Safari to Tanzania

Itinerary Description

Day 0: Arrival, Tour Briefing and Resting

• You will be picked up from the airport in Moshi (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and be transferred to the booked hotel in Moshi Town
• Get the safari general briefing from the prepared safari consultant/guide
• Dinner and overnight stay at the booked hotel in Moshi Town

Day 1: Transfer by road to Mkomazi Game Reserve for game viewing

• Have an early breakfast at your hotel in Moshi and drive for Mkomazi
• This is quite a long drive with great scenery and a pleasant picnic lunch stop next to the PanganiRiver
• Shortly after lunch you turn off the main road and traverse around the South Pare Mountains to Zange Gate and into the Mkomazi Game Reserve
• Camp is set up overlooking the Dindera Dam, an excellent place to see animals drinking
• Dinner and overnight stay at campsite in Mkomazi

Day 2: Walking Safari, Accompanied by an Armed Ranger

• The day begins with a walking safari, accompanied by an armed ranger
• There is a real chance of encountering a range of larger mammals
• After lunch back at the camp you have the option of venturing out on a game drive, or just relaxing by the Dam to watch the prolific birdlife
• Have dinner and overnight stay at your booked accommodation in Mkomazi

Day 3: Walking or Driving Safaris, Depending on your preference

• Have an early breakfast and leave for game viewing
• Your guide and the ranger are very flexible, so you have the options of walking or driving safaris, depending on your preference
• The Mkomazi Game Reserve is listed as an Important Bird Area and the scenery is wild and dramatic
• There is little chance of encountering any other tourists, so you are likely to have the place to yourself
• Have dinner and overnight stay at your booked accommodation in Mkomazi

Day 4: Transfer to Amani Nature Reserve

• After a pleasant breakfast you will transfer to Amani Nature Reserve
• The scenery is breath-taking, with the Western Usambara Mountains looming up to the left and views of the Masai Steppe out to the right
• You will arrive at Tukai Lodge in time for lunch
• In the afternoon, there’s time to take a walk around the Botanical Garden and learn about the flora and fauna at the Visitors Centre
• In the evening, sit in the attractive dining area of Tukai Lodge and watch two- and three-horned chameleons running through the trees around you
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Tukai Lodge

Day 5: Explore Amani Nature Reserve for a full day

• There is a whole day to explore Amani Nature Reserve, and the activities can be tailored to suit your interests
• Take a drive through the tea estates, hike up to Amani Peak, or go on a cultural tour of one of the forest-fringed villages
• There are several walking trails in the Reserve, some passing attractive waterfalls and others including sites where rare endemic plant species, such as African Violets, can be found
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Tukai Lodge

Day 6: Transfer to the sleepy old colonial town of Tanga

• Transfer to the sleepy old colonial town of Tanga, and then on to the Amboni Caves, the most extensive cave system in East Africa
• You will have a tour through the caves guided by the caretaker, followed by a picnic on the banks of the nearby Mkulimuzi River
• It is then a short drive to the Galanos Hot Springs
• The clear green water forms a pool, deep enough for swimming
• The locals believe the water has healing properties, but the sulphur smell can be quite overwhelming
• Your final destination today is the intimate Tides Beach Lodge, overlooking a deserted stretch of beach a few kilometers south of Pangani
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Tides Beach Lodge

Day 7: Once again the day can be tailored to suit your interests

• Have an early breakfast at your lodge and continue with Tanga Tour
• If you can drag yourself away from your beautiful private chalet and the beach, then there are various water-based activities available which include snorkelling, windsurfing and fishing
• Sea kayaks can be used to explore the nearby mangrove creek, a good place to spot kingfishers and a host of other birdlife
• For those interested, Pangani itself is steeped in history and well worth a visit
• Have dinner and overnight stay at hotel/lodge in Pangani Tanga

Day 8: Game drive at Saadani National Park

• Have an early breakfast at your lodge/hotel and leave for Saadani
• Just over an hour’s drive south along the scenic coast road lies the recently gazetted Saadani National Park
• You will stay at A Tent with a View Safari Lodge, on the north-east boundary of the Park
• This is a peaceful retreat from which to explore this unique combination of beach and bush
• After lunch there is plenty of time to relax before venturing out on a walking safari
• Continue with a walking safari to explore the area of Saadani until evening
• Have dinner and overnight stay at your booked hotel/lodge in Saadani

Day 9: Safari drive to the Wami River

• Today you will leave Saadani National Park early in the morning after a breakfast on a safari drive to the Wami River, where a boat will be waiting
• Experience close proximity to hippo, crocodile and a myriad of exotic birds
• There is time in the afternoon to relax and enjoy the seclusion of your banda, elegantly perched on stilts and overlooking the Indian Ocean
• The bar and restaurant also have elevated views and seafood is a specialty
• Have dinner and overnight stay in nearby accommodation around Wami River areas

Day 10: Madete Marine Reserve for snorkeling then afterward drive to Dar es Salaam

• This morning you have the option of visiting the nearby Madete Marine Reserve for snorkeling
• Alternatively you can of course go on another walking safari
• After your final lunch it’s back in the vehicle for the return transfer to Dar es Salaam