Tanzania: Kili to Crater

Your adventure begins with one of the country’s most iconic sights, Mount Kilimanjaro, looming beyond your airplane window. After being whisked away by private transfer to your lodge, you’ll witness the snow-dusted peak once again from the hotel before tomorrow’s day hike on Africa’s highest mountain. But this first day is all about downtime – relaxing in the hotel’s pool, spa or simply tuning into birdsong in the garden. Come evening, gather with your fellow Flashpackers for a welcome drink and dinner, ahead of your East African adventure.

Rested and restored, it’s time to tick off a bucket-list moment – a day trek on Mount Kilimanjaro, following a 3.5 kilometer section of the Shira Route. Driving to your starting point at Morum Point, keep your eyes open for arboreal Colobus monkeys, high up in their happy place. From here, you’ll hike to Shira 1 Camp, climbing through wild shrubland, ascending to a height of 3,500 meters and glimpsing views of Kibo Peak on the way, the highest of the three volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro. Once you’ve reached camp – and celebrated your scenic day hike – you’ll feast on a picnic lunch, before heading to your next stay in Arusha.

You’re up early to seize the day. And what a day it will be. A short morning flight from Arusha airport will take you into the heart of the Serengeti National Park, one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, teeming with two million wildebeest and hundreds of associated animals during the Great Wildebeest Migration. After landing on the park’s airstrip, you’ll transfer (read: take a mini game drive) to your scenic camp for the next two nights. En route, there’s every chance you’ll witness passing wildlife, going about its daily business, so keep your eyes peeled. Once at camp, you’ll stop for lunch under canvas, before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Dinner is back at base, under star-lit night skies.

Today is a full immersion into the Serengeti with morning *and* afternoon game drives. Roaming on four wheels, the anticipation will be palpable. Prides of lions, herds of elephants and towers of giraffes all call the Seregenti home. Depending on the season, you might bear witness to the Great Migration when millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles rotate between the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing. Lunch at camp divides the day before your afternoon safari. But psst: there’s one more treat in store – a surprise dinner. *You have the option to begin Day 4 with a sunrise hot air balloon over the Serengeti for an additional cost.

This morning takes you out of Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Crater. But in true Flash Pack style, the journey will be studded with adventure. First, you’ll visit a Massai boma (village), where you’ll chat with the tribe as they go about their lives, tending to livestock, thatching a roof or dancing in ebullient style. Then it’s time to dip into the vast Ngorongoro Crater, formed over 2.5 million years ago, stretching 20km across and 610m deep – and regarded as one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. You’ll have a picnic lunch inside the crater and digest with a nature walk around Hippo Pool – known for its noisy namesakes. After lunch, it’s back on four wheels for an afternoon game drive, followed by a short drive to your next lodge. Come evening, you’ll debrief over dinner and drinks at the end of a memorable day.

After breakfast, you’ll visit the farming community of Mto wa Mbu, on the edge of Lake Manyara National Park. Ablaze with color, curios and 120 Massai tribes, this cultural hotspot is a fine way to experience the buzz of the weekly food and craft market and mingle with the locals. You’ll take a walk through the banana and rice plantation to see people going about their daily activities and have the chance to sample some local banana beer – a unique flavor. In the afternoon, you’ll put on your walking shoes for a 2.5 hour hike in the Ngorongoro forest, aiming for the Elephant Caves – loved by the animals for their calcium-rich walls. You may even spot some in residence. Finish your day with dinner back at the lodge.

It’s time to head back to Arusha, where your journey began – but this time you’ll be heading off on a different kind of adventure. First up, you’ll stop off at Arusha Coffee Lodge, where social enterprise Shanga employs people with disabilities to create jewelry, glassware and homewares from recycled materials. It’s a great opportunity to see local crafters in action, pick up some handmade gifts and learn about traditional techniques. Enjoy lunch at the lodge, before boarding an afternoon flight to the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar. Touching down in Stone Town, you’ll spend the evening at leisure, visiting a night market with fellow Flashpackers or sinking drinks on the hotel’s roof terrace.

After a week of bucket-list sights, today you can explore things at your own pace from your base in Stone Town, a 19th-century coastal trading town and Unesco World Heritage Site. Choose to explore this Swahili city, sink into a poolside lounger – or take up the option of a full-day snorkeling and dolphin-watching tour. For this, you’ll be met by your guide and boat captain, before heading to Mnemba Island reef and marine reserve – home to blue-spotted rays, triggerfish and octopi. Your captain will navigate towards the best locations for dolphins, too, en route to a flavorful barbecue lunch. The evening is yours to meander around the ornate alleys and intricately carved doorways of Stone Town.

Once a thriving port for the spice trade, Stone Town is now the historical centre of the capital, Zanzibar City. Today, history enthusiasts can book an optional guided walking tour to learn about the history of the Sultanate and exotic spice routes. Don’t forget to ask for tips on the best places to try Zanzibarian dishes for lunch, too. For those who would rather rest, make use of the hotel’s facilities or ask your Pack Leader to arrange a taxi to guidebook-gracing Nungwi Beach on the other side of the island. This evening’s sundowner cruise is a chance to celebrate the trip with your fellow Flashpackers, before a final farewell dinner.

It’s time to bid a fond farewell to your time in this mighty African nation. Thankfully, you’ll be taking home vivid memories, wildlife-rich tales and joyful new friendships long after the sun has set on this trip of a lifetime. If you’re already feeling the holiday blues, don’t worry. There’s always another Flash Pack adventure…