9 Days Nyerere National Park &
Diving on Mafia Island
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Highlights
Experience some of the world’s greatest wildlife encounters on this Tanzania trip.
Discover the ‘Big Five’ and more in Nyerere National Park before swimming with whale sharks of Mafia Island and diving in the vibrant reefs of Mafia Island Marine Park.
What to expert
- Discover the wilderness in the biggest Nationalpark, the Nyerere Nationalpark on 4×4 game drives, a boat safari or a hike (or on all trails)
- Let yourself drift on the paradisiacal beaches of Mafia Island
- Dive in the Mafia Island Marine Park
- Swim with the gentle basking whale shark off Mafia Island (between October and March)
ITINERARY
Your international flight lands in Dar es Salaam. On arrival you will proceed to the domestic terminal to board your flight to Nyerere airstrip. The flight takes just one hour and fifteen minutes, so you will land in the bush in no time at all.
After landing, you will be met at the airstrip and taken to your tented camp. Keep your eyes open as you experience your first game drive on the scenic drive. Once you have checked in you have the afternoon at leisure to watch the wildlife on the Rufiji River from the comfort of camp as you toast to the next three nights in the bush.
Overnight stay: Lodge outside the park
Meals: Dinner
There’s no time to sleep in here; get up and go on a game drive with the animals at sunrise. The Nyerere is the largest game reserve in Africa and its wild, rugged plains are home to an amazing array of wildlife, including hippo, wildebeest, wild dog, zebra, buffalo, giraffe and impala, to name a few. Return to camp and fortify yourself with a delicious lunch in the open air before spending the afternoon at leisure, either fishing or on a walking safari back in the bush or a boat safari at the Rufiji river. In the evening, dine under the stars and listen to the life in the bush as the nocturnal animals awaken from their nap.
Accommodation: Lodge outside the park
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunchbox, dinner
After breakfast, it’s time for the next stage of your adventure. You will be taken to the airstrip in time for your flight to Mafia Island. The flight takes one and a half hours and you will land shortly before lunch.
After clearing customs and paying the marine park fee, you will be picked up by your driver and taken to your resort. After checking into your room, coconut palm-fringed beaches and turquoise lagoons await you. Spend the afternoon familiarising yourself with your surroundings, be it snorkelling from the shore or taking a leisurely stroll along the beach before enjoying a sundowner back at the lodge – it doesn’t get any better than this! You will spend the next seven nights in this paradise.
Accommodation: Lodge, Mafia Island
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to explore the surrounding reefs. Mafia Island Marine Parks offers excellent underwater experiences. With over 460 species of fish and more than 50 types of coral, there is enough variety here to keep divers coming back underwater. If you visit between October and March, you will also have the unique opportunity to swim with the largest fish in the world, the gentle basking whale shark.
After lunch on a secluded sandbank, head back down to explore another dive site before heading back ashore to enjoy a delicious dinner of fresh seafood on the beach as the sun sets.
Accommodation: Lodge, Mafia Island
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend the next few days experiencing everything this beautiful island has to offer: Horse riding along the beach, island hopping on secluded sandbanks (with picnic in hand, of course), snorkelling at Kitutia Reef, watching the migration of humpback whales (if you’re travelling between August and September) and enjoying scenic dhow cruises at sunset.
Of course, there is also the option of spending the days underwater and exploring the various dive sites of the archipelago.
Accommodation: Lodge, Mafia Island
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After a relaxing morning, you will be picked up at your resort and taken to the airstrip in time for your charter flight back to Dar es Salaam. The flight takes about 30 minutes.
Meals: Breakfast
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Transfers and game drives in 4 x 4 safari landcruiser
- Domestic flights as per programme
- All entrance fees and taxes
- All accommodation as per programme
- All meals as per programme
- All local guides and rangers
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Visa (50 USD payable on arrival)
- Drinks