TANZANIA: Safari and Zanzibar

This 10-day trip to Tanzania concentrates the safari in just three days, still allowing you to visit three of the most important parks and reserves in the country, to leave time to visit the beautiful Spice Island: Zanzibar.

In three days of safari we visit two national parks and a conservation area: the Tarangire National Park, the Lake Manyara National Park and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater; each of these areas is different from the others and offers exceptional sightings, unique emotions and breathtaking views.

The island of Zanzibar is famous for its white beaches, crystalline sea, coral reefs and palm trees bordering the beaches: a feast for the eyes and the soul.

But at Zanzibar there is also an indigenous forest, spice gardens and the town of Stone Town with its markets, colonial buildings and places of the slave trade, who left from here to be sold in the Indies and the Arabian Peninsula; few people know that Freddy Mercury lived here for several years with his family.

This is a fantastic journey between the savannah and the beach, also suitable for families.

Safari at the Tarangire National Park

The Tarangire National Park is known as the park of the giants, due to the presence in its territory of the majestic baobabs and because there are many elephants here.

The Tarangire is famous for its large herds of elephants and enchanting scenery; but there are numerous animals found within the park: lions, zebras, giraffes, leopards, warthogs, various antelopes and numerous species of birds.

Safari at the Lake Manyara National Park

The Lake Manyara National Park is located on the shores of the alkaline lake with the same name that is home to many species of water birds.

Despite its small size, the park has different habitats, from equatorial forest, to shrub savannah, open savannah, alkaline lake, volcanic sources; in 1981 the park was declared a Biosphere Reserve.

The park is known for its tree-climbing lions, but elephants, buffaloes, zebras and numerous species of antelope and many species of birds can also be seen.

Safari at the Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro is the caldera of a large and ancient volcano and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; on the edges of the caldera it hosts a virgin forest, while on the bottom of the crater there is an open savannah where many species of animals live.

Going down inside the crater you have the feeling of entering a very special place, the landscape is characterized by forests, shrub savannah, lakes and large savannahs where it is easy to spot animals.

Among the species of animals present you can see black rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, caracals and many others, including noisy hippos that inhabit a lake inside the crater.

Relax at Zanzibar and visit to Stone Town

The white beaches of Zanzibar are the ideal destination to enjoy a well-deserved rest after the safari, the turquoise sea, the palm trees moved by the wind and the sun create an unforgettable postcard landscape.

In addition to relaxing at Zanzibar you can practice numerous activities, snorkeling, diving, long walks on the beach, visits to the numerous gardens that illustrate the cultivation of spices for which the island is famous or you can visit a small indigenous forest where lives the rare red colobus from Zanzibar.

Stone Town is the capital of the island and was once the capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, today it houses lovely colonial buildings, the remains of a fort and the house where Freddy Mercury was born; not to be missed, at sunset, the many stalls that crowd the square overlooking the ocean and offer tasty street food.

Prison Island is also worth a visit, where there are several giant turtles from the Seychelles, the island is surrounded by beautiful beaches and a small coral reef.

For this trip, antimalarial prophylaxis is not mandatory but recommended, especially close to the rainy season, when the risk of contagion increases.

For the safari we recommend comfortable clothing and neutral colors, sunglasses, sunscreen, binoculars and a zoom camera; while for the sea swimsuit, sunscreen, underwater camera and snorkeling equipment, that can also be rented locally.