CLASSIC TANZANIA

Arriving in Dar es Salaam, you will board a light aircraft headed towards the alluring island of Pemba – a member of Tanzania’s magnificent Zanzibar Archipelago. With its beautiful emerald green hills, white sands and sparkling Indian Ocean waters teeming with vibrant marine life, it’s a fabulous place to begin your adventure.

Four nights will be spent at Fundu Lagoon, a stylish resort on Pemba’s southwestern shores. The resort has its own fully equipped dive centre allowing guests to make the most of the world-class diving on offer. Water skiing, fishing and windsurfing are also on the menu, along with private catamaran charters, romantic sunset dhow cruises and visits to local villages. For the days you’re feeling less active, you can indulge in pampering sessions at the spa and cooling dips in the magnificent hillside infinity pool.

Stay: Four nights at Fundu Lagoon

Leaving Zanzibar behind, today you’ll head back to mainland Tanzania on a scheduled light aircraft flight to the Selous. You’ll be staying at the heart of this vast, game-rich reserve at a lodge superbly situated on the shores of Lake Nzerakera adjoining the Great Rufiji River.

One of the country’s largest protected areas, the Selous encompasses a wide range of habitats, from grassy plains to open woodland, that together support elephant, giraffe, antelope, crocodile, hippo, wild dog and an impressive population of buffalo and lion. Birdwatchers can expect to tick off some of 400 different species recorded here, from herons to colourful water birds.

But what really makes the reserve so special are the wide range of activities it offers. Enchanting boating safaris, game drives, bush walks and fly-camping are some of the experiences on the menu.

Stay: Three nights in a double tent at Siwandu – full board

You now depart one great wilderness to discover another. A light aircraft brings you to Ruaha National Park, an untrammelled corner of Tanzania that offers its relatively few visitors an authentic safari.

The park’s dramatic landscape – encompassing rolling hills, open plains, baobabs groves and the Great Ruaha River – provide the backdrop to huge elephant herds, lion prides, buffalo, zebra, roan antelope, kudu, leopard, cheetah and the rare striped hyena. Hundreds of different bird species also make their home here. Your camp is conveniently situated within easy reach of the park’s wildlife hotspots, so you can anticipate excellent, up-close encounters on both your game drives and guided bush walks.

Stay: Four nights in an open fronted suite at Ikuka Safari Camp – full board

Today a light aircraft brings you back to Dar es Salaam from where you will board your flight back home.