miles and miles of animals as far as the eye can see, riverine forest and leopard. There is nice chance of seeing leopard along the river valleys also the wildebeest spread over a large area (It can be visited at any time of the year)
You will have your lunch in the park thereafter continue with the game drive. In the evening you will drive to an authentic intimate tented camp set in a secluded part of the game-rich Seronera Valley in Central Serengeti.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
>> Experience the thrill of an early morning game drive, a unique opportunity to witness wildlife in their most active state. Departing the lodge before sunrise at 6 am, you'll have the best chance to spot the big cats returning from a night of hunting, as well as other fascinating creatures, in the cool morning temperature.
After the exhilarating game drive, you will be chauffeured back to the luxurious lodge for a leisurely breakfast. This will be followed by a pure relaxation break, allowing you to unwind in the comfort and serenity of your surroundings.
Later in the day, you will have the opportunity to capture the breathtaking beauty of the African sunset during an afternoon game drive. This is a perfect time for stunning sunset photos, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 6: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
>> Your day in and around Ngorongoro Crater could just be one of the most memorable of your whole safari. You’ll explore the crater rim and then drive down onto the crater floor, where the critically endangered black rhinos are the stars of an astonishing wildlife show.
You’ll almost certainly see large-tusked elephants, at least one of the Ngorongoro’s four lion prides, and wandering clans of spotted hyenas. It also just happens to be one of Africa’s most beautiful corners, a hidden world where you’ll be surrounded by steep, deep-green crater walls, a salt lake, forests and hippo filled waterways.
You will have your lunch in the Crater and then continue with the game drive. You will drive Ngorongoro Farm house lodge for overnight and dinner.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinks not included
Day 7: Zanzibar - Nungwi Beach
>> Today, after a delicious breakfast, you will be driven to Arusha/Kilimanjaro airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport, you will be met by a Tales of Tanzania driver, who will take you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace. Please note: Rates include a fixed budget for flights. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this."
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included
Day 8: Zanzibar, Nungwi Beach
>> After breakfast, you will join your guide for a Spice plantation tour. Zanzibar has been blessed with abundant graces including spices, in ancient days they called it the spice Island.
Embark on a delightful journey to the central part of the Island from your hotel, accompanied by our knowledgeable guide. With their deep understanding of the culinary world, they will unveil the secrets of spices, making your experience even more enriching and reassuring.
Prepare to be immersed in a sensory delight as you smell and taste a variety of spices including Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Nutmeg, Pepper, curry leaves and others. Each spice will transport you to a different world of flavours and aromas.
After the tour, you will enjoy a traditional meal that has been cooked using the spices and herbs you have just learned about, such as Cinnamon-spiced rice, Nutmeg-infused chicken, and Pepper-seasoned vegetables. Then drive to your hotel or resort where the remainder of the day is spent at leisure.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinks not included
Day 9: Zanzibar, Nungwi Beach
>> After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full-day safari blue excursion. Spend a magical day exploring the Menai Bay Conservation Area in a traditional wooden dhow. Enjoy swimming and guided snorkeling in the beautiful, clear waters (quality equipment provided). You can also watch the dolphins play.
Exploring the water provides maximum time for dolphin spotting. While sightings cannot be absolutely guaranteed, we can assure you of a most enjoyable day.
Feast on our delicious Swahili seafood barbecue followed by our gastronomic tropical fruit tasting. The tour price includes drinks and snacks throughout the day. You can also take a swim in the hidden, mangrove lagoon. Later in the evening, you will be driven back to your hotel.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinks not included
Day 10: Zanzibar, Stone town
>> ay is a leisure day. You can explore Nungwi Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Zanzibar - for a good reason. Unlike the rest of the island, Nungwi is blessed by not having to deal with high and low tides. It is the perfect place if you are looking to swim around the clock without having to walk far out to sea to chase the ocean mile away. Nungwi is also known for its party atmosphere, but it’s not to be compared with the typical party beach destinations elsewhere in the world.
You will transferred to stone town in the evening where you will stay for dinner.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included
Day 11: End of the Tour
>> Today is your final safari day. After breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on a 3-hour walking tour through Stone Town. Stone Town, with its labyrinthine streets and unique architecture, offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich history and diverse cultures of East Africa.
This historical tour will take you to significant sites, such as the former slave market and the house of the notorious slave trader Ahmed bin Tipu Tipu, providing a deeper understanding of the city's past.
Our journey begins at the former Slave Market Site, a poignant reminder of the past. We then move on to the central market, a vibrant and bustling food market that has stood for over a century. Here, you'll be captivated by the array of exotic fruits like Durian, mangosteen, karambola, jack fruits, and more, each stall a kaleidoscope of colours and flavours.
The tour will proceed visiting the house of the famous notorious slave trader Ahmed bin Tipu Tipu then the Arab Fort and House of Wonders.
- Time: 8 - 10 Hours
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks not included
- Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Exclusions
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)