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Tanzania Southern Safari and Mafia Island Day 1 – Arrive in Tanzania Depart London Heathrow 1020 arrive Nairobi 20:50 KQ 103 Depart Nairobi 2205 arrive Dar es Salaam 23:20 KQ 486 On arrival in Dar-es-Salaam you will be met by our representatives and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at New Africa Hotel on bed and breakfast basis Newly re-furbished and under new management, this hotel is of a good four star standard. Located in the heart of the city's banking and shopping district. Day 2 – Flight south to Selous Game Reserve After a free morning in Dar-es-Salaam, you will be collected and transferred to the airport for your flight south to Selous. We arrive late afternoon at Rufiji River Camp which is located on the river just inside the reserve on the eastern approach. The tented camp is situated in north eastern part of the Selous Game Reserve on a high bank over-looking the mighty Rufiji River and the plain beyond. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp The camp accommodates guests in 20 comfortable tents. Each tent has twin beds with mosquito nets, ensuite bathroom and a veranda facing the river. The central restaurant provides excellent cuisine. The camp makes maximum use of local materials, retaining an intimate relationship with the surrounding eco-system. Day 3 – Selous Breakfast at Rufiji River Camp before embarking on a full day game drive in Selous Game Reserve. Selous is Africa's largest wildlife sanctuary with an area of 54,600 sq.km and is bigger than Denmark and 4 times the size of the Serengeti. It has the World's largest number of big game - elephant, buffalo, rhino and sable antelope. Selous also contains wildebeest, eland, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, impala, hippo, leopard and lion. There are about 350 species of birdlife. Picnic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp. Day 4 - Selous After breakfast, we take a boat safari along the mighty Rufiji River. Bird-life can be seen along the banks of the river. Lunch is at the Camp. In the afternoon we have a walking safari. This type of safari allows an intimate impression of the African bush and wildlife, and really is unforgettable. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp. Day 5 - Selous Today we repeat the activities of Day 5, once again getting to view the spectacular Selous Game Reserve. As little development has taken place in Selous, visitors can experience the solitude of this game reserve in its most pristine form. Although it remains one of the least scientifically researched areas in Africa, some 1700 botanical species have been identified. In the far south, the vastness of the reserve and its general inaccessibility has turned the Selous into a magnificent refuge for animals, birds, insects and reptiles. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp. Day 6 - Mikumi After breakfast, drive to Mikumi. We have a picnic lunch on the way. Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game Reserve. It is rich in wildlife and contains buffalo, elephant and lion. Also found are wildebeest, zebra, impala, warthog, hippo, and giraffe. Most of the animals can be seen in all seasons. Dinner and overnight at Vuma Hill Tented Camp Overlooking the Mkata plains and mountains in the distance, Vuma Hill offers accommodation "under the stars" allowing you to get as close to nature as you can. Whether you want to enjoy star gazing from the 360 degree viewpoint, cool off in the pool, or quietly relax in your custom made tent in between safari game drives, Vuma offers the luxury and privacy to suit all. All tents are self-contained with attached bathroom facilities, hot and cold water and electricity. Day 7 - Ruaha After breakfast at Vuma Hill we depart for Ruaha. A stop in Iringa for lunch, before a short game drive of Ruaha National Park. Ruaha National Park, the second largest national park in the country, is one of the unexplored parks in Tanzania and the largest elephant sanctuary. The name Ruaha derives from the great Ruaha River which flows along its entire eastern border creating spectacular gorges and scenery. Hippo, crocodile and turtle inhabit the river. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. The Lodge is constructed on and around a rocky kopje overlooking the Great Ruaha River. The Camp provides comfortable accommodation and good food while blending into its surroundings to enable visitors to feel themselves a part of the wild. Both the dining "Banda" and the bar, in elevated position above the river combine comfort and coolness together with the most spectacular views. Day 8 - Ruaha Breakfast at the Lodge before a full day game drive in Ruaha National Park. Elephants are often to be seen on the banks of the Ruaha River. Lion, giraffe and other animals can also be found. The special attraction of Ruaha, besides its spectacular scenery, is its unspoilt wilderness. This park is relatively unknown and has only recently begun development for tourism and is rarely frequented by tourists. The park is also known for its concentration of greater and lesser kudu, its roan and sable antelope and its rich bird life; more than 400 species of birds have been recorded. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. Day 9 - Mikumia After breakfast, a short game drive in the Ruaha National Park before we depart for Iringa where we stop for lunch. Later we leave to return to Mikumi. Dinner and overnight at Vuma Hill Tented Camp Day 10 – Dar-es-Salaam After breakfast at the Camp, we have a game drive in Mikumi National Park. You will see the Mkate River Floor Plain with its hard ridges, swamps and black clay grassland, the miombo woodlands which lie on hills on the east and west, and the rivers with their fringe of tall trees and dense thickets. The TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia) railway line marks the boundary of Mikumi with Selous to the south. After lunch at Vuma Hill we depart for Dar es Salaam. Arrival at Dar es Salaam is in the evening, where you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at New Africa Hotel on bed and breakfast basis Day 11 – Mafia Island This morning you have a free day in Dar-es-Salaam. After lunch (not included) you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Mafia Island. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Lying in the Indian Ocean to the south of Zanzibar and a 30 minute flight from Dar-Es-Salaam, Mafia Island is a true paradise. Overnight at the Mafia Island Lodge (Half Board) The lodge is located at the sea's edge on Chole bay and stands some 400 metres from the beach. Built from coral stone, the 40 rooms are at garden level with a veranda overlooking the ocean. The restaurant serves local specialities, seafood and fish. Facilities include fishing, wind surfing, sailing, boat trips to neighbouring islands and diving. Qualified divers can rent diving equipment from the hotel. Day 12 – Mafia Island While Zanzibar has become a popular tourist resort, Mafia Island lying only 160 km south, remains virtually unknown. Previously poor communications with the mainland and being much lesser known than Zanzibar have kept Mafia 'original', although a steady trickle of visitors are unanimous in singing its praise. Mafia is one of the safest places in the Indian Ocean and there are no hustlers to spoil a holiday. Overnight at the Mafia Island Lodge (Half Board) Day 13 – Mafia Island While Mafia makes an ideal holiday for people interested in nature and outdoor activities, its big attraction for many visitors is that it remains locked in a time warp of the early 20th Century. The population of the archipelago is approximately 40,000 living in 24 villages scattered throughout the main island, Jibondo, Juani and Chole islands. The people live in rustic fishing communities and farming villages. The majority are Muslim but there are many Christians. Traditional religion also manifests itself in ritual dances linked to the lunar cycle. Overnight at the Mafia Island Lodge (Half Board) Day 14 – Depart Tanzania After a morning at leisure, you transfer to the airport for a flight back to Dar-es-Salaam. Here you will be in plenty of time to check-in for your overnight flight back to the UK via Nairobi. Depart Dar-es-Salaam 1945 arrive Nairobi 21:00 KQ 485 Depart Nairobi 2350 arrive London Heathrow 06:45 +1 KQ 102 Day 15 – Arrival in the UK Top of page>> |
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