WILDLIFE AND BEACH SAFARI

Day 1: Arrive to Arusha
Once you arrive to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by Aardvark Safaris staff and transferred to your lodge where you will enjoy a late night snack & restful night’s sleep before beginning your adventure the next morning.
Overnight:Mount Meru Hotel

Day 2: Arusha – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
You will begin your journey with an early start, traveling through the rolling hills and vibrant colors of the Great Rift Valley as you make your way to the Ngorongoro Highlands. On the way, you will enjoy a private overland drive to Lake Manyara National Park through the wooded pathways that wind between the banks of the shallow Alkaline Soda Water Lake and the impressive rise of the Great Rift Valley. Once you arrive to Lake Manyara National Park, you will enjoy a picnic while keeping an eye out for their Olive Baboons, and Blue monkey, elephants, buffalos, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras & other resident animals. You may even spot one of the legendary Lake Manyara tree-climbing lions! By late afternoon you will experience the impressive rise of the Western stretches of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment before heading to your lodge for the next number of nights.
Overnight: Plantation Lodge

Day 3: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
We suggest that an early morning start is definitely the order of the day, as you head towards the Ngorongoro Crater and onto the Crater floor to experience this wildlife spectacular, with the world’s densest population of lions and spotted hyena. The crater is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can reliably see black rhino and many old elephants, who come to spend their retirement peacefully feeding in the Gorigor swamp. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs; where hippos wallow and Black Kites might nab your lunch! This afternoon you continue your explorations in search of the Big Five that roam the plains of this natural amphitheater before heading back to the lodge.
Overnight: Plantation Lodge

Day 4: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Serengeti National Park
Today, you will head to the northern part of the Serengeti, the famed ‘Mara Triangle’ and the Mara River, an area that borders the Masaai Mara in Kenya. From Plantation Lodge you are driven back to the Manyara airstrip where you catch your internal flight. Upon your arrival to the Serengeti, you will enjoy a game drive on the way to your new luxury camp, Olakira Camp.
Overnight: Olakira Camp, Luxury Tents

Days 5 & 6: Serengeti National Park
The majestic landscape of the northern Serengeti is one of the best-kept secrets of Tanzania. Far from the tourist track, this area of open grasslands and riverine woodlands supports some of the densest grazer populations in East Africa. If you are lucky you may get to see the Big 5 (rhinos sometimes cross from Kenya’s Maasai Mara) and its home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, large herds of antelope and a host of other wildlife. The stunning Mara River, filled with hippos and crocodiles, cuts through this land and is hosts to one of the greatest spectacles nature has to offer: the dramatic wildebeest crossings of the Mara River. This area does offer a truly unique safari experience, undisturbed exploration of this majestic part of the Serengeti National Park.
Overnight: Olakira Camp, Luxury Tents

Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Zanzibar
Enjoy a final morning’s game drive on your transfer back to the Kogatende airstrip, with a packed lunch in hand, to catch an internal flight to Zanzibar. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the luxury retreat of Matemwe Bungalows where you settle into your rooms, on a full-board basis. Here you can relax on the beach, by the pool or at your hotel and reflect upon the adventures of the last few days, or you can take a day or two to explore more of Zanzibar.
Overnight: Matemwe Main Lodge, Luxury Room

Days 8-11: Zanzibar
You have four full days at leisure to relax on the beach or to explore Zanzibar. Matemwe is a lovely intimate beach lodge, surrounded by some of the best beaches on the island. Fantastic diving and snorkeling can be enjoyed around the Mnemba atoll, right opposite Matemwe. The lodge also offers a host of other activities that include: guided reef & village walks, dhow boat trips, kayaking, cycling as well as a range of excursions such as exploring Jozani Forest or visiting Stone Town and its world famous spice tours, and its narrow streets, shops and markets. Experience the colors, the sounds and the spices of the capital and visit the mosques, palaces, shops, and old historic houses. You can learn about its dark history as one of the slave-trading ports of East Africa.
Overnight: Matemwe Main Lodge, Luxury Room

Day 12: Zanzibar
Today you depart the comfort of Matemwe Lodge and make your way to the Zanzibar International Airport for your international flight back home. An Aardvark Safaris staff member will make sure you have everything you need before transporting you to the airport.

Pre-Safari Extension: Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park sits on the edge of the picturesque Mt. Meru, and is just a short drive from Arusha. Here you will explore the diverse landscapes from lush forests, open savannahs, alkaline lakes & more, to view a wide variety of species. You may even be lucky enough to spot the endangered black and white Colobus Monkey! This is a great way to become familiar with your safari vehicle, guide, and tips & tricks for spotting and identifying species. This extension also allows you an extra day to get acclimated to your new time zone!
Days: 1 
350 USD per person

Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Excursion
Enjoy a bird’s eye view, as you peacefully float above the stunning Serengeti, just as the sun starts to rise and the animals below become active. The hour-long float trip will provide you with endless photographic opportunities and an experience of a lifetime. Once back on land, celebrate with a champagne toast and full breakfast in the bush, prepared just for you!
545 USD per person
Advanced reservations required

Candlelight Bush Dinner
Add a romantic, or memorable, evening to your safari experience with an authentic bush dinner. You will be escorted to a scenic location, where your candlelit table awaits you. Lanterns and a bonfire will supply the light for your delicious meal, accompanied with wait staff and a chef. Listen to the nearby lions and hyenas, while you enjoy this true safari experience!
135 USD per person