Tanzania·2 - 9 November 2023

Tanzania - A Safari in the Great Serengeti Savannah

See the Great Serengeti and all its' wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater, and magnificent ancient baobabs.

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Overview

Imagine waking every day to a saffron sun rising over the savannah plains that teem with wildlife. Tanzania’s tapestry of sweeping savannahs, ancient craters, and gigantic baobabs is home to Africa’s amazing diversity of wildlife. November is a fascinating month for a Serengeti safari with the return of the wildebeest from the neighboring Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, an annual migration across the great plains. You’ll witness the savannah rebound after the dry spell, giving way to the short rains and sun-filled days for the wildlife (and us) to soak in. It’s a spectacular time to witness the greatest wildlife show on earth. This specially curated über-luxurious safari is designed to fill you with awe at the beauty of Africa’s big game. In the 21st century, these animals can now, at last, hope to survive thanks to scientists and people who have dedicated their lives to conservation on the African plains. You can also relax afterward by including our post-trip journey to the spice island of Zanzibar to stay in abundant luxury on the Indian Ocean island. Doni Belau, founder of Girls’ Guide to the World, will go along to ensure your needs are met. As a special bonus, on this trip, thanks to our new partnership with Sherpani, the ethical luggage brand made out of plastic bottles, everyone who books will receive a package of three luggage & packing items, including a roll-on checked bag, a backpack/tote that fits neatly onto your checked bag and a surprise gift that you get to choose. It's all valued at $400!

Highlights

Luxury Safari in three diverse game parks

Luxury Safari in three diverse game parks

Seeing Africa’s big game in the wild, it’s far different than the zoo!

Seeing Africa’s big game in the wild, it’s far different than the zoo!

Witness the return of the million-plus wildebeest to the Serengeti

Witness the return of the million-plus wildebeest to the Serengeti

Stay in unique tented camps and lodges in the midst of Africa’s wildlife

Stay in unique tented camps and lodges in the midst of Africa’s wildlife

Indulge in ‘sundowners’ raising a toast to Mother Africa

Indulge in ‘sundowners’ raising a toast to Mother Africa

Indulge in mouth-watering international as well as local cuisine

Indulge in mouth-watering international as well as local cuisine

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip.

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Arusha

Day 1: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

Fly into Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airports in Tanzania. Our representative will meet you at the airport, guide you through arrivals, and drive you to your hotel, the Gran Melia Arusha, where you can relax for the afternoon.

In the evening, we will meet in the lounge for cocktails and toast the start of an exciting African adventure. 

We will dine at George’s Tavern, a short drive from the hotel. The family-run restaurant, created by chef and owner George Mavromoustakis, combines traditional Greek flavors with some of his favorite dishes from around the world with locally available ingredients. The restaurant is a favourite with local Arusha residents giving you a chance to mingle before calling it a night.

Included

Welcome Cocktail

Airport Transfer

Dinner

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Tarangire, Arusha

Day 2: Friday, November 3rd, 2023

Today, the adventure begins. 

It’s an early start to the day. After a hearty breakfast, we'll drive to the Great Rift Valley. The planet’s longest land valley stretches 6,000km from Lebanon in the Middle East to Mozambique in south-eastern Africa. Our destination is the best-kept secret on this side of the equator. The Tarangire boasts ancient baobabs, mighty elephants, big cats, and stunning vistas. The Baobab is the world’s largest succulent. 

We're off to Tarangire Baobab Camp with a game drive en route. The rustic glam camp is at the heart of the Tarangire National Park, on the edge of an open wetland. 

The park boasts large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland. Not surprisingly, predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs follow.  

After you've checked in, relax and enjoy an exquisite lunch before leaving for an afternoon game drive. 

In the evening, we will enjoy a lovely dinner and lively exchanges and talks with the resident naturalist about the terrific Tarangire.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner & Cocktail

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Tarangire, Arusha

Day 3: Saturday, November 4th, 2023

Today, we'll depart for an early morning optional hot air balloon safari followed by breakfast on the plains.  Wildlife is best seen at sunrise. This optional hot air balloon safari is a breathtaking experience! This exhilarating morning venture comes at an additional charge. If you choose not to partake, you'll have the morning to unwind around camp and enjoy breakfast. 

For the rest of the morning and early afternoon you can enjoy the scenery and nature or take a walk with the naturalist. We'll enjoy a delicious al-fresco lunch at the camp. 

In the early afternoon, our resident guide Martha will give us a photography lesson so we can put our new skills to use on our afternoon game drive. 

After we return we will enjoy a sunset dinner and share our photos from the day. 

Included

Safari

All meals

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Ngorongoro

Day 4: Sunday, November 5th, 2023

After breakfast, we'll drive to Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania’s northern highlands. Presided over by the towering Ol Donyo Lengai Volcano, this small, colorful town is a popular overnight stop for visitors exploring the area’s many game parks. 

Karatu Acacia Farm Lodge is located on virgin bush in the Ngorongoro volcanic landscape, 20 minutes from the rim of the crater. Ngorongoro Crater has the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa.  

In the afternoon we will have an optional visit to Lake Eyasi, located in northern Tanzania's Great Rift Valley. The region is a tranquil oasis away from the usual safari routes. One of its unique attractions is the Hadzabe village, home to one of Africa's last hunter-gatherer communities. Visitors to the village can witness the Hadzabe's age-old traditions, from hunting with bows and arrows to crafting tools. This rare experience offers insight into a deeply rooted connection with nature and the significance of preserving ancient cultures.

If you choose to stay at the lodge why not indulge in a spa treatment or enjoy one of their fantastic activities like the the Bird & Butterfly Walk or a Coffee Farm Tour. 

This evening we will feast at the lodge and share stories of our adventurous day. 

Included

Safari

All meals

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Ngorongoro

Day 5: Monday, November 6th, 2023

After breakfast, we'll take an exciting early morning drive to the crater’s floor to find black rhinos, lions, leopards, and more. You will enjoy the day in the crater. It’s 610 meters (2,000 feet) deep and 260 square kilometers -100 square miles – in area.

In route to the crater floor, we will stop at a Maasai Village. The Maasai have co-existed for centuries with African wildlife because the wildlife, like the large cattle herds owned by the Maasai, need wide spaces to survive.

Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the world's largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. It formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago. We've prepared lunchboxes for all our guests and we will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor.

We'll return for a sunset dinner later this evening. Enjoy a nightcap at the campfire before a peaceful slumber.

Included

Safari

All meals

Maasai Village Visit

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Serengeti National Park

Day 6: Tuesday, November 7th, 2023

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for a short flight over the vast expanse of the Serengeti and enjoy a game drive to the stunning wildlife en route. November is the ideal time to watch the annual wildebeest migration from the camp, which boasts a large, open-floor lounge and bar. Bear witness to the migration with your favorite tipple or a Vodka Martini - shaken, not stirred! 

After a sumptuous lunch followed by a siesta, you'll embark on the late afternoon game drive in our custom-made safari cruisers driven by expert driver guides. 

The Serengeti lies in the greater 30,000-square-kilometer ecosystem the Maasai call ‘the endless plains.' The park is spectacular, boasting amazing wildlife and a tapestry of sun-sculpted stone kopjes, vast grassland, and forest. 

At sundown, we'll meet for a cocktail in the Nyota Luxury Camp and then dine on delicious foods, reliving the day’s magical moments. We may be entertained by the local Maasai performing traditional dances with their signature high leaps and throaty chants celebrating love, lion hunts, war, and happiness. You may want to join in. 

Included

Airfare

Safari

All Meals

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Serengeti National Park

Day 7: Wednesday, November 8th, 2023

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits before you set out for an early morning game drive. This, and the late afternoon before the sun goes down, is the best time to find wildlife as the animals are most active before the sun becomes too hot and lethargy sets in. The lionesses would rather hunt when it’s cooler, but for these opportunistic animals, if the quarry is easy, the hunt is on. Lions do not have sweat glands, so you’ll hear them panting a lot. 

We'll be back at the lodge for a scrumptious breakfast mid-morning. 

Take time to relax, meditate, and enjoy the grounds. You can enjoy this time to enjoy the hotel's spa facilities. 

We'll meet for lunch and, after some ‘me’ time, leave for the afternoon game drive. 

Serengeti is where Elsa’s cubs – the lioness of the epic Born Free fame - were released. Her lineage continues to roam this great wilderness.

You'll sip sundowners in the bush and meet for another gourmet feast, ending the day with a nightcap at the fire pit. 

Included

Safari

All meals

Not Included

Spa treatment

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Tarangire, Arusha

Day 8: Thursday, November 9th, 2023

After a sumptuous breakfast in the Serengeti, we’ll fly back to Arusha for your return flights that night or the next day. You'll take home many memories of your amazing African safari with new friends. 

In the words of Dr. Bernhard Grizmek of the ‘Serengeti Shall Not Die’ fame: “Large cities continue to proliferate. In the coming decades and centuries, men will not travel to view marvels of engineering, but they will leave the dusty towns to behold the last places on earth where God’s creatures are peacefully living. Palaces can be rebuilt if they are destroyed in wartime, but once the wild animals of the Serengeti are exterminated, no power on earth can bring them back.” 

We will return for dinner to enjoy lively exchanges and talks with the resident naturalist about the terrific Tarangire. 

You will be welcomed back. 

Included

Breakfast

Flight to Arusha

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Zanzibar

Day 1: Trip Extension - Thursday, November 9th, 2023

Take a flight to Zanzibar. The ‘Spice Island’ is rich in the history of the Sultans of Oman who made the tropical island their capital. 

You're off to an all-inclusive holiday at the seaside resort on the Michamvi Peninsula, on the Southeast Coast of Zanzibar. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Rejuvenate in this stunning ocean resort with energizing sun-filled days and barefoot walks on the beach. 

Enjoy your lunch and ‘me time’ in paradise. 

This evening, we will meet for sundowners and dinner before you retire to your tropical suite at the Rui Palace.

Included

Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar

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Not Included

Lunch

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Zanzibar

Day 2: Trip Extension - Friday, November 10th, 2023

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. 

This morning, we'll take a short drive to the fabled Stone Town, the capital of international diplomacy and commerce during the 18th century. 

Pop into the old Sultan's palaces filled with intrigue, scandal, and betrayal. A local guide will take you on a walking tour, introducing you to the history of this iconic town and characters like Princess Salme. 

We'll return to the hotel for lunch and then embark on an exploration of the spice island. You'll have time for a stroll on the beach when we return.

We'll enjoy dinner together at the hotel in the evening. 

Included

All meals

Private Guided Tours: Stone Town and Spice Island

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Zanzibar

Day 3: Trip Extension - Saturday, November 11th, 2023

After a spicy breakfast, we'll set sail into the Indian Ocean to find dolphins. There are three species in the archipelago – the bottlenose, spinner, and humpback – if you’re lucky, you'll see all three species.

Return for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax until we meet for our farewell dinner and the last night on the island.

Included

All meals

Dolphin Boat Tour

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Zanzibar

Day 4: Trip Extension - Sunday, November 12th, 2023

After breakfast, you'll leave for the airport to catch your connecting flight home. 

It has been a wonderful holiday. We are excited to welcome you back to the legendary Spice Island.

Included

Breakfast

Airport transfer

You'll Be Staying Here

Hotel Gran Melia Arusha

Hotel Gran Melia Arusha

Hotel Gran Melia Arusha is situated between the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks. You'll be able to relax poolside or work out at the gym.

Baobab Tented Camp

Baobab Tented Camp

This boutique accommodation inside Tarangire National Park offers excellent accommodation with wildlife experience.

Acacia Farm Lodge

Acacia Farm Lodge

Nestled between the Tarangire National Park and Manyara National Park on one side and Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park on another side, Acacia Farm Lodge is the perfect place to rest your head.

Nyota Luxury Camp, Serengeti

Nyota Luxury Camp, Serengeti

Nyota Luxury Tented Camp is situated in a prime location in Seronera, in the middle of the Serengeti. The Orangi river meanders along the Camps’ borders, attracting a wide variety of wildlife.  

Hosts

Doni Belau

Doni Belau

Doni Belau is the founder and CEO of Girls' Guide to the World. She's an inveterate traveler, having been to nearly 70 countries (and counting). She loves to help other women experience this sensation as she truly feels it helps us see a larger world of possibilities within ourselves.

Martha Mutiso

Martha Mutiso

Martha is a Kenyan tour guide with 18 years of safari guiding experience in East Africa. She's a traveler, nature photographer, and author, having recently published a Photobook titled "Wild Moms" featuring wild animals and their offspring in the wild. Her experience in wildlife conservation (big and small), culture, and a keen eye in wildlife photography makes her the best safari guide and safari companion in East Africa. She has a special love for guiding women and children tour groups.

ecoescapades

Optional Trip Extensions

Zanzibar Trip Extension-Private Room

Zanzibar Trip Extension-Private Room

Join us on a four day, three-night trip extension to Zanzibar.

FROM$2,795.00/pp

Add Ons

Arrive one day early in Tanzania

Arrive one day early in Tanzania

Includes one night at the Gran Melia Arusha and a full breakfast

PRICE$385.00

Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Ride

Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Ride

A Serengeti balloon ride is the ultimate way to experience the vastness of the national park

PRICE$575.00

Lake Eyasi & Hadzabe Village

Lake Eyasi & Hadzabe Village

Lake Eyasi attracts hippos and also a great place for bird lovers to spot flamingos!

PRICE$70.00

Don't Miss this Amazing Primal Experience

The Wildlife of the Serengeti

In the words of Dr Bernhard Grizmek of the Serengeti Shall Not Die fame, he wrote: “Large cities continue to proliferate. In the coming decades and centuries, men will not travel to view marvels of engineering, but they will leave the dusty towns in order to behold the last places on earth where God’s creatures are peacefully living. Palaces can be rebuilt if they are destroyed in wartime, but once the wild animals of the Serengeti are exterminated no power on earth can bring them back.” 

 -You will be welcomed back.

The Wildlife of the Serengeti

What's Included

What's Included

All meals (except where indicated), including beer & wine with dinner.

Gorgeous Safari and Lodge Accomodations

All in country transportation

Safari - Nearly everyday

A Beautiful Welcome Gift

Everything specified in the itinerary

Expert Guides and Trip Leaders

A small group experience

Airport transfer from Ashura Airport

Round Trip Airfare to Africa

Additional wine, beer, or spirits beyond what is offered at meals.

All personal souvenir purchases

Trip and Medical Insurance (required)

FAQs

The trip officially starts on the afternoon of November 2nd, but if you’re traveling across an ocean consider arriving a day or two early, so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone. If you do decide to arrive early, let us know and we’ll help you with the arrangements. 

Yes, airport arrival and departure transfers from Ashura are included within the trip timeframe. If you choose to come a day early or leave a day late, you are responsible for your own transportation. If you fly into Kilimanjaro Airport, the cost of transportation to Arusha Coffee Lodge will be your responsibility.

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

You should fly into the Arusha Airport (ARK)

In the month of October, the maximum temperature is 92°F and the minimum temperature is 65°F (for an average temperature of 79°F). The climate is very warm during the month of October. It doesn't usually rain during October so it should be dry throughout your holiday!

Inquire about this trip

Tanzania - A Safari in the Great Serengeti Savannah

Tanzania· 2 - 9 November 2023· 7 nights

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