DURATION
21 days / 20 nights
START & END
Dar es Salaam / Zanzibar
TRIP TYPE
Private trip
STYLE
Budget, Mid-range or Luxury
HISTORY, MOUNTAINS, SAFARI AND ZANZIBAR
Beyond the Usual Route starts in Dar es Salaam before travelling south to Kilwa, where you explore the historic ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.
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The journey continues through Nyerere, Mikumi and Ruaha National Parks, with private game drives and a sunset boat safari on the Rufiji River. Between the safari days, you explore on foot with guided hikes in the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains.
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You finish the trip in Zanzibar, with time to visit Stone Town and relax at the beach.
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This is an example route. We can adapt the accommodations, activities and pace to your preferences.
YOUR ROUTE AT A GLANCE
2 NIGHTS
DAR ES SALAAM
Arrival and private
city tour
3 NIGHTS
MIKUMI & UDZUNGWA
Full day Mikumi game drive and a waterfall hike in Udzungwa
2 NIGHTS
KILWA
Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara
3 NIGHTS
RUAHA NP
Two full days and a final morning of game drives
3 NIGHTS
NYERERE NP
Private sunset boat safari and game drives
1 NIGHT
STONE TOWN
Explore Stone Town
2 NIGHTS
ULUGURU MOUNTAINS
two-day hike with camping
4 NIGHTS
ZANZIBAR BEACH
Beach time
DAY 1
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN DAR ES SALAAM
After arriving at Julius Nyerere International Airport, your driver will meet you and
transfer you to your hotel in Dar es Salaam.
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No activities are planned today because international arrival times vary.
You can settle in, rest after your flight and prepare for your private city tour
the following morning.
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Meals included: none (meals available at the hotel)
DAY 2
DAY 2: PRIVATE CITY TOUR IN DAR ES SALAAM
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel for a full day exploring
Dar es Salaam on foot and by private transport.
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The route can include Kariakoo Market, the Khanga Market, Kivukoni Fish
Market, Posta and the area around the National Museum. Along the way, your
guide will tell you more about daily life in the city and show you local shops,
neighbourhoods and landmarks.
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You can stop for lunch at the fish market or another local restaurant and pay directly according to what you order. The route can be personalised according to your interests and how you prefer to spend the day.
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Meals included: breakfast
DAY 3
DAY 3: DRIVE TO KILWA
After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up from the hotel for the journey
south to Kilwa. Lunch will be arranged along the way.
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After arriving at the lodge, you can check in and relax for the rest of the
afternoon. No activities are planned today, giving you time to enjoy the
surroundings and prepare for the excursion to Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara
the following morning.
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Dinner will be served at the lodge.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 4
DAY 4: KILWA KISIWANI AND SONGO MNARA
After breakfast, you will travel by boat with a local guide to Kilwa Kisiwani, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site located just off the coast of Kilwa Masoko.
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You will explore the island on foot and visit ruins that reflect Kilwa’s important
role in trade and the development of Swahili culture. These include the Great
Mosque, the remains of palaces, smaller mosques and buildings from different
periods of the island’s history.
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A packed lunch will be provided on the island. In the afternoon, you will continue by boat to Songo Mnara, where your guide will show you another historic settlement and explain how it was connected to Kilwa Kisiwani.
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Most of the walking is on relatively flat terrain. The route can be shortened or adjusted if needed. At the end of the excursion, you will return to Kilwa Beach Lodge for dinner.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 5
DAY 5: DRIVE TO NYERERE AND SUNSET BOAT SAFARI
After breakfast, your private driver-guide will pick you up from the lodge for
the journey to Nyerere National Park. Lunch will be arranged during the journey.
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After arriving and checking in at the lodge, you will have some time to relax.
At around 16:00, you will leave for a private sunset boat safari of approximately
two hours on the Rufiji River.
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From the boat, you can look for hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds and other animals
along the riverbanks while the landscape changes towards sunset. Afterwards, you will return to the lodge for dinner.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY
6 - 7
DAY 6 & 7: FULL DAY GAME DRIVES IN NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
You have two full days to explore Nyerere National Park with your private
driver-guide. After an early breakfast, you will leave the lodge with a picnic
lunch and spend the day exploring different parts of the park.
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Your guide will plan each route according to recent wildlife movements, road
conditions and your interests. During the game drives, you might see elephants,
giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, lions and many different bird species.
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Because the safari vehicle is private for your group, you can spend more time at interesting sightings and explore the park at your own pace. At the end of each day, you will return to Mtemere Safari Lodge for dinner.
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Meals included each day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 8
DAY 8: MORNING GAME DRIVE AND DRIVE TO MOROGORO
After an early breakfast, you will enter Nyerere National Park for a final morning
game drive with your private guide.
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Around midday, you will leave the park and begin the journey to Morogoro.
Lunch will be arranged during the journey. After arriving, you will check in at
Forest Sunset Hotel and have the rest of the evening free to relax before the
Uluguru Mountains hike the following morning.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 9
DAY 9: HIKE TO MORNINGSIDE IN THE ULUGURU MOUNTAINS
After breakfast, your mountain guide will meet you at the hotel and take you
to the starting point of the hike.
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You will walk through the Uluguru Mountains towards Morningside, following
a route of approximately eight kilometres. The hike takes around two and a
half hours, depending on your pace and the conditions along the trail.
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After arriving, you can have lunch and spend the afternoon enjoying the mountain
surroundings. You will have dinner and spend the night camping at Morningside.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 10
DAY 10: CHOMA WATERFALL AND DRIVE TO MIKUMI
After breakfast at the campsite, you will continue hiking towards Choma Waterfall.
This section covers approximately two kilometres and takes around one hour
and twenty minutes.
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At the waterfall, you have time to rest, take photos and swim if conditions
allow. You will then begin the walk back towards Morogoro through Kireka
village, where you will stop for lunch.
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After completing the hike, your driver will meet you and take you to the lodge near Mikumi National Park. The drive takes approximately two hours. You will arrive in the evening and have dinner at the camp.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 11
DAY 11: FULL DAY GAME DRIVE IN MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
After an early breakfast, you will enter Mikumi National Park with your private
guide and a picnic lunch for a full day of game driving.
​
Your guide will choose the route according to recent wildlife movements and
your interests. During the day, you might see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes,
zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, lions and many different bird species.
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Because the safari vehicle is private for your group, you can spend more time at
interesting sightings and explore different parts of the park at your own pace. You will return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 12
DAY 12: WATERFALL HIKE IN UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
After an early breakfast, your driver will take you to Udzungwa Mountains National
Park. The journey from Mikumi takes approximately one and a half to two hours.
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After meeting your mountain guide, you will begin a guided hike through the
forest towards the waterfalls. Along the way, you can look for monkeys, birds
and other wildlife while learning more about the plants and ecosystem of the
Udzungwa Mountains.
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You will have a packed lunch during the hike and time to rest and enjoy the surroundings at the waterfalls. Afterwards, you will walk back to the park entrance and return to the lodge for dinner.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 13
DAY 13: DRIVE FROM MIKUMI TO RUAHA
After breakfast, your private driver-guide will pick you up from Camp Lilac for the
journey to Ruaha. The drive takes approximately six hours, depending on road
conditions, with lunch arranged along the way.
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After arriving at the lodge, you can check in and relax for the rest
of the afternoon. No game drive is planned today. Dinner will be served at
the lodge.
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Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY
14 - 15
DAYS 14 & 15: FULL DAY GAME DRIVES IN RUAHA
You have two full days to explore Ruaha National Park with your private driver-guide.
After breakfast, you will leave the lodge with a packed lunch and spend the day
searching for wildlife in different parts of the park.
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Ruaha is known for its large elephant population and varied landscapes,
including open plains, woodland and the Great Ruaha River. Depending on
their movements, you may see lions, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and many
different bird species.
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At the end of each game drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner.
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Meals included on all days: breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 16
DAY 16: MORNING GAME DRIVE AND FLIGHT TO ZANZIBAR
After an early breakfast, you will leave for a final morning game drive in
Ruaha National Park. Afterwards, you will have lunch and transfer to the airstrip
for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar.
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When you arrive in Zanzibar, your driver will meet you at the airport and take
you to the hotel in Stone Town. After checking in, you can relax and enjoy
your first evening in the cozy streets of Stone Town.
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Meals included: breakfast and lunch.
DAY
17
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DAY 17: STONE TOWN AND TRANSFER TO THE BEACH
After breakfast, you have time to explore Stone Town at your own pace. You can
walk through its narrow streets, visit local shops and markets, or stop at one of
the cafés and restaurants.
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If you would like to learn more about the history and culture of Stone Town,
we can add a guided walking tour to the itinerary.
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Later in the day, your driver will pick you up from Kholle House and take you to the
beach hotel. After checking in, you can relax and enjoy your first evening at the beach.
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Meals included: breakfast.
DAY
18 - 20
DAYS 18 TO 20: BEACH TIME IN ZANZIBAR
You have three full days to enjoy Zanzibar at your own pace. No fixed activities are
planned, so you can relax at the beach or by the pool and decide how you
would like to spend each day.
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If you would like to explore more of the island, we can add optional activities
such as a Stone Town tour, a spice farm visit, snorkelling or a boat trip. These
can be included when we personalise the itinerary or booked directly at the
hotel during your stay.
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Meals included on all days: breakfast (can be adapted to your preferred meal plan).
DAY 21
DAY 21: DEPARTURE FROM ZANZIBAR
After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel. At the agreed time, your driver will
transfer you to Zanzibar International Airport for your flight home.
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If your international return flight departs from Dar es Salaam instead, we can
arrange a ferry or domestic flight from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam, together
with the required transfers. We will advise you on the best option based on
your international flight schedule.
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Meals included: breakfast.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATIONS
The accommodations below are used for this example itinerary and have been inspected by our team. We can suggest other options depending on your travel dates, budget, group size and preferred style.
aerial view
aerial view
ONOMO HOTEL
DAR ES SALAAM
2 NIGHTS
Onomo Hotel is a modern city hotel in central Dar es Salaam, with air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, a rooftop pool, restaurant and fitness centre. Its location makes it a convenient place to rest after arriving in Tanzania.
KILWA BEACH LODGE
KILWA
2 NIGHTS
Kilwa Beach Lodge is located beside the Indian Ocean near Kilwa Masoko. It offers private rooms, a restaurant and a relaxed coastal setting, making it a convenient base for visiting Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.
MTEMERE SAFARI LODGE
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
3 NIGHTS
Mtemere Safari Lodge is a comfortable midrange lodge just outside Nyerere National Park and close to Mtemere Gate. The lodge has well-decorated rooms and a relaxed bar and restaurant area where guests can enjoy their evenings in a bush setting.
FOREST SUNSET HOTEL
MOROGORO
1 NIGHT
Forest Sunset Hotel is a peaceful hotel in Morogoro at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains. The hotel has comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant and green gardens, making it a convenient place to stay before and after the Uluguru hike.
CAMPING AT MORNINGSIDE
ULUGURU MOUNTAINS
1 NIGHT
Camping at Morningside allows you to spend a night in the Uluguru Mountains during the two-day hike. This is a simple camping experience surrounded by nature, with meals prepared as part of the hiking programme.
CAMP LILAC
MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
3 NIGHTS
Camp Lilac is a small camp just outside Mikumi National Park, with views of the surrounding mountains. Guests can stay in a spacious safari tent or private cabin, each with an ensuite bathroom and private deck. Some cabins also have panoramic mountain views and a bathtub.
RUAHA HILLTOP LODGE
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
3 NIGHTS
Ruaha Hilltop Lodge is situated on a hillside outside Ruaha National Park, with views across the surrounding landscape. The lodge offers individual cottages, a restaurant and bar, and a quiet setting where guests can relax after a day on safari.
KHOLLE HOUSE
STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR
1 NIGHT
Kholle House is a small boutique hotel in a restored historic building in Stone Town. Its individually decorated rooms, courtyard and central location make it a comfortable base for exploring the old town on foot.
FUN BEACH HOTEL
ZANZIBAR
4 NIGHTS
Fun Beach Hotel is located on Jambiani Beach and offers air-conditioned rooms around its pools or closer to the ocean. Guests can enjoy three swimming pools, a private beach area, restaurant, bar, games room and spa.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS TRIP COST?
All prices are estimates. Your final quotation depends on your travel dates, group size,
room configuration, availability and any changes or additional activities requested.
2 travellers: $4,333 per person
3 travellers: $3,903 per person
4 travellers: $3,580 per person
5 travellers: $3,509 per person
6 travellers: $3,360 per person
OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
The estimated prices are based on the accommodations shown above. More luxurious hotels, beach resorts
and safari lodges can be included, including accommodation inside the national parks.
Tell us what level of comfort you prefer and we will include suitable options in your personalised proposal.
Upgrading the accommodation will change the final price.
Prices can be higher during peak travel periods, including Christmas and New Year.
Every quotation is personalised according to your exact travel dates, availability, group size, room configuration and any changes or additional activities requested. Single rooms can be quoted separately.
INCLUDED
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Airport transfer to your hotel in Dar es Salaam
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Two nights at Onomo Hotel with breakfast
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Private full day tour of Dar es Salaam
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Private road transport between Dar es Salaam, Kilwa, Nyerere, Morogoro, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha
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Two nights at Kilwa Beach Lodge with full board
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Full day excursion to Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara
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Boat transfers, local guide and government entrance fees in Kilwa
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Private safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide
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National park fees for Nyerere, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha
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Private game drives according to the itinerary
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Private sunset boat safari on the Rufiji River
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Three nights at Mtemere Safari Lodge with full board
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One night at Forest Sunset Hotel with full board
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Two-day guided hike in the Uluguru Mountains
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One night camping at Morningside
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Camping equipment and meals during the Uluguru hike
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Three nights at Camp Lilac with full board
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Guided waterfall hike in Udzungwa Mountains National Park
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Three nights at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge with full board
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Scheduled flight from Ruaha to Zanzibar
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Transfer from Zanzibar Airport to Kholle House
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One night at Kholle House with breakfast
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Transfer from Stone Town to Fun Beach Hotel
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Four nights at Fun Beach Hotel with breakfast
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Transfer from Fun Beach Hotel to Zanzibar Airport
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Meals according to the itinerary
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Drinking water in the safari vehicle
EXCLUDED
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International flights
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Visas and travel insurance
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Lunch during the Dar es Salaam city tour
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Lunches and dinners in Zanzibar
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Guided Stone Town tour and other optional activities
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Drinks at the accommodations
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Tips
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Personal expenses
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Single room supplements
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Ferry or domestic flight from Zanzibar back to Dar es Salaam
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Any services not included in the confirmed quotation
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A ferry or domestic flight back to Dar es Salaam can be added if your international return flight departs from Dar es Salaam.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS​
Is this a private trip?
Yes. The road transfers, Dar es Salaam city tour, safari vehicle, driver-guide, Uluguru hike and sunset boat safari are private for your booking group. The scheduled flight from Ruaha to Zanzibar is shared with other passengers.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. This is an example itinerary. We can change the accommodations, activities, number of safari days, time in Zanzibar and overall pace according to your preferences.
How difficult is the Uluguru Mountains hike?
The hike takes place over two days and includes uneven paths, climbs and descents. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Tell us about your hiking experience and fitness level so we can advise you and adapt the route where possible.
What is the overnight stay at Morningside like?
This is a simple camping experience in the mountains rather than a hotel stay. Camping equipment, meals and support during the hike are included. We can discuss a different hiking or overnight option if you prefer not to camp.
How difficult is the Udzungwa waterfall hike?
The Udzungwa hike is completed in one day but includes steep and uneven sections through the forest. The exact route can be adapted according to your fitness level, preferred walking distance and conditions in the park. Your guide will discuss the route with you before starting.
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Does the Kilwa excursion involve a lot of walking?
Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara are explored mainly on foot, but most of the terrain is relatively flat. The route can be shortened or adjusted if required. Boat transfers, a local guide and government entrance fees are included.
Can I add a Maasai village visit?
Yes. A Maasai village visit can be added during your stay in Mikumi for $10 per person. It will replace part of the time normally spent on a game drive.
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Can I upgrade the accommodations?
Yes. More luxurious hotels, beach resorts and safari lodges are available. We can also arrange accommodation inside Nyerere National Park. Any upgrades will be included in your personalised quotation.
Are the prices fixed?
No. The prices shown are mid-season estimates based on travellers sharing rooms. Your final price depends on your exact dates, group size, room configuration, availability and any changes requested.
Can I add activities in Zanzibar?
Yes. The Zanzibar days are free in this example itinerary, but we can add activities such as a Stone Town tour, spice farm visit, snorkelling or a boat trip.
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Can some of the longer drives be replaced by flights?
Flights can be included where suitable connections are available. This can reduce travel time, but it will change the route and final price.
What if my international flight departs from Dar es Salaam?
We can arrange a ferry or domestic flight from Zanzibar back to Dar es Salaam, together with the required transfers. We will advise you on the best option based on your international flight schedule.