Tanzania: Off the beaten track (11N) – Value

On Day 1 of your holiday, you’ll fly from Dar es Salaam’s international airport to the Selous’ Siwandu Airstrip (45 mins) and have a shared road transfer to Lake Manze Camp. Owned and run by Essential Destinations, this property boasts one of the best locations in the reserve! Its comfortable lounge and dining areas are set up within a classic timber-and-thatch lodge, with lovely lake views. Guests can also dine al fresco, and enjoy a few gatherings around the campfire. You’ll stay in one of the camp’s 12 walk-in tents, each of which offers a well-appointed bedroom with en-suite facilities including a step-up shower. Activities available comprise expertly guided game drives, walking safaris, boating safaris, and fishing! The Central Selous is home to all Big Five, in addition to numerous smaller mammals and over four hundred types of bird.

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, featuring three meals daily, two half-day game drives or one full-day game viewing with picnic lunch, and transfers between the camp and Siwandu Airstrip. One of the half-day game drives can be a boat trip instead.

After three nights at Lake Manze Camp, you’ll return to Siwandu Airstrip and fly to Msembe Airstrip (1 hr 40 mins). From here, you’ll have a shared transfer to Mdonya Old River Camp. This property is also operated by Essential Destinations. It’s situated at the heart of Ruaha, surrounded by acacia woodlands. The lounge and dining areas occupy one tent apiece, both open sided to provide excellent opportunities for watching wildlife! There’s also a fire-pit, where travellers enjoy swapping their safari stories. In common with Lake Manze Camp, Mdonya Old River has 12 guest tents, equally well presented. The camp specialises in vehicle safaris, in the company of a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Wildlife highlights here include plenty of big cats, huge herds of elephant and buffalo, and a lot of smaller predators and herbivores. And there are over six hundred bird species!

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, featuring all three meals daily, two half-day game drives or one full-day game viewing with picnic lunch, and transfers between camp and Msembe Airstrip.

Come Day 7, it’s time for your beach break! From Mdonya River Camp you’ll return to Msembe Airstrip and fly out to Zanzibar’s international airport (3 hrs 5 mins). A private road transfer from the airport brings you to Pongwe Beach Hotel. This property has a lovely location about halfway up Zanzibar’s palm-fringed east coast. A large timber-and-thatch structure houses a pleasant lounge, as well as a restaurant and bar. In the grounds of the hotel there’s an infinity pool, close to the beach. You’ll spend four nights in a beachfront room, enjoying a comfy bedroom, smart shower room, and shady veranda with gorgeous ocean vistas! Days are spent relaxing on the beach or, if you feel like it, getting active with all sorts of watersports and land sports. Fishing can also be arranged, as can an exciting variety of excursions (for examples, see below).

Board basis and activities:
Half-board accommodation, including breakfast and dinner. Activities at an additional cost include scuba diving, snorkelling, day trips to Stone Town, and visiting a spice farm and Jozani Forest.

On the last day of your trip, you’ll transfer privately from Pongwe to Zanzibar’s international airport, in time for your flight/s home.