Fly-In Safari, Serengeti:

Tanzania and Zanzibar Holiday Packages

 
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This thrilling ‘Big Five’ fly-in safari to the Serengeti in Tanzania will take you by light aircraft across these endless plains to your secluded game lodge, offering some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Between June and August you may be fortunate enough to observe the seasonal wildebeest migration, but wildlife sightings are exceptional all year round.

Afterwards relax in your luxury beach resort on beautiful Zanzibar island, with its white sandy beaches and warm turquoise waters (or if you are diver, on Mafia Island). All our Tanzania and Zanzibar holiday packages can be tailor made to your needs.

  • Price: from £3,295 pp sharing + flights

  • No. nights: 9

  • Best Time: June to Oct; Dec to Mar

  • Deposit: 15%

  • Starts: Arusha / Finishes: Zanzibar

  • Reference Code: 2TA3

DETAILED ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Arrive in Arusha

You will be met at Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred 1 hour to 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: Fly to Serengeti

Transfer to Arusha Airport for your light aircraft flight to your safari camp in the great Serengeti (meaning 'Endless Plains'). Here you will be met and transferred to your lodge in this vast national park, with 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.

Note: As you will be flying in a light aircraft you must pack soft sports bags only, as rigid suitcases will not fit into the luggage pods. A baggage allowance of 15 kg (which includes your hand luggage) is strictly enforced for safety reasons. Excess baggage can be stored with our representative in Arusha.

Days 3 & 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 square 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: Fly to Zanzibar

Today transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Zanzibar.

You will be met at Zanzibar Airport and transferred 1 hour to your beach hotel on this beautiful archipelago. Check in and relax in your wonderful surroundings on this exotic East African spice island.

Days 6 to 9: 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 10: 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 light aircraft flights, transfers, park fees and game drives are included. International 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.