Itinerary
- Day 1
Arusha
You'll arrive in Tanzania and get transferred to Africa Amini Maasai Lodge on Arusha's outskirts. After settling in, there's an information session with your tour guide where you'll meet the other travelers. Later that evening, dinner features authentic regional dishes at the lodge.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner featuring authentic regional dishes)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner at Africa Amini Maasai Lodge
Landmarks/POIs Africa Amini Maasai Lodge - Day 2
Arusha
This day is all about traditional Maasai culture at the lodge. You'll participate in guided nature walks learning about herbal remedies, watch spear throwing demonstrations, and have a traditional lunch. The day finishes with a sunset singing and dancing ceremony, and you'll sleep in an authentic Maasai hut.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch featuring plenty of meat and vegetables)
Included Activities
- Guided nature walk through Maasai territory learning about herbal remedies
- Spear throwing demonstration
- Sunset singing and dancing ceremony
- Traditional lunch at Amini Life Maasai Lodge
- Overnight stay in authentic Maasai hut
Landmarks/POIs Amini Life Maasai Lodge - Day 3
Arusha
After early breakfast, you'll drive to Kilimanjaro National Park for a scenic hike starting at Londorossi Gate (2,100m/6,890 ft). The trail takes you through lush tropical forests where colobus monkeys and crested turacos show up. You'll reach the Shira Plateau at 3,400m/11,155 ft for lunch with views of Kibo Peak's snow-capped summit, then head back to Arusha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Shira Plateau with views of Kibo Peak)
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Kilimanjaro National Park from Londorossi Gate to Shira Plateau
- Wildlife viewing including colobus monkeys and crested turacos
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro National Park Londorossi Gate Shira Plateau Kibo Peak - Day 4
Arusha
You'll drive to Arusha National Park and pick how you want to explore. Options include a half-day or full-day game drive around Momella Lakes and Ngurdoto Crater, a guided canoe safari on the lakes, or a guided walking safari. You'll return to Arusha by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Game drive through Arusha National Park
Optional Activities
- Canoe safari on Momella Lakes (additional cost) - guided safari spotting bushbucks, giraffes, hippos, and buffalo
- Walking safari through Arusha National Park (additional cost) - encounter colobus monkeys, zebras, buffalo, antelopes, and over 400 bird species including Crowned Eagle, Lanner Falcon, and Levaillant's Cuckoo
Landmarks/POIs Arusha National Park Momella Lakes Ngurdoto Crater - Day 5
Tarangire National Park
The drive takes you through Masai villages to Tarangire National Park for a game drive along the Tarangire River, with acacia and baobab trees all around. You'll have a picnic lunch with river views while watching for monkeys. The day includes searching for lions and leopards, plus rare species like greater kudu and fringe-eared oryx.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch with a view of the Tarangire River)
Included Activities
- Game drive through Tarangire National Park
- Picnic lunch with river views
Landmarks/POIs Tarangire National Park Tarangire River - Day 6
Lake Manyara National Park
From Tarangire, it's about a three-hour drive through Masai villages and open plains to Lake Manyara National Park. Game viewing here is excellent, with tree-climbing lions hanging out in acacia trees. You'll also find great birdwatching with flamingos, lilac-breasted rollers, and birds of prey circling overhead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Game drive through Lake Manyara National Park
- Wildlife viewing including tree-climbing lions
Landmarks/POIs Lake Manyara National Park - Day 7
Lake Manyara
You'll spend two hours exploring the cultural village of Mto wa Mbu by tuk tuk. The route passes local farms, schools, homes, and bustling markets where you experience daily life among over 120 different African tribes. A traditional lunch is served under banana leaves with pilau, makande, ndizi nyama, and ugali. Afterward, you'll visit a Maasai boma to learn about their culture.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Tanzanian lunch including Pilau (spiced brown rice with meat), Makande (corn and beans stew), Ndizi Nyama (green bananas cooked with meat), and Ugali (stiff porridge))
Included Activities
- Tuk Tuk tour through Mto wa Mbu village
- Traditional Tanzanian lunch under banana leaves
- Visit to Maasai boma
Optional Activities
- Banana beer tasting
Landmarks/POIs Mto wa Mbu - Day 8
Lake Eyasi
After late breakfast, you'll drive around Lake Eyasi, a shallow soda lake great for birdwatching with occasional flamingo and hippo sightings. The focus is witnessing an authentic hunting demonstration from the Hadzabe, one of Africa's last truly traditional bushman tribes with roughly 2,000 people. You'll also meet the Datoga people, who are primarily farmers and cattle breeders.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast)
Included Activities
- Hadzabe hunting techniques demonstration
- Guided tour around Lake Eyasi
- Visit to Datoga people
Landmarks/POIs Lake Eyasi - Day 9
Arusha
After breakfast, you head to Ngorongoro Crater, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. You'll see the vast caldera from a panoramic viewpoint, then explore from an open-top vehicle where the Big Five and over 120 mammal species live, including endangered black rhinoceros and large hippo populations. A picnic lunch happens in the park before you return to Arusha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in Ngorongoro Crater)
Included Activities
- Visit to Ngorongoro Conservation Area panoramic viewpoint
- Game drive through Ngorongoro Crater
- Picnic lunch in the park
Landmarks/POIs Ngorongoro Crater Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Day 10
Serengeti National Park
Rise early to see sunrise over the Serengeti while searching for leopards and lions hunting in the morning. Back at your campsite or lodge for late breakfast at 9:00 a.m., you'll pack up and head out again at 10:30 a.m. for a full day of exploration following wildlife trails with your expert Shadows of Africa guide.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast at 9:00 a.m.), Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise game drive in Serengeti National Park
- Full day game drive exploring Serengeti
Landmarks/POIs Serengeti National Park - Day 11
Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you'll traverse the expansive Togoro Plains and navigate through the Mbuzi Mawe kopjes toward the northern park reaches. The landscape changes from wooded hills and rugged kopjes to vast open savannah. You'll look for wildlife from tiny dik-diks to majestic elephants and giraffes. Reaching the Kogatende region, you search for the wildebeest migration and the elusive Big Five.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Game drive through Togoro Plains and Mbuzi Mawe kopjes
- Wildlife viewing in Kogatende region
- Search for wildebeest migration and Big Five
Landmarks/POIs Togoro Plains Mbuzi Mawe kopjes Kogatende region - Day 12
Mara River
After breakfast, you'll search around the kopjes in Kogatende for carnivores and large migration groups preparing to cross the Mara River into Kenya. The river is home to large hippo populations and Nile crocodiles. If conditions align, you might see the dramatic wildebeest and zebra crossing as they brave the currents and crocodiles to reach safety on the opposite bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Game drive around Kogatende area
- Mara River crossing observation (seasonal)
Landmarks/POIs Mara River Kogatende area - Day 13
Arusha
After breakfast, you'll drive to the airport for a light aircraft flight back to Arusha. Your driver meets you and takes you to your hotel to rest before your flight to Zanzibar tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Zanzibar - Stone Town
For your last day in Tanzania, you'll spend time at leisure enjoying your hotel's pool and gardens, or take an easy village walk to see more about daily life. Your afternoon flight takes you to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your Stone Town hotel. The evening is yours to explore at your own pace with dinner at one of many local restaurants serving traditional Swahili food, seafood, or vegetarian options.
Included Activities
- Easy village walk in Arusha (optional)
Optional Activities
- Dinner at Stone Town restaurant (choice of traditional Swahili food, seafood, or vegetarian options)
Landmarks/POIs Stone Town - Day 15
Zanzibar Beaches
You'll explore Stone Town's winding alleyways in the morning and pick up fragrant spices as souvenirs. In the afternoon, you transfer to the famous beaches of Zanzibar. The route passes through local villages where you'll see the island's picturesque landscapes on the way to your beachside resort.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Stone Town winding alleyways
- Transfer to Zanzibar beaches
Optional Activities
- Purchase fragrant spices in Stone Town
Landmarks/POIs Stone Town - Day 16
Zanzibar Beach Relaxation
This is a relaxing beach day. Soak up the sun, sip cocktails under palm trees, and explore the island at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional tour
- Water sports
- Diving (location dependent)
- Day 17
Zanzibar Beach Relaxation
Another relaxing beach day ahead. Soak up the sun, sip cocktails under palm trees, and explore the island at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional tour
- Water sports
- Diving (location dependent)
- Day 18
Departure
Your last day on the island. You'll transfer from your resort to Zanzibar airport in time for your international departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
