7-Day Walking Safari Mkomazi, Usambara Mountains, and Saadani with beach relaxation

Itinerary

Day 1: Mkomazi national park

Today your drive guide picks you up at your hotel in Moshi and you drive to Mkomazi national park. Its landscape is a classic arid area, you find old baobab trees, rocky hills, savannah forests with umbrella acacias, and flat grassland valleys.

Mkomazi’s wildlife is thinly populated and also quite skittish. You can spot giraffes, antelopes, small kudu, impala, and Grant gazelles. They share the park with elephants, buffalo, and numerous predators, including lions, leopards, and cheetah. And with some luck, you can spot other animals like dik-diks, zebras, oryx, wildebeests, eland, and Topi on a game drive.

The highlight is a heavily protected, fenced area in the park: the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary! The rhinos here make up nearly 30% of the total black rhinoceros population in Tanzania. There is no better way to see them!

• Meals plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Usambara mountains –West

Usambara is a beautiful mountain range with grassy plains and virgin tropical rainforest. The lush green mountains have a cool climate that is ideal for walks and hikes. But one of the best reasons to hike the Usambara mountains is the amazing view. You will see sweeping hills, mountains, valleys, farmland, picturesque villages, colorful markets, and plantations everywhere you go.

You will discover the beautiful diversity of this vast area with your guide. You can hike up the Irente viewpoint to get a panoramic view of Mazinde Village almost 1000m below and the vast Maasai plains beyond. Or walk through the fertile farmlands of Jaegertal to a fruit tree nursery and learn more about the different types of fruit tree and their propagation. The “Growing Rock” tour starts from Soni where you walk to the top of the Kwamongo mountain, famous for its butterflies enjoying views of Soni, Lushoto, and the Handeni plains from the peak.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 & 4: Usambara mountains – East

Magoroto forest is situated in the Eastern Usambara mountains. With its scenic freshwater lake and tropical rainforest, it is the perfect spot for a getaway. Magoroto Forest Estate is at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level where temperatures are pleasant all year long. The estate offers stunning views from the Muheza to the Indian Ocean. Enjoy the lush rainforest with rare plant and bird species, explore the dense tropical forest with organic spices, have a picnic, or swim in the beautiful lake! On day 4 you hike along with one of Magoroto’s eight well-documented hiking trails and refresh yourself with a rejuvenating shower at the waterfalls. There are a lot of activities to keep you busy on day 5 at Magoroto Forest Estate such as canoeing, swimming, picnic at the lake, fishing, bird watching, forest walk, horse riding, mountain biking, spice tour, bonfire, camping, meditation, and barbeque.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Days 5 & 6: Saadani national park

Saadani’s location is unique because it is the only national park on the coast of East Africa and you can combine a safari with a relaxing stay at its beautiful white beaches. It is allowing you to observe wildlife in a unique environment and offers a variety of landscapes: large coral reefs, sea and beach with many palm trees, savannah, and cotton fields.

Up on your arrival on day 6 you will a make a game drive through the park. Wildlife in Saadani national park includes four of the “Big Five”. Although it is very hard to spot them because the numbers are low and the animals are usually hiding well. But you can also find Maasai giraffes, waterbucks, wildebeest, dik-diks as well as baboons, velvet and blue monkeys, and colobus. African bush elephants, lions, and leopards are a bit shyer here. But with a bit of luck, you might spot them too! We spot herds of up to 30 elephants with increased frequency. And several lion pride are inhabitants, together with leopards, spotted hyenas, and black-backed jackals.

Days 5 and 6 are at your leisure and you can choose from many activities. It is possible to go on a boat safari in Saadani national park to see hippos, huge crocodiles, beautiful mangrove kingfishers, and lesser flamingos. Or make a walking safari with an armed ranger for a change. Off the coast is a sandbank which you can visit by boat to go snorkeling, swimming, or just to relax and enjoy the tropical environment!

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Saadani National Park – airport

In the morning after late breakfast, your driver transfers you to Dar es salaam airport for your departure flight.

This is the last leg of your safari, with a 1hr drive left to where your safari will end. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you say goodbye to your safari crew.

• Meals plan Breakfast and lunch. As today is the end of the safari, please note that Accommodation and dinner tonight is not included in the tour.