Ecstatic 13 Days Dar Es Salaam to Nairobi - Arusha Vacation Package

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We depart the city early and make our way across the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, enjoying views of the vast vista en route. We travel in small specialized safari vehicles that enable us to have a more intimate view of wildlife. We spend two nights camping on the edge of the Reserve with time to explore the park on morning and afternoon game drives.

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We have the day to explore the Reserve in search for wildlife including the ‘Big 5’ – lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard.

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From the Mara we make our way back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we overnight.

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After crossing the border into Tanzania at the busy Namanga frontier we arrive at our destination, Arusha, in the late afternoon. Situated mid-way between Cape Town and Cairo, this is very much Tanzania’s ‘safari capital’ - a bustling city with colorful markets, shops, vehicles and people, all nestling in the shadow of the brooding Mt Meru (4556 m).

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This morning we transfer to smaller, more ‘game park friendly’ vehicles and drive west across the Great Rift Valley, passing through Mto Wa Mbo (‘mosquito creek’) and enter the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. We enter the park and drive around the ‘Crater’s rim and down onto the Serengeti plains. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry, this is home to an enormous variety of grazing animals, predators, and bird life. Flatter and larger than the Maasai Mara the Serengeti is simply huge - indeed the name derives from the Maasai word Siringitu – ‘the place where the land moves on forever’. We game drive to our designated (but non fenced) campsite for the evening where lion and hyena roam nearby, for an unforgettable experience.

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We drive out of the plains, game driving en route, and after lunch ascend the outer wall of the Ngorongoro Crater. We spend the night camping on the rim (you may need a jacket; it can be cold at night due to the altitude), where wildlife also roams free. At 326 square kilometers, the Ngorongoro is Africa’s largest intact caldera and a World Heritage Site. If the view from the rim (2400 meters above sea level) is spectacular, the site from the Crater floor (some 600 meters below) is equally enjoyable.

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We wake early and descend the steep dirt road of the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning of game driving in this spectacular wildlife haven. All the large mammals are present except giraffe (which cannot manage the steep slopes leading down onto the Crater floor). After our game drive we ascend to our campsite on the rim for a final view over the Ngorongoro Crater, pack up our camp and have lunch before retracing our steps to Arusha and our campsite at the Meserani Snake Park.

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This morning we wake early and head south via Moshi to Bagamoyo. If the weather is clear we will be afforded a view of the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak (5895 m). The quaint town of Bagamoyo was founded at the end of the 18th century and was one of the most significant trading ports along the East African coast. Our camp for the evening is situated close by to the palm fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.

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Leaving Bagamoyo we make our way south to Dar es Salaam. ‘Dar’ is Tanzania’s main port and is a hub of commerce and industry - a hot, humid and bustling seaport city of high rises, colorful markets and Arab influenced architecture on the coast, accessing one of the most important sea routes in the world. To most travelers, this city is the port of entry to the more exotic island of Zanzibar and other archipelago islands. We set up camp on the beach just outside of the city, take in the balmy Indian Ocean sea breeze, and prepare for our trip to Zanzibar.

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Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm fringed beaches; romantic winding cobbled alleys and lush tropical forests. You will find all these here – and an intriguing history. Zanzibar was the base of the great 19th century explorers such as John Hanning Speke, Richard Burton and David Livingstone and once was a major trading center of spices. Indeed, the spice trade here is centuries old: Zanzibaris have traded with the people of the Arabian Peninsula for many generations, navigating the ocean in simple dhow sailboats, relying on the annual trade winds for passage. The Arab influence is evident in the architecture and diverse street stall offerings of the capital, Stone Town. This influence can be seen right along the Eastern coast – the Swahili language itself is a result of the mixing of Arab and African languages and cultures over many centuries.

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Enjoy free time on Zanzibar and transfer to the northern beaches from Stone Town. Relax on the sun kissed beaches of Kendwa, in the northwest part of the island, take an optional diving trip to the rich colorful reefs or grab a snorkel and goggles to explore these from above.

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Browse markets or enjoy hanging in a hammock with a cocktail and a good book. The beach is a great place to catch up with the locals who will pass by selling their wares, offering henna tattoos and inexpensive massages. Round the day off with a sunset dhow cruise or chilling to the tunes from the nearby beach bars.

We have the morning to do any last-minute shopping or enjoy one last swim before catching the ferry back to the African mainland and Dar es Salaam where our tour ends.