In October 1996, my husband and I spent 12 days in Tanzania on a safari and 6 days in Zanzibar. The safari was exciting but Zanzibar was unbelievable.
On safari we spent 2-3 nights in each of five different parks--Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. We stayed in hotels, lodges and permanent tented camps, all with hot running water and flush toilets, so we never felt like we were "roughing" it.
During the day we toured the parks in five-passenger Toyota Land Cruisers with local drivers. The whole point of the trip was to see wild animals up close and we were not disappointed. Lion cubs romped under our cars, and herds of elephants passed around us. We even saw a leopard perched on a tree branch with his kill. Our drivers were very knowledgeable and we were sorry to leave them at the end of the trip. But after 12 days of bone-jolting rides on barely existent roads (even through breathtakingly beautiful country), we were ready for a rest.
The flight from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar took about half an hour and cost about $230 per person. We spent three days in Zanzibar Town and three days on the east coast at Matemwe Bungalows (tel./ fax: 255-5431342). I wish we had had more time at Matemwe--twelve bungalows on a spectacular stretch of talcum powder-sand beach with the nearest land to the east some 3,000 miles away, and great snorkeling, diving and sailing opportunities. The rate was $70 per night for a double in a lovely bungalow, with all meals included.
After investigating over 20 safari companies, we selected Overseas Adventure Travel, based in Boston (800-221-0814). The arrangements and service they provided were excellent, and the total price for the safari (not including Zanzibar) was $3,700, which included airfare from New York on KLM. ---Sandy
In October 1996, my husband and I spent 12 days in Tanzania on a safari and 6 days in Zanzibar. The safari was exciting but Zanzibar was unbelievable.
On safari we spent 2-3 nights in each of five different parks--Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. We stayed in hotels, lodges and permanent tented camps, all with hot running water and flush toilets, so we never felt like we were "roughing" it.
During the day we toured the parks in five-passenger Toyota Land Cruisers with local drivers. The whole point of the trip was to see wild animals up close and we were not disappointed. Lion cubs romped under our cars, and herds of elephants passed around us. We even saw a leopard perched on a tree branch with his kill. Our drivers were very knowledgeable and we were sorry to leave them at the end of the trip. But after 12 days of bone-jolting rides on barely existent roads (even through breathtakingly beautiful country), we were ready for a rest.
The flight from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar took about half an hour and cost about $230 per person. We spent three days in Zanzibar Town and three days on the east coast at Matemwe Bungalows (tel./ fax: 255-5431342). I wish we had had more time at Matemwe--twelve bungalows on a spectacular stretch of talcum powder-sand beach with the nearest land to the east some 3,000 miles away, and great snorkeling, diving and sailing opportunities. The rate was $70 per night for a double in a lovely bungalow, with all meals included.
After investigating over 20 safari companies, we selected Overseas Adventure Travel, based in Boston (800-221-0814). The arrangements and service they provided were excellent, and the total price for the safari (not including Zanzibar) was $3,700, which included airfare from New York on KLM. ---Sandy