Elephants & Spice

This morning you will explore Bagamoyo historical town, where slaves were once brought from the interior to be shipped to Zanzibar. You cross the Wami River by canoe, before switching to game drive cars for the journey into Saadani National Park and your beach safari camp. The camp is on the edge of the park, to the north of Bagamoyo. Despite its proximity to Zanzibar (15 minutes flying time) and Dar es Salaam, Saadani has remained almost totally undeveloped for tourism.

Bordering the park, your fixed tents are beautifully situated on the beach, with a bar and restaurant. Nearby there's the small local village of Mkwaja as well as the historical ruins of an early mosque. 

Saadani Fixed bandas (AAAA) - Beautiful thatched huts on stilts with en suite facilities - 4 nights (BD)

This morning you head out by open-topped Land Rover (the all-purpose workhorse of these parts), to seek out a wider variety of game. Wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, reedbuck, warthog and zebra occur in great numbers alongside some of the largest herds of giraffe found in Africa. You might also see the elusive oryx, sable and kudu. This afternoon is your most relaxing safari outing is a boat safari on the Wami River, where the type of animals you can see differs greatly. You motor slowly up-river past a wonderful array of kingfishers, bee-eaters and other river birds, with hippopotamus and crocodile basking in the warm, shallow waters. Many primates are also visible - especially black and white colobus monkey. You can then anchor or simply drift down-river in silence for a while before returning by vehicle through the reserve to camp. (BLD)

NB: The day by day activities described for the Saadani National Park may vary due to weather conditions and also the location of wildlife in the park.

Today we drive to Mikumi National Park (approx. 360 km / 6 hours). Established in 1964, the park lies in a horseshoe of Mountains, which rise to 2,750m. A number of routes can be taken within the park. You visit the floodplains of the Mkata River where hippo, elephant, buffalo and other animals are often found. Mikumi takes its name from the local Kiswahili language for a type of palm tree found in the area. You can also keep a lookout for the distinctive sausage trees. There is much to keep both young and old alert today – from wallowing hippos to colourful birds. 

Kikoboga Bandas (CC) (Stone-built thatched lodges with en suite facilities) - 2 nights - Swimming Pool (BD)

Today you transfer back to Dar Es Salaam to depart for Zanzibar by light aircraft. You will disembark and transfer to your hotel on arrival (15 minutes). As a result of its trade in slaves and spices, Zanzibar was for many years the most important town on the East African coast. The Sultans of Oman, who introduced the clove tree to its fertile soil at the start of the last century, moved their court here from Muscat in the Gulf and ruled until independence in the early 1960s. As a major trading centre, the 'Spice Island' is also reputed to be the birthplace of Swahili, the simple lingua franca that developed to allow trade between people of different languages. In the heart of the original merchant city the baleful cry of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer resonates though the narrow stone streets. 

Dhow Palace OR Tembo Hotel (AAA) - 2 nights - Swimming Pool (B)