16-Day Fly-In Migration Safari, Pemba & Zanzibar

Overview

Tour highlights

• Fly-in safari with no long road transfers
• Three nights near the Moru and Simba kopjes
• Tented camp close to the Mara River in the north
• A week on Pemba Island, all-inclusive
• Stone Town city tour to close the trip
• Meals and drinks included throughout

1. Day 1 Arrival and a Quiet Lodge Near the Airport Stay Boutique lodge between Kilimanjaro Airport and ArushaMeals Dinner

   Your driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the short transfer to a boutique lodge on the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate, a quiet spot between the airport and Arusha. Before the safari begins, your host runs through the plan with you, from flight times to luggage limits on the small planes. Then the evening is yours to unwind with dinner and an early night.

2. Day 2 A Full Day to Recover Stay Boutique lodge between Kilimanjaro Airport and ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   A whole day with nothing to do is a rare thing on safari, and it pays off later. Sleep as late as you like, eat breakfast in the garden and let your body catch up with the time change. In the afternoon, repack into the soft bags that the light aircraft require, and ask the lodge about storing anything you will not need until day 8. Dinner is served at the lodge.

3. Day 3 Light Aircraft into the Serengeti Stay Luxury tented camp near the Moru Kopjes, SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight to the Serengeti. From the air you can see the plains stretch out below, dotted with herds and acacia trees. Your guide meets you on the ground and starts the first game drive on the way to camp. The luxury tents look out across the savanna, so you may see wildlife from your veranda before dinner.

4. Day 4 Moru Kopjes and Lion Country Stay Luxury tented camp near the Moru Kopjes, SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   The granite outcrops of the Moru and Simba kopjes are some of the best places in the Serengeti to find lions, which use the rocks as lookouts and shady resting spots. Spend the morning circling the kopjes with your guide, then return to camp for lunch and a rest in the heat. Head out again in the late afternoon, when cats begin to stir and the light turns gold.

5. Day 5 A Long Day on the Plains Stay Luxury tented camp near the Moru Kopjes, SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Take a picnic lunch and stay out from early morning until late afternoon. With no other vehicles to keep pace with, your guide can follow whatever the day brings, from a cheetah scanning the grass to elephants at a waterhole or herds of zebra and gazelle on the move. Return to camp at sunset for a drink by the fire and dinner under canvas.

6. Day 6 North to the Mara River Stay Luxury tented camp in the northern SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   A short flight carries you to the northern Serengeti, a landscape of rocky ridges and rolling hills cut through by the Mara River. Your camp here is a luxury tented camp, close enough to the river to make the most of your time. After settling in, spend the rest of the day on a guided game drive with the wind in your face.

7. Day 7 Waiting for the Crossing Stay Luxury tented camp in the northern SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Between about July and October, the migration reaches the Mara River, and herds of wildebeest and zebra gather on the banks before plunging across past waiting crocodiles. A crossing can come at any time, so your guide will choose a spot and wait patiently with you. In other months the herds are elsewhere, but the north is quiet and lovely, with lions, elephants and few other visitors.

8. Day 8 Flying Back from the North Stay Boutique lodge between Kilimanjaro Airport and ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Enjoy a last early drive along the river, then say goodbye to your guide at the airstrip and board the flight back toward Arusha. From the air, the Serengeti plains give way to the Ngorongoro highlands and then to farmland. Return to the same boutique lodge as before to collect the luggage you left behind and spend a relaxed evening before the next flight.

9. Day 9 Over the Channel to Pemba Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Fly from Arusha to Pemba, the northern island of the Zanzibar archipelago. It is hillier and greener than its better-known neighbor, with clove trees, mangroves and small fishing villages, and it sees far fewer tourists. Transfer to your beach lodge, where an all-inclusive plan covers meals and drinks for the whole week. Take the afternoon to swim and get your bearings.

10. Day 10 Slow Mornings on a Quiet Shore Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    After a week of early wake-up calls on safari, today has no timetable at all. Pemba’s beaches are rarely busy, so you can often have a long stretch of sand to yourself. Swim, read in a hammock or walk along the shore in the cool of the late afternoon. If you would like to plan outings for the coming days, the lodge team can talk you through the options.

11. Day 11 Snorkeling the Pemba Reefs Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    The waters around Pemba are known among divers for healthy coral reefs and clear water. Snorkelers can join a boat trip to a nearby reef to look for reef fish, turtles and corals in the shallows, while certified divers can ask about dives along the deeper reef walls. Ask the lodge which trips are part of your package and which are paid locally. Afternoons are free for the beach.

12. Day 12 Ruins and Island History Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Pemba has a long history of trade across the Indian Ocean, and ruins of old settlements and mosques can still be found on the island. A half-day outing with a local guide is a good way to learn how its mix of cultures came about. On the way, you pass through villages and clove plantations, which have shaped the island’s economy for generations. Back at the lodge, relax for the rest of the day.

13. Day 13 Mangroves by Kayak or Dhow Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Mangrove creeks wind along much of Pemba’s coast, and a quiet paddle or a sail on a wooden dhow is a lovely way to see them. Watch for kingfishers, herons and small crabs on the mud at low tide. If the water does not appeal today, a massage, a long lunch and an afternoon swim are all easy alternatives. Ask the lodge what is on offer during your stay.

14. Day 14 A Day Without Plans Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    With two more nights on Pemba, there is no need to fill the day. Spend it however feels right, whether that means one more reef trip, a long walk at low tide or an afternoon nap followed by a sundowner on the beach. It is also a good time to look back over your safari photos and write down the sightings you most want to remember.

15. Day 15 Final Evening on Pemba Stay All-inclusive luxury beach lodge on Pemba IslandMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Your last full day on Pemba. Keep the morning for a swim and a final look at the reef, then leave the afternoon free to pack and say goodbye to the lodge staff. As the sun sets, enjoy a quiet drink by the water and a farewell dinner. Tomorrow you fly south to Zanzibar for one more chapter of the trip in Stone Town.

16. Day 16 Short Flight to Zanzibar and Stone Town Stay Luxury hotel in or near Stone TownMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    A short flight takes you to Zanzibar. After checking in, join a guide for a city tour of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, past grand old buildings, carved wooden doors and spice warehouses. The town’s history draws on African, Arab, Indian and European influences. Spend the evening in Stone Town. Your stay ends here; we arrange the airport transfer for your flight home.

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