Tanzania Safari and Beach (12N) – Value

On Day 1 of your holiday, you’ll touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, receiving a VIP Meet and Greet. From here, you’ll travel to Rivertrees Country Inn via private road transfer. This property has a lovely location, at the end of one of Arusha’s prettiest tree-lined drives and on the banks of the River Usa. The main inn houses a homely lounge, with a veranda just outside, while the dining room and bar are found in an open-sided wood-and-thatch build. Rivertrees also has a massage banda, gardens, and a swimming pool, all perfect for fitting in a little relaxation before your safari! You’ll stay in a garden room, which features a double bed, twin beds, or triple beds, as well as a cosy seating area, en-suite full bathroom, and covered veranda with garden views. Some garden rooms interlink, providing an excellent option for a group or family.

Board basis and activities:
B&B accommodation.

On your second day, you’ll leave Rivertrees, bound for Arusha Airport via private road transfer. From here, you’ll catch a flight to Lake Manyara Airport. On arrival, you’ll be met by a private guide in a private vehicle – both will be with you throughout your stay in the Ngorongoro region. You’ll stop off in Lake Manyara National Park on your way to Mandhari Lodge, for the first of many guided game drives! This highly scenic park, with its vast expanse of water and spectacular Rift Valley backdrop, holds plenty of wildlife highlights, not least its tree-climbing lions and vibrant flocks of flamingo. You’ll also enjoy a picnic lunch, staff at Rivertrees having packed up a safari lunch box for you to take on your journey. After the drive, your guide will bring you to Mandhari. This is Nasikia’s newest property and it’s situated high up on the Manyara Escarpment. The communal lounge and dining spaces boast breathtaking views, and there’s also a bar, spa, and swimming pool! Guest accommodation here includes nine glass-fronted standard suites, offering gorgeous lake vistas. Come Day 3, you’ll head down into the Ngorongoro Crater for another privately guided game drive. This world-renowned feature is home to all Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – in addition to numerous smaller mammals and a wealth of birdlife. Mandhari offers highlands hikes too, as well as Tinga Tinga painting lessons, Swahili cooking lessons, and African drumming and dancing.

Board basis and activities:
Full-board accommodation, including all meals, and a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Day 4 sees you leave Mandhari Lodge, heading to Lake Manyara Airport via private road transfer. You’ll fly to the North Serengeti’s Kogatende Airstrip and transfer in a shared vehicle to Kaskaz Mara Camp. Positioned close to the River Mara, Kaskaz is a fantastic option for travellers hoping to see the famous river crossings of the Great Migration. The camp’s lounge and dining areas are found in a spacious mess tent, and you can also relax and dine al fresco. Each of the 10 tented suites offers a comfy bedroom, sumptuous lounge, well-appointed washroom with shower, and private veranda. The main things to do here are vehicle and walking safaris. If you visit during the period from July to October, you’ll be well placed to spot huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles, pushing up into the northern region of the Serengeti in their search for food. However, even outside this peak season there’s loads of wildlife – all Big Five, smaller predators and herbivores, and hundreds of birds, among them the majestic crowned crane. Hot air balloon safaris are also available, at extra cost.

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, including three meals daily, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, shared and scheduled morning and evening guided game drives, and transfers between camp and Kogatende Airstrip.

Now it’s time to hit the beach! You’ll travel from Kaskaz Mara Camp to the Serengeti’s Kogatende Airstrip via shared road transfer and fly out to Zanzibar’s international airport. Once you’ve landed, you’ll be transferred privately to Pongwe Beach Hotel. A YZ favourite due to its laidback atmosphere and beautiful setting on Zanzibar’s palm-lined east coast, Pongwe features comfortable lounge and dining spaces, a well-stocked bar, lush gardens, and a generously proportioned swimming pool! The accommodation category we’ve selected for this trip is the beachfront room, which includes a big bedroom, seating area, smart shower room, and shady veranda with fabulous ocean views. The hotel has easy access on to its beach, and you could while away a lot of time simply relaxing on the pristine sands and in the clear waters. If you wish to get active, watersports such as snorkelling and kayaking are possible, and you could hire mountain bikes and cycle all around the island! Excursions can be arranged too – to Stone Town, Ras Nungwi village, Prison Island, and Jozani Forest.

Board basis and activities:
Half-board accommodation, including breakfast and dinner, and transfers between the hotel and Zanzibar’s international airport.

On the final day of your bush-and-beach trip, you’ll travel from Pongwe Beach Hotel to Zanzibar’s international airport, arriving in good time for your flight/s home.