DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Arusha

You will be met at Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred to your lodge situated outside the coffee-producing town of Arusha in the northern highlands.

Situated in the foothills of the twin peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, this was formerly an important administrative centre in German East Africa.

Day 2: Travel to Lake Manyara

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Arusha (with lunch for own account).

You will be met at your hotel at 12.30 for a briefing, before we leave Arusha and travel 3 hours to beautiful Lake Manyara in our safari jeep, with pop-up roof for game viewing and window seat guaranteed.

We travel through the picturesque villages of the Masai Steppe. At the town of Makuyuni we turn northwest and continue our journey up a scenic escarpment to our lodge perched on the edge of the Rift Valley, with views over distant Lake Manyara.

Heavily forested Lake Manyara National Park surrounds a shallow alkaline lake. Bird watching is the main activity as the vegetation is very dense, making spotting general wildlife difficult - but giraffe, elephant, impala, dik dik and the rare tree-climbing lion can be found here. Greater (white) and lesser (pink) flamingos and pods of hippo congregate where rivers run into the lake and there are large populations of olive baboons, vervet and blue monkeys.

Note: On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of similar quality. Luggage needs to be packed in soft side bags (sports bags are ideal) not exceeding 15 kg and 65 x 46 cm. Due to limited space in the vehicle, rigid suitcases are not suitable. Excess baggage can be left in Arusha and collected after your safari.

Day 3: Drive to Serengeti National Park

This morning enjoy a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park followed by lunch at our lodge.

Afterwards we drive 5 hours to our safari lodge in the great Serengeti (meaning 'Endless Plains'), with more amazing game viewing along the way.

Serengeti National Park and adjacent Ndutu Plains is a World Heritage site that hosts the largest overland wildlife migration in the world. Each October over two million wildebeest, accompanied by huge herds of zebra and gazelle, travel over 500 miles as they journey southwards from the open plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya and across the hills of the eastern Serengeti to graze on the rich grasses of the southern Ndutu plains. Here calving occurs between January and March, when over a period of a few short weeks they all give birth simultaneously to over 500,000 young - a truly spectacular sight. Depending upon the rains, around April the great migration starts once again, as these animals move northwards crossing the treacherous Grumeti River in the western corridor and the Mara River in search of sweet new grasses once again.

Day 4: Game Viewing

Today is devoted to game viewing in the famous Serengeti National Park and adjacent concessions - one of the greatest wildlife conservation areas in the world.

At over 12,000 square miles (30,000 sq. km), this vast game park is the size of Belgium and 20 times larger than the neighbouring Masai Mara reserve in Kenya, which it adjoins to form an enormous wilderness area through which animals can freely migrate, unrestricted by any fences. Lying between Lake Victoria to the west, Lake Eyasi to the south, the Great Rift Valley to the east and the Masai Mara to the north, the landscape of the Serengeti varies enormously - from the endless open grassy plains of the south, to savanna with scattered acacia trees in the centre, hilly wooded grasslands to the north and dense woodlands and clay pans to the west. All of this is interspersed with many small rivers, lakes and wetlands.

With more than 70 large mammals and over 500 other animal species, including great herds of wildebeest and zebra and the largest number of lions in Africa, outstanding game viewing is guaranteed on a scale only seen in East Africa. All the Big Five can be found here - elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard - as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, waterbuck, porcupine, jackal, serval, ostrich, eland, impala, dik-dik, bohor reedbuck, hartebeest, hyrax, wild dog, hippo, crocodiles, dwarf mongoose and so much more. As predators are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, this is when game viewing is usually the most rewarding.

Bird watching is also outstanding, with over 600 different recorded species. You can hope to see the kori bustard which is the largest flying bird in Africa, the majestic secretary bird, marabou stork, southern ground hornbill, white-headed vulture, African hoopoe, Fischer's lovebird, grey-breasted spurfowl, rufous-tailed weaver, as well as many different bee-eaters, owls, swallows, chats, cuckoos, eagles, kestrels, falcons and other raptors.

Day 5: Travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This morning enjoy more game viewing as we drive to our lodge set high on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, stopping en route for an included picnic lunch.

Stretching across 8,300 square km, the high altitude Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts a dramatic variety of volcanic landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeology. Its grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance of animals and also to the Maasai people, and has been declared a World Heritage site.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater

This morning enjoy a half-day tour into the basin of the Ngorongoro Crater, with game viewing and a picnic lunch on the crater floor.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact caldera, forming a spectacular bowl of about 265 square kilometres with sides up to 2,000 feet (600m) deep. Although some animals do move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests and spring lakes on the crater floor attract grazers and predators all year round, with up to 30,000 animals living in the crater - the highest density of big game found anywhere in Africa.

Prides of lions, endangered black rhino, hyena, buffalo, golden jackal, bat-eared jackal, black-backed jackal, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, zebra and many other animals can be found on the open savanna whilst elephants, monkeys, leopards and olive baboons live in the forests around the edge of the crater. You may see hippos and flamingos on Lake Masek and the abundant birdlife including the kori bustard, grey-crowned crane, hamerkop, marabou stork, ostrich, splendid starling, Egyptian goose and various lapwings. Cheetah also live on these open plains, but are difficult to spot due to their excellent camouflage. There are no giraffe in the crater, because there are no trees for grazing (only grasslands).

Day 7: Travel to Tarangire National Park

This morning we travel 3.5 hours from Ngorongoro to Tarangire National Park.

As we drive through the highlands and the Karatur district you will view wheat plains and coffee plantations, before journeying down the spectacular escarpment to Tarangire. After lunch at our lodge, board your safari vehicle and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park.

One of the least visited of Tanzania's northern game parks, this wonderful wildlife reserve is renowned for its huge herds of elephants and giant baobab trees. After lunch at your lodge, we travel into the park for an afternoon of game viewing. Afterwards enjoy the amazing spectacle of an East African sunset.

Day 8: Fly to Zanzibar

Today transfer 3 hours to Kilimanjaro Airport, where your tour ends. Connect with your flight to Zanzibar, where you will be met and transferred 1 hour to your beach hotel.

Check in and relax in your wonderful surroundings on this exotic East African spice archipelago.

Days 9 & 10: At Leisure

At leisure to relax and enjoy the gorgeous white sandy beaches of the Zanzibar Archipelago.

Activities vary depending on the size of your resort but usually include water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing. You can sail in a traditional Arab dhow or enjoy a full day catamaran excursion around the island, with snorkelling opportunities. Be sure to try their refreshing iced hibiscus tea and some of the many spices grown on this island.

The best scuba diving is around Mnemba Island in the northeast and Nungwi in the north. Deep sea game fishing is also based out of Nungwi, where there is a privately owned turtle aquarium.

A variety of day excursions are also on offer including a walking tour of historic Stone Town, a spice island tour, snorkelling at Prison Island where you can see giant tortoises, a cultural tour to Uzi Island and Swahili cookery lessons.

If you would like to see local wildlife, you can visit Jozani Forest in the south of the island, where you can see rare indigenous red colobus monkeys and walk along a mangrove boardwalk to enjoy its birdlife and flora, including some giant baobab trees. There is a Butterfly Centre and Snake Park outside the gate. From late July to mid November you can also take a boat ride to see migrating humpback whales.

Day 11: Fly Home

Transfer 1 hour to Zanzibar Airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, with full board whilst on safari. All transfers, park fees and game drives are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.