A perfect mix of Adventure, Cultural Insight, Wildlife and Relaxation the best option for those that want to have the mainland experience, with a splash of Medium KIlimanjaro Hike.Suitable for all ages
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet your guide holding a sign, and transfer to a comfortable hotel in Arusha. Use the afternoon to rest, enjoy the lively town atmosphere and go through a tour briefing before heading into the wild tomorrow..
The finest Arabica coffee, arguably Tanzania's best-known export, thrives on the slopes of mighty Mount Meru. 95% of the coffee bushes planted here grow on private farmland. On our tour, we'll gain insight into the art of coffee cultivation. From planting the bushes and harvesting to roasting the beans, you'll learn everything a coffee lover's heart desires. We continue to Mkomazi National Park. This, too, is still little known, but is home to all of the Big Five and offers spectacular scenery.
Today we'll go on a game drive in Mkomazi National Park. In addition to the over 400 bird species found here and the famous Big Five, there's a chance to observe some species that are otherwise very rare in Tanzania, such as wild dogs, oryx, gerenuks, and vulturine guineafowl. A visit to the recently opened rhino sanctuary in Mkomazi offers a rare opportunity to experience this fascinating pachyderm up close. The neighboring wild dog breeding station prepares these fascinating predators for their release into the wild.
After another morning game drive in Mkomazi National Park, you'll travel along the northern Pare Mountains to the base of Kilimanjaro. Following the less-traveled route along the Kenyan border, you'll circumnavigate the north side of the mountain. On a clear day, you'll repeatedly enjoy magnificent views of the snow-capped peak. To the north, the view sweeps across Kenya, across the endless expanses of Amboseli and Tsavo.
Day hike on Kilimanjaro to the Shira Plateau On the western side of the Kilimanjaro massif, we reach the Londorossi Gate at an altitude of 2,250 m. From here, we are accompanied by a ranger from Kilimanjaro National Park. In a 4x4 vehicle, we travel steadily uphill for another 12 km on a track. We first cross the rainforest belt, which soon transitions into heathland. The approximately three-hour hike begins at approximately 3,400 m. Sturdy footwear and adequate sun and rain protection are essential, as the weather up here can change in a flash. Shira was the first of the three "Kilimanjaro volcanoes" to erupt approximately 500,000 years ago. The plateau of the same name was formed by the lava flow of the later erupted Kibo, which today, at 5,895 m, is the highest point on Kilimanjaro. The third peak is Mawenzi, on the eastern side of the massif. The Shira Plateau is located in the heath and moorland zone. Among other things, the impressive giant senecio grows here. In good weather, the view to the north extends as far as Amboseli National Park in Kenya. To the west, Mount Meru often rises from the clouds, 40 km away, and to the south lies the endless Maasai steppe. The usually snow-covered Kibo seems close enough to touch. At lunchtime, you'll fortify yourself with a picnic lunch you've brought with you. The tour provides an intensive impression of the various climate zones of Africa's highest mountain.
The remote northern route takes you along sometimes rough tracks to Lake Natron. The barren, expansive landscape, dominated by the peaks of Mount Meru, Longido, and Kitumbeine, has a fascinating charm all its own. The Maasai pastoral nomads roam here with their herds. Finally, the peak of the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai appears on the horizon above the shimmering heat. The mountain's almost perfect conical shape heralds nearby Lake Natron. The lake is one of the main flamingo breeding grounds in East Africa. An evening stroll along the lakeshore offers the opportunity to observe these elegant birds.
A morning hike leads to the waterfall in the Engare-Sero River Gorge. Framed by the steep canyon walls, we walk, sometimes without a path, through water and over rocky steps. Today's drive leads us over the edge of the rift valley up into the highlands, with spectacular views back to the lake repeatedly opening up. We reach the northern Serengeti via remote tracks, which we explore on our first game drive in the afternoon.
The vast savannas of the Serengeti are a paradise for grazing animals. On their annual great migration, thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope traverse this unique ecosystem. Lions and hyenas follow the herds in search of prey. On game drives in the park, you are likely to see elephants, buffalo, giraffes, baboons, ostriches, and many other animals. With a bit of luck, you might even spot a cheetah on the hunt or a leopard, which likes to spend its daytime hours in the branches of a tree. Crocodiles sun themselves on sandbanks along the rivers, and densely packed herds of hippos populate deeper stretches of water. The seemingly endless plains are interrupted here and there by isolated "kopjes" – smooth granite hills.
On our way through the Serengeti, we have another chance to spot the Big 5 during a morning game drive. In the late morning, we reach the Seronera airstrip and fly from there (with a stopover if necessary) to Zanzibar. Here, you'll take a guided tour through the winding streets of Stone Town, with its old Arabian houses, fairytale palaces, and colorful shops. We'll learn interesting facts about the island's history and visit the Slave Church, the "House of Wonders," and the colorful spice and fruit markets. In the evening, we'll reach our beach hotel on the east coast of the island.
- We enjoy relaxing hours on the beautiful beach of Zanzibar. On the 12th day, you are taken to the airport and board your flight home with many memories in our luggage