Day 1: Meet and Greet
Today you will awake to the sounds and smells of Arusha. Chickens, dogs and the singing from a local church will soon become your common early morning wakeup call as you begin to immerse into Tanzanian culture. We will begin today early by separating out safari gear from the rest of your luggage (Unused items will be stored safely at our base location). The rest of the day will be spent exploring Arusha and meeting locals.
Day 2: Depart to Lake Manyara
An early morning departure from Arusha will begin our journey. Lake Manyara will be our first taste from the grand buffet of natural wonder that Tanzania has to offer. We will enter and explore Lake Manyara National Park through the day then set up camp near the gates. This will be the first of many nights spent under the stars.
Day 3: Tarangire National Park
We will make an early morning departure from Manyanara National Park and head to Tarangire National Park for our game drives and lunch in the park overlooking the Great Rift Valley. This little known park will provide a fantastic stepping stone to the vast planes of the Serengeti!
Day 4 -8: Serengeti and 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 and assist in setting up camp.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater
This is the world's largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera. The Crater was formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself some two million years ago and is now home to Black Rhino and other species on the brink of extinction.
Day 10: Tribal Maasai Culture
Living on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater are local nomadic tribes of the Maasai. Travelers will have an opportunity to learn about the history of the tribe and the unique living conditions that they call home.
Day 11: Return to Arusha
A hot meal and time to clean up is a welcome reprieve from the exhausting past 7 days on Safari. We will spend the day relaing and check out the local markets in Arusha and prepair for the next adventure.
Day 12 : Climbing Kilimanjaro Arusha to Mandara- 1280m to 2740m
The day starts with an early drive from Arusha to the Marangu gate. After
registering at the park gates we begin trekking through rainforest until we
reach our first base camp, Mandara.
Hike Time: 3-4hrs
Distance: 7kms
Accommodation: Hut
Day 13 & 14: Mandara to Horombo- 2740m to 3700m
After breakfast, leave the confines of the rainforest, and continue trekking
past Maundi Crater into open rolling moorlands where you will get your first
clear view of towering Kilimanjaro in the distance. Our base camp for the next
two nights is Horombo. (We will take an extra day at Horombo hut for acclimatization.)
Hike Time: 4-5hrs
Distance: 11kms
Accommodation: Hut
Day 15: Horombo to Kibo- 3700m to 4700m
After a good night’s rest we trek past the last water point to reach Kibo Saddle.
This is a broad desert zone between the two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Early
to bed tonight as the summit awaits us early tomorrow morning.
Hike Time: 6-7hrs
Distance: 10kms
Accommodation: Hut
Day 16: Kibo to Summit- 4700m to 5895m
Our summit approach starts at midnight. After a snack we precede to the summit
through Gilman’s point (18,640ft). It is about 5-6hours from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and from Gilman’s point to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft) is 1-2 hours. Thus reaching the peak in the early morning of the seventh day we will arrive just in time to watch the sunrise. After some awesome picture taking on the Rooftop of Africa we start descending to Horombo hut for dinner and an overnight stay.
Hike Time: 5-7hrs
Distance: 4kms
Summit to Horombo- 5895m to 3700m
Hike Time: 4-6hrs
Distance: 14kms
Accommodation: Hut
Day 17: Horombo to Arusha- 3700m to 1280m
Today is spent descending to Marangu Gate where it all started from. You will be presented with your certificate of accomplishment before transferring back to Arusha for some well deserved rest and relaxation at the base house
Hike Time: 5-7hrs
Distance: 18kms
Day 18: Arusha and Relaxing
We spend our day relaxing, doing some 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 19-26 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. Buildings to see include: Forodhani Gardens, The Palace Museum, St Joseph's Cathedral, Arab Fort, House of Wonders, Durajani Bazaar and many more.
Day of Sailing to Prison Island
Earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, 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.
Spice of Life
Zanzibar is known as the spice island, and today we will visit sites 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 like. 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 we head off to visit Jozani forest which is a protected forest and is home to some of our primate cousins. The Red Colobus monkey is indigenous only to Zanzibar and there are about 2300 in and around the forest. We will explore this amazing forest by foot.
Day 27: Return To Arusha
Today we will depart the island and fly back to the Arusha base location. Today will be a day to reflect on the last few action packed weeks. We may go out to an evening movie in town or perhaps relax and prepare for the next few days of exploring our own back yard, Arusha.
Day 28-30: Poli Village
You will be taking part in a number of different community service projects that will benefit the students of Nkoakirika Primary School, which is located in the Poli Village. Project work during the course of your program may involve participation in a variety of initiatives. You can expect to spend time within the local schools, tutoring students in English, helping with classroom activities and getting involved with local sporting events. Other projects will involve repairs and maintenance to school buildings, construction of new amenities or upgrading of present facilities. As well as teaching the students about hygiene, dental care and general medical issues. Your time of this program of service will be varied, interesting, challenging and extremely rewarding and worthwhile. At the conclusion of each afternoon’s work you will return to the base house for the evening.
Day 31: Goodbye Africa
This morning will be the conclusion of your service work within the local villages, a time for farewells and best wishes and a chance to reflect on the experiences and memories which have encapsulated themselves in the hearts of your group over such a seemingly short period of time. Incredible friendships have been made that will be cherished for many years to come.
The afternoon will be spent in Arusha shopping for any final gifts or souvenirs. After a final meal with your group, you travel to the airport and bid Tanzania farwell!
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur. |
Tanzania offers a kaleidoscope of vivid images. A herd of wildebeest veers down a dusty plain. A snow-capped peak rises majestically from the savannah. Charming stone houses line narrow streets that wind through brilliant bazaars. This is the Africa of your wildest dreams.
Go on a four-day safari in Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s premier wildlife playgrounds, explore Ngorongoro Crater, a lush caldera that is the stomping grounds of hundreds of wild herds, and check out Tarangire and Lake Manyara, two of Tanzania’s seldom-seen parks. Whether you’re spotting the Big Five – lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and elephants – in Serengeti or watching the sunset over Lake Manyara, this trip will take you deep into Tanzania’s best wildlife parks and reserves. 
After rising to the challenge and reaching the ‘rooftop of Africa,’ you’ll head for the blue coastline of the tiny island of Zanzibar. Here you’ll wander through the winding alleyways of the old city, exploring grand old houses, bustling bazaars and timeless mosques. Tour famed spice plantations, where your senses will be overwhelmed by the vibrant mix of colors and smells created by cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, turmeric root and much more. Set sail in a traditional dhow for the shores of Prison Island, where you’ll encounter 100-year-old giant tortoises and take in the island’s rich history. In between all this you’ll be snorkeling over colorful reefs, taking in the local culture, hanging out on the beach, and having the time of your life. 
