Serengeti Migration Safari and Beach

10 days from £3535pp plus international flights.

highlights

Superb safari and beach combination.
Good chance to see the annual migration from about December to March.
Wildlife viewing in famous reserves such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Your own private safari vehicle and guide.
Good quality, mid-range accommodation.
4 nights to relax on the shores of the Indian Ocean on Zanzibar.

This African safari is ideal for those wishing to experience Tanzania for the first time. It combines excellent game viewing in some of Africa's best known parks with a chance to relax on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. A combination not to be missed!

This prime wildlife safari takes you to Lake Manyara, with its herds of elephants, famous tree-climbing lions and flocks of pink flamingoes, and the vast Ngorongoro Crater, home to the highest density of big game in Africa. The Serengeti will probably be the main highlight of the trip, especially as your visit is timed to coincide with the annual migration, when tens of thousands of plains animals including zebra and wildebeest are on the move in pursuit of fresh razing pastures. This is one of the greatest natural spectacles on earth and will leave you with long-lasting memories.

At the conclusion of your safari, you fly to the legendary 'spice island' of Zanzibar. Your home is the lovely Shooting Star Lodge set on a glorious white sand beach on the north-east coast. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff friendly, and the views of the Indian Ocean picture perfect. Spend you days sunbathing, swimming and enjoying fresh seafood, enjoy a tour of a spice farm and learn how the island earned its name, or cast off your inhibitions and try your hand at kitesurfing - it's totally up to you! However you chose to fill your days this is the perfect end to your safari and beach holiday.

Itinerary

DAY 1: MANYARA

Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport, where you will be met and driven to Manyara. This is no ordinary drive as you'll be looking for and stopping to observe game along the way - an introduction to your African safari! You'll also stop en-route to enjoy a tasty picnic lunch. Your destination is the small tent camp called Isoitok. The host, Chris, and his local staff extend a warm welcome to all guests and you'll soon feel right at home. Lunch, dinner

DAY 2: TO SERENGETI, NDUTU

After breakfast in camp your journey continues to the Serengeti. Again there are opportunities for watching wildlife on the drive, and you'll be able to stop to view sightings as you wish, as well as to eat your packed lunch. Your drive concludes at Ndutu Safari Lodge, your home for the next three nights. Depending on your arrival time you may be able to set out on a game drive in the late afternoon, before returning for dinner followed by drinks by the campfire. Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 3: SERENGETI, NDUTU

A full day's game viewing in the Serengeti/Ndutu area. Serengeti is one of the best-known wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and symbolises the classic African safari. With more than one and a half million wildebeest, half a million Thomson's gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa, and this is your chance to see them! If you're here during the migration the scenes should be unforgettable, though wildlife watching is good year round in the Serengeti. Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4: SERENGETI, NDUTU

A second full day to explore the wildlife of the Serengeti as you enjoy a game drive in your 4x4 vehicle with your English-speaking driver/guide. You can spend the whole day out in the Serengeti, taking a picnic lunch with you, making the most of your time amongst the wildlife. You'll be back at Ndutu for sundowners in the bar, where a genet often makes a guest appearance, or round the fire as you watch animals by the nearby lake. Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater

DAY 5: TO NGORONGORO CRATER AND KARATU

You have an early start today as you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater for some excellent game viewing, with a lunch stop en-route. This vast crater has diverse habitats including forests and grasslands, and varied wildlife to match, including all of the Big 5. The animals here are accustomed to vehicles and you'll have excellent photographic opportunities. Your destination tonight is Country Lodge in Karatu, just a half hour drive from the crater. Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 6: TO ZANZIBAR

After breakfast you'll be transferred to Arusha airport for the flight to the island of Zanzibar, for the second part of your safari and beach holiday. A representative will meet you and drive you to Kiwengwa Beach on the north-east coast. Shooting Star Lodge is a true barefoot getaway, situated on a beach of fine white sand leading down to the sparking Indian Ocean. Unpack your bags.in your lovely cottage, which will be your home for the next four nights, then saunter over to the open air restaurant and bar to meet other guests. You're staying on half-board basis, so won't have to stir far for dinner! Breakfast, dinner

Take a dhow cruise while staying on Zanzibar

DAYS 7-9: ZANZIBAR

Three days to relax after your safari. Take life easy, enjoy a walk in the gardens or a stroll along the beach, soak up some sun and cool off with a swim in the rim-flow pool. You'll soon adapt to the slower pace of island life. If you feel more adventurous you can borrow a bike to explore the area, take a dhow cruise to Kiwengwa reef, go snorkelling or diving, and test your skills and nerve paragliding and kitesurfing. Staff are happy to arrange excursions to other parts of the island to see the red colobus monkey, tour a spice farm or spend time in the capital, Stone Town. However you spend each day, you'll be glad to head back to Shooting Star for a delicious dinner. Breakfast, dinner

DAY 10: DEPART

Time to leave. After breakfast you will be driven back to the airport in time for your flight home. Breakfast

Price & Dates

Guide price from (pp sharing): £3535 (ex. international flights)

Price notes: This is a 2017 guide price based on 2 people sharing, travelling in high season January - March 2017. Please ask for prices for other dates.

Includes:

9 nights twin share accommodation - full board on safari and half board on Zanzibar; airport transfers; private driver/guide and vehicle on safari; game viewing activities; park and concession fees; 1 bottle of water per day in vehicle on safari; reference books; backup support on safari; internal flight Arusha-Zanzibar

Excludes:

International flights and taxes; visa;, meals not specified; drinks; optional excursions on Zanzibar; items of a personal nature

Getting there: We'd recommend flying into Kilimanjari International Airport and out of Zanzibar. Flights will cost from about £750+ depending on the season and availability. There is a discount for children under 12 years. We usually book flights for you.

Departure dates: You can take this trip at any time you want, but in terms of seeing the migration in the southern Serengeti it works best from about December to about March (depending on the rains).

places you will see

Lake Manyara National Park
This long thin northern park is dominated by a large shallow soda lake covered with flamingos and other birds. Also home to herds of elephants and tree climbing lions!

Serengeti National Park
Home to the incredible wildlife spectacle of the world’s largest migration, the Serengeti is an iconic safari destination. Superb for big cats, but also a vast range of other species.

Ngorongoro Crater & the Rift Valley
This area is dominated by the vast volcanic Ngorongoro Crater. See a fantastic amount of wildlife and explore the diverse and scenic highland habitat, where the Maasai still live a traditional lifestyle.