Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach: Plains to White Sands

This morning you leave Arusha and drive south-west to Tarangire National Park, arriving in time for lunch before an afternoon game drive. Tarangire is one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa, a rolling landscape of golden grassland studded with ancient, swollen baobab trees and threaded by the Tarangire River, which draws wildlife from far around in the dry season. You set out among the giant baobabs in search of the park's famous elephant herds, some of the largest in Tanzania, watching great families feed, dig for water in the riverbed and shelter beneath the enormous trees. You also look for lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and the tall fringe-eared oryx, amid an extraordinary richness of birdlife. As the golden light softens over the baobabs and herds, the scene is unforgettable. Rest well at your Tarangire camp.

This morning you begin the scenic journey to the Serengeti, climbing the Rift Valley escarpment and crossing the highlands past the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with sweeping views, before descending onto the endless plains of the Serengeti National Park. This vast ocean of golden grassland, dotted with flat-topped acacias and dramatic granite kopjes, is one of the most famous wildlife areas on earth. You arrive in time to begin game viewing as you make your way to camp, the plains stretching to the horizon and alive with wildlife, from herds of zebra and gazelle to the lions, cheetahs and leopards that hunt them, and in season the vast columns of the Great Migration. Your expert guide reads the savannah brilliantly, seeking out big cats resting in the shade or scanning the grass from a kopje. As the sun sets over the immense plains, the sense of space is extraordinary. Rest well in the heart of the Serengeti.

Today is a full day exploring the legendary Serengeti, which offers some of the finest big-cat viewing on earth. You set out at dawn, when the plains are cool and the predators are active, seeking out lion prides resting after the night's hunt, cheetahs scanning the grasslands from a termite mound, and elusive leopard draped in the riverine trees. In season, the plains fill with the vast herds of the Great Migration, wildebeest and zebra moving in their tens of thousands, and you may witness dramatic river crossings or great columns of animals crossing the plains. You also see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and immense herds of plains game, guided by an expert who brings the ecosystem to life. You may picnic in the bush and drive until the golden evening light floods the savannah. Rest well beneath the vast Serengeti sky.

This morning you enjoy a final game drive in the Serengeti before beginning the journey east towards the Ngorongoro highlands. On the way you may stop at Olduvai Gorge, the celebrated Cradle of Mankind, where the Leakeys uncovered some of the earliest known human remains, with its small museum overlooking the gorge. You climb into the cool, green highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where Maasai graze their cattle alongside the wildlife, and arrive at your lodge perched on the crater rim, with breathtaking views down into the vast caldera far below. As the afternoon light plays across the crater floor, the anticipation of tomorrow's descent builds. This evening, enjoy the cool highland air and the extraordinary panorama over one of the great wonders of Africa. Rest well on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

This morning you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, entering a vast natural amphitheatre teeming with one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. You may see all of the Big Five, with an excellent chance of the endangered black rhino, alongside great lion prides, elephants with enormous tusks, buffalo, hippos, flamingos on the soda lake and countless plains game, all beneath the towering rim. After this extraordinary finale to your safari you climb back to the rim and transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar (via Arusha or Kilimanjaro), the fabled Spice Island in the Indian Ocean. You are met on arrival and transferred to your beach resort, feeling the warm, humid island air and the change of pace. As the day ends you settle in by the sea, the plains behind you and days of beach bliss ahead. Rest well on beautiful Zanzibar.

Today you explore the historic and fragrant heart of Zanzibar. You visit Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a labyrinth of narrow coral-stone lanes where African, Arab, Indian and European cultures have mingled for centuries. You wander its atmospheric alleys past carved wooden doors, bustling bazaars and crumbling merchant houses, visit the old fort, the former slave market and its sobering memorial, and the lively Darajani market, guided by an expert who brings the island's rich and complex history to life. You then take a spice tour at a working farm, walking among clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and cardamom, tasting tropical fruits and learning how the spice trade shaped the island. As the day ends you return to your beach resort, the scents of Zanzibar lingering. This evening, enjoy fresh Swahili seafood by the sea. Rest well on the Spice Island.

Today is yours to enjoy the beautiful beaches and turquoise waters of Zanzibar. You might simply relax on the powder-white sand, swim in the warm, clear sea, and laze in the shade with a fresh coconut, or take to the water: snorkelling or diving over vibrant coral reefs teeming with fish, a boat trip to the Mnemba atoll or a pristine sandbank, or a traditional wooden dhow sail. The north coast at Nungwi and Kendwa offers swimming at all tides and spectacular sunsets, while the east coast at Paje is a haven for kitesurfing over shallow turquoise lagoons. Whatever you choose, the warm sea, soft sand and gentle island rhythm are blissful after the excitement of safari. As the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, you savour a spectacular sunset. This evening, dine on fresh seafood beneath the stars. Rest well by the sea on beautiful Zanzibar.

You have a final, flexible day to savour the beaches and pleasures of Zanzibar. You might relax by the sea and pool, take a last swim over the reef, enjoy a spa treatment, or explore a little more of the island, perhaps the Jozani Forest with its rare red colobus monkeys, a sunset dhow cruise, or a final wander through Stone Town for souvenirs, spices and Swahili crafts. The warm sea, soft white sand and unhurried island life make this a perfect day to unwind and reflect on the extraordinary journey you have made, from the plains and craters of the mainland to the beaches and spice of the island. As the sun sets into the Indian Ocean one last time, you savour a spectacular tropical sunset. This evening, enjoy a final seafood dinner by the sea, reflecting on lions, elephants, reefs and white sand. Rest well ahead of your departure from beautiful Zanzibar.

After a final morning by the sea on Zanzibar, perhaps a last swim in the turquoise water or some final souvenir shopping, you are transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Tanzania in one journey, the baobabs and elephants of Tarangire, the endless big-cat plains of the Serengeti and, in season, the Great Migration, the Big Five wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the white beaches, Swahili heritage and fragrant spice of Zanzibar. The images stay vivid long after you land, the lions on the golden plains, the vast crater teeming with life, the coral-stone lanes of Stone Town, and the powder-white sand against turquoise water. Tanzania offers spectacular wildlife and island beauty in abundance, the perfect blend of adventure and bliss, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this beautiful and welcoming land.