17-Day Kilimanjaro Hike, Safari & Zanzibar Honeymoon

Overview

Tour highlights

• Rainforest hike to Mandara Hut on Kilimanjaro
• Sunset walk among Lake Natron’s flamingos
• Waterfall hike through a Rift Valley gorge
• Olduvai Gorge and two nights in the Serengeti
• Eight nights on Zanzibar’s east coast

1. Day 1 Arrive in Moshi Below the Mountain Stay Hotel in MoshiMeals Dinner

   A driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the short drive to Moshi, about 40 minutes away. The town lies at the foot of Kilimanjaro, and on a clear morning or evening the snow-capped summit appears above the rooftops. After check-in, your guide gives a short briefing on tomorrow’s hike and makes sure your shoes and day packs are ready. Then the rest of the day is free.

2. Day 2 On Foot Through Kilimanjaro’s Rainforest Stay Country lodge near ArushaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Leave Moshi early for the Marangu Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. After registration, walk up through dense rainforest to Mandara Hut, the first camp on the Marangu route, which takes most people three to five hours. Listen and look for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the canopy. Lunch is a picnic on the trail or at the hut. Walk back down the same path to the gate, then drive to your lodge near Arusha.

3. Day 3 Resting Your Legs in Tarangire Stay Mid-range lodge near KaratuMeals Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner

   Rest your legs today with a game drive. Tarangire is about two hours from Arusha, and it is known for big elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Your guide follows recent sightings; giraffes, zebras and wildebeest are easy to find, while lions, leopards and cheetahs take more patience. Break at the picnic site above the Tarangire River for lunch, then keep exploring until you leave the park in the late afternoon.

4. Day 4 Down the Rift to Lake Natron Stay Lodge near Lake NatronMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   The drive north to Lake Natron passes through dry, open Rift Valley country and Maasai grazing land. After checking in and having lunch, walk out to the lake with a local guide. The shore is soft and can be slippery, but the water stays shallow far from the edge, so you can choose how close to go. The flamingos feed most actively around sunset, which is when you are there.

5. Day 5 A Waterfall Scramble, Then Back to Karatu Stay Mid-range lodge near KaratuMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Start early, before the valley heats up, for a hike of about an hour up a narrow river gorge to a waterfall. You cross the stream several times on the way, so wear shoes that can get wet. The cool spray at the end is a welcome reward. After the hike, drive back to Karatu through Maasai villages and Rift Valley scenery, arriving well before dark.

6. Day 6 Olduvai Gorge and Into the Serengeti Stay Tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Cross the Ngorongoro highlands toward the Serengeti and stop at Olduvai Gorge, where fossils of early human ancestors and their stone tools were found. A small museum tells the story. There may be time to visit a nearby Maasai village, too. Then enter the Serengeti with a game drive on the way to camp, watching for herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles, and the lions and cheetahs that follow them.

7. Day 7 A Day Without Walls Stay Tented camp in the SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Spend the whole day in the Serengeti, which covers almost 15,000 square kilometers. Choose a hot lunch back at camp or take a picnic and stay out on the plains. Your guide will look for predators at dawn and dusk, when they are most active, and for leopards draped on branches during the heat of the day. In the evening, listen for lions and hyenas calling around the camp.

8. Day 8 Down Into the Ngorongoro Crater Stay Mid-range lodge near KaratuMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Leave the Serengeti early for the Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic caldera about 600 meters (1,970 ft) deep and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the floor, look for buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, warthogs and elephants, as well as lions, hyenas and jackals. The crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to see endangered black rhino. In the late afternoon, climb out and drive to your lodge near Karatu.

9. Day 9 Manyara Morning, Zanzibar Evening Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, set below the steep wall of the Rift Valley escarpment. The park mixes forest, open woodland and an alkaline lake, and it is known for hippos, birdlife and tree-climbing lions. Watch for elephants, giraffes and baboons too. Around midday, leave the park for the airstrip and a light-aircraft flight to Zanzibar, where a driver takes you to your hotel on the east coast.

10. Day 10 First Morning on the East Coast Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Wake up to the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar’s east coast is known for long, white beaches and a slower pace than the busier north. The tide here moves a long way: at low tide the sea pulls back to reveal sand flats and rock pools, and at high tide the water returns for swimming. Spend your first day finding a favorite spot on the beach.

11. Day 11 Snorkel, Paddle or Windsurf Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    When you are ready for some activity, there are plenty of options on the water. Snorkeling and kayaking are gentle ways to explore the coast, while stand-up paddleboarding and windsurfing are good choices for couples who like a challenge. Ask the hotel what is best on the day, since the tide and wind decide what works. Return in the afternoon for a rest in the shade.

12. Day 12 The Story of the Spice Island Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Zanzibar has long been known as the Spice Island, and a guided tour of a spice farm is a pleasant half-day outing. You walk among plants such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and taste fresh fruit along the way. If you would like to go, we can arrange the excursion for you. Back at the hotel, the afternoon is free for the beach or pool.

13. Day 13 Through the Lanes of Stone Town Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Stone Town, the old quarter of Zanzibar City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a short drive across the island. Spend a day wandering its narrow lanes, looking at carved wooden doors, markets and old merchant houses, and stop for coffee or fresh juice. A guide can be arranged on request. In the evening, many visitors stay for a meal of grilled seafood near the waterfront before heading back.

14. Day 14 Out to Mnemba by Boat Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    For a day on the water, book a boat trip to the reef around Mnemba Island, off the northeast coast. The clear water there is a favorite for snorkeling, with corals, reef fish and, if you are lucky, dolphins. Certified divers can also arrange a scuba trip through a local dive center. The excursion can be booked on request. Return to the hotel in the afternoon for a lazy evening.

15. Day 15 Swahili Flavors and a Beach Dinner Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Island cooking blends African, Arab, Indian and European influences, and today is a good day to taste it. Try a Swahili curry, fresh octopus or grilled fish for lunch, along with tropical fruit. In the evening, enjoy a private dinner on the sand as part of your honeymoon touches, with lanterns and the sound of the waves. Ask the hotel about the best evening for it.

16. Day 16 One More Lazy Day Stay Boutique beach hotel on Zanzibar’s east coastMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Your final full day is for relaxing. Swim at high tide, walk the beach as the water goes out, read in a hammock or book a spa treatment if your hotel offers one. Take a few photographs of the beach as it changes through the day. Pack in the afternoon, then end the evening with a drink and dinner overlooking the sea.

17. Day 17 Last Breakfast, Then the Airport Meals Breakfast

    Take your time over breakfast and enjoy a last morning by the pool or on the beach. At the agreed time, your driver collects you from reception for the transfer to Zanzibar’s international airport and your flight home. If your flight leaves later in the day, ask us before you travel and we will check whether a late check-out is possible.

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