#Another cool class involved going on a week long trip to forests where you lived in research cabins and gathered mushrooms/fungi

[stuffedeggplants]

This is how my friend took tractor driving as a linguistics major.

Ive changed my minor almost every semester since theres hyper specific classes (like welding) that you can only take at my U if you're the "target", but I just change my minor, take a few 100 level classes of that for fun one semester, and change again. I've had 5 minors, and I plan on having 4 more.

i think this dude is colleging better than anyone out there

[some-dr-writings]

Danganronpa V3 boys and their SHSL Survivalist friend/SO

Instead of sitting around waiting for a request I’ve decided to take it upon myself to take hold of my fate and kick off this blog with an imagine and one-shot. This is the imagine. I hope you enjoy.

Shuichi Saihara:

·       A person who practices outdoor survival skills as a sport or hobby. Shuichi first met such a person through Kaito who had eagerly dragged them into those nightly training sessions as well as Maki. Though their idea of “training” was certainly something to behold. Pushups - nah, they’d suggest rock climbing. Pull-ups - Nope, swimming against a river’s current was much more enticing. Communication and talking, sure, as long as it was done on a camping trip to the woods where no one brought any supplies. Thankfully, such training rarely happened, but when it did it was always the most excruciating exercise Shuichi ever had.

·       Funny thing though. Outside of training the Survivalist always spent time with Shuichi. Asking if he was feeling alright, or if his muscles were sore. If he were hurting, even the smallest, slightest bit, they’d carry him over their shoulder to the nurse’s office despite his flustered protests.

·       They even had taken interest in his work, offering their assistance. For infidelity cases they taught Shuichi how to sneak around and follow people without them knowing as if they were out hunting. They showed Shuichi how to find animal tracks even in the most unlikely of places for his missing pet cases.

·       When it came to cold cases or cases that didn’t involve physical activity Shuichi would sit with the Survivalist by his side, explaining the case and how to connect evidence and statements to reveal the truth. When they struggled Shuichi would go step by step, leading them gently through critical thinking processes ‘till they finally arrived at a logical conclusion, even if it weren’t his own. In fact, seeing how others could view the case helped Shuichi broaden his own skills as a detective.

·       Overall, the Super High School Level Detective and Super High School Level Survivalist balanced out one another nicely, teaching the other skills the former lacked.

Kaito Momota:

·       “Survivalist, huh... Well I bet they never survived the vastness of space before!” With that thought in mind Kaito sought out the Super High School Level Survivalist. Surely, they’d make for a great training partner! After all, Kaito had to go through survivalist training himself to be an astronaut. And surely the Ultimate Survivalist would take interest in surviving the greatness of space! They just had to train with him! And if not, then Kaito would just convince them, he was Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars, he’d figure out something!

·       Unsurprisingly, said Survivalist was nowhere to be found. Luckily some students from their class knew where the Survivalist was training. England’s Wychwood Forest. Great! With the help of Rantaro, off Kaito went...

·       What Kaito made up for in raw determination, he lacked in foresight, not having researched anything about the forest so he... he didn’t know the place was also called “The world’s most haunted forest”

·       And that was how the Ultimate Survivalist found the Ultimate Astronaut, screaming at every little noise... even the sound of his own screaming.

·       Not the best first impression, but Kaito was quickly able to brush it off and finally train with the Survivalist, but... just not in a forest.

·       The Survivalist and Kaito got along like two peas in a pod, especially after Kaito saw how the Survivalist looked after his sidekick Shuichi. Every moment spent together was called ‘training’, dedicated to getting stronger in any sense of the word. Even simply laying on some cool grass in the dead of night racing to spot navigational stars first was training. Everything they did together was a friendly competition of sorts, pushing each other to be better.

·       On one such night between rounds of star searching Kaito actually pried his gaze from that beloved mysterious expanse that loomed above him. Instead he glanced to his side, in that moment, realizing the person beside him was one he simply couldn’t see not beside him when he finally blasts off away from this planet.

Ryoma Hoshi:

·       Ryoma didn’t think much of the Super High School Level Survivalist at first. Ryoma never went out of his way to meet others, and with his reputation of being a convicted criminal not many approached him. So, when the Ultimate Survivalist eagerly approached him, he was quite surprised.

·       “You must teach me THAT, whatever THAT was!” Not knowing how to respond, Ryoma simply stared, dumbfounded. “The thing you did when dodging that attack!”

·       Moments prior Ryoma had successfully dodged one of Kokichi’s pranks. “Ah, the Shukuchi Method.” He didn’t even think about it. Though it had been so long since he had used it, it seems that method was still muscle memory... When was the last time he used that method? Back when he played tennis...he knew that, but...

·       Ryoma was abruptly snapped from his thoughts, seeing those lively, sparkling eyes. “Shukuchi Method? That’s what it’s called? Please, you have to teach me!”

·       And thus, began the Survivalist’s escapades in trying to convince Ryoma to teach them. Wherever Ryoma went, Survivalist followed, much like how a duckling would. For the first day of this they’d ask Ryoma to teach, to which he’d decline, to which Survivalist threatened to follow him around till he agreed to do so. And that they did. They were the first person Ryoma met in the morning and the last person he saw at night.

·       When asked why they wanted to learn so badly, the Survivalist listed off application after application they could see using the method to improve their own talent.

·       After the first day though, the Survivalist occasionally asked to be taught, but also just asked Ryoma other questions, such as for his name. Then day after day, they’d just talk. And with each day, less and less would the Survivalist ask about the Shukuchi Method. Till they never mentioned it even once. Even after weeks, and months.

·       “... If I taught you the Shukuchi Method, would you leave me alone?” With a confused expression the Survivalist looked to Ryoma, who was stoic as always, yet... the tone in his voice was off somehow. Did it waver? “No, you’re my friend now! You can’t get rid of me that easily. Sorry Ryoma, but you’re stuck with me for the long run.” A light chuckle escaped the man. Truthfully, Ryoma felt guilt for not having taught Survivalist long ago, for unintentionally stringing them along and for them being with a guy like himself, yet... it was nice always having someone around.

Rantaro Amami:

·       Rantaro had actually met the Survivalist long before either were invited to Hope’s Peak. On his many adventures searching for his sisters they bumped into one another. They ran into each other many times actually. Each time the Survivalist would guide Rantaro through any terrain, searching for whatever small town Rantaro was looking for and Rantaro would buy them a big hearty meal that was heavenly compared to the plain fish and berries they had grown so accustomed too. Then after that meal they’d go their separate ways till they met again several months later on complete accident.

·       When they did find each other at Hope’s Peak, it was quite odd. They weren’t huddled close in snowy mountains, they weren’t trudging through a humid rain forest trying to fend off the many bugs, they weren’t even dragging one another through some desert! They were just at a relatively safe and peaceful school with other people.

·       It was nice being able to chat for hours on end of their old adventures together. Survivalist would tease Rantaro for not having gotten muscular even with how much traveling he did and Rantaro would tease Survivalist for how socially awkward they tended to be, having not spent too much time in human society. This lighthearted teasing managed to subdue the stagnant air about them. Even without the thrill of danger around every corner they still found joy and comfort in the other’s company. It was a relief to them realizing their friendship was able to run much deeper than merely the thrill of exploration they often experienced with the other.

·       But that didn’t mean the thrill of adventure wasn’t missed, so whenever Rantaro left the school to go searching once more, he was sure to tell his best friend and companion, and they stuck by his side for every last excursion, now not daring to leave him ever.

Gonta Gokuhara:

·       The moment Gonta saw the Survivalist, Gonta knew they’d be great friends. They were being kind to bugs! When the giant wild looking man came charging at the Super High School Level Survivalist, they almost crushed the poor cricket they had just helped escape from being trampled in the noisy classroom.

·       From that day onward Gonta happily introduced his new friend to his bug companions and even invited them to his lab. With how kind Gonta was the Survivalist couldn’t refuse his offers, though they did fear the man. If he found out the Survivalist had to resort to eating the relatives of such beloved companions on occasion... The Survivalist never dared to finish the thought and focused instead on not accidently mentioning that the particular species of stink bug Gonta was so happily showing off was delicious, tasting like apples.

·       With each visit to the lab or escapade out bug hunting the Survivalist found an appreciation for the little creatures outside of nutrition. Many were quite pretty actually. And seeing the variety of inventive ways bugs adapted to harsh environments tugged at the Survivor’s heart strings, realizing how they themselves were quite similar to them in that aspect.

·       Though it may sound strange Gonta saw his and the Survivalist’s relationship to be symbiotic, like that of the ant and aphid. The ant, the Survivalist, would protect Gonta, the aphid, who in return for the protection provided food - knowledge of insects.

·       From what did the Survivalist protect Gonta from one might wonder.

·       Homesickness. Even with his beloved insects around, often times, he found himself missing living outside of human society and with his forest family. But the Survivalist reminded Gonta so much of home. Though they weren’t a wolf or lizard person, they had that...for lack of a better word, calm wildness.  Like Gonta for much of their life they lived outside of human society and being able to speak with someone about his home and they truly understood what he was speaking of...knowing Gonta had a connection with a person like that always pulled his lips into a smile.

·       So, whenever the Survivalist left for an adventure with Rantaro, it hurt, but seeing them return with a bug case in hand, some new insect friends they had made on their trip, it filled Gonta with unimaginable joy.

Kokichi Oma:

·       Ah, the entrance ceremony, a staple of High Schools all across Japan. The time where all the new students gather and listen to the principle and others of authority welcome them all with open arms! A rather boring event, but one that could easily be livened up. And what better way than to greet his new classmates than pranking everyone all at once with fireworks and paint! Though enacting such a plan would take time, lots of time. So, for several days before the ceremony he prepared.

·       Unfortunately, on one such day Kokichi was caught by some security near where the ceremony was to take place, a place none of the students were allowed, and so, a chase ensued.

·       As Kokichi dashed down hall after hall he took a sharp turn around the corner, crashing into someone. Perfect. Kokichi flipped on the water works, crying out, saying the mean guards were chasing after him for no reason at all and how he oh so badly needed help! And help the person did, hiding Kokichi and telling the guards they hadn’t seen him. With the guards gone Kokichi stepped out of his hiding place and thanked the person, now he could get back to preparing!

·       The person quickly left but took a moment to glance over their shoulder. A strained smirk emerged on their lips as a stifled laughter manage to seep out. They wished Kokich good luck with ‘catching his prey’.

·       Soon after the day of entrance ceremony came, and it was marvelous! Well, except for one thing, that person who helped Kokichi, the Ultimate Survivalist, managed to avoid the prank! Now this will not stand. And so Kokichi dedicated himself to giving them the greatest scare and laugh of their life in retaliation!

·       ... Or so he thought. No matter what he pulled, they managed to outmaneuver him! Exploding school supplies? Nah, moment they picked it up, they threw it out the window. Fill their classroom with laughing gas? Nope, they always left the room moments before his trap went off. How were they doing this!?It was as if they knew it was going to happen...wait.

·       Well he got his answer one afternoon when he tried to tackle the Survivalist from behind with joy buzzers under his clothes. They dodged his attack much to his chagrin. “Survivalist! Why are you so mean to me!? I just want a hug.” Seeing those crocodile tears come cascading down the Supreme Leader’s cheeks they decided to speak out. “I’ve played the role of both predator and prey many times. I always keep a close eye on my environment, even if it means crawling through the vents at night.” Kokichi blinked, the tears instantly disappearing. “Huh...Not gonna lie, getting that out of you was much easier than I expected. I didn’t even have to prod at you at all.” “No decent predator would not have noticed my skill level at this game by now, so I decided to just save you the trouble of confirming your suspicion. I found all your traps before you got to set them off. And now, this game can really begin! So, catch me Oma! I want to know what truly being caught off guard in one of your surprises is like! I’m sure it must be thrilling!” Oh, this was going to be fun, especially when Kokichi finally wins.

·       Every day thereafter was filled with excitement and suspense. Especially days when nothing happened and all they did was talk. Both in this game of cat and mouse trying to outsmart the other with everything they had! Never knowing what was to come next, they were always on their toes, one searching for opportunities and the other searching for any sign of an attack, both adding lulls into the action making the next attack more thrilling. Even when Kokichi did win, the game continued. After all, even if he won once didn’t mean he could get consistent results. Besides, he saw no reason why he would take away an excuse to spend time with such a fun person.

Korekiyo Shinguji:

·       It all started when Kiyo entered his lab one morning, finding one of his artifacts was missing. Though very concerning, his attention was focused on the small note that was left in it’s place. ‘Go to the track’ it read. There he found another note instructing him to jog around the mile-long track twice. For the time being he decided to play along, curious as to the intentions of the person behind these notes. When he finished a new note had appeared, instructing him to go to the cafeteria where there was a meal being prepared for him. Once he was there another note was with his meal telling him to return to his lab, where his artifact had been returned... Quite an intriguing person to put Korekiyo through all that. What could their aim be, he wondered. Little did he know he’d learn that the very next day.

·       Like the day prior one of his artifacts were missing and a note was in its place. Once again, he was led to a location, told to do an exercise, but something different happened. As he was doing some push-ups, someone approached him. “You’re doing it all wrong.” Kneeling beside him they moved him so everything was in proper place saying there was no point in this if he was just not going to do it properly.“Ah,theUltimateSurvivalist.Soyou’vebeentakingmyartifacts.”He then gestured to the note they held. “...I didn’t know how else to get you to leave your lab, you never leave the place.” “Well, now that you’re here, why are you having me do this?” “You look like a twig! How do you not break in the wind!? You need help! I didn’t think my word would be enough to convince you so, I held one of your precious items hostage.”

·       And that was how Korekiyo began doing light exercises with the Survivalist. Exercising was not Kiyo’s forte but getting the chance to converse with a person who had minimum contact with society intrigued him to no end. And he got them to speak of their travels, and the many remote places they had gone to. With each location spoken of, Kiyo added knowledge of the history of the region. Particularly he spoke of legends of warriors since those intrigued the Survivalist the most. On occasion they even tried recreating some, like the labors of Hercules or legends of Beowulf or the adventures of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

·       Their friendship was very unlikely, even chaotic at times when recreating myths went awry, but it was always fun and fascinating. A friendship neither would trade for the world.

Kiibo:

·       Though it was not often Kiibo had the chance to speak to them, he held great admiration for the Super High School Level Survivalist. He always saw them moving and running around the campus almost nonstop. They were always looking for ways to get better, asking others to teach them like Ryoma with his Shukuchi Method. They seemed to stop for nothing!

·       Even the most unlikely of things they did to improve. Kiibo learned this when one day he was passing by the Ultimate Light Music Club Member’s lab and saw the Survivalist singing with a microphone in hand as the owner of the lab wailed away on her guitar. All too quickly their session had come to an end, and Kiibo was caught staring. The Survivalist swiftly skipped up to him before he had the chance to leave.

·       “You wanna give singing a shot Kiibo?” “Ah, no I couldn’t. My singing is lacking, dangerous as Shuichi puts it. Even if I practiced it wouldn’t get better. I want to improve, but I can’t. The only way I can, would be with help from someone like Miu or Dr. Idabashi. I...I am a robot I can never improve myself on my own but you can! I find that to be an amazing ability, but even more so is how you work so hard for that.” “Really!? I wish I was like you, Kiibo!” That comment caught the robot off guard. “Kiibo once you get an improvement you get to keep it forever! If I took a break for even one day my muscles and body would lose some of the improvement I had gained yesterday or even more. I have to constantly push myself lest my skills and body get rusty from lack of use for even a short time, and getting back to the high proficiency I was at before would be extremely difficult. The human body is ridiculously temperamental while you don’t have to worry about such things. And I even have to focus on specific parts and not just my whole body, like singing to increase lung capacity. And Kiibo the improvements you can gain are limited only by the imagination while the human body was much more restrictive. You can be so much greater than me or anyone else at this school!”

·       That day changed a lot of things for Kiibo. It got him to be able to see his existence from a slightly different perspective, even if only for a moment. And after that day the Survivalist would approach him, asking him if he would spot them during their exercises. During these times they and Kiibo would try to come up with ideas to improve his body. They would come up with ideas to improve their exercise regimen. They’d throw out any idea at one another, no matter how ridiculous or impracticable. In the end all that really mattered was the thought behind it, wishing to help the other even in the simplest of forms. No matter how simple they wanted to help. Even if it was just Kiibo cheering on the Survivalist to push on through one more lap than they did yesterday. Even if it was just the Survivalist sitting by Kiibo’s side as he was getting a maintenance check. No matter how simple, or insignificant if seemed, they ended up supporting the other in any way they could, hoping that in doing so the other could at least get a glimpse at just how great they could be because the former certainly could see it, and they would both agree that the other was absolutely amazing and filled with endless possibilities. They just needed to see it and they were the one who was going to show that to them.

[myassbrokethefall]

Do you have any favorite scifi shows? Or any recommendations?

Well! This is a fun ask. Let me see…

So, I really like sci-fi, but sometimes I also don’t like sci-fi. I overdosed a little bit on spaceship stuff after my years of Star Trek obsession and then BSG (and like, I hear The Expanse is great but I just…haven’t been in the mood), and these days my favorite sci-fi is talky, high-concept atmospheric mystery stuff in a fairly realistic world where something is a little bit weird. What I really DON’T like is violence/shooting/chasing/action, and a lot of sci-fi, unfortunately, is that. (Westworld, I am looking at your ass.) I also am a LITTLE bit over sci-fi as sledgehammery social parable, again a la Star Trek. Even though I’ll always love Star Trek (and will get around to watching Discovery one of these days). 

Some sci-fi TV that I’ve enjoyed recently includes:

(hey surprise, this got very long! so it’s under a cut)

Dark. There’s just one season of this on Netflix right now, but I LOVVVVVED it. Talk about atmospheric. It made me want to move to Germany and live in a forest where it rains all the time. It’s in German – this isn’t a bother to me because I like subtitles, but it’s available dubbed as well if you prefer that. It takes place in a small town and starts with a missing child, and it quickly becomes clear that something strange is going on. Time travel is an element. A central part of it becomes about the way all the characters in the town are interconnected and how the events of the past affect the future. It’s part Lost, part Stranger Things, part Back to the Future. 

The Returned/Les Revenants. So there’s an American show called The Returned as well, and this is not that one – the one I’m talking about is in French (sorry…I swear some ones without subtitles are coming) and was on uh, IFC or something like that. One day in a(n extremely attractive and cinematic) French town in the mountains, a girl comes home from a class field trip…except she died on that field trip years ago, in a bus accident, and her family is completely shocked and freaked out. The same thing is happening all across town. Includes one (1) very creepy child. Very spooky and also super atmospheric. (One reason I loved Dark so much was that aesthetically it reminded me of Les Revenants.)

The 4400. I binged this show and had a window of time in my life where I was super obsessed with it. Premise is similar to The Returned, actually: A bunch of people (4,400 of them to be precise) who were believed to be the victims of alien abductions – across many years – are returned to earth all at the same time, all at the age they left. So you have a man who was taken in the 1950s (Mahershala Ali!) and a little girl from the 1930s, etc., all dropped back into modern-day America – and most of them (all of them? I forget) have mysterious powers of various kinds. Two police detectives (am I predictable or what) investigate. Things escalate from there. It is a little XF-y in a way I appreciate, while also being totally different (and much less arty than something like Les Revenants). 

Stranger Things. I might as well list it…everyone knows about this show but it really is pretty great. Season 1 especially. Huge ET vibes, creepy/Spielbergy, not a cop-out where it’s all a metaphor or something (pet peeve). 

Fringe. This isn’t so recent (well, neither is The 4400), but if you like sci-fi and you haven’t watched it, you should! It starts out being a liiiiiiittle bit of a less-hooky ripoff of XF (a group of FBI folks, including a retired mad scientist basically, investigate paranormal cases), but after a few episodes it finds its groove and it becomes its own weird and wonderful thing. It was a show I really enjoyed and it ended satisfyingly. John Noble as Walter Bishop is fantastic, and one thing I really loved about it was that it was not afraid to make things happen and shake up the premise if needed. 

Jessica Jones. I really, really am not into Marvel or any of the superhero stuff, but I like this show a lot. It puts the idea of having “powers” in a very grounded kind of gritty, cynical, noir-y setting and I enjoy that. It’s also woman-focused, which is nice, and it’s just different from other stuff on TV. I dig it. 

Orphan Black. Man, I loved Orphan Black. What a fun show, and – not necessarily the most important thing to me in a show, but hugely refreshing nonetheless – it’s also very woman-centered. The premise is that a woman named Sarah sees someone who looks exactly like her – right before the doppelganger throws herself in front of a train. And in unraveling the mystery, Sarah learns that she’s a clone and she has a bunch of “sisters.” Tatiana Maslany is FREAKING AMAZINGGGGG as all the various clones. It is definitely sci-fi, but it’s also a lot of fun and just a fast-moving, action-packed (but not in a way that makes my eyes glaze over) cool-ass show. 

Grimm. Grimm was a pretty silly network-y show, but my affection for it really never waned (though it also never really went too far above “mild”). Premise: Basically, that fairytale monsters (broadly speaking) are real and walk among us (disguised for the most part), and there are these people called Grimms who can see them and are supposed to fight them. Lots of ancient documents, old books, mysterious keys, etc. This one dude who is a police detective in Portland (it was shot in Portland and is basically the second Portland-iest show after Portlandia, as far as I can tell) finds out that he’s a Grimm, and he meets this guy who is one of these monsters but also a delightfully civilized clock nerd who becomes his friend and helps him learn about this hidden world, and it’s pretty much monster-of-the-week episodes every week (though there is a mytharc of sorts involving an evil cabal of European royalty or something, snore). I think it’s the people who did Angel (which I never watched; I’m not a Buffy person). It also started the same year as Once Upon a Time, so it was the “other” fairytale show.

The Leftovers. Technically, it’s sci-fi. It’s also just very imaginative storytelling, and is a good example of what I mean by high-concept and atmospheric and something being a little bit weird in an otherwise contemporary setting. (This is a post-Lost Damon Lindelof, and Damon Lindelof has learned from his Lost mistakes, with wonderful results.) The central premise is a sci-fi one (2% of the earth’s population mysteriously vanishes), but aside from that there are also just a lot of kind of fantastic imaginative leaps and surreal settings and…ah, The Leftovers. My standard intro/warning: Season 1, while really good, is VERY depressing; Season 2 becomes marginally less depressing while also changing things up considerably and in my opinion becoming much better; Season 3 is even better than that. Love you, show. 

Lost. I suppose I should mention it even though it’s another obvious one. I have rarely been hooked as hard as I was by the pilot of this show. It doesn’t necessarily deliver on everything it promises, and it’s interesting to think of it in terms of it being one of the first shows to, basically, cancel itself – to choose to end so that it could pace its story effectively and lead to a deliberate ending instead of just vamping forever and trying to keep sucking the audience in for one more season until that stopped working and it was canceled. However, before that happened there was some time-killing, and I think that maybe contributes to people’s perception that it didn’t know what it was doing half the time. A divisive ending that I did not have a problem with. If you watch it in the spirit of being taken on a ride and enjoying the feelings that the twists and turns give you in the moment, you’ll find it more satisfying than if you’re trying to solve every mystery and trying to make it all work out perfectly with every loose end tied up.  

The OA. This was a weird-ass motherfucking show on Netflix and I still don’t know what the fuck it was about. I feel like I dreamed it. It maybe involves angels? And stuff. 

Carnivale. Lord, talk about atmosphere. This was an HBO show several years ago now about a creepy traveling circus in the 1930s. Being on HBO, it’s very violent and dirty and twisted and stuff. I was obsessed with it, and loved watching it although I vaguely remember the ending being not super satisfying? I should rewatch it, really, because I have forgotten a lot about it beyond impressions (it started in 2003). It’s not that sci-fi, but it has kind of mysterious portents and shit like that all over the place. Anytime I see anything remotely carnival-y I’m like AAAHHH CARNIVALE

Westworld. Sigh…I’m having a lot of trouble connecting to the season of Westworld that’s currently airing (Season 2, on HBO). I loved Season 1. My opinion is that they blew their premise too quickly and now they have nowhere to go – it’s just been violent chaos of the sort that puts me to sleep. Literally – one episode a couple of weeks ago I tried to watch and fell asleep during TWICE – two evenings in a row – before I finally got through it on Day 3. Because it was just a bunch of shooting. But the premise is cool – in the undetermined nearish future, there is a giant elaborate theme park where extremely realistic robots interact with the superrich guests who pay to come and basically be super destructive and violent (this show doesn’t have a particularly high opinion of humanity) in an Old West-themed setting. Like Disney World if your dream was to fuck and murder everyone in the Hall of Presidents. It’s made by one of the Nolans so there are lots of twists and also you don’t know what the hell is going on half the time. But there are some high-budget groovy sci-fi set pieces in it, and if you like amazing piano covers of popular songs (sometimes but not always in the in-show context of the player piano in the saloon), that is a fantastic bonus (the music is terrific overall). ROBOTS.

Battlestar Galactica. Speaking of robots. I loved the hell out of this show, although I have my issues with it. I felt when I first saw it (this is the 2000s remake I’m talking about, not the 1970s original) that it was like Star Trek had grown up. It gets more and more high-concept the longer it goes on, and some people weren’t fans of where it ended up (I, again, was fine with it), but it starts out with a hell of a premise: Cylons (humanlike robots originally created by humanity, which then evolved) destroy almost all of the human race except for a few stragglers in a few scattered ships, who have to pull together and somehow survive. Great acting, great writing, big themes, Laura Roslin. 

Black Mirror. This is an anthology series, meaning each one is a short story basically, with different characters, a different near-future setting, and a different premise (often having to do with technology going wrong. In the words of Mallory Ortberg: What If Phones, But Too Much?) Some of them are better than others but if you can take some upsetting conceptual stuff, it’s really a super interesting show. Your bingeing tolerance may vary, but I personally could not handle more than a couple of episodes a night.

Roswell. Holy shit I was so into this fucking teen soap opera about aliens. Also not recent. They might do a remake of this I heard?? MAX + LIZ 4EVA

Millennium. Yes…Chris Carter’s Other Show. I’ve said this before, but in a weird way I feel like this show is…CC’s best work???? Without the chemistry supernova of Mulder and Scully dimming everything around it, the “scary stories” he’s always talking about actually have room to be kind of interesting. It also works with his inclination to do what is essentially an anthology series loosely connected via recurring characters that are almost more narrators/observers than participants. In XF, this makes me want to break things when it results in stagnated character growth and no continuity and endless reset-button-pushing. In Millennium, Frank wandering grimly through the show universe encountering fable after fable (grimmer than XF – less on the stretchy mutants and fat-sucking vampires and lake monsters and Reticulans and spooky green bugs; more serial killers and cults and angels and apocalyptic stuff) actually worked pretty darn well for me. It’s not that the characters aren’t good, but they are VERYYYYY archetypal (kind of like how M&S could have been if not given such aliveness and humanity by David and Gillian, and Morgan and Wong and Vince Gilligan at that). Frank Black is the tormented detective, he has a beautiful kind wife and an innocent young daughter and they live in a beatific yellow house and he has to keep them safe from the evils out in the darkness. You might say this is hammered home a lot. But: the kind of mythic tone of it is a much better fit here than on XF. Lance Henriksen is perfect as Frank, and some of the stories are really absorbing and emotional. I cried during WAY more Millennium episodes (I can think of three or four off the top of my head that I remember WEEPING openly over, one of which stars Darren McGavin) than I ever have at XF. 

Everything changes in Season 2 when Morgan and Wong take over as (I believe) showrunners – things lighten up considerably versus S1; there’s even a Darin episode! With Jose Chung! And the Spotnitz Sanitarium! – and then everything changes again in S3 when they leave. The show does suffer from a lack of cohesion in that sense, and frankly the “mytharc” parts never did a lot for me (loosely, the world is going to end in the year 2000 and a cabal of mysterious dudes something something). But there is a lot of cool shit in this show. There really is. Every few years I attempt a rewatch and never finish; I should try again. In late fall, which is the only time Millennium should be watched. 

 BONUS

Face Off. This isn’t sci-fi per se (it’s a reality competition show, on Syfy), but if you’re a sci-fi person you might love it. The way I describe it to people is very simple: It’s the exact same premise and structure as Project Runway, except instead of fashion, it’s FX makeup. The best thing about it is that everyone is NICE and HELPFUL to each other. It’s a bunch of creative nerds making monsters together and the competition element is there but no one is a dick and there’s no fighting and drama. Michael Westmore, who did the makeup on Star Trek: TNG among many other acclaimed projects, is the mentor (and the dad of the show’s host, McKenzie Westmore), and he pops in to give dad advice to all these starstruck dorks. The new season just started and it’s just a fun show. I have, at times, thought of it as my FAVORITE show on TV. 

Well, that was probably more than you wanted, anon! I feel like I’m missing some, too. TV! I like it. 

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[smoothshift]

The best way to buy a new car: My Volvo Factory Delivery Experience via /r/cars

The best way to buy a new car: My Volvo Factory Delivery Experience

This is going to be a long post so TLDR; at the beginning...

Ordered a 2019 Volvo XC40, applied for Volvo's Factory Delivery program and was accepted, flew to Gothenburg, Sweden to pick up the car, then drove almost 800 miles through snowy Sweden, and now it's on a boat on it's way to us.

For a lot more details... read on...

Selecting the car:

For the last 3 years my wife has been working a job which has required a very long commute (sometimes 90 miles a day). We made the choice to put her in a very inexpensive car so we wouldn't be putting a ton of miles on something expensive. She's been driving a Nissan Juke, which has been a pretty good little car, but the long commute is over so it's time for something nicer!

We didn't have a budget in mind, but we did have some size constraints the car had to meet. We have a small 2-car garage, and no street parking, so the car had to be small enough to fit beside mine. We actually took measurements and immediately ruled out anything that wouldn't fit. You get some really strange looks at car dealerships when they recommend something and you say "no, that's too long by X inches." Evidently not many people really consider the exact dimensions of a car when they buy one. Anyway, as long as it met the size requirements, we probably drove it. Everything from the Lincoln MKC (completely crap... who buys those?!) to the Porsche Macaan (our second choice, just didn't have the value per $ that the Volvo has.), and pretty much everything in between. One of the last cars we test drove was the Volvo XC40. I was surprised when my wife had it on her list because I had this bias in my mind towards Volvo. One of my closest friends in middle school and highschool was handed down a Volvo station wagon as his first car. It was the ugliest thing... wood paneling and all. We used to tease him about it. That's what I thought of Volvo.

Well I was wrong. From the second I stepped on the lot, I was like "that's a Volvo?" They have completely changed their image, and there is not a single thing in their current lineup that I wouldn't be proud to own. We test drove the XC40 and immediately knew it was the car for us.

July/Aug. 2018: Took a few weeks to decide on all the options, but my wife selected a T5 (AWD for those that don't know Volvo lingo) in Amazon Blue (a 2019 exclusive color), with pretty much every option available. We placed the order, and was told it would be ready sometime in Q1 2019. Then our sales guy told us about Factory Delivery...

Volvo Factory Delivery:

Factory Delivery is something that Volvo offers to a few hundred special order customers every year. There is an application, but it's very simple. Basically stuff like "what makes you excited about Volvo?" blah blah blah. My wife filled out the application and a few weeks later got email confirmation that we were accepted.

We LOVE to travel and take a big trip every year. We've been to France, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, etc. so this sounded amazing to us.

We were set up with a travel agent who worked out all the details for us. We hardly had to do anything except show up! Volvo covered the cost of 2 economy plus round trip tickets between Houston, Texas (where we live) and Gothenburg, Sweden. They also included a 2 night stay, and several meals. They really have this whole process ironed out... everything (temporary EU driving permit, insurance, snow tires, transportation to and from the airport, etc.) was taken care of. It could not have been smoother.

Fast forward to Jan. 2019, and it's time for us to take delivery. Our driver takes us to the Factory Delivery Center, and after some brief paper work, we get to see the car for the first time. They have a nice showroom and the cars enter through a slide-up door... perfect for the big reveal.

Here it is just 30 seconds after seeing it for the first time.

We were given a tour of the car which included "every quirk and feature". Our first drive in it was a short one to the Volvo Museum (more on that later). After the museum tour, we returned to the factory deliver center and the car was taken away for snow tire install. We had lunch (Swedish meatballs), and then it was time for the factory tour. Here's a picture of the Factory Delivery Center from the outside.

Volvo Museum and Factory Tour:

The museum was neat. We learned all about Volvo's origins, their involvement in the production of military vehicles during war times, heavy truck production, their growth throughout the years, and their very ambitious plans for the future. My biggest takeaway from the museum is that Volvo invented and patented the 3 point seat belt and then shared it with all other automakers. They estimate it has saved over a million lives since it's inception (how they estimate that I have no idea). I've got lots of pics from inside the Volvo museum, mostly of old models, concept cars, etc. There was lots of cool stuff in there, but too many pictures to pick any specific ones. Let me know if there is something special you would like to see.

The factory tour was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. Sadly, they don't allow pictures, so my words will have to do. They are very safety conscious. We were literally transported in a giant bubble, and still had to wear safety goggles. The majority of the body and frame is built by robots. Humans insure the correct pieces are in place, but robots do the hard work. It was really incredible to see a set of robotic arms put a partially assembled frame in place, then another set of arms hold a few new pieces in place, and then another set of arms do the welding. Just fascinating, and they put us right in the middle of the action... sparks were landing all around us. A lot of the interior and safety features are still done by human hands. They have several production lines for doors, seats, dash, trunk, etc. They use completely autonomous delivery carts that identify the correct pallet of parts, pick them up, then navigate their way through the factory to where they are needed. The robot carts can communicate with one another, but are also controlled by a central "brain". They explained how the technology in these delivery carts will be similar to what is in fully autonomous cars in the near future.

Rest of the trip:

I'll make this part short...

After we left Volvo, we were free to do what we wanted. Using Volvo's travel agent, we had arranged a 12 day trip which would take us all over Sweden. We stayed 2 nights in Gothenburg, which included one night in the Barken Viking, a 100 year old ship converted to a hotel. Then took off for Stockholm, making one stop along the way to stay at a Swedish castle. We spent 2 days in Stockholm. If you are ever there, be sure to check out the Vasa museum (an almost 400 year old sunken ship that was recovered and restored), and Skanksen (an incredible outdoor zoo and museum). Our return trip to Gothenburg was the highlight of the trip. 2 incredible castles that included lots of time in the sauna, a private dinner made by a world class chef, a wine cellar full of 100 year old champagne bottles that were recovered from a sunken ship, amazing hikes through forests around frozen lakes and frozen waterfalls, and lots of driving! As I said in the TLDR, the total trip was almost 800 miles. We are from Texas, and were both a little nervous about driving in so much snow, but the car handled it perfectly. Some of the roads to get to the castles weren't plowed and barely driven on, but we had no trouble at all. It's probably the only time our car will see that much snow, but it's nice to know it can handle it! We returned the car to Gothenburg, and now it's on a boat being shipped to the US. Estimated to arrive mid-March.

Pilot Assist / Self Driving capabilities

I'm a tech junkie... I love home automation, home theater, I work in IT, etc. This stuff fascinates me. Volvo is one of the leaders in pilot assistance tech., and other than a few test drives, this was our first chance to really try it out. You can tell that it has some limitations, but I was blown away by how the car was able to pick up the lines in the road (even in snowy conditions), speed up when cars in front did, and slow down when they did, go around curves, etc. We will be using this a lot in stop and go Houston traffic. Like I said, it's not perfect. It bugs you a lot to keep your hands on the wheel. You can't completely take your attention away from the road, but it's more than fine for looking away to adjust the radio/eat your fries/etc. A typical experience went like this... you get to the speed you want and in the lane that you want and you activate pilot assist. Making sure to touch the wheel every 30 seconds (or be dinged about it until you do), the car stays in its lane and speeds up or slows down accordingly (up to the speed that you set initially). Need to change lanes? Putting the blinker on temporarily deactivates Pilot Assist, you make the lane change, and when the blinker turns off, the Pilot Assist picks back up and takes over again. Honestly, it worked better than I expected, and really has me excited to see where this stuff goes in the future. Volvo told us at the factory that their current line up has all the hardware it needs for fully autonomous driving, but it's just not fully tested and fleshed out in the software, and isn't fully legal in most places yet. The will likely be adding more semi-autonomous features through software updates in the future.

That's pretty much it. I know people are curious how much this cost, so I'll address that. Like I said, Volvo covered the most expensive part (the plane tickets) so the over all trip was pretty reasonable... our part was about $4k, which is really good for a 12 day trip.

If you want to see more pictures, including some of the stuff I mentioned above, and lots of dirty car pictures, I put together an Imgur album here: https://imgur.com/a/6Pfl71N

Feel free to AMA!

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Headquarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Maasai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Maasai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, thereafter proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the freshwater happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article

[kuwahuru]

12 Days Culture Tour Safari and Zanzibar

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. At the sites you will encounter natural beauty, including: rain forests, big waterfalls, magnificent views, lots of wildlife, and, of course, the charming Tanzanians themselves!  Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Most cultural tour sites in mainland Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Day 1: To Kilimanjaro Marangu Village Walking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Day Trip is a day tour for those who wish to get a taste of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without getting to the summit. In the morning, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to Marangu Gate which is Head quarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Marangu (meaning Land of Water in the local Chagga language) is perennially lush and cool, with mornings shrouded in mist and doused with overnight rainfalls. It’s a great deal more romantic than Moshi town. After  few minutes of appreciate the great view you will continue with your tour to the Chagga Live Museum, where you will get a deep insight in the traditional lifestyle of this agricultural society and also the family history. The road will lead you through the coffee and banana plantations to a spectacular waterfall. On the way, he will tell you and point out the fauna and flora of the region. At the waterfall, you will have lunch and if you fancy you may take a plunge in the refreshing waters of the waterfall. In the afternoon, you will be driven to the village of Mamba. This small village is famous for its caves, which were once used to hide the women and children for weeks during the Chagga and Masai wars. At Mamba, you will also visit a local blacksmith who still forges spearheads in the traditional manner. Late in the afternoon, we will drive buck to Arusha to your hotel. Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater In the morning at 0600 hrs, is a pick up time from your hotel in Arusha town, with your packed lunch, drive on tarmac road 190 km to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate. Drive on and descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters)  into the crater floor for a day game drive, Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open Savannah where the lions hunt for food. Ngorongoro is a special place in that it is a Conservation Area, not a National Park; this means that the whole area is managed for both the animals and the local Masai people who graze their cattle alongside the indigenous wildlife. During the drive in Ngorongoro we have a chance to glimpse something of the Masai way of life. After stopping at the entrance gate, where there is a chance to learn more about this fascinating volcanic landscape, we will drive around the rim of the Crater itself, and from here we can look down and see the herd of wildebeest or buffalos. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’ finally we descend into the crater. The crater walls provide a natural sanctuary for the animals, which means there is plenty to see: lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard (if you are lucky). The only animal you won’t see in here is a giraffe, whose long legs are unable to cope with the steeps sides of the crater. In the late afternoon we start going out of the crater overnight at dinner and overnight at RHINO LODGE Day 3: Tour to Serengeti National Park After having your breakfast you’ll depart for Serengeti national park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Ngorongoro conservation area while having a game viewing on route to Serengeti National park. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti  National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species enjoying the evening game drive towards the Lodge for dinner and over night at Serengeti Wildebeest Camp Day 4: Full Game drive to Serengeti Ndutu area We have another full day in this wonderful park, marking the second night of our itinerary. Wake up call at 0600 am, have just a cup of hot coffee then proceed for the early morning game drive, this morning game drive is very important as you will be able to witness the early morning kills from the big five. After the game drive, drive back to the Lodge at 0930 am for the main breakfast, there after proceed with your game drive, Our guides will choose the best spotting locations for the time of the year. We can spend time at the Hippo pool watching these majestic animals laze about in the fresh water happily living alongside the crocodiles, watch a big pride of lions, be in the middle of the migration, sometimes surrounded by wildebeest, sometimes by zebras, which travel with the wildebeest. We journey from the wide open plains to the kopjes. These volcanic rocky outcrops provide protection and shelter for a wide variety of animals and from the top we can look out across the vast grasslands of the Serengeti. This diverse and interesting landscape will provide us with the ultimate in game viewing, we will hopefully see all of the plain games; elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lions and it you are lucky the elusive leopard and cheetah, as well as huge amounts of interesting bird life, from the elegant secretary birds to the flightless ostrich. We return to our special tented camp  dinner & overnight Day 5: Fully Day Wildebeest Watching in Ndutu Area  After breakfast we will start at 8:30 am for a full day Ndutu area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu – one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Ndutu is the perfect base for seeing the drama of the migration and all that is involved with it. There is also a lot of resident game in the Ndutu area. Elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat and more are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species and the rare striped hyena is regularly spotted. In the dry season, the game around Ndutu is much like game viewing in any of the southern African countries. In some cases it is still better and you can never take away the feeling of space and wonder that the Serengeti evokes. Dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge. Day 7: Ngorongoro Ndutu to Arusha After Breakfast  you will have another Chance Of  Doing Game Drive in Ngorongoro ndutu  conservation area  after few hours of game , we will drive to Ngorongoro Ndutu air strip to catch your flight buck to Arusha. Day 8: Arrive in Zanzibar - Zanzibar Holiday four Days A trip to Zanzibar is a great way to relax after climbing Kilimanjaro or after your adventure safari. Kuwa Huru Adventure Tanzania provides an all-inclusive 3 days Zanzibar getaway package with four different levels of lodging to choose from. On arrival at Zanzibar International Airport you'll be personally met and escorted by our driver-guide to the fashionable Hotel in Stone Town.  Day 9: Spice Farms and Prison Island Spice Farms After Breakfast you will continue to Spice farm visit spice plantations where you will have the opportunity to pick, smell & save our fruits, spices that you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf. Commencing at the ruins of the Maruhubi Palace, via the site of David Livingston's house (one of Africa's greatest explorers) the journey continues north of town towards the Kidichi Persian Baths. From here we continue to the rural areas were local farmers live & produce some of the world's most exotic fruits and spices. Cloves, star fruit, 'bulls heart', tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen and lip-stick trees to name but a few are what you can we expect to see - according to the seasons. Perhaps you will fancy buying a basket of freshly picked spices to take home with you It is full day, back to hotel around 18:30. Prison Island Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, is just off the coast of Stone Town, Zanzibar.  Now a tourist attraction, – earning its name as a former prison for slaves and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, nowadays the island gives you the chance to escape for some peace and quiet. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, The island lies just off the Old Stone Town, prison island is where slave was been kept after remain from the market, it is also a home to giant land tortoises that were imported from  Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles. Once on the island, you have the opportunity to feed and pet the tortoises; if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species after prison tour the boat will drive you back to Stone Town, Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 10: The Safari blue The original and the best "Safari Blue" is a full day excursion using locally made traditional sailing dhows of between 8 to 10 meters in length. We currently operate 6 passenger-carrying dhows that are finished to the very highest standards and fitted with outboard engines, marine VHF radios, gas inflatable life jackets, sunshade, boarding ladder, waterproof bags and first aid kit with DAN oxygen unit. We also have public liability and marine insurance. The excursion starts at the fishing village of Fumba, 30 minutes drive from Stone Town. Fumba is situated in the southwest corner of the island and an ideal starting point to explore Menai Bay, designated a Conservation Area. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks and is frequented by humpback. Day 11: Jozani Forest/ Dolphin Tour. Spend the day at the Island with a variety of optional activities. the most popular dolphin spotting location in Zanzibar is in Kizimkazi village, located on the Southern coast of Zanzibar Island where you can see both bottle-nose and humpback dolphins. Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises  sea water  tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat, Early At 06:00 in the morning you’ll be picked up to south coast of Zanzibar for dolphin tour, Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin tour last for two to three hours. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour. Jozan forest The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy, an amazing source of natural remedies! Every plant or tree cures something. What is so beautiful about Jozani forest tour, that height of  the trees and  the palms are just outstanding! Jozani is also famous for rare red Colobus monkeys and even harder to spot – Zanzibar Sykes’ monkey, a very rare monkey species unique to Zanzibar. Along with Red Colobus Monkeys you can expect to see Bushbaby, 50 different species of butterflies and 40 species of birds. This forest is one of the last remaining sanctuaries in the world of the red colobus monkey. Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve. Overnight stay at Golden Tulip Resort hotel Half board. Day 12: Departure Day from Zanzibar Depending on your flight schedule and departure time, before departure time your guide will take you for the walking tour in Stone Town, which is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its winding alleys, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, House of Wonders, Portuguese fort and gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors  then you will be transferred to the Airport to take a flight. If you are flying out from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection, to catch your flight buck home, don’t forget to Come Buck. 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater:  Price Include Full board accommodation whilst on safari in the above mentioned lodges Private safari guide Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing Transfers in both directions between the Arusha Airport Park fees Ngorongoro Crater fees All meals whist on safari Game drives Drinking water All government taxes  including VAT 5 liters of water on a daily basis Trip to Zanzibar 4 days includes. All transfers while in Zanzibar. All entries fees as listed in the itinerary All accommodations on bed, & breakfast Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight All tours & excursion Lunch during tours & excursion 4 Days safari Serengeti-Ngorongoro crater: Price Excludes International airfares and departure taxes Walking Tour in the Ngorongoro Highland $20 All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc Tips for your service providers and gratuities to hotel, lodges, porters, camp staff and driver – guide (recommended) drinks Laundry services Trip to Zanzibar 4 Days excludes. International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Read the full article