A Dream Vacatiopn to Tanzania & Zanzibar

Asante Sana Tanzania and Zanzibar, thank you for a fantastic experience. The two countries have been on my bucket list. Years ago, I saw a photo of a woman walking along the shore of the Indian Ocean. The beautiful colors of her dress and head scarf and the turquoise water drew me in. The photo whetted my curiosity. Where is this, I wondered? Then I saw the word Zanzibar and immediately thought, “One day, I will visit this place.”

The dream vacation became a reality last summer. Safari and sand are a beautiful combination. After a long day of flying, we landed in Kilimanjaro and met our driver. He drove us to Arusha, where we spent one night.  However,  we were happy to take a long, hot shower and sit down for dinner.  There was only time for breakfast the following day, and then we were off for the first safari adventure.

Tarangire National Park

A jeep pulled up to the hotel. We met our guide, Jeremiah, and our safari mates, a newlywed couple from Switzerland. The size of our duffel bags was configured and loaded in the back of the jeep. Jeremiah took a photo of the duffel bag puzzle, so he knew how to reload after each lodging stop. Know how to pack light! We were on our way.

Jeremiah drove us through Arusha and then to Tarangire National Park. After a two-hour drive, we saw a savanna filled with baobab trees and home to the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. We were excited to see wildlife up close and personal. We bounced around in the jeep because the park’s roads were unpaved and bumpy. All of us were surprised—or maybe shocked—by the rough ride. Jeremiah laughed at us and said, “This is what you booked.” We laughed and shook our heads in agreement.

During our rough ride, we spotted elephants, giraffes, buffalo, gazelles, and other antelopes. After seeing a warthog, we began naming different animals by the Lion King characters.

Next, we found a quiet spot to eat lunch in the jeep.  After lunch, we searched for as many Big Five as possible. Around 4:00 p.m., we left Tarangire National Park and headed to Lake Burunge Tented Lodge for a one-night stay.

The lodge, located in Tarangire, has ten bungalows and 30 tents. We stayed in a spacious cottage with a deck with a table and two chairs, a nice bathroom with a hot shower, and beds with mosquito nets. Staff always escorted us to and from the dining room. Remember, we were in the middle of a savannah. The grounds were lovely, with a swimming pool, dining space, and beautiful sunrises. During the night, we heard the sounds of a nearby lion.

The following day, we ate breakfast, packed a lunch, and left the lodge for the next safari adventure.

The Serengeti National Park

We packed the jeep after leaving the Lake Burunge Tented Lodge and departed toward the Rift Valley. Our next stop was the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We drove up a mountain, stopped at a viewpoint, and took photos of the crater. After taking some beautiful pictures, we left to continue our journey around the crater. We drove on bumpy roads and passed Maasai villages on our way to the Serengeti National Park.

Soon, we saw the Serengeti National Park sign. I felt like that nerdy kid who watched all the nature shows on the National Geographic channel. It was a surreal feeling to finally see the Serengeti in person.

Again, we hit dusty, rocky, and rough roads, but the sights and experiences were worth every moment. We saw Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Pumbaa, and Shenzi. For those who have never seen The Lion King, we saw lions, lionesses, baboons, warthogs, and hyenas. Other sightings included hippos, giraffes, impala, gazelles, water buffalos, wildebeest, ostrich, vultures, crocodiles, elephants, and birds. What a day and an experience!

Later, we drove to the Kati Kati Tented Camp for two nights. When we arrived, we were tired and dusty. It was dry season, so the roads in the park were dusty, too. The staff welcomed us with a cool drink and wet towel. It felt great to wipe my dusty face. While waiting to check in, the staff informed us of the camp’s do’s and don’ts. The base is in the wilderness, and animals roam close to the tents. One night, hyenas walked near our tents throughout the night.

Before dinner, guests watch the sunset while sitting around the campfire. I’m not a camping girl, but the setting is lovely, and I marveled at nature. We could hear the same animals that we saw during the safari rides.

One exciting thing about staying at the camp was the bucket shower. A better word to describe the bucket shower is ‘interesting”. Each guest could only use two buckets of water for their shower: one bucket to wet and soap their body and another to rinse off the soap. You will learn to be frugal and conserve!

The following day, we headed back to the Serengeti National Park. We left the camp early because most of the big cats or predators were out during the morning. Our day was filled with more animal sightings. We saw all of the Big Five but the rhino. Our guide, Jeremiah, informed us that rhino sightings are rare because there are only about 150 remaining due to poaching. Day Four ended, and we spent another night at the camp.

Ngorongoro Farm House

We left the Serengeti the following day and returned to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. We reached the crater’s edge, and we were awestruck. The crater is a World Heritage Sight and seasonably home to over 25,000 animals, including birds, hyenas, and the Big Five. Out sightings included flamingos, lionesses, zebras, wildebeest, buffalos, hippos, and birds.

The crater was such a peaceful scene, with all the animals in their habitat living as nature intended. The feeling is difficult to explain on paper because you must experience it.

Afterward, we drove to Karutu in the Ngorongoro highlands to spend the night at TWC Ngorongoro Farm House. It was the last night in Tanzania. The setting was tranquil and natural. The grounds have a vegetable farm where coffee, bananas, green vegetables, tomatoes, and more are grown. The chef uses the harvest from the garden during breakfast and dinner.

Guests stay in chalets. Each one has a lovely veranda for outdoor sitting and a fireplace in the room. The rooms are very comfortable. An outdoor swimming pool is available for guests. Our stay was for one night, but I wanted to stay longer.

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Our safari adventures were complete. We said goodbye to our guide, Jeremiah, and Swiss safari mates. We headed back to Arusha to fly to Zanzibar. The flight was approximately 90 minutes.

The streets of Zanzibar were full of traffic. They were a maze with no street names posted or traffic lights. I’m glad I wasn’t driving because I would have been dangerous to myself and others.

We arrived in Stone Town and stayed at the Serena Hotel Zanzibar for two nights. It is a beautiful building with fantastic woodwork throughout. It sits on the shores of the Indian Ocean, ideal for watching gorgeous sunsets. The staff was exceptionally gracious and friendly. There, we had delicious seafood dinners and filling breakfasts with a view of the ocean.

We took a guided walking tour on our second day in Stone Town.

 We visited the Christ Church Cathedral, slave market, fish market, and spice and vegetable market. Our guide, Barack, took us through a maze of streets as he explained the history of Zanzibar and Stone Town.

He explained how the different shapes of the ornate wooden doors represented the Arab, Asian, and Portuguese influences of Zanzibar’s history. It was a magical two hours filled with information that helped us understand history and culture.

Beach and Relaxation

All bumpy roads lead to paradise! The following morning, we transferred to Breezes Beach Club and Spa Zanzibar by private van. The six kilometers is a ninety-minute drive that’s exceptionally rough and bumpy. The drive through several villages allowed us to see more of Zanzibar and its people.

Despite the rough roads, we entered the perfect setting for peace and tranquility. Breezes Beach Club and Spa is on the island’s southeastern coast and sits on a white sandy beach. Seeing the beach brought me joy.

The beach is tidal, and we participated in the reef safari one morning. During the morning, the water recedes over a mile out because of the tide. With a guide, we walk on the ocean floor as he describes various sea creatures, urchins, and plants. Each person must wear water shoes and use a stick for balance. It was a mandatory safety precaution. I was amazed at everything hanging out on the ocean floor.

Our modus operendi was Sleep. Eat, Beach, and Repeat! Hanging out at the pool, pool bar, and seaside was it for us. We had massages to work out the bumpy road kinks. Morning beach walks and swimming got us moving and exercising. The sand was soft, white, and not hot.  Each walk was two or three miles and a chance to meet and talk with the people of Zanzibar. 

After a few days of laziness, it was time to depart. Our time in Tanzania and Zanzibar will forever be a wonderful memory. A dream became a reality. Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is extraordinary. Zanzibar offers a diverse culture, history, and gorgeous beaches along the Indian Ocean. Take time to experience it for yourself.