What are the highlights of this 10 day adventure:
- Nairobi
- Serengeti National Park Safari
- Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi. Arrive at any time. Tonight after a brief welcome meeting, choose to get to know your group members with an optional group dinner at a nearby local restaurant in Nairobi.
Accommodation: The Heron Hotel Nairobi (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Your Welcome Moment: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
- Nairobi: This busy metropolis and capital city has an intoxicating mix of African and Indian culture, which are both well-represented in the local cuisine. Enjoy artsy cafes with a cup of famous Kenyan coffee, and bring your dancing shoes -- Nairobi has a fantastic nightlife. For a taste of history and archaeology, visit the National Museum, home to most of the great prehistoric finds made by the famous Leakey family.
Day 2: Nairobi/Arusha. Travel by public shuttle through the semi-arid lands of the Maasai people and cross the border into Tanzania. Search the horizon for views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and arrive to Arusha in the evening. Stops will be made along the way for you to have lunch and dinner on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Comfort Eland Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Shuttle: Nairobi - Arusha, 7 hours. Move efficiently from point A to point B aboard this dependable ride.
- Border Crossing (Kenya - Tanzania): Namanga. Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
- Nairobi: This busy metropolis and capital city has an intoxicating mix of African and Indian culture, which are both well-represented in the local cuisine. Enjoy artsy cafes with a cup of famous Kenyan coffee, and bring your dancing shoes -- Nairobi has a fantastic nightlife. For a taste of history and archaeology, visit the National Museum, home to most of the great prehistoric finds made by the famous Leakey family.
Day 3: Arusha/Serengeti National Park. Prepare for a wildlife safari experience in one of the most famous national parks in Africa; the Serengeti. Travel from Arusha and begin a 3-day, 2-night excursion with a safari drive through the park.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Seronera Campsite (or similar) - Campsite
Today's activities:
- Serengeti National Park Safari: This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
- 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Arusha - Serengeti National Park, 10 hours. Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
The Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater portion of the trip will make use of specialized 4x4 7-seater safari vehicles, with experienced safari driver/guides, who will ensure wonderful wildlife encounters. The safari vehicles each have sliding windows and a large pop-up roof, perfect for viewing animals and scenery. The group will split up among several vehicles and your CEO will spend time in each vehicle over the next three days.
Day 4: Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro. Head out on a final morning safari in the Serengeti before continuing on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for its magnificent wildlife viewing opportunities. Set up camp in the late afternoon near the crater rim and simply soak in this beautiful setting.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Simba Campsite (or similar) - Campsite
Today's activities:
- 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro, 10 hours. Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
- Serengeti National Park Safari: This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
Day 5: Ngorongoro/Arusha. Adventure down to the crater floor for a final safari experience in an area surrounded by the high walls. Exit the crater in the late morning and drive in the 4x4 safari vehicles back to Arusha. Stop along the way at Mto wa Mbu for a cultural walk and experience daily life in this rural town. Then, sit down for a traditional lunch with members from the local community.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Comfort Eland Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Ngorongoro - Arusha, 9 hours. Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
- Mto wa Mbu Community Visit and Lunch: Take part in a cultural walk to learn about life in this East African town. Mto wa Mbu has attracted some 18,000 residents from 120 different tribes. During the two-hour tour, visit the community's local market, go right to the farmer's fields, see how huts are constructed, and meet artisans in their shops. Afterwards, sit down with our new friends and enjoy a traditional lunch of meat and plantains.
- Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive: Set the alarm and prepare for an early start to see the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater. Masai herdsmen appear in the morning mist. Our driver/guide takes us down into the crater and drives us to all the best spots to view wildlife. Watch for zebra, gazelles, buffalo, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the savanna.
Day 6: Arusha/Bagamoyo. Depart from Arusha early in your private vehicle towards Bagamoyo. Enjoy the Tanzanian countryside passing by and be on the lookout for the blue waters of the Indian Ocean in the distance. The group will spend the night in Bagamoyo before transferring to Dar es Salaam and the island beaches of Zanzibar.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Firefly Bagamoyo Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Arusha - Bagamoyo, 9 hours and 45 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 7: Bagamoyo to Stone Town via Dar es Salaam. Travel from Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam and hop on the ferry in the morning to the picturesque island beaches of Zanzibar. Spend the remainder of the day enjoying the sandy shores of this archipelago paradise. Set off on an orientation walk with your CEO in Stone Town.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Spice Palace Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam, 2 hours and 15 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Ferry: Dar es Salaam - Stone Town, 1 hours and 30 minutes. Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
- Free time: Feel free to explore on your own, or join a guided tour.
- Stone Town Orientation Walk: This orientation walk is just a brief introduction. If you'd like to learn more in depth information about Stone Town, we recommended going on a guided city tour.
Zanzibar is a Muslim society. Immodestly dressed women or men in shorts will get harassed and cause great offence in Stone Town. On the beach, customs are a little more relaxed, but travellers are encouraged to be respectful of the island's culture and cover up when walking around. Never try to take a photograph without asking permission.
Day 8: Beach day in Zanzibar. Explore the heart of Zanzibar on your own. Walk the winding streets, visit the various squares, and choose to try some tasty treats from pavement vendors. The group will travel to the tropical haven of Jambiani for the next few days.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: S&S Hotel Jambiani (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Stone Town - Jambiani, 1 hours and 30 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Free time: Settle into island life and explore during some free time.
Day 9: Beach day in Zanzibar. Spend a free day in one of the world’s great cultural crossroads. Choose to partake in a diving experience, go snorkelling, hop aboard a sailing trip, or lounge on the beach listening to the nearby lapping waves in this East African paradise.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: S&S Hotel Jambiani (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Free time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.
Day 10: Stone Town. Travel back to Stone Town from the other side of the island. The tour ends in the late morning upon arrival.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today's activities:
- Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.
- Private Vehicle: Jambiani - Stone Town, 3 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Morning group transfer from the beach. Depart Stone Town upon arrival in the late morning. Onward travel should be booked no earlier than 2:30pm.
Next Steps
Ready to go? Simply request a spot via your MyIVHQ profile, and our team will reach out with availability and seasonal pricing details.
This tour can be completed before your volunteering experience in Tanzania, we'll help with recommendations to bridge any gaps between your volunteer program and the tour. These arrangements are your responsibility and we can provide you with personalized transit and accommodation advice to make your travel straightforward.
Best of all, you’ll be in great hands with our trusted partners who have led sustainable, community-first travel for 30 years. Your adventure makes a real, positive difference every step of the way.
Please note that exact activities and timing can vary depending on the season and availability. Don't worry, your tour provider will share your final, confirmed itinerary once your dates are set!
Let’s get your journey started!
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