Safari in Southern Tanzania: Selous & Zanzibar

After a welcome at Dar es Salaam International Airport, we will be transferred to our hotel in Bagamoyo. north of Dar es Salaam, former capital of Tanzania. we will take advantage of the journey to admire the few historical monuments, such as the first Catholic church in East Africa and the old fort of the city. you will be free for the rest of the day before we meet in the evening to set up our first camp, on one of the many heavenly beaches in the region.

our tour of the nature reserves of southern Tanzania will begin with that of Saadani. We will then go up the east coast of Tanzania to access this magnificent park which has the distinction of being the only one to include a beach in the Indian Ocean. we will thus be able to observe elephants or giraffes walking on the white sand among the rest of the wild fauna which is increasingly dense, this park still being spared from mass tourism. in addition to the numerous ruminants and primates easily observed, we will also be able to come across buffalo, warthogs and various antelopes such as waterbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, greater kudu, eland and even the magnificent and rare black antelope. leopards and lions have also recently multiplied in the Saadani, as well as spotted hyenas and black-backed jackals. Finally, it should be noted that the park's beaches today constitute the most important breeding grounds for the green turtle in mainland Tanzania. after this day rich in animal encounters, we will set up our camp in the middle of the reserve for dinner and spend the night there.

In the early morning, we will leave the Saadani reserve via the track. Back on the road, we will head southwest for our next destination: Mikumi Park we will then ride for 300 kilometers between beautiful hills and vast sisal plantations. (Plant used in the manufacture of ropes or carpets) We will arrive near the reserve at the end of the day and we will set up camp there. the next day, camera around our neck, we will venture into Mikumi Park for a beautiful day of safari. Neighboring Selous Park which we will visit two days later. mikumi hides a fairly dense fauna that we will try to photograph in the vast, very open prairies bordered by the mountains which form its natural borders. we will then come across large populations of antelopes and elk which rub shoulders with large families of lions which have taken up residence there, just like the wild dog, a species which has become very rare. We will return to camp before sunset. Accommodation: Camping

We will take the road south in the early morning towards the Parc du Selous. We will then cross the mountainous region of Morogoro and its many traditional villages via a magnificent road lined with banana and coconut plantations. At the end of the day, we will set up a bivouac in the middle of the bush for the night.

we will leave at dawn to discover the North of the Selous Park, which is the only area reserved for observation safaris, the rest being rented to private hunting companies playing a decisive role in the management of this park. an area of 55,000 km2 listed as a UNESCO heritage site.this park is cut in two by the Rufiji river feeding a whole string of lakes where animals come to cool off in the middle of hippopotamuses and crocodiles. We will camp for two nights at the edge of Lake Tagalala after crossing the park, in the company of local rangers. we will then find ourselves in the middle of century-old acacia trees protruding above the water, making the place magical.

The next day, we will walk at dawn to have a better chance of observing lions who are used to hunting, like African wild dogs. the rangers will then teach us the basics of tracking in the bush, research and identification of animal traces. We will return to camp for breakfast and rest until lunch. after this, we will leave for a photo safari in 4x4 to appreciate a little more the variety of fauna and environments such as the shrub savannah, the grassy plain, the light forests and the mountainous massifs on which the years did not have any influence. we will stop for a quick swim in the hot springs before returning to the camp for an observation hike.

we will leave at dawn to discover the North of the Selous Park, which is the only area reserved for observation safaris, the rest being rented to private hunting companies playing a decisive role in the management of this park. an area of 55,000 km2 listed as a UNESCO heritage site.this park is cut in two by the Rufiji river feeding a whole string of lakes where animals come to cool off in the middle of hippopotamuses and crocodiles. We will camp for two nights at the edge of Lake Tagalala after crossing the park, in the company of local rangers. we will then find ourselves in the middle of century-old acacia trees protruding above the water, making the place magical.

The next day, we will walk at dawn to have a better chance of observing lions who are used to hunting, like African wild dogs. the rangers will then teach us the basics of tracking in the bush, research and identification of animal traces. We will return to camp for breakfast and rest until lunch. after this, we will leave for a photo safari in 4x4 to appreciate a little more the variety of fauna and environments such as the shrub savannah, the grassy plain, the light forests and the mountainous massifs on which the years did not have any influence. we will stop for a quick swim in the hot springs before returning to the camp for an observation hike.

Once camp is packed, we will cross the park to the east gate. we will sit at the edge of a lake for lunch surrounded by omnipresent wildlife and magnificent landscapes. We will continue our journey before setting up our last camp which will be located.

We will leave the hotel early in the morning to board a boat which will drop us off on the paradise island of Zanzibar. We will then reach Jambiani beach, one of the most famous and beautiful on the island, to relax all day. We will spend the evening and the night in comfortable bungalows on Jambiani beach.

This day will be free, you will be able to satisfy your desire for relaxation on the white sand beaches and in the translucent water of the Spice Island where you can admire the seabed by trying out snorkeling or set sail in the company of a fisherman from the coast to observe dolphins. you can also visit the surrounding villages of this 1,600km² island (like Guadeloupe). We will meet in the evening at the bungalows to spend the evening and our last night in this enchanting place.

We will begin this last day by taking the road to Stone Town, the old Zanzibarian town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the road, we will stop to discover the Jozani forest. we will then leave for a 1h30 foray into the mangroves of this humid forest where we will cross paths with numerous monkeys including red colobus. once arrived in Stone Town, we will settle in a hotel located in the heart of the historic district of this city known for its mixture of Indian, Arab, African and European influences. You will then be free for lunch before meeting up to enjoy a city tour of approximately 3 hours in the company of a French-speaking guide. he will then make you discover the rich history of this fabulous island by visiting the shops, colonial residences and mosques of the old town. We will finish this last day at the hotel.

Before taking the plane home, you can walk the streets of Zanzibar one last time and visit the city's different markets to bring home some local gifts for your loved ones. according to the program, you will be transferred to Dar es Salaam airport, with memories in your head.