Day 1 — Depart the U.S. for Arusha, Tanzania

Day 2 — Arusha

Upon arrival after midnight, transfer directly to the hotel where your room is ready for early check in.

Day 3 — Arusha

At this morning’s briefing, learn about the journey ahead then set out on an afternoon game drive in Arusha National Park, where you may spot leopard, zebra, giraffe – and in the distance, possibly, snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Inside the park see Mt. Meru, Africa’s fifth highest peak at almost 15,000 feet. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Arusha and Tarangire National Park

Depart today for the two-hour drive to Tarangire, Tanzania’s 1,100-square-mile park known especially for its high concentration of elephants and for the many baobab trees dotting the savannah. Enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge, located within the park. After lunch and some time at leisure, late afternoon enjoy another game drive in the park, where you may see zebra, wildebeest, cape buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, and of course, elephants. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Tarangire

In store today: morning and afternoon game drives in this gem of a park slightly off the beaten path. Along with the abundant game, you’re sure to see some of Tarangire’s 550 species of birds, as well as the many termite mounds scattered amid the grass- and swampland here. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Tarangire and Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This morning depart for Ngorongoro, wildlife haven, and homeland of the semi-nomadic Maasai people. Arrive in time for lunch at your safari lodge uniquely set on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, blending in so much with the landscape as to be invisible from the crater floor. This afternoon is at leisure; the views of the crater from your lodge, spectacular. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Ngorongoro Crater

This morning descend to the floor of magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site and at 100 square miles the world’s largest intact and perfectly formed volcanic caldera. The unique biosphere here has remained unchanged for eons; towering walls encircle the crater’s floor which represents Africa in microcosm: grassland, swamps, lakes, forests, and some 25,000 mammals, including elephant, black rhinoceros, lion, hippo, and zebra. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Ngorongoro, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park

En route today to the fabled Serengeti, visit 31-mile Olduvai Gorge. It was here in 1959 that anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8 million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei – and revolutionized the study of human evolution. Part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (which itself is part of the Serengeti region), Olduvai is considered the “cradle of humanity” and ranks as one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites. Then visit a Maasai village before continuing on to Serengeti National Park, home to such plains dwellers as lion, cheetah, zebra, and wildebeest. The Serengeti, the Maasai’s “endless plain,” is considered Africa’s finest park, and you begin to see why on this afternoon’s game drive. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Serengeti

In Tanzania’s northeast corner sits the vast Serengeti, 5,700 square miles (equal in size to Connecticut), one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges, and the Tanzanian portion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. Twice a year (Jan–Feb and Jun–Oct), some 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle migrate to new grazing lands, sparking one of nature’s most spectacular sights and the world’s largest migration. But the Serengeti’s plains teem with animal life year-round, and this is the best place to see lion and cheetah up close, perhaps on today’s game drives. (B,L,D) 

Day 10 — Serengeti

Embark on more game drives today. You have the chance to see some – or all – of Africa’s “Big Five”: lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, rhino, and leopard, along with wildebeest, zebra, eland, gazelle, and other plains animals, and some 500 species of birds. (B,L,D) 

Day 11 — Serengeti and Zanzibar

Fly this morning to tropical Zanzibar, Tanzania’s semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago with a colorful history. Upon arrival mid-afternoon, set out to discover Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital, and East Africa’s only ancient town still functioning. A heady mix of Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African influences (though predominantly Muslim today), Stone Town boasts a labyrinth of narrow alleys lined with shops, homes, hidden courtyards, and extravagantly carved wooden doors, as you see on your tour. From here travel to your beach resort on Zanzibar's eastern coast. (B,L,D) 

Day 12 — Zanzibar

A morning tour of a spice plantation reveals why Zanzibar is known as the “Spice Island” – its bounty of cloves, nutmeg, ginger, chilies, black pepper, vanilla, coriander, and cinnamon have found their way around the world for centuries. Return to your hotel in time for lunch on your own and an afternoon at leisure. Then celebrate your Tanzania adventure at tonight’s farewell dinner. (B,D) 

Day 13 — Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Depart for the U.S.

This morning take a quick flight to German-influenced Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. Upon arrival, you will have a day room at a local hotel and an afternoon at leisure. Have an early dinner tonight, then depart for the airport and your overnight flight to the U.S. (B,D)

Day 14 — Arrive in the U.S.

Arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with your flights home.