Responsible Tourism

Tanzania – Wildlife & Beach

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Tanzania - Wildlife & Beach

Highlights of this tour.

A varied itinerary highlighting Tanzania's incredible contrasts. Includes nature walks in the peaceful Usambara Mountains, Safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and ending with a visit to Zanzibar's colourful Stone Town and a few days relaxing on palm-fringed beaches.

Example of the itinerary.

Day 1 Transfer by luxury coach and 4x4 vehicle from Dar-es-Salaam to the Usambara Mountains and checking into Grant's Lodge (FB basis). Grant's Lodge is located approximately 20 km outside Lushoto in the Western Usambara Mountains. This spacious, colonial-era farmhouse is perched on a beautiful green hillside, a most relaxing and peaceful retreat. Anna, your host, will make you feel at home in their cosy and comfortable facilities, indulge with an overdose of the ‘good life' in Grant's private, wood fired sauna

Day 2 Grant's Lodge is very near the Magamba Forest Reserve, where you can enjoy nature walks ranging from 2 to 10 hours. The Lodge has developed several self-guiding trails and walks. Some of the more popular walks are the Waterfall, River Loop, and Mountain Top and Grant's Loop walk. The area is well known for it's rich bird life, so get your binoculars out! Overnight stay in Grant's Lodge (FB basis).

Day 3 A nature walk to Irente viewpoint, part of Tanzania's cultural tourism programme - entirely run by local people. The proceeds are invested in improvement of farming and irrigation systems to raise the local standard of living. Irente viewpoint, reached after couple of hours, provides spectacular views over Maasai plains almost 1000m below. On the way back you will visit Irente Farm for a lovely homemade lunch. Overnight stay in Grant's Lodge (FB basis).

Day 4 Transfer by 4x4 and luxury coach from Usambara Mountains to Arusha and checking into the Outpost, a small family run hotel with ensuite, cosy garden bungalows, famous for their evening buffet.. Overnight stay in The Outpost (HB basis).

Day 5 Transfer to Tarangire National Park, known for its vast number of baobab trees and permanent waters of Tarangire River. The latter ensures its high biodiversity all year round, e.g. huge herds of wildebeest, zebras, and elephants. Overnight camping at the Kigongoni campsite (FB basis).

Day 6&7 Transfer by 4x4 vehicle to the legendary Serengeti National Park. Serengeti in Maasai language means ‘endless plain', which is probably the best description for this flat plateau covered in extensive grasslands, interspersed with rocky outcrops called ‘kopjes'. The Serengeti is best known for wildebeest migration, however large herds of elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, impalas and antelopes can be seen all year round. It is also celebrated for its lions, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, large birds (e.g. ostrich) and little birds (e.g. superb starling).

Day 7 camping at Seronera campsite (FB basis) and day 8 transfer to Ngorongoro Crater and camping on Crater rim (FB basis).

Day 8 Early morning, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a spectacular caldera (inward collapsed volcano) with a diameter of 19 km and a depth of 600 m. It houses a great number of animals, including wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffalos, elephants, lions, hippos, a large flock of lesser flamingos and last but not least black rhinos. Transfer to Arusha and overnight stay in the Outpost (HB basis).

Day 9 Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar - offering palm fringed white beaches, pristine coral reefs and a colourful history believed to go back 2,000 years. It has always had powerful trading links with Arabia and Persia, providing a gateway for amongst others slaves, gold, ivory, wood, spices, glass and textiles. In Stone Town, you will check into Tembo House Hotel (or equivalent hotel, B&B basis). Tembo House has very much the feel of a traditional Zanzibarian house and is conveniently located in the heart of Stone Town, ideal for exploring its labyrinth of narrow streets. Visit the Beit el Ajaib (formerly Sultan's palace), the Old Fort, the Anglican Cathedral and Old Slave Market and you get a real taste of Stone Town's exotic history.

Day 10 Day trip to Jozani forest - home of the Red Colobus monkey - only found on Zanzibar. Jozani has an excellent nature trail to discover the impressive flora and fauna of this island. Some time left in afternoon to further explore Stone Town and maybe try Forodhani Gardens for an infamous Zanzibar pizza. Overnight stay in Tembo House (or equivalent, B&B basis).

Day 11 Transfer to the East coast with a spice tour along the way. Zanzibar is famous after all for its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices. The trip will be lead by Mr. Madawa, a well-known herbalist, who can introduce you to a variety of spices and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. On the East coast you will check into Shooting Star Inn (or equivalent accommodation, HB basis), an intimate & relaxed family run hotel. The bungalows are built to a high standard in traditional Zanzibari style with white lime washed walls, high-beamed ceilings and large windows

Day 12-14 Just indulge and relax under a coconut palm on Kiwengwa beach with spectacular views across the coral reefs and the azure Indian Ocean beyond. Try a bit of snorkelling or diving on Shooting Star house reef. Day 13, a trip to Nungwi, a village on the north coast of Zanzibar. You will visit a boat yard, where traditional wooden dhows are still manufactured by hand, a local handicrafts group and turtle sanctuary. Overnight stay at Shooting Star - Sea View Cottage (HB basis).

Day 15 Last day ? on Spice Island before being transferred to Zanzibar airport and catch a flight back to Dar. In Dar you check into The Beachcomber (B&B basis), conveniently located for Dar international airport with complementary airport pick-ups

The benefits you bring in taking this tour.

The Irente viewpoint walk is one of Tanzania's ‘Cultural Tourism Programmes', a programme that is run entirely by local people. All proceeds go to the local communities, either through wages or community project fees. The proceeds from the Irente Viewpoint walk are invested in the improvement of the farming and irrigation systems to help raise the local standard of living.

The accommodation used are all small-scale hotels and are important employers providing jobs for local people. They all buy their food and supplies locally to help the surrounding communities benefit economically from tourism.

The safari company that is used by BAOBAB travel is owned and run, for over 20 years, by a Tanzanian couple only employing Tanzanian guides, drivers & cooks. All food is bought locally. For the non-safari days, Baobab has made a Tanzanian tour guide available.

On Zanzibar the day-trips are operated by eco & culture - an non-profit NGO which is working to foster sustainable economic development on Zanzibar and to protect the environment

 

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