Tanzania | Wildlife Safari with Dr. Quint White

Depart the US on overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Fly directly from Amsterdam to Zanzibar. This flight only operates on Sunday. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transported to the hotel. The beautiful island of Zanzibar not only boasts breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean but also rich history, culture, and architecture. As one of the world's leading producers of spices, it is known as the Spice Island.

Today, embark on a full-day snorkel or dive excursion in the clear waters of a Menai Bay conservation area, which has beautiful living corals and abundant marine life. Enjoy a seafood picnic lunch on the protected island of Kwale. Then, explore a mangrove lagoon while swimming. Later, sail back to the main island and your hotel.

This morning, take a historical walking tour of Stone Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 3-hour guided tour starts at the House of Wonders, the tallest and largest building in Stone Town. It then proceeds to the Sultan's Palace, which is now a museum, before making way to the Old Dispensary and the Livingstone House. Next, take in the hustle and bustle of the market, which dates back to 1904 and where delicious local fruits and vegetables are sold. Additionally, visit the Anglican Church, built in 1873 on the site of the old slave market, and continue past other landmarks including the State House, the High Court of Zanzibar, Tippu Tip's House, the British High Commission, Jamhuri Gardens, and finally the Old Fort. If time permits, visit a spice farm to learn about Zanzibar's renowned production of black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, and other spices. Then, travel to the airport in time for your 1:20 pm flight to Arusha. Once in Arusha, head to the hotel for some free time before dinner and a program orientation with your guides.

After breakfast, visit a local market to view a variety of colorful handicrafts and experience life in Arusha. After lunch, enjoy a canoe excursion on Lake Duluti, a volcanic crater lake that is home to fascinating wildlife, including reptiles and birds.

Wake up early for breakfast before embarking on the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Spend a full day in the park, which includes picnic lunches. This area is described as one of the finest in all of Tanzania for bird watching since it features more than 400 bird species; look for flamingos, pelicans, herons, spoonbills, ibis, eagles, mousebirds, hornbills, kingfishers, barbets, woodpeckers, swallows, flycatchers, starlings, sunbirds, weavers, and rollers. Additionally, keep your cameras ready when looking for elephants and the potential excitement of spotting a legendary Lake Manyara tree-climbing lion. After a day in the park, continue to Ngorongoro Crater.

Start the day early once again to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. Defined by its sunken caldera spanning 100 square miles, Ngorongoro is a World Heritage Site and sometimes called an 8th Wonder of the World. The crater floor provides a mini example of a complete African ecosystem with forests, lakes, grasslands, swamps, and rivers, making it so animals are present throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game areas in Africa and contains an impressive variety of wildlife including the black-maned lion, the highly endangered black rhino, herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, and hippo, as well as numerous bird species. The crater also boasts an impressive concentration of predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, servals, bat-eared foxes, spotted hyenas, and golden and black-backed jackals. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the crater to make the most of your day, not returning to your lodge until late afternoon.

Depart Ngorongoro today and visit world-renowned Olduvai Gorge. As a result of massive geological activities over the eons, Olduvai provides a unique record of countless years of fossilized creatures and plants in a series of stratified rock layers. In the 1930s, archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey began excavating at Olduvai Gorge in the hopes of finding clues to the origins of mankind. Their discovery of primitive tools and, later, fossilized hominid remains (Australopithecus boisei; Homo habilis) helped lay the foundation for present-day theories on human evolution. After a lecture and some exploring through the museum, go on a walk to the Zinj site, the Leakey camp, and the living museum, while accompanied by the museum curator. After lunch, continue on toward Land of Nature Camp in Central Serengeti. Once you cross through the gate of the park, the wildlife viewing drive begins. Your guide/driver will follow the best path that leads to your camp, with the knowledge of where the wildlife can be found en route. Upon arrival at the camp, have the remainder of the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset and dinner at your camp.

Enjoy your first full day at Serengeti National Park on morning and afternoon wildlife viewing drives. Extending for an incredible 5,790 square miles, the Serengeti is one of the world's largest natural sanctuaries, Tanzania's first national park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite the vast space, the amount of game that visitors can expect to see is still astounding. The Serengeti, meaning "endless plain" in Maasai, consists mostly of grasslands interspersed with Acacia woodlands and rocky outcrops. There is little permanent water in the park, which, combined with a fairly regular rainfall pattern, has resulted in the world-famous wildebeest migration, when up to 2 million large wildebeest move between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Explore the Central area of the Serengeti near the Seronera River, which provides an important water source and attracts a lot of wildlife. This area is the best for spotting hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, several carnivores, and much more. Today is also the best day for participants who would like to experience the balloon safari, which is at an additional cost and requires previous reservation.

Spend another day on exciting wildlife viewing drives or just relaxing at the camp.

Take a flight from the Serengeti to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to connect with your international flights home. Day room accommodations are not included on this day.

Arrive home.