Tanzania and Zanzibar | Classic Safari

Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport, make your way through immigration and customs. As you enter the arrivals area, look for the signboard with your name on it, then climb aboard for the 45-minute transfer to your Arusha accommodation. Check in to your rooms as allocated, and enjoy a three-course meal while your guide presents a general overview of your time in Tanzania.

This morning you will be met in the reception of your hotel by your guide and visit Arusha National Park, where you'll have great views of Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro, plus the opportunity to see flamingos, colobus monkeys, giraffes, and zebras.

Today, set out for Tarangire National Park, an often "forgotten" park located less than two hours from Arusha to the southwest. During the dry season from July to November, Tarangire comes alive even more with herds of up to 300 elephants that scratch the dry riverbed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and various types of antelope crowd the shrinking lagoons. Here you'll find the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, providing a smorgasbord for predators. Tarangire is also home to the iconic ancient baobab trees. Spend the day exploring the park, from Silalei Swamp to Little Serengeti and the Tarangire River bed to view the resident and migratory wildlife.

After breakfast, catch a glimpse of the "true Tanzania" during a visit to Losirwa Primary School, where you'll spend the day helping out based on the current needs of the school; projects may include working in the classrooms, helping to prepare the nursery school lunch, or painting the facilities. Losirwa Primary School is approximately 60 miles west of Arusha in the Maasai village of Losirwa. The school began as three mud classrooms in 2008, when it was built by the Maasai villagers for their children. Since then, another three classrooms have been added. The government provided teachers and continues to fund the school, though irregularly. Share and present any donations that you may have gathered from the school's wish list, and maybe challenge the children to a game of football (soccer). The school's head teacher, Mr. Charles, will be present throughout your visit to assist with language translation and explain cultural norms as needed. In the afternoon, visit Mto wa mbu village for local cuisine prepared by your village host. Late this afternoon, continue to your lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a collapsed volcano-an incredible natural amphitheater, 15 miles across and teeming with all of the African big game. Early this morning, descend into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Within its perimeters are thousands of wildebeest, many black rhino, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and other predators. Flamingos inhabit the soda lake in the center of the crater, and other bird life is abundant, especially around the swamp. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake, and then return to your lodge in the mid-afternoon.

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park, stopping en route at Olduvai Gorge. Nicknamed the "Cradle of Mankind," this famous site is where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey excavated key hominid fossils that provided significant understanding of the course of human evolution. Visit the on-site museum and view archaeological sites where early human tools and fossils have been found. Continue on to Serengeti National Park, which covers an area of 9,173 square miles and lies between the shores of Lake Victoria to the west, Lake Eyasi to the south, the Great Rift Valley to the east, and the Maasai Mara to the north. Criss-crossed with forested riverine valleys, the Serengeti plays home to millions of Africa's large mammals, and notably the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, making this one of the world's most famous wildlife destinations. This afternoon take your first game drive in the rolling grasslands.

Spend the day at Serengeti National Park for game driving and unforgettable wildlife viewing.

Continue with another full day of game drives in Serengeti. The best time for the wildebeest migration is between December and June, but there is spectacular wildlife at any time of year. Tonight have dinner and enjoy a campfire under the stars, listening for the sounds of the African night.

After breakfast, take a game drive to the central Serengeti airstrip at Seronera for a two-hour flight (via Arusha) to Zanzibar, part of the "Spice Islands." Upon arrival, you'll be met at the airport and enjoy a visit to a spice plantation. Learn where black pepper comes from, and see the henna, nutmeg, ginger, and other spices on display.

The eastern Bwejuu beach in Zanzibar offers glistening sands and azure waters for you to enjoy. Zalu's friendly staff can assist you in anything from scuba diving to lazing in the sun and relishing cocktails. Continue your ultimate exotic experience by relaxing at the club at your own pace, or get busy with the many additional activities on offer (prices upon request at reception).

The eastern Bwejuu beach in Zanzibar offers glistening sands and azure waters for you to enjoy. Zalu's friendly staff can assist you in anything from scuba diving to lazing in the sun and relishing cocktails. Continue your ultimate exotic experience by relaxing at the club at your own pace, or get busy with the many additional activities on offer (prices upon request at reception).

After breakfast, transfer to Stone Town for a historical walking tour of this World Heritage Site. The three-hour guided tour starts at the House of Wonder (the first tall building in East Africa to also have electricity). It then proceeds to the Sultan's Palace, which is now a museum, then to the Old Indian Dispensary and the Livingstone House. Next, take in the hustle and bustle of the market, which dates to 1904 and where local exotic fruits and vegetables are sold. Also visit the Anglican Church, built in 1873 on the site of the old slave market, and continue past other landmarks including the State House, Zanzibar Museum, the High Court of Zanzibar, Tipu Tip House, the first British High Commission, Jamhuri Garden, and finally the Old Fort building. Take your time and visit a variety of souvenir shops to bring home some memories of Zanzibar. Transfer to the airport for a 20-minute flight to Dar es Salaam, where you will meet your international departure.