Day-by-day itinerary

What the operator has planned, day by day, across 10 days.

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Dar es Salaam

   Met at Dar es Salaam International Airport by the representative and driver guide and taken to Tanzanite Executive Suites or similar. Dinner and breakfast included.

2. Day 2

   Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park

   A five to seven hour drive past local farms with views of the Uluguru Mountains, picnic lunch en route. An afternoon game drive in Mikumi, which shares an ecosystem with the Selous, so elephant, zebra and wildebeest move back and forth; also lion, hyena, jackal, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and antelope, with tree-climbing lions occasionally seen. Overnight Tan Swiss Hotel or similar. All meals.

3. Day 3

   Full day game drive in Mikumi National Park

   A morning game drive, lunch back at the lodge, then a sunset game drive, returning before or during sunset. Overnight Tan Swiss Hotel. All meals.

4. Day 4

   Mikumi to Udzungwa Mountains National Park

   Check in at Udzungwa Forest Camp at the foot of the mountain, then register at the gate and hike about 2.5km over moderate and steep ground to the Sanje Waterfalls, which drop in three stages of 40m, 70m and 200m, with a picnic lunch on the mountain. The published alternative is a village tour and a canoeing trip on the Kilombero River, with fishing, hippo and crocodile, a lunch box at the riverbank and a visit to local sugarcane farms. Overnight Udzungwa Forest Camp or similar. All meals.

5. Day 5

   Udzungwa to Ruaha National Park

   An early start for Ruaha, Tanzania's largest national park since its merger with the Usangu Game Reserve, now about 15,000 square kilometres and holding very large elephant herds. Lunch box en route, arriving at the gate in the afternoon and game driving on the way to the lodge, watching for lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, hippo, buffalo, giraffe and zebra. Overnight Ruaha River Lodge. All meals.

6. Day 6

   7-8: Full days of game drives in Ruaha National Park

   Full days of game driving, either carrying a lunch box and returning late afternoon or coming back to the lodge for a hot lunch and rest before a sunset drive. The operator offers a walking safari on one of these days. Three nights at Ruaha River Lodge. All meals.

7. Day 7

   Ruaha to Zanzibar

   Transfer to the airstrip for the flight to Zanzibar, met on arrival and transferred to the Sunshine Hotel on the north-east coast of the island, with a run-through of the Zanzibar programme. Dinner and breakfast included.

8. Day 8

   11-12: Zanzibar beach

   Three days on the north-east coast, with optional snorkelling or fishing with local people and sea sports arranged through the lodge. Overnight Sunshine Hotel or similar. Dinner and breakfast included.

9. Day 9

   Zanzibar beach to Stone Town

   A spice tour en route, covering the spices and organically grown herbs and their traditional uses in cooking, cosmetics and medicine, with tropical fruit tasting and a lunch cooked with spices. On to Stone Town and check in at Tembo House Hotel or similar. Breakfast included.

10. Day 10

    Departure transfer

    A two and a half to three hour historical Stone Town tour depending on the flight: the Central Market, the former slave market, the House of Wonders, the Arab Fort, the People's Palace, Forodhani Gardens and the narrow lanes of souvenir shops. Back to the lodge to freshen up, then transfer to Zanzibar Airport.