7 Days Christmas or New Year Big Five Safari and Zanzibar Holiday

Your Christmas or New Year Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holiday begins when you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where a Burigi Chato Safaris representative will welcome you after your flight. Once you've collected your luggage, your private driver will take you to Arusha, travelling through northern Tanzania's countryside with views of local villages, cultivated farmland and Mount Meru when the weather is clear. The drive normally takes around one to one and a half hours, depending on traffic and your hotel's location. After checking in at your selected midrange accommodation, enjoy some time to refresh and relax before the following day's wildlife adventure. If your arrival coincides with Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, you may have an opportunity to enjoy a special dinner or festive atmosphere at your hotel, depending on the property's programme and your confirmed arrangements.

Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Overnight:

Kibo Palace Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 7:00 AM, begin your Christmas or New Year wildlife adventure with a private drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, a beautiful destination known for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and varied savannah landscapes. The journey takes around two hours, passing through local communities and Maasai pastoral countryside before reaching the park entrance. Once inside, explore Tarangire's grasslands, woodland and river habitats, looking for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and other animals moving through the landscape. Your guide will also search for lions and leopards, although predator sightings depend on the animals' movements. During December and early January, seasonal rainfall may bring fresh green vegetation to parts of the park, creating attractive scenery for wildlife photography, although conditions vary from year to year. Stop at a designated picnic area for lunch before continuing your afternoon game drive among the baobabs and along suitable wildlife routes. Later, leave Tarangire and travel towards your selected midrange lodge near Lake Manyara or Karatu, where you'll enjoy dinner and a relaxed evening after your first day on safari.

Activities and Attractions: Tarangire National Park, private wildlife safari, elephant families, ancient baobab trees, Tarangire River, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, seasonal green landscapes and wildlife photography.

Destination:

Tarangire

Overnight:

Manyara Safari Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your second safari day begins with breakfast before leaving your lodge around 6:30 AM and heading towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As you travel into the highlands, enjoy the beautiful countryside, where rolling green slopes, farms and forested hills surround the route towards the crater rim. Stop at the viewpoint to appreciate the enormous volcanic caldera before descending approximately 600 metres to the crater floor. Spend the main part of the day exploring one of Tanzania's finest wildlife destinations, where lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and hippos live among the crater's grasslands, woodland and wetlands. Your guide will also search for the endangered black rhino, while explaining why leopards are more difficult to find. During the festive period, recent rains may add fresh colours to the landscape, and the wetlands around Lake Magadi may attract interesting birdlife depending on water conditions. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated location before continuing the game drive. In the afternoon, ascend the crater wall and return to your midrange lodge for dinner and an evening of relaxation.

Activities and Attractions: Ngorongoro Crater, Big Five wildlife search, crater rim viewpoint, lions, elephants, buffaloes, black rhino habitat, Lake Magadi, hippo pools, flamingos and highland scenery.

Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Overnight:

Angata Ngorongoro Camp

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at around 7:00 AM, leave the Ngorongoro Highlands and travel towards Serengeti National Park, following a scenic road through the conservation area and across landscapes that gradually open into the famous Serengeti plains. During the festive season, rainfall can transform parts of the savannah into fresh green grassland, although wildlife movements and conditions change throughout the year. Your guide will explain how the rains influence grazing animals and the seasonal migration as you continue past Maasai pastoral areas towards Naabi Hill Gate. After completing the park entry procedures, begin exploring the central Serengeti, where the Seronera region provides opportunities to encounter resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and other wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the journey before spending the afternoon searching for animals around open grasslands, river habitats and rocky kopjes. The main game drive takes place after reaching the Serengeti because of the distance travelled from Ngorongoro. Later, continue to your selected midrange tented camp or lodge for dinner and an evening in the African wilderness, a memorable setting for your Christmas or New Year safari holiday.

Activities and Attractions: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Naabi Hill Gate, Central Serengeti, Seronera Valley, lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, seasonal wildlife movements and savannah photography.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Kenzan Tented Camp

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Wake up early for your final morning in Serengeti National Park, with a wildlife game drive planned around your confirmed flight departure time. When the schedule permits, leave around 6:00 AM to explore suitable areas near Seronera Airstrip, where the cool morning air and softer light provide a lovely atmosphere for watching wildlife. Look for giraffes feeding among acacia trees, grazing antelope moving through the plains and predators resting or travelling across the grasslands. After your final wildlife experience, continue to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar, with flight routing and arrival times confirmed when your travel arrangements are booked. Upon arrival at Zanzibar International Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your selected midrange beach hotel. The tropical coastal scenery offers a refreshing contrast to the African savannah, with palm trees, white sandy beaches and the beautiful Indian Ocean welcoming you to the island. After checking in, enjoy a free afternoon to swim, relax or explore the hotel surroundings. If your stay coincides with Christmas or New Year's celebrations, optional hotel activities may be available, subject to advance confirmation.

Activities and Attractions: Serengeti morning game drive, Seronera Airstrip, scheduled flight to Zanzibar, private airport transfer, midrange beach hotel, Indian Ocean scenery and optional festive hotel activities.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Kisiwa House

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 8:30 AM, meet your private Zanzibar guide for a fascinating morning exploring historic Stone Town, the old centre of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through narrow streets filled with carved wooden doors, old coral-stone buildings, traditional shops and lively local markets, learning how African, Arab, Indian and European influences shaped Zanzibar's distinctive culture. Your guide will introduce you to important landmarks such as the Old Fort, the former slave market site and the waterfront near Forodhani Gardens, with individual visits depending on opening hours and your chosen route. During Christmas or New Year, some shops and attractions may follow different operating schedules, so arrangements will be checked in advance. Later, continue to a traditional spice farm, where you'll discover cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg and other tropical plants growing in their natural surroundings. Enjoy smelling selected spices, tasting seasonal fruits and learning about Zanzibar's historic spice trade. After the cultural excursion, return privately to your midrange beach hotel for a relaxing evening.

Activities and Attractions: Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic carved doors, Old Fort, traditional markets, Swahili culture, spice plantation, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and tropical fruits.

Destination:

Stone Town Zanzibar

Overnight:

Kisiwa House

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Enjoy breakfast before leaving your hotel at around 8:00 AM for a privately arranged boat excursion combining the historic surroundings of Prison Island with the beautiful turquoise waters of Nakupenda Sandbank. Begin with a transfer to the Stone Town waterfront, where you'll meet your boat crew and travel across the Indian Ocean to Changuu Island, commonly known as Prison Island. Upon arrival, explore the island's historic buildings and learn about its past as a quarantine station before visiting the giant Aldabra tortoise sanctuary. Spend time observing the tortoises and photographing the island scenery before continuing by boat towards Nakupenda Sandbank. Depending on the tides, you'll find a beautiful stretch of white sand surrounded by clear water, offering opportunities for swimming, relaxation and coastal photographs. A beach lunch can be arranged according to your confirmed excursion arrangements, with local dishes and tropical fruits commonly served. Enjoy the ocean surroundings before returning to Stone Town in the afternoon and transferring privately to your midrange hotel. Spend the evening at leisure, with any special festive dining arrangements organised separately if available.

Activities and Attractions: Prison Island, Changuu Island, giant Aldabra tortoises, historical quarantine buildings, Nakupenda Sandbank, private boat excursion, swimming, beach lunch and festive island holiday experiences.

Destination:

Prison Island

Overnight:

Hotel Riu Jambo

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 8:00 AM, set out for your final full-day adventure with a private transfer towards Matemwe or Muyuni on Zanzibar's northeastern coastline. Meet your boat crew and prepare for a snorkeling excursion around Mnemba Atoll, where clear tropical water and beautiful coral reefs create one of the island's most attractive marine environments. As you travel across the Indian Ocean, enjoy views of the coastline and the different shades of blue surrounding Mnemba Island. Your guide will choose suitable snorkeling areas according to the day's sea conditions, giving you opportunities to observe colourful reef fish swimming among coral formations. Take time to enjoy the marine scenery and relax aboard the boat between snorkeling sessions. Dolphins or sea turtles may occasionally be encountered in the wider waters, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. After returning to shore, transfer to your selected midrange beach hotel, where the rest of the afternoon is free for swimming, resting or enjoying your final hours beside the Indian Ocean. Spend the evening at leisure, bringing your seven days of festive wildlife adventures and tropical island experiences to a memorable close.

Activities and Attractions: Mnemba Atoll, Matemwe or Muyuni coastline, guided snorkeling, tropical coral reefs, colourful reef fish, Indian Ocean boat excursion, beach leisure and optional festive evening arrangements.

Destination:

Mnemba

Overnight:

Hotel Riu Jambo

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Enjoy your final breakfast at your Zanzibar beach hotel before preparing for your journey home. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to relax, enjoy the ocean views or take a last walk along the beach before checking out. Your private Burigi Chato Safaris driver will collect you at the agreed time and transfer you to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, allowing sufficient time for check-in and departure procedures. Your 7-day Christmas or New Year Tanzania Big Five safari and Zanzibar holiday comes to an end with memories of Tarangire's elephants, the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti's wildlife and Zanzibar's fascinating cultural attractions and beautiful Indian Ocean coastline. Thank you for celebrating your festive holiday with Burigi Chato Safaris. We wish you a safe journey home and hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another memorable adventure.