Tanzania
Tanzania Safari and Beach
Our two-week ‘Tanzania Safari and Beach’ holiday brings together world-class safari game viewing in the iconic wildlife reserves of Northern Tanzania, plenty of exciting activities to keep the children engaged and time on a gorgeous beach in Zanzibar.
Highlights
Spotting giraffe on foot in Arusha
Cycling through banana plantations
Safari in Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Meet the Bushmen of Eyasi
Zanzibar beach & Stone Town
15 days from £4,500 pp
Plus international flights from £1,250
A 2-week holiday for a family of four in Tanzania (including both safari and beach) will usually cost from £18,000 (excluding international flights) based on mid-range accommodation.
Tanzania Safari & Beach day-to-day itinerary
Day 1, Arusha
Arrive in Arusha where you will be met by a Stubborn Mule Travel representative and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2, Arusha
A full day of activities in Arusha National Park. This small park seldom appears on safari itineraries for Tanzania, which is a surprise as it is one of our favourites. At the centre of the park is the beautiful Ngurdoto Crater, flanked by steep cliffs and home to an abundance of buffalo that roam the marshy ground found within. Further into the park, the Momella lakes are also scenic, with abundant birdlife as well as large populations of antelope and buffalo.
You will start the day with a short game drive, followed by a guided walking safari across the plains in the shadow of Mount Meru. Giraffes wander past just a few metres away and herds of buffalo graze on the grasses.
From here, continue to the Momella Lakes where you take a gentle canoe ride across the peaceful waters of the lake, stopping to learn about the birds that you see along the way and perhaps catching a glimpse of antelope and giraffe on the banks.
Day 3, Mto Wa Mbu
After breakfast, drive to the small village of Mto Wa Mbu, at the base of the Rift Valley Escarpment. Take a bike ride through the banana plantations, rice paddies and small villages that surround the town. (Families with younger children can take a tuk-tuk ride instead.)
You will also stop at the main produce market in Mto Wa Mbu and a local school. Creative children may enjoy a visit to an artists’ co-operative where you can try your hand at doing a traditional African painting on your own canvas.
Join a local family for a traditional Tanzanian lunch before driving on to Karatu for the night.
Day 4, Serengeti
After breakfast you will set off by road to the Serengeti. Once you have had some time to settle into your camp, you will be free to go out on a game drive in the late afternoon.
Days 5-6, Serengeti
Two full days to explore the Serengeti with both morning and afternoon game drives. The Serengeti National Park is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania’s game parks and offers arguably the best game viewing in Africa.
The setting is perfect – a sea of endless plains that stretches to the horizon, dotted with the occasional acacia tree and termite mound. This savannah is home to huge herds of wildebeest that every year make the mass migration north, through crocodile-infested rivers, in a frenzied mixture of mating and galloping that is driven by instinct.
Prides of lion rule here, their hungry gaze sweeping the savannah for a chance to attack the thousands of eland, impala and gazelle. Solitary leopards stake out their place in the high branches of the acacia tree, and herds of elephants roam at will. This is the Africa that you have always dreamed about.
Read More Day 7, Ngorongoro Crater Day 8, Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu The views are superb, from the first glimpse of the crater at ‘Heroes’ Point’, through the thick rainforest that covers its sides, down to the rich grassy plains that form its centre. Afterwards, continue by road to Karatu. Day 9, Meet the Bushmen Learn how to make fire by rubbing a stick vigorously into a hardwood block until wisps of smoke appear, which are then used to light dried grass. Practice firing a bow and arrow at a grass target, causing much hilarity with the local boys who will then demonstrate their (vastly superior) shooting skills! You may even be invited to join the bushmen on a hunt in the bush in the search for small wild animals – usually rabbits, squirrels or birds. Day 10, Karatu – Zanzibar Days 11-14, Zanzibar Beach Perhaps spend a morning exploring the wonderful labyrinthine streets of Stone Town. Most of the city was built in the 19th century when Zanzibar was a thriving trading community, a vital stop on the Spice Route where traders would stock up on cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and more. It is beautifully well preserved, and you can spend hours wandering the narrow streets, stopping in small cafes to sample the local cuisine. You can follow your nose into little alleyways flanked with crumbling colonial buildings, wrought iron balconies and thick wooden doors. Another great option is a boat and snorkelling trip to Mnemba Atoll. The warm waters around Zanzibar are crystal clear, with colourful coral home to a whole host of tropical fish and sea life. Day 15, Airport
This morning you will have a further game drive in the Serengeti before continuing on to the Ngorongoro Crater where you will spend the night inside the conservation area.
Early this morning, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcanic crater that is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including a very dense population of lion and spotted hyena. By now, the children will be very accomplished ‘wildlife spotters’ and you are almost guaranteed to see all of the ‘big five’ (lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo).
An exciting day today as you head to Lake Eyasi, home to a number of different tribal groups. Most popular for the children will be a visit to a Hadzabe (bushman) family.
This morning you will return to Arusha for a flight to Zanzibar. On arrival, you will be met by a guide for the transfer to your hotel, in a gorgeous location on a lovely white sand beach. The rest of the day is free for you to relax.
Four full days to enjoy Zanzibar. Although it may be hard to tear the children away from the beach or the pool, there are some wonderful excursions here.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Tanzania in pictures
Why choose us?
- Unparalleled family travel experience
- Specialist knowledge across six continents
- Hand-picked local partners
- Every holiday is tailor-made for you
- 100% financial protection
- 24hr emergency contact number
100% Financial
Protection
We are members of the Travel Trust Association, a trade association of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Travel Organisers that operate trust accounts in order to provide financial protection for the consumer. Membership number Q0176.
Our ATOL number is T7608.