You depart Nairobi and drive South, crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga and continue to Arusha. This is a pleasant town situated at the base of Mount Meru, and is the starting point for your optional excursion to Ngorongoro Crater and/or Serengeti.

You conduct these excursions in locally operated Land Rovers, which are specially adapted for safari use. Depending on which option you choose, you will be away from the Arusha campsite for either one or 2 nights.

If you take up the 2-night/3-day option you will depart Arusha in the morning with your vehicles and guides. The drive to the Serengeti National Park takes you through the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) and up into the Ngorongoro Reserve for a glimpse of the Ngorongoro Crater before descending down onto the plains of the Serengeti. The abundance of plains' game in this area is truly astounding. The afternoon will be spent game viewing before setting up camp in the midst of the national park. With some luck you will be hear the nighttime noises of the wildlife.

After a full morning's game drive in the Serengeti you will return to pull down camp and head back towards the Ngorongoro. Where we travel up to Ngorongoro Crater's edge to our campsite for the evening. We suggest you pack your winter woollies as it can get very cold on the rim of the crater during the night.

For those taking the 1-night / 2-day option you will be collected from Arusha today in the afternoon and transferred to the town of Karatu for the evening. Tomorrow you will join the rest of the group for your Ngorongoro game drive.

This morning you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. With its 600m walls and 20km diameter, it is a natural wonder, and offers a spectacular view from the rim. The true size of this caldera is only appreciated from the floor itself and the abundance of its animal inhabitants becomes apparent. It is home to nearly every species of African animal and offers a chance to view an incredible concentration of East African mammals, such as elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippo, lion, and other plains' game. After spending the full morning in the crater you will return to the campsite near Arusha for another night. Both optional excursions will follow the same schedule today.

You leave Arusha and head towards the warm Indian Ocean. Travelling through the town of Moshi, you cross the southern slopes of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro. There is also an opportunity to view the snowy summit, weather dependant. This definitely calls for a photo stop! Continuing South you pass the Usambara Mountains where you encounter vast sisal plantations on the way to Dar es Salaam.

Today is another long day's drive through beautiful lush scenery and palm trees. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, you stay the night at a beach hotel or set up camp in a site that is situated to the North of the city, and prepare for your departure to Zanzibar the next morning.

A ferry from Dar es Salaam takes you to the "Spice Island", where you will spend 3 nights on this legendary island. Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of the major starting points for most East African explorers in their quest for new lands.

Please note: Our crew can organize accommodation for you whilst on Zanzibar, although, from our experience, our clients have felt the need to explore the island on their own. Therefore, accommodation and food are at your own expense whilst on Zanzibar.

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streets of old Stone Town retain their Arabic influence, from the Medina-like shops to the palaces of the Sultans, who founded their vast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade. The island is still famous for its spices, and tours around a spice plantation can be organised. Other options include a trip to the nearby Prison Island with its giant tortoises, and beautiful beaches. Or perhaps you would enjoy the opportunity to hire a motorbike, and explore the more remote areas of the island.

Zanzibar is a seafood lover's paradise. Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of the freshest catch from the ocean - giant lobsters being a popular specialty. Alternatively, joining the locals for dinner in the waterfront market is an experience not to be missed. The market stalls offer an unusual selection of fast food, African style, at a very reasonable cost.

Leaving Zanzibar, you take the ferry back to the mainland and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania's first city with its colonial buildings and palm-lined port, where you end your safari.