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TANZANIAN FAMILY OVERLAND SAFARI

DAR ES SALAAM TO DAR ES SALAAM

2008 departures:

25 Jul '08 - 10 Aug '08. Trip ref FTA18. Price £1240

11 Aug '08 - 27 Aug '08. Trip ref FTA28. Price £1240

Trip summary: Great beaches, fantastic safari, community involvement.

For full details and trip notes click here

For dates and prices click here

Family Based Trips

Our family trips have been specially designed to appeal to children as well as adults. We combine excitement with an element of learning and also to build in time for relaxation and beaches. There are a couple of longer driving days, but you will be travelling through extraordinary areas of the world and even the driving days can be fun.

Highlights for this trip include: Zanzibar, Kilimanaro, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater.

The minimum age for children is 7 years. There must be at least 1 adult to accompany 2 children. Accomodation used will be a mixture of camping in the wilds, campsites with facilities and good quality hotels, some with swimming pools.

Length: 16 Nights
Rating: Easy
Crew: 3 crew, Western crew, African camp master.
Vehicle: Classic Dragoman truck, boats, jeeps.
Accomodation: Camping and comfortable hotels. Full details can be found in the trip notes. Meal Plan: 16 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners. (50% camping, 50% hotels)

No local payment or kitty

 

what's included?

• 2 nights on idyllic Indian Ocean beaches
• 3 night stay in the stunning rural Usambara mountains with time for local community visits and hikes
• Half day easy hill trek to Irente Lookout and community visit to Irente villages
• 2 night stay at Mt. Kilimanjaro with time for easy hiking and community visits
• Half day visit to the Amani street children's orphange
• Camel trip and traditional Masai village visit
• Overnight stay at and days safari in Tarangire N.P., brilliant for elephant
• 2 day overland and wildcamp in Serengeti NP
• Jeep safari in Ngorongoro Crater Reserve
• Fly from Arusha direct to Zanzibar
• 3 nights on the tropical island of Zanzibar
• Guided tour of Spice Plantations and local lunch
• Scuba, snorkel and dolphin boat trips off Zanzibar

what else can I do?

The following optional extras are usually available and which cost US$20 or more:

• Dar es Salaam - 2 hours Riding horses along the beach, $25
• Lushoto - A variety of Hikes and forest walks allow approx., $15
• Serengeti - Serengeti Balloon Safari, $520
• Ngorongoro Crater/Karatu - Hire a mountain bike and ride though local villages, $10
• Ngorongoro Crater/Karatu - Ngorongoro Forest Walking Safari, $10
• Ngorongoro Crater/Karatu - Day trip to see the Tindiga bushmen, $15
• Zanzibar - 2 dive Scuba Trip off Zanzibar, $80
• Zanzibar - Dhow Trip and snorkelling (Full Day), $40
• Zanzibar - Dolphin Boat Trip, Kizimkazi (full day/incl. snorkel equip.), $30
• Zanzibar - Snorkelling trip to Lone Palm Reef, $25

Detailed itinerary.

 

DAYS 1 - 2: INDIAN OCEAN

Swahili

On the Indian Ocean coast we find the Swahili people who originate along the coastalstrip and speak ki-Swahili, which, when written in its classical form, is similar to Arabic in style.

Kipepeo Beach - Dar-es-Salaam

Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania's old capital, means Haven of Peace. Many of its buildings display Arabian influence and the port area is fascinating to visit with its ocean-going 'dhows' and inshore 'ngalawas' (out-rigger fishing canoes). We stay at the stunning palm fringed Kipepeo Beach beside the Indian Ocean. This beautiful site is idyllic and is a perfect place to start the trip and aclimatise to the humid Indian Ocean. You can take the opportunity to relax, ride horses through the bush or perhaps to visit a local village. The beach really is a beautiful spot which has not been overdeveloped by commerical tourist hotels. The small beach bar, restaurant, campsite and chalets are laid out along a white sand beach. It is an open beach and each day camels, cows and goats are herded along the sand.

DAYS 3 - 7: USAMBARA MTNS & KILIMANJARO

Usambara Mountains

We have a three night stop in the beautiful Usambara Mountains to explore this lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this area and so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. The mountains are located in the north east of Tanzania between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean and overlook the vast Masai steppe. They are wonderfully lush and green and the area has been dubbed the Galapagos of the plant world. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks.

As beautiful as the place is, its real jewel are the local peoples and villages. The area has a reputation for gentle hospitality and we will visit some of the small communities. We base ourselves at the old German colony of Lushoto where we stay in one of the earliest hotels in Africa. From here we will organise a short days walking trip out to the beautiful Irente viewpoint and on our way back visit a local village cultural and ecological project based at Irente farm. The farms website describes the place wonderfully as follows: "More and more travellers are attracted by the high quality farm produce sold at Irente. Cheese-starved Frenchmen are ecstatic to find such tasty cheese. Around lunch- time large groups of walkers are often found sitting down to a healthy lunch in the shade of makuti. Before leaving they may stock up from the farm shop. The manager, Peter Murless, is overjoyed at these developments, as it shows that funds invested in developing eco-tourism are showing rewards; and this puts the farm on a sound financial footing. The farm has embarked on a program of biodiversity restoration; in other words replanting patches of indigenous forest to attract more and more birds, insects, butterflies and small reptiles; which hopefully will attract even more inquisitive eco-tourists!"

We love the idea of the cheese starve Frenchmen and just like them we will organise lunch here. There is plenty of time here to explore one of the many walks that can be found in the region.

Kilimanjaro & Marangu Hotel

We now head onto the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro for a two night stay. We actually camp in the grounds of the family run Marangu Hotel, a wonderful old German colonial hotel with beautiful gardens. Tranquility descends when you enter the grounds and it is like stepping back to an era where time went slower, napkins were starched and sundowners were an important part of the day. Upgrades to rooms are available for those who prefer, but if you enjoy camping, this is a lovely place to be.

Remember, if you want to see the mountain, don't oversleep as the morning often allows the best views. The central hotel building was once a farm house, built in the early 1900s, and is of a charming, old world style. The hotel has a swimming pool and croquet lawn and so you spend the first afternoon to chilling or walking around the local villages that string up the mountain along the road. The next day, we suggest that if you are feeling particularly hearty and want a great walk, get up early and hike up the road and see if you can get to the gate of the Kilimanjaro National Park before lunch. We will come and collect you and then head of to Moshi to a orphanage run for local street children.

Amani Children's Home

We spend an afternoon in Moshi visiting this very worthwhile institution and meeting the children and helpers. We will take a tour and learn how Amani endeavours to restore hope to children who've been living on the streets. Then, as school finishes we will spend time with the children, playing games, making crafts or out on the football field. As part of our commitment to responsible travel,Dragoman contributes USD20 per visitor. This money will go to helping the daily running of the home.

For more information on this worthwhile project please visit: www.amanikids.org

DAYS 8 - 13: SAFARI REGION

Arusha

Arusha is Tanzania's second major city and used to be the capital of the East African community. The town sits in lush countryside near the foot of Mount Meru and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Surrounding it are many coffee, wheat and maize estates tended by the Arusha and Meru people. The town is the centre of Tanzania's safari business and is thriving and busy.

We will stop at the Arusha Snake Park, which houses virtually all of East Africa's snakes, including the most venomous, the boomslang, spitting cobras, puff adders and mambas. From here, we arrange visits to local Masai villages to meet the tribes' people and to learn about their pastoralist way of life. We ride a camel train to visit the villages and traditional dance and music is organised.

The Masai are a tribe clinging to their old tribal ways and they still live the life of their forefathers as pastoral cattle herders. A Masai's major concern in life is the welfare of his beloved cattle. According to their legends, Ngai (God) gave the Masai all the cattle in the world so the moran (warrior) feels that it is his duty to collect all 'stray' cattle, even those that actually belong to neighbouring tribes!

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is a wonderful place if you want to see elephant really close up.Situated between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater it makes an excellent safari destination. The park is compact and game viewing is very easy. Elephant and lion are prevalent throughout the park and giraffe, zebra and baboon are common. It is well worth making time to have a afternoon break at the lodge or a gin and tonic sundowner as the sun sets over over looking the East African bush. This is also a great opportunity for the kids to swim in the swimming pool. We usually camp one night in the middle of the national park so expect to hear animals around all night long.

Serengeti National Park

For our discover and family trips, we extend our visits in the Serengeti to allow an extra day in the park. Most operators only get a 24 hour pass, but for these trips we believe that it is worth spending an extra day out on the plains to really get a feel for the wildlife.

The Serengeti Plains usually live up to everyone's expectations. The classic East African scenery of rolling grasslands is dotted with Acacia trees. Throughout the plains are water holes and rivers, which not only support water mammals, such as hippos, but during the dry season attract many animals of the plains.

These rivers are the prime areas for game viewing, and in the mornings we take an early game drive in search of big game. In normal circumstances we would expect to see the Big 5 during our stay in the Serengeti.

The bush camp where we stay is in the middle of the plains, surrounded by animals and the nocturnal noises of the hunters and the hunted.

Serengeti Balloon Safari

For those who really want to spoil themselves with the ultimate in game viewing, we recommend taking a balloon trip over the Serengeti plains. After a one hour flight you can re-live the experience over a champagne breakfast! This must be pre-booked in advance through Dragoman and the option cannot be guaranteed until confirmation. Weather conditions sometimes stop the balloon flying in which case a full refund will be made. It does get booked up well in advance and you should book early.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is a huge caldera - a volcano which collapsed in an immense explosion. It measures 19 kms in diameter and 265 sq kms in area. The crater walls are so steep and the track so treacherous that we use Landrovers for this excursion. We are almost sure to see just about every major species of wildlife to be found in East Africa, including the Black Rhino. The Landrover drivers know the crater intimately and seem to know exactly where to find game.

Karatu

The small community of Karatu nestles under the slopes of the Ngorongoro crater. We spend three nights here, a night before going to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and then a couple of nights after our safari. We can relax and unwind here and there are plenty of optional activities to do. Why not hire a bike and ride around the local villages. Alternatively you might prefer to don your walking shoes and take a guided forest hike into the Ngorongoro Forest. But for those still with the energy for another unique experience we can organise an optional days excursion out to Lake Eyasi to visit the Tindiga Bushmen who live in the region.

The Tingira bushmen live around the shores of Lake Eyasi and still live a hunter gatherer lifestyle which remains much the same as it was 10,000 years ago. Their language resembles the click language of the San Bushmen of the Kalahari. They hunt small animals such as mice, hares, Dik-Dik and baboon as well as larger mammals like kudu or buffalos and are skill bowmen using poisoned arrows. Lake Eyasi is easy to reach by our truck and we can organise an optional day's excursion out with a guide to meet these people and to find out about their everyday lives. Lake Eyasi is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes and is set in a hot and inhospitable landscape.

DAYS 14 - 16: TANZANIA

Arusha to Zanzibar Flight

After returning to Arusha from the northern safari region we will board a flight and fly direct for the Indian Ocean coast and Zanzibar. The flight should give us a chance to see Kilimanjaro and the Usambara Mountains from the air.

Zanzibar

We fly from Arusha to Zanzibar to finish the trip soaking up the sun and the Arab culture on this legendary spice island. Slavery, ivory and the spice trade once made Zanzibar one of the richest cities in the world.

There are numerous activities available :

a tour around the island,

a boat trip to snorkel with dolphins

the opportunity to scuba dive

The ever popular spice tour. This includes a meal with the locals, a tour around the sites of the Stone Town, the spice plantations where you will receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, and teas made with these spices. This really does prove a fascinating day. If you feel like more of a relaxing day however, you may choose to wander around and soak up the atmosphere of a city with an amazing past.

Zanzibar Family Hotel

We stay in a comforatble and relaxed hotel situated near Stone Town. The hotel has private awimming pools and is the ideal place to relax after an overland trip.

FINAL DAY

Dar-es-Salaam

We return from Zanzibar to Dar-es-Salaam by hydrofoil.