Tanzania and Zanzibar, a Safari off the Beaten Track

Tanzania & Zanzibar, a Safari off the Beaten Track

Southern Tanzania contains the largest game reserves in Africa – the Selous and Ruaha National Parks – vast, pristine, wilderness areas where a remarkably few visitors are privileged to encounter wildlife almost on the scale described by the legendary early African explorers.

On a classic safari, designed to explore far from the routine ‘northerly circuit’, we take small charter bush flights to access luxury camps in remote, prime wilderness locations, undertake guided game drives in open 4WDs and experience the thrill of early morning guided walking safaris.

In the Udzungwa mountains we hike to a spectacular waterfall and search for endemic primates, and we complete our safari discovering the Swahili architecture, dhows and beaches of the island of Zanzibar.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

L, D included

After meeting at Dar es Salaam international airport in the morning, we transfer to the domestic airport for our scenic charter flight south into the remote Selous Game reserve, the largest in Africa. Landing on a bush airstrip, we immediately begin our safari proper, game-viewing from an open 4WD en route to our safari camp, ideally located on the banks of the Rufiji river, with individual Meru (or Hemingway) -style large tents (covered with additional wide canvas roofs) raised on wooden platforms, all with fans, private facilities and verandahs. A constant flow of animals coming down to drink at the river offers an ever-changing spectacle and hippos in the water provide a background of honks and bellows!

DAYS 2 & 3

B, L, D included

Named after the greatest of the late 19C ‘White Hunters’, Frederick C. Selous, the reserve is famous for its elephant herds and packs of African wild (or painted) dogs, the most endangered canines in the world. Highly skilled guides take us on game drives twice a day and, accompanied by an armed Park Ranger, out walking in the fresh early morning. A swim in the pool, a good book in the shade, or a siesta occupy the quiet middles of each day and guided boat trips on the river and lakes are an additional highlight of our stay – many crocodiles line the banks and kingfishers, white-fronted bee-eaters and African skimmers are readily observed. In the evenings we enjoy drinks round a campfire above the riverbank and delicious meals served by the light of hurricane lamps in the thatched lodge.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

Following a morning walk and a substantial bush breakfast, our second charter flight (typically in a small Cessna) takes us north to the little-visited Mikumi National Park, renowned for its herds of Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, eland, giraffe and zebra, always with their attendant predators stalking on the open savannah. Our small, personalised camp (the only one in the reserve) has classically designed safari tents raised on wooden platforms and set high on a rocky kopje, with good views of the game congregating round the Mwanamboga waterhole down below on the Mkata floodplain.

DAY 5

B, L, D included

Today we can choose between a restful day around the lodge (the swimming pool overlooks the waterhole) or a trip by road (3 hours each way, through fascinating Tanzanian villages and farms) to hike in the Udzungwa mountains. The area was gazetted as a National Park in view of the concentration of endemic species occurring in the forest, an isolated relic with links to Madagascar. Traditional taboos have protected the forest for thousands of years and on our walk beneath the rainforest canopy we encounter a cascading mountain waterfall, many endemic plant and bird species and possibly 4 species of endemic primates, including the Sanje Crested Mangebey and the Hehe Red Colobus.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

Another charter flight delivers excellent views as we travel west into the heart of the Ruaha National Park - it has been said with justification that “if you can only see one park in all of Africa, it should be Ruaha in Tanzania, where the combination of stunning scenery, rugged landscapes and animal variety is unmatched”. At over 20,000 sq km, the park is as large as Belgium, with impressive numbers of the major predators (lion, leopard, cheetah and hunting dog) and the rarer antelopes such as roan and sable.

DAYS 7 & 8

B, L, D included

Early starts give opportunities to observe remarkable numbers of game (including large herds of elephants and buffalos), study animal tracks, watch birds (particularly yellow-billed and marabou storks, Goliath herons, fish eagles and pelicans along the Great Ruaha river) and learn about the extraordinary baobab and Borassus palm trees which dominate the landscape. Our traditional tented safari camp is positioned on a wildlife corridor in an old sandriver bed and offers a very authentic experience, with armed askaris escorting us to the bar and dining areas in view of the animals passing through. Solar-heated outdoor showers, private verandahs and Italian cuisine ensure our comfort and as there is no electricity (deliberately), dining under the canopy of African stars is memorable.

DAY 9

B, L, D included

Following a final morning game drive in an open landrover, we fly to Dar es Salaam and then on a short hop to Zanzibar island. We have a private transfer to our nearby hotel and settle into our individual suites, equipped with airconditioning and fans and with shaded verandahs, ideal for watching the local dhows sailing by. There is time for a swim from the small private beach, or in the pool, before a seafood dinner accompanied by chilled white wine in the excellent restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean.

DAY 10

B, L, D included

We spend the morning exploring the old Stone Town of Zanzibar on foot, making our way through the labyrinth of lanes lined with whitewashed houses built from coral rag, many of them with splendid carved and brass-studded wooden doors. We see the Museum (containing Livingstone’s medical box from the Zambezi expeditions), the Palaces of the Sultans of Oman and Zanzibar, the Old Fort and the atmospheric market and enjoy a Swahili lunch flavoured with spices and coconut. Back in our hotel we can investigate the small botanical trail, take a kayak into the mangroves or relax on the beach.

DAY 11

B, L, D included

We sail on the hotel’s dhow across to Changuu island and go ashore to see the old slave prison ruins and the giant Aldabra tortoises originally brought here by Sultan Said Majid. We have the opportunity to snorkel on the coral reef before sailing to an uninhabited sandbank where we swim in the clear blue sea whilst a seafood barbeque is prepared for us.

DAY 12

B, L, D included

Zanzibar is often called the Spice Island and this morning we drive to the centre of the island for a spice tour, learning about (and tasting) cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, tamarind, mangoes, pineapples, star fruit and limes. We relax on a powder sand beach after lunch and this evening have a farewell dinner backlit by a spectacular sunset over the Indian Ocean.

DAY 13

B included

An early start for the short transfer flight to Dar es Salaam which connects with a day flight back to London.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 13 on a double shared basis

All meals with beer at lunches and wine at dinners as listed

All land transportation in a private vehicle as described except during free periods

All entrance and sightseeing fees as described except during free periods

All activities as described ie game drives and walks with specialist trackers and rangers

All motorboat and dhow trips as described

All internal private charter flights

Gratuities for hotel, camp and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

All visitors require a visa for entry to Tanzania. Visa applications are processed by Tanzanian Embassies and High Commissions (eg, for the UK, see the following website www.tanzaniahighcommission.co.uk). The costs start from £38.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Tanzania. However, you should see your doctor in good time (at least 2 months before you travel) for advice on ESSENTIAL malaria prophylaxis and any other immunisations etc that they may recommend. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.

Insurance

It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.