10 Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Vacation - Overland…

Day 1: Nairobi (Kenya) to Arusha – Tanzania

Our exciting Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Camping Tour kicks off in Nairobi, Kenya’s busy inland capital city. The first day will be spent driving south through rural Kenya headed for the Tanzania border.

The drive gives us the first taste of the Great African Rift Valley, a sweeping geographical spectacle that stretches over 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) across the Eastern part of Africa. It is a rift in the earth's crust created by the movement of tectonic plates, resulting in dramatic landscapes, a string of sparkling lakes, extinct volcanos, towering mountains, and the abundant wildlife which we will experience in the next few days. Depending on the weather, you may be treated to a view of Africa’s famous Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

Once border formalities are complete, we head to Arusha located at the foot of nearby Mount Meru. This lively town is the gateway to Tanzania’s popular Northern Safari Circuit. We will overnight in a comfortable centrally located campsite.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Arusha to Serengeti National Park (Seronera) – Tanzania

We are collected in smaller safari vehicles and travel to the world-renowned Serengeti National Park today. Serengeti is a sprawling landscape. Plains seem to stretch into eternity, host to the millions of wildebeest, zebra and other grazing animals that embark on their famous migration each year in search of fresh grazing. Woodlands and kopjes punctuate the scenery, their rocky outcrops serving as lookouts for lions and leopards. We will be staying at a tented camp in the central Seronera region of Serengeti National Park, which is renowned for its impressive lion population. The riverine forest along the Seronera River is also a haven for the more elusive leopards.

We will enjoy our first game drive through the park before heading to the tented camp. We will overnight in luxurious Meru-style safari tents with en-suite bathrooms. The camp has spectacular views, so the evening can be spent enjoying the comings and goings of nature from the comfort of camp.

• Included Activity: Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Serengeti National Park – Tanzania

Day 3 of our Tanzania Safari is devoted to exploring Serengeti National Park. We will embark on a full-day game drive, keeping a close lookout for the animals and birds that cross our path. See why Seronera is known as the 'Big Cat Capital of Africa' due to the number of big cats which thrive here. It is also one of the best places in the Serengeti to spot rhinos, and many other creatures like elephants, and huge herds of grazers like buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, and many antelope species.

After a full day encountering Serengeti’s wildlife, we make our way out of the park to a comfortable campsite in the village of Karatu not far away.

• Included Activity: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
• Optional Activity: Hot Air Balloon Safari (pre-booking essential)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater & Karatu – Tanzania

Today, our exciting Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday takes us to another of Tanzania’s natural marvels, Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongoro is all that remains of an ancient volcano, a caldera crater that drops some 600 meters (2,000 ft) into a giant natural amphitheatre which plays host to the densest large animal populations in Africa. Inside this natural fortress, you'll find a microcosm of African wildlife which we will explore in our safari vehicle.

After a memorable wildlife viewing adventure in the Ngorongoro Crater, we ascend back to the rim of the caldera and make our way back to the campsite in Karatu not far away.

• Included Activity: Ngorongoro Crater Excursion
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Karatu to Arusha – Tanzania

On day five we drive back to Arusha, via the scenic Great Rift Valley. We will stop to visit the village of Mto wa Mbu and get to experience the local market. The area is known for its rice crops and a distinctive red-coloured banana which grows here.

This evening we relax back at the comfortable campsite in Arusha and reminisce about our incredible Tanzania wildlife adventures in Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

• Included Activity: Mto wa Mbu Market
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Bagamoyo – Tanzania

Today our adventure-packed Africa Overland Camping Tour journeys out of the cool highlands of Tanzania, down to the balmy coastline of the Indian Ocean. We are headed for the town of Bagamoyo, just north of Dar es Salaam, where we will overnight in a comfortable campsite.

Bagamoyo town was founded in the late 1700s and served as an important trading port involved in the slave and ivory trade. Its history is reflected in the architecture which is a mix of Arabic, German and Swahili influences. Bagamoyo is also a major centre for the construction of the traditional wooden dhow boats which are a common sight up and down the Indian Ocean coast.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Days 7 & 8: Beach Resort, Zanzibar Island – Tanzania

Day 7 marks the start of the beach section of our tour. We make an early start, headed south to Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam. From here we catch a local ferry across to the exotic island of Zanzibar. Arriving in historic Stone Town, we catch our transfer, heading to the east shore where our beach resort is situated. Settle in and kick off your shoes for some laid-back beach time.

Day 8 of our Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday is free for you to explore Zanzibar Island at your leisure. Spend the day relaxing at the infinity pool or soak up some sun on the white sand beaches. Take a bicycle ride or try the optional water sports activities on offer, from snorkelling to fishing or scuba diving. Take a trip in a dhow sailing boat, explore the islands with a guide, or rent a scooter and set off on your own. Zanzibar is renowned for its idyllic tropical beaches, so unwind in paradise and go swimming in the clear, warm Indian Ocean waters.

• Included Activity: Zanzibar Island Ferry
• Optional Activities: Dhow Sailing Trips, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Turtle Sanctuary Visits, Village Tours, Jozani Forest, and more.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (x2)

Day 9: Stone Town, Zanzibar Island – Tanzania

Today we journey back south to Stone Town, once a major port on the slave and spice trade routes. Spice is at the heart of this beautiful island, and we make a stop along the way to visit a spice plantation. Take a guided walking tour of the plantations and villages to learn about the exotic spices that grow here and the workings of the modern spice trade. See how the farm workers climb trees in search of specific plants and get the chance to buy some fresh spices from the local farmers. After our spice tour, we continue south to Stone Town where we spend our final night on Zanzibar Island.

Stone Town is a labyrinth of old buildings and narrow alleyways built in the 1830s when Sultan Seyyid Said moved his capital from Muscat in Oman to Zanzibar. The coral stone buildings, with their ornately carved wooden doors, speak of an era steeped in Swahili and Islamic influences. We take a walking tour around Stone Town learning about its diverse cultures, dark history, and unique architecture. We also see where Zanzibar’s most famous export, Freddy Mercury, was born. Then you are free to sample the fresh produce and the many restaurants on offer.

• Included Activity: Spice Walk, Stone Town Walking Tour
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam – Tanzania

Spend the last morning of your safari exploring more of Stone Town to experience the colourful mix of cultures and styles in this quaint old town. Walk along the cobbled lanes and take in the vibrant atmosphere of the town, visit local markets, and sample the fresh seafood.

This afternoon we leave the seaside paradise of Zanzibar Island feeling relaxed and refreshed. Arriving back in Dar es Salaam our budget Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday comes to an end.

• Included Activity: Zanzibar Island Ferry
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Africa Overland Tour Note

You can do this budget Africa Overland Tour in the reverse order - Zanzibar Island & Tanzania Safari (North), if you prefer to start in Tanzania's Dar es Salaam and end in Nairobi, Kenya.

Wildebeest Great Migration Explained

Please note that the Wildebeest Great Migration is seasonal. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, seeing the Great Migration cannot be guaranteed.

The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1200 miles (1931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year. During certain phases of this annual trek the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season but the movement of these large wildlife herds varies from year to year.

Please talk to a travel expert from African Budget Safaris about seeing the Wildebeest Great Migration on your safari to find out more. Also, check out our detailed article about the Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara.