Stay : Safari and beaches in the southern parks and Zanzibar
The national parks in central and southern Tanzania are less well known and visited than those in the north, but just as spectacular for their wealth of wildlife. After a week's strenuous safari, there's nothing better than spending a second week in Zanzibar to relax on beautiful beaches and discover the island's charm.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
15 days
€€€ - Luxury
Detail of the stay : Safari and beaches in the southern parks and Zanzibar - 15 days
Day 1: Arrival in Dar Es Salaam
Steps: Dar Es Salaam, Kigamboni
Arrival in Dar es Salaam after a long and tiring flight. You'll discover the capital's highlights: National Museum, Botanical Gardens, Kigamboni. You can spend a night in the bustling capital, dining out on Swahili specialities and discovering the lively atmosphere of the capital's bars.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
Day 2: Selous National Park Safari - Day 1
Steps: Selous Reserve - Nyerere National Park
Departure for the Selous reserve. Arrive at a small airstrip where a car is waiting to take you to your camp. On the banks of the Rufiji River, for example. In the afternoon, you're off on safari to discover exceptional wildlife. In the evening, an intense red sunset over a savannah landscape.
Day 3: Selous National Park Safari - Day 2
Early in the morning, for this second day, opt for a walking safari accompanied by armed rangers, then set off in a 4x4 and finally take a boat trip on the river, to meet hippos, crocodiles and groups of elephants. In the evening, return to camp for dinner around the campfire.
Day 4: Safari in Ruaha National Park - Day 1
Steps: Ruaha National Park
In the morning, you set off on a walking safari with rangers, to experience the thrill of walking through the bush with armed rangers, in case of a chance encounter with predators! The rest of the morning is spent on a 4x4 safari. Lunch at the camp before boarding the plane for Ruaha. You take your first game drive in this new park before resting and settling into your heavy tent.
Day 5: Safari in Ruaha National Park - Day 2
Magnificent, wild and authentic, Ruaha National Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country. But it's also one of the least known. The flora is extremely varied: in addition to the classic lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, giraffes and buffalo, you can see rare black hippotragues, roan antelopes, oryx, yellow baboons, wild dogs...
Day 6: Safari in Ruaha National Park - day 3
The next day, we set off on another day's safari in search of animals to observe in 4x4 vehicles. Beware of tsetse flies, which swarm in the region. Don't wear blue or black, and opt for thick clothing despite the heat to avoid being bitten through the canvas. The wild savannah landscapes are fantastic, and the wildlife numerous.
Day 7: Safari in Ruaha Park - day 4
Steps: Dar Es Salaam
In the morning, you leave for a final safari in Ruaha National Park, tracking the Big 5 and other wild animals that inhabit the savannah. Picnic lunch before catching a plane back to Dar Es Salaam. From Dar Es Salaam, you take another flight to Zanzibar. Arrive in Stone Town in the late afternoon. In the evening, dine on Swahili fish and seafood specialities in a fine restaurant.
Day 8: Visit Stone Town, capital of Zanzibar
Steps: Stone Town, Bububu
Discover Stone Town: in the morning, take a guided tour of the old town to discover the Old Dispensary, the old fort, the Anglican church and slave prison, Mtoni's palace and the many narrow streets with their carved doors and authentic atmosphere. In the afternoon, take a boat to Prison Island for snorkeling on a magnificent coral reef nearby.
Day 9: Farniente on northern beaches
After a week of gruelling safaris in the heat and dust of the bush, there's nothing like a few days on the beach at Nungwi or Kendwa in the very north of the island, among the most beautiful beaches because there are no coral reefs. Here, you can swim at any time in the turquoise waters. It's a picture-postcard landscape that invites you to take a siesta under the palm tree.
Day 10: Relaxation and visit to Nungwi
Steps: Kendwa
Another day of rest and beach. We take the opportunity to soak up the lively atmosphere of Kendwa, the island's second-largest town after Stone Town. A visit to the dhow-making workshops, a tour of the turtle aquarium and a session on the beach followed by a massage on the sun lounger, as there are many open-air spas here.
Day 11: Diving or snorkeling at Mnemba, visit to Matemwe
Steps: Mnemba Island, Matemwe, Nungwi
The jewel of the north coast is Mnemba, an island surrounded by an immense coral reef that plunges like a wall, and which can be discovered by diving or snorkeling. Located opposite Matemwe, boat excursions are also organized from Nungwi. In the afternoon, visit the Matemwe fish market (around 4 p.m.) and take a walking tour of this authentic village.
Day 12: Pajé, Jambiani and Michamvi
Steps: Michamvi Kae, Jambiani
Pack your bags and head for the south of the island, to Pagé or Jambiani, the most popular tourist villages. Here, the wind is strong enough for kite-surfing and windsurfing. The beach is bustling with women harvesting seaweed. The coral reef is wide and the lagoon magnificent. In the evening, dinner at Michamvi's famous The Rocks restaurant.
Day 13: Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Steps: Stone Town, Chwaka Bay
Zanzibar has just one national park, encompassing the Jozani forest and the wild mangroves of the unspoilt Chwaka Bay coast. The forest is home to the adorable Colobus monkeys, which are easy to approach. Visiting the park with a park ranger takes a good half-day. In the afternoon, enjoy the beach.
Day 14: Safari Blue, Dolphin Tour and Spice Tour
Steps: Stone Town, Kizimkazi
Choose one or two of the island's must-do tours that you'd like to take. The Dolphin Tour to Kizimkazi (where, by the way, don't fail to admire the village's 12th-century mosque) or the Safari Blue, a day of snorkeling in the south of the island.
Day 15: Stone Town, shopping and concert
Steps: Stone Town
One last beach morning before returning to Stone Town. In the afternoon, walk through the alleys to the Jaw corner, buy the latest souvenirs, buy lots of fabrics, local Swahili and Maasai crafts, and in the evening, discover the Forodhani market and attend a Taarab or jazz music concert to end your stay on a musical note.
JAW'S CORNER
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