Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Bwejuu/Stone Town Complete Itinerary
Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Bwejuu/Stone Town Complete Itinerary. After an exciting safari in Africa, you may relax on an island paradise in the Indian Ocean called Zanzibar. Spend five days lounging on the beach and three days discovering the island’s rich history. Get away from it all on this two-week vacation that has been hand-picked to include the island’s top family-friendly hotels and attractions. Take a safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro as part of Tanzania’s world-famous northern circuit. Afterwards, relax in the tranquil ocean waters while you enjoy all that Zanzibar has to offer.
Ngorongoro, Serengeti Tanzania Safari
Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Bwejuu/Stone Town Customizable Itinerary
Day 1: Ngorongoro Crater – Checking Into the Safari Adventure
After touching down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a vehicle shuttle will take you to Ngorongoro. Even though it may be a hard day after the flight, it will be better to do this right away instead of wasting a day on travel. Elephants often stroll by as the crater spreads out nearly a kilometer below, and the lodge will welcome you with animals and elegance. Today, you can take it easy and prepare for tomorrow’s adventure into the crater. Get some rest after the flight, take in the breathtaking scenery, and drift off to sleep to the sound of nature.
Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater – A Stunning Game Drive in the Crater
Zebras and elephants will cross your path as you make your way down into the oasis. Behold some of the largest bulls in Africa, and you will feel tusks curling upwards. You can spot antelopes and leopards as you make your way deeper into the jungle. The trail winds its way forward, taking you past a large herd of buffalo, wildebeests, and rhinos. While hippos fill a little pool and snort all day, lions will lie in the open, enjoying the sun. Approximately 10,000 creatures, representing more than a dozen species, might be visible in a single panoramic. Ngorongoro is the best place to introduce kids to African animals, and the sheer variety of creatures there makes it a great option for amusement parks.
Day 3 – 4: Serengeti – Tracking the Herds on the Famous Grass Plains
The Truth About a Serengeti Safari
After leaving Ngorongoro, the trail will lead you down into the Serengeti’s seemingly endless grasslands. The rocky outcrops known as kopjes resemble The Lion King, and lions inhabit the areas surrounding them. In the short grass, you can easily observe cheetahs and leopards, and on occasion, you can even see these spotted cats hunting. There may be patches of grass where no animals are visible. Next, you’ll come to a ridge, and the plains will be a sonic and olfactory mosaic as tens of thousands of grazers dot them. The zebras will gather in tight groups, while the wildebeests will frolic and gallop with great fervor.
There is life in every corner of the Serengeti, and you only have two days to see it all. Regardless of the season, your grassland camp will remain within striking distance of the annual migration of giant wildebeests. Game drives are like being in a Disney film; they last all day long. Another perk of visiting the Serengeti is that young visitors can join in on the fun of animal spotting. Game watching is made easy on open plains with low grass, so the kids can see giraffes or elephants on the horizon and the guide can lead you to them. The game drives will be flexible and private, just like yesterday, so you may determine how far and how long to stay out.
Day 5: Bwejuu – Checking into Beachside Paradise
An hour-long shuttle will transport you to Bwejuu from Zanzibar Town, where you will arrive today via safari flight. Once you’ve checked into the resort, you may listen to the gentle murmur of the waves outside your room’s windows. The palm trees will tower above the shore and provide welcome shade for the beach cottage. Soaking in a private plunge pool, you can gaze out at the beach and see that it’s barely 20 meters away. Once inside, you’ll find a spacious living space with modern conveniences including Wi-Fi, a television, air conditioning, and a minibar, in addition to two bedrooms. The mattresses will be covered with mosquito nets, and the rooms will be decorated in a basic yet exquisite Arabic style.
On your private veranda, you’ll find sun loungers and daybeds positioned above the plunge pool. Even though there will be plenty of shelter, you may easily get into the sun at the beach or beside the main pool if you like. When you reach Bwejuu and Paje, the scenery is usually the first thing that catches your eye. An explosion of tropical hues and complete solitude await you at this beach, which made Conde Nast’s list of the world’s 30 best. The beach is surprisingly peaceful at times. There won’t be any high-rise resorts or many tourists here, despite its newfound fame. Even though this is a family resort, you won’t have to worry about being in the constant company of yelling youngsters because everything is quiet and relaxed.
Day 6: Bwejuu – A Kids Club and Tropical Lagoon
Bwejuu – Zanzibar
In addition to the resort’s childminding service, there is a children’s club with an adaptable schedule that everyone may enjoy. The program’s primary focus for younger children will be on teaching them how to play safely on the beach and in the resort’s surrounding areas. A wider variety of ball and water activities, as well as the opportunity to go kayaking on the lagoon, are available to older children. You can take a break to the spa for an hour, let the kids play for an hour, or spend the entire day if you choose. The hours are flexible. As soon as you hear the kids are safe at the spa, you’ll feel at ease giving in to your every want and relaxing into your spa routine.
There will be no one to stop you if you stroll to the shore. The beach is not private, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. There won’t be a crush of tourists, and the beach is big enough to accommodate local fisherman too. During low tide, the lagoon will be ankle-to knee-deep, allowing you and the kids to go wading in search of crabs and fish. Every time you go swimming or bouncing a ball around, the water will feel more like a bath than the ocean. Be warned, though: the sea floor is littered with clusters of coral; wearing water shoes can help you avoid any unfortunate incidents. You are free to plan your own schedule for today at the resort and around the lagoon.
Day 7: Bwejuu – Intimate Encounters with Endangered Monkeys
When you get to Bwejuu, you can change your itinerary and spend as much or as little time as you like. On day seven, you might want to consider visiting Jozani Forest to see the monkeys. Just a 20-minute drive away, it’s the perfect way to spice up your beach vacation. The most common monkey species is the Sykes monkey, which is easily identifiable by its amiable and playful demeanor as it stares at you with an inquisitive grin. The forest floor is a common meeting place for entire armies, and they frequently traverse the hiking path. Observing the expressions on the faces of the two primates can be rather amusing for younger children.
Rare and endangered colobus monkeys number less than a thousand individuals, and they are exclusively found in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park and the island of Zanzibar. In the midst of the forest, they stand out with their dazzling white beards and tufts of hair. Their orange back fur will transform into a beautiful shade of scarlet as light javelins penetrate the canopy. The most common way to spot them is to look for the way their tails droop from the branches above. Because these monkeys are timid by nature, it’s best to keep your cool and be patient. A display of deft climbing and graceful maneuvers will be presented to you once the colobus moves, which will take some time. You might be fortunate enough to see one or two descend from the lofty perch. Even if you don’t, the chance to catch a glimpse of these ancient monkeys is still quite remarkable because they are only found in one location on Earth.
Day 8 – 9: Bwejuu – Creating a Personal Program on the Beach
You have complete freedom to plan these days according to your preferences. You can rent kayaks and paddle around the lagoon, or you can snorkel on little reefs where you can feel the sand under your feet. Spaziers can ascend to Paje and, who knows, Jambiani, all while strolling along the beach. Another option is to laze around the poolside or take a dip in your plunge pool. Visiting Kizimkazi to swim with dolphins is a fantastic choice for older kids. There is no Sea World here. A morning swim with wild dolphins is an adventure that people of all ages will never forget.
Day 10: Stone Town – Exploring a Vibrant Spice Plantation
Your sense of smell will lead you to a spice plantation where the aromas of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla await. Despite the non-native nature of these spices, Zanzibar is affectionately known as the Spice Island. They were introduced to the tropical climate by traders from all over the globe, and they flourished there. You may learn about the history and current uses of each spice on a guided tour of one of the many working plantations. Guests will get the opportunity to choose their own fruits from the tree after an engaging and informative tour. You may choose and harvest all sorts of exotic fruits, not just the usual suspects like oranges and bananas, but also weird ones like jackfruit and starfruit. Kids can learn a lot, even by seeing that oranges aren’t always orange.
This morning, once you check out of the resort, you will immediately make your way to a spice plantation. The drive should only take around an hour. You will visit the Mangapwani Slave Chamber after your tour and food break. Here, in a dark and foreboding cave, you will hear key tales regarding the slave trade. This is the kind of spot that makes you grateful to be a healthy, modern human being. Just outside the old and bewildering maze is where you’ll find a motel in Stone Town, which you’ll reach shortly after. Reconnect with nature on the coast while enjoying a pool and resort-style amenities surrounded by rich cultural heritage.
Day 11: Stone Town – Discovering History in the World Heritage Town
Tour of Historic Stone Town in Zanzibar
Above the coral house rooftops, a church tower will soar, and a muezzin will sound an ominous call to prayer from atop a minaret, blending his voice with those of other mosques. Once you continue walking forward for a short distance, these compass points will become invisible. Upon entering this maze of pedestrian lanes, you will be greeted at every turn by sights and noises that evoke strong emotions. Donkeys occasionally cause problems for merchants who are pulling seafood carts. On one side of a street you’ll see stores selling forgotten antiques, and in another you’ll see a little TV set in a town square where locals gather to watch their favorite soap opera. People selling tea will make a lot of noise and release pleasant scents into the air.
This coral-house settlement has been there for more than a thousand years, and in that time it has taken on several forms. It has some European influence as well as Persian and African influences. Stops on a guided trip include the Malindi Mosque, the home of slave trader Tippu Tip, the Hamamni Baths, and the unique Darakani Bazaar, among other sites, to help you learn about this fascinating culture and history. After enjoying lunch at the historic post office, your tour will continue to the House of Wonders, the grandest palace in Stone Town and home to the most fascinating museum in the entire town. Kids may not be very interested in cultural excursions, but Stone Town never fails to impress with its abundance of activities packed into its compact layout.
Day 12: Stone Town – Visiting Ancient Tortoises on a Dhow Sailing Trip
Returning to the water, your private family tour will be sailed in a classic wooden dhow. Dhows are picturesque wooden boats that have remained mostly unchanged for nearly a thousand years, making them ideal for a day of water exploration around Zanzibar. As if you were a well-known explorer, you will sail by little, uninhabited islets and barren sandbanks. Snorkeling stops at coral outcrops are optional and can be an exciting way to see marine life, including reef sharks. Your kids may learn the ropes and get a feel for the sails on a private sailing excursion where they can take the helm. Sitting on the deck, everyone may enjoy the changing colors of the ocean as the day progresses.
Prison Island will be your docking spot about noon. At first glance, it will not resemble a jail. The pristine beach and palm trees will make it seem more like an almost deserted island or paradise. While your guides prepare a barbecue lunch, you can kick back on the beach and enjoy the scenery, or you might explore the shallows in search of crabs and other creatures. The resort’s amenities, such as a pool and changing rooms, are also available, or you may stroll along the wooden pier. On the island, you can find a crumbling prison that is well worth exploring.
A group of about one hundred Aldabra tortoises will be the main attraction. These massive beings will saunter leisurely around the island, each weighing more than 500 pounds. They estimate that one of them is at least two centuries old! Because of their leisurely movement, tortoises are simple to approach up close, and they never fail to fascinate people of all ages. After spending the better part of an afternoon on Prison Island, you’ll make your way back to Stone Town, where your last night is perfect for a visit to Forodhani Gardens. Sizzling aromas of barbecued squid waft through the air as local families gather here for a bite to eat and some beachside relaxation.
Day 13: Stone Town – Departure
You will depart from Zanzibar’s international airport after an eight-day Indian Ocean holiday, likely with plans to return soon.
End of the 13 Days Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Bwejuu/Stone Town Itinerary
