Tanzania: Serengeti to Zanzibar

Tour begins: 12:00 PM, Arusha Serena Hotel. A transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha Serena Hotel, is included. Welcome to Tanzania and the start of your African safari; your hotel overlooks Lake Duluti. Although most flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport after the sun has set, thoughts of Ernest Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro will come to mind as you journey the short distance from the airport to your hotel.

Enjoy an early morning game drive in Tarangire National Park as you make your way to prehistoric Ngorongoro Crater for a two-night stay. En route, stop at a traditional Maasai tribal village where you will see what life is like in a boma. Accompany a local guide for a medicine walk in the bush, learning about the natural cures from the vegetation you'll see, and visit a local primary school. After lunch in the bush, continue to your Ngorongoro safari lodge, built to blend into the rim of the crater. Well equipped with modern-day comforts, your accommodations feature private stone balconies that open up to the crater floor below.

Explore Ngorongoro Crater on a game drive this morning, followed by a picnic lunch in the crater. Long regarded as Africa's "Garden of Eden," the landscapes you'll see today include grasslands, forests and a saltwater lake, inspiring a continual migration of animals. From the comfort of your four-wheel-drive vehicle, you may spot the "Big Five" – buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black-maned lion and the rare black rhinoceros. Following a private lunch in the crater, return to your lodge for time at leisure, followed by dinner. Pack your Tauck-supplied duffle bag tonight in preparation for your upcoming three-night safari in Serengeti National Park.

Drive to Oldupai Gorge this morning where archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered fossilized remains of some of the earliest humans ever recorded – 1.8 million years old. Visit the museum and enjoy a private lecture by a resident expert about the site, before setting off over the unpaved roads that take you across the plains and grasslands of the always-fascinating Serengeti National Park. You'll have many opportunities for wildlife viewing en route to your safari lodge in the Central Serengeti; its authentic décor was inspired by Maasai tribal dwellings. Dinner is at your leisure; later in the evening, learn about local cultural traditions during a performance at the lodge.

A hot air balloon flight* at dawn soars over the Serengeti savanna giving you the unique opportunity to observe the morning rituals of the reserve's wildlife as they wake up to a new day; experience unforgettable panoramic views and photo opportunities, then a champagne breakfast in the bush helps bring you back down to Earth! Look for hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, gazelles, zebras, elephants, hippos and more on morning and afternoon game drives back to your lodge; the Serengeti is also one of the best places on the African continent to find prides of lions. Spend the remainder of the evening at the lodge.

An early morning game drive on your final day in Serengeti National Park promises eye-opening glimpses of life at the time of the day when the Serengeti bush is most active. Look for nocturnal animals, leopards, lions, jackals, zebras, elephants, wildebeests, and buffaloes, including most of the members of the African Big Five. The Serengeti's density of wildlife offers a spectacular safari experience no matter what time of the year you visit. Return to the lodge for breakfast and free time. Enjoy a special sundowner this evening, as you witness the unforgettable crimson-colored glow of the setting sun painting the landscapes around you. An essential part of traditional safari life, the concept of having cocktails while watching the sun go down dates back to the time of the great safaris of the 1920s. Enjoy dinner at the lodge before turning in and sleeping to the sounds of the wilderness all around you.

Fly to the archipelago of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean this morning, a land of spices, exotic wildlife, and white sand beaches. Spend two nights at a seaside hotel in the heart of historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the main port of Zanzibar City. Have lunch, then set off with a local guide on a walking tour of the city. Learn about the unique mix of cultures, a blend of African, Arab, Indian, Persian, and European influences that make Zanzibar a fascinating destination to experience. The evening is free to explore as you wish.

Traditional Arabian sailboats called dhows have plied the Indian Ocean waters of the Swahili Coast for millennia, trading and fishing from one island port to the next. Sail out to sea from Stone Town aboard a traditional dhow for an "Indian Ocean safari" off the coast of Zanzibar this morning, as the captain and crew help you spot dolphins frolicking in the ocean blue; cast anchor on a sandy beach for swimming and perhaps some snorkeling near beautiful coral reefs. After returning to shore, the afternoon is yours to check out more of fascinating Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on your own. Join us this evening for a farewell reception with entertainment followed by a farewell dinner at your seaside hotel.

Tour ends: Zanzibar. If you wish, join our local guides for a "spice tour" of Stone Town this morning, or just enjoy some time at leisure before checking out of your hotel. Allow 3½ hours for flight check-in. Note: International flights out should be booked after 5:00 PM.