15-Day Luxury Safari, Zanzibar Beach Week & Stone Town

Overview

Tour highlights

• Seven nights on Zanzibar’s east coast
• Last night on the Stone Town side of the island
• Hot picnic lunch on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
• Two nights in a Serengeti tented camp
• Morning flight to Zanzibar for a full first beach day

1. Day 1 Arusha Arrival and Safari Briefing Stay Luxury hotel in ArushaMeals Dinner

   Our representative meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the transfer of about 50 minutes to a five-star hotel in Arusha. Once you have checked in, your safari manager sits down with you for a detailed briefing on the route, the lodges and what to pack in the vehicle. Afterward, make use of the hotel’s botanical gardens and swimming pool, or simply rest before dinner.

2. Day 2 Baobabs and the Tarangire River Stay Luxury lodge between Lake Manyara and KaratuMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drive about two hours to Tarangire National Park, known for its thousands of elephants and its huge baobab trees. In the dry months, wildlife crowds along the Tarangire River, the park’s main source of water when the rains stop. Expect lions, buffalo, zebras and impalas, and watch the birdlife, which ranges from ostriches and kori bustards to herons and starlings. Overnight at a lodge in the highlands beyond Lake Manyara.

3. Day 3 Fossils, Maasai Country and the Plains Stay Luxury tented camp or lodge in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Head west over the Ngorongoro highlands, then down to Olduvai Gorge. The museum there tells the story of the fossils and early stone tools uncovered in the gorge. You can also stop at a Maasai village on the way to meet a semi-nomadic family and see their homestead. Enter the Serengeti in the afternoon and game drive across the plains to your luxury tented camp.

4. Day 4 Big Cat Country Stay Luxury tented camp or lodge in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Give the whole day to the Serengeti. The park is famous for its predators, and your guide will spend the early hours searching for lions, cheetahs and leopards while they are still active. Large herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, topi, buffalo and hartebeest graze the open grassland. Lunch can be a hot meal back at camp or a picnic out on the plains, depending on where the sightings take you.

5. Day 5 Serengeti Sunrise, Crater Rim Sunset Stay Luxury lodge or camp on the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Eat early and use the morning for one more game drive in the Serengeti, when the light is best for photographs. Around midday, turn east and leave the park, still watching for wildlife on the way. The drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area takes about two hours. Check in on the crater rim and, if the sky is clear, watch the evening light fall across the caldera from your lodge.

6. Day 6 Crater Picnic and the Road to Arusha Stay Luxury hotel in ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Descend about 600 m (2,000 ft) to the crater floor after breakfast. Fed by water from the highlands, the caldera supports wildebeest, zebra, eland and hippos, as well as the rare black rhino. Lions, hyenas and jackals hunt here too. Enjoy a hot picnic lunch on the floor, then drive out in the late afternoon, stopping at a local village before continuing to Arusha.

7. Day 7 Morning Flight to the East Coast Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Take your time over breakfast, then transfer to Arusha Airport for a morning flight of about an hour to Zanzibar. A representative meets you on landing and drives you across the island to the east coast. Because you arrive early, the first beach afternoon is a full one: check in, have lunch and get into the warm Indian Ocean. Our local guide can arrange water sports for later in the week.

8. Day 8 Learning the Rhythm of the Tides Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Zanzibar’s east coast has a big tidal range, so the beach looks different every few hours. When the water pulls back, walk out across the flats and look for starfish and small fish in the pools. When it returns, the swimming is warm and calm inside the reef. Plan the day around the tide tables, which the resort can give you, and keep the afternoons for the pool.

9. Day 9 Out on the Water Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Today is a good day to try something active. Our guide can arrange water sports such as snorkeling on the outer reef, sea kayaking or a sail on a traditional wooden dhow. Snorkelers often see bright reef fish in water only a few meters deep. Certified divers can book dives through a local center. Come back for a late lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon in the shade.

10. Day 10 Jozani Forest or a Spa Afternoon Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    For a half-day away from the sand, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park in the middle of the island protects the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else. A boardwalk through the mangroves makes for an easy walk. Ask us to arrange the visit. If you would rather stay put, book a massage at the resort, if it has a spa, and let the afternoon drift by.

11. Day 11 Village Life on the Coast Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Life in the fishing villages along this coast follows the sea. At low tide you may see women tending seaweed farms in the shallows and fishermen bringing in the morning catch by dhow. A guided village walk is a respectful way to see daily life and ask questions, and we can set one up on request. Return to the resort for a quiet afternoon and a sunset drink.

12. Day 12 A Day Entirely Your Own Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    No outings, no alarms. Mid-holiday is a good time for a day with no plan at all, when the safari feels far away and the island has your full attention. Read a book from start to finish, swim three times before lunch, or take a long walk along the shore in the late afternoon. If there is one activity you have not tried yet, the guide can still book it for tomorrow.

13. Day 13 Last Full Day on the East Coast Stay Luxury beach resort on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Your seventh and final night on this side of the island. Use the day for a second reef trip or for favorite spots on the beach, then pack in the evening, as tomorrow you cross to the west coast. Before dinner, take a last walk on the sand as the light fades behind the palms. The quiet of the east coast is a good way to close the main part of the holiday.

14. Day 14 Spice Farm, Prison Island and Stone Town Stay Luxury hotel or beach lodge in or near Stone TownMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    After breakfast, drive west toward Stone Town. On the way, you can stop at a spice farm, where a guide hands you cloves, vanilla and fruit picked straight from the trees. Later, choose between a walk through Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a boat trip to Prison Island to snorkel and meet the giant Aldabra tortoises, sailing back at sunset. Both stops are optional, so tell us your preference.

15. Day 15 Short Ride to the Airport Meals Breakfast

    Your final morning starts close to the airport, so there is no early dash across the island. Enjoy breakfast and a slow last look at the ocean. Depending on your flight time, you may have the morning free to rest or repack. Our driver then takes you to Zanzibar International Airport for your flight home. If you would like more time on the island, ask us about extra nights when you book.

Questions about this safari