Safari and a Splash of Paradise Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Africa here we come!
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Tanzania depart from New York. All scheduled group flights to Africa are escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs New York in the evening and takes about 16 hours.  During your flight take the time to get to know other students on your flight, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival into Africa. 

Day 2: Meet and Greet                                         
Jambo! Welcome to Tanzania. You will arrive into Arusha, Tanzania in the early evening and will transfer to the Rustic Pathways Base. Spend the night getting to know the staff and as part of your initial orientation, you will be taught many aspects of Tanzania protocols and expectations of behavior. The base accommodation is located 10mins outside of the main city of Arusha. The property has been set up for Rustic Pathways to have sole use of the Country Style Bungalow’s and grounds throughout the summer. Our student’s safety is our number one priority on all our programs.  

Day 3: Exploring Serengeti National Park
We depart early morning from Arusha to experience the magnificent wildlife in Tanzania's richest game park and interact with heart warming tribal cultures on this African safari. During our time in the Serengeti we will spend the nights camping out under brilliant blanket of stars carpeting the African sky.

Day 4 & 5: The Big Five
Without a specific schedule or route, our game drives allow us to follow the rhythms of the limitless wildlife as we witness the daily struggle between predators and prey. The kopjes, or massive islands of granite standing in a sea of grass, provide shelter to a great variety of animals from the elusive leopard to the tiny dik-dik. We learn to track animals, paying particular interest to any species we have yet to see. In the evening there is the chance to help cook over an open fire.

Day 6: Head to the Island of Spice
This morning we will drive to Arusha airport and fly to Zanzibar, where ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic houses, and white, sandy, palm-fringed beaches coexist. We will spend the afternoon visiting the multitude of historical buildings in Stone Town. Building to see include: Forodhani Gardens, The Palace Museum, St Joseph's Cathedral, Arab Fort, House of Wonders, Durajani Bazaar and many more.

Day 7: Day of Sailing to Prison Island
Earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. The island lies just off the Old Stone Town and is home to giant tortoises that were imported from the Seychelles in the late 19th century. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing.

Day 8: A Spice of Life
Zanzibar is known as the spice island, and today we will visit where the various spices are grown and harvested. We will have the pleasure of seeing cinnamon trees, nutmeg trees, vanilla trees (believe it or not) and the likes. You will be asked to smell and taste various spices and guess what they are, as well as witness harvesters climbing huge trees with no harnesses or protection, to bring down coconuts for your delight. Then in the afternoon head off to visit, Jozani forest which is a protected forest and is home to some of our primate cousins. The Red Colobus monkey are indigenous only to Zanzibar and there are about 2300 in and around the forest. We will explore this amazing forest by foot.

Day 9: Arusha and Relaxing
We have an early morning flight back to Arusha andspend our final day relaxing, doing some last minute shopping in Arusha for souvenirs and enjoying the chance to recount some of the wonderful memories we have of the last few days. Arusha is a small African town nestled in the shadow of Mount Meru with commanding views of the mighty Kilimanjaro.

Day 10: Goodbye Africa
It's time to say goodbye to the staff and Tanzania.  If you are returning home today, your flight will depart this evening. If you are continuing onto another Rustic Pathways adventure, your staff will help you with your flight arrangements or connection to other program in Tanzania.

Safari and a Splash of Paradise Packing List

All of the items below are guidelines. Here is the packing list for the Safari and a Splash of Paradise program. If you are doing a combination of trips over two or three weeks, be sure to check the packing lists for all sections of your trip to pack appropriately. You will have the opportunity to wash your clothing during your trip in Africa. The following are specific items required for each trip portion. Temperature during the day in the Serengeti is around (60-70) and at night (50-60).  On Zanzibar temperature during the day is (70-85) and at night (60-65). If you have any questions about the Safari and a Splash of Paradise packing list please feel free to email our Africa team at africa@rusticpathways.com.

Travel Documents:
Valid passport
Airline Ticket

Carry-On Luggage:
Wallet/Purse
Spare T-Shirt
Sunglasses
Toothpaste/ Toothbrush
Camera
Journals and Pens

Checked Luggage:
1x Blue Jeans
1x Lightweight camping pants
8x Underwear
2x Bathing Suits
3x Socks
5x T-Shirts
1x Long Sleeve T-Shirt
1x Fleece
4x Shorts
1x Heavy Hooded Sweatshirt
1x Lightweight Rain Coat or Poncho
Sun Hat
1x Tennis Shoes or Sneakers
1x Sandals or Flip-Flops
Personal First Aid Kit
Sunglasses
Flashlight with spare batteries
Sleeping Bag
Personal Items:
Toiletries Bag
1x Beach Towel
Sun screen and lip protection, SPF 30+
Money Belt for valuables
Medications
Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia
Optional Items:
Camera  
Notebook & Pen
Deck of Cards                                                                                                              
Frisbee or Hackysack                                                                                                       
 CD Walkman or Ipod.
Reading Material
Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas)

Safari and a Splash of Paradise:

1 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
Yes, Rustic Pathways will provide bottled water for drinking at all times.

2 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
To obtain a visa if you are an American citizen, your son/daughter needs to bring $100 USD with them (other citizens need $50 USD) for when they arrive into Tanzania.  At the arrival gate they will be able to pay the immigration officer and receive the necessary visa.  You do not need to obtain a visa before your trip.

3 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
The student’s first night in country they will be staying in upscale bungalows situated in Arusha.  There are hot showers, sit down toilets and comfortable beds for each room.  During the nights spent in the Serengeti, students will be staying in camp style tents that hold 2 people at a time.  The camping area is designated by the National Park service.   There are squat toilets and sinks/water taps that run off of collected rainwater for washing.  While in Zanzibar, accommodation will be at upscale hotels in close proximity to the beach.  There are hot showers, sit down toilets and comfortable beds.

4 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
We are unable to suggest any type of immunizations necessary for the trip, however you can check on the World Health Organization’s website, the Center for Disease Control website or speak with a local travel clinic doctor for more information.

5 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Souvenirs and snacks need to be taken into consideration.

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
A flight leader will meet all the students at JFK and be with them until their arrival into Tanzania.  One will also be present on the return flight home.

7 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Tanzania’s geographical location makes it difficult to connect seamlessly with the other countries we operate in.  We suggest any student interested in connecting programs should first return home and wait for the following week until the next program begins.  This will allow enough time to smoothly integrate into the upcoming trip, without missing out on the first couple of days.

8 - How long is the flight to this country?
It is roughly about 19 hours.

9 - What kind of food will we be eating?
While at the Serengeti we have cooks that travel along with us to the campsite.  They have worked closely with Rustic Pathways in the past and provide westernized dishes along with the occasional local dish to try.  When the students continue on to Zanzibar, they will be eating at restaurants and at the establishment they are staying.

10 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
Generally speaking, there are usually more girls than boys, but it is difficult to say with each trip being different.