Safari & Spice & All Things Nice
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Overview
Know your Masai:
- A man's wealth is measured by the number of cattle and children he has.
- Jumping in the air is the young Masai boy's way of showing strength and agility.
- The mean eat soup made from the acacia nilotica plant because it is believed to make them energetic, aggressive and fearless (hangover cure unknown).
(Was Safari & Spice)
Itinerary
Day 1-2 - Nairobi
Meet your group and compare camera sizes. Get an African massage on the bumpy roads to Arusha.
Day 1
- Arrive at any time and get acquainted with Nairobi
- An arrival transfer from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport can be pre-booked through Geckos
- There is a pre-departure meeting tonight at 6pm
- You may choose to eat at the hotel restaurant this evening or venture out to one of the many fine restaurants that Nairobi has to offer
Day 2 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours)
- Cross the border from Kenya to Tanzania at the Namanga border post
- Traverse the 'wildlife corridor' between Nairobi and Arusha, also known as the 'safari capital' of Tanzania
- Set up camp on the outskirts of town and enjoy the surrounds
- Visit the Meserani Snake Park and Masai Museum
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3-4 - Serengeti National Park
Our campsite in the Serengeti is pretty basic, but when you fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring across the savannah, a room at the Hilton suddenly seems pretty boring.
Day 3 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours; game drive times variable)
- Stop on the top of the Rift Valley escarpment for an incredible view out over Lake Manyara
- Game drives within the Serengeti National Park
- Spend two days exploring the plains on game drives as well as checking out the rocky outcrops, or 'kopjes' - a favourite for predators
- Enjoy two nights camping inside the park - and be serenaded by the sounds of the African savannah
Day 4
- Start around sunrise for a morning game drive and follow that up later on with an afternoon game drive
- Return to camp during the hotter hours in the middle of the day, where and enjoy a hearty meal, relax and maybe take a siesta
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5 - Ngorongoro Crater - Mto Wa Mbu
(Approximate driving time: 8 hours; game drive times variable)
The crater is a bit like being in Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs (or Jeff Goldblum). You'll get really close to the animals here and one of our staff even had a lion pee on her truck.
- Transfer into 4WD vehicles and head down to the crater floor
- Spend the morning exploring this outstanding wildlife sanctuary - be lucky to see the rare black rhinos
- Leave the crater and return to the campground in Arusha
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6 - School of St Jude's
(Approximate driving time: 2 hours)
Make some new friends at The School of St Jude, where Arusha's most disadvantaged kids are getting a free education thanks to sponsors and donors from all over the world.
- Visit The School of St Jude in Arusha, a school for orphans and very poor children of the area
- Take time to visit children in class, before joining them for lunch
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7 - Dar es Salaam
(Approximate driving time: 12 hours)
Pass by Kili on the long drive to Dar (in Africa, we like to abbreviate things). Set up camp, then practice your hippo crawl and crocodile roll (aka the doggy paddle and the butterfly) in the pool. When you're suitably exhausted it's time to pull up a stool at the beach bar.
- Travel past Mount Kilimanjaro
- Head toward Dar es Salaam - the former capital of Tanzania
- Spend a night at a beachside camp in Dar - and experience this large African city
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8 - Stone Town
(Approximate ferry sailing time: 1½ hours)
Don't get embarrassed if you get lost in the maze-like streets. Even Bear Grylls would find himself going in circles. Make your way to the open-air food market for enormous avocados, elephant garlic and all your big name spices.
- Catch a ferry to the famous spice island of Zanzibar
- Spend the first night in the evocative and historic Stone Town
- Take time to wander through the many cobbled laneways, take in the architecture, and appreciate the famous Zanzibar doors and the market
- Set off on an optional Spice Tour which visits the historical sights in Stone Town, before visiting the Slave Museum, the ruins of the Sultan’s Palace and the famous spice plantations
- Why not embark on an optional trip to Prison Island on a local motorised dhow
- Enjoy the town's many little restaurants and night market, which offers a great (and cheap) dining experience – the Zanzibari pizzas and the banana and chocolate pizza are a real treat
BreakfastDay 9-10 - Nungwi
(Approximate driving time: 1 hour)
After a few days you'll be convinced that all of life's great activities can be conducted from a hammock - eating, drinking, chatting, sleeping and working on your tan.
- Spend the next two days on the idyllic north coast at the beachside village of Nungwi
- Relax on white sandy beaches and splash around in the warm tropical sea
BreakfastDay 11 - Dar es Salaam
(Approximate driving time: 1 hour. Approximate ferry time: 1½ hours)
When it comes to getting around, Tanzanians life by the rule of "Mungu akipenda, tutafika," which means: "If God wants it, we shall arrive." So make sure you look both ways when crossing the road.
- Spend a final morning on the beach before catching the afternoon ferry back to the mainland
- The trip finishes on arrival back in Dar es Salaam at the ferry terminal
- Please do not book flights out of Dar es Salaam prior to 9pm
Please note: Geckos is unable to book transfers from the ferry terminal to DAR Airport. Clients can get a transfer with the group and book post tour accommodation, or arrange a taxi from the ferry terminal to the airport.
Breakfast -
What to Know
What's Included
An experienced driver, safari guide and camp cook whilst on safari; park fees; all camping equipment; transport in custom-built safari vehicle, 4WD vehicles during game drives; ferry and on foot.
Not Included
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price Kitty Payment Total Price 21 Jul 2013 - 31 Jul 2013 7+ Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now 11 Aug 2013 - 21 Aug 2013 7 Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now 22 Sep 2013 - 02 Oct 2013 7 Available US $1,445On Sale Sale: US $1,229 Promo code: 1355 US $450 US $1,679 Book Now 08 Dec 2013 - 18 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now 12 Jan 2014 - 22 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now 25 May 2014 - 04 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $1,275 US $450 US $1,725 Book Now 22 Jun 2014 - 02 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now 20 Jul 2014 - 30 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $1,445 US $450 US $1,895 Book Now Kitty payment is required in cash. It needs to be paid before the end of your trip, in the local stated above. It is generally paid on Day 1, and covers most on-ground expenses. Kitty payments calculated using exchange rates valid on 1 Jan 2012.
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