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Gavin & Tracey, Australia
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SAFARI AND THE BEST DIVING & SNORKELING SPOTS ON THE EAST AFRICAN COAST

Trip Overview

Travel Route: Dar es Salaam - Selous - Mafia or Pemba - Dar es Salaam
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Duration 9 days 8 nights

Ideal For Travellers who enjoy off-the-beaten path and diverse safari experiences including game drives, bush walks and boat excursions and have a keen interest in snorkeling and diving.
Summary Combine intense wildlife encounters experiences far away from the beaten path with the best spots for snorkeling and diving in East Africa. Enjoy the beauty of Selous, one of Tanzania's most stunning game reserves - experience wonderful game drives, get close to nature on awesome bush walks and witness romantic sunsets on the Rufiji River. From here, take a convenient flight to Mafia or Pemba Island for a true Robinson Crusoe experience in a luxury beach lodge in pristine surroundings. Discover their diverse marine life on wonderful snorkeling and diving excursions, get a glimpse at undisturbed coastal life or enjoy romantic sailing cruises with a traditional dhow to remote sandbanks surrounded by the turquoise sea.
Services Included 8 nights fullboard accommodation, Use of a top quality 4x4 safari vehicle and qualified English speaking driver guide, Game drives, bush walks, boat safaris, snorkelling, sailing excursions, All national park and conservation fees, All flights and transfers in Tanzania, Flying Doctor emergency evacuation cover, 24-hour point of contact in Africa.
Cost per Person:
From US$ 5,040

The price quoted above is an approximate price based on 2 people shairing a double or twin and traveling during high season (July to Oct).

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Selous
Day 1 - 3
Start your journey with a scenic flight to Selous (45 min) which will give you a wonderful birds’ eye perspective of the many waterways of Africa’s largest protected wildlife reserve.
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Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife reserve, and due to its remote location, it has remained one of the untouched gems of Tanzania’s parks. Boating safaris offer visitors a chance to see the diverse life along the Rufiji river up close and walking safaris and fly camping add a sense of adventure to the African experience.

Decide each day whether you prefer an early bush walk followed by a game drive and a romantic sundowner, would you rather have a sumptuous breakfast and go for a full day game drive or would like to rest and only enjoy a leisurely boat safari and watch a spectacular sunset with your favourite drink next to a noisy hippo family?

Accommodation: Selous Safari Camp / Sand Rivers Selous

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Mafia or Pemba
Days 4 - 8
Take a flight to Mafia or Pemba Island which gives you a wonderful birds’ eye view of the turquoise Indian Ocean.
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While Mafia Island is a glorious destination for both active and leisurely holidays, a main attraction for many visitors is that Mafia remains virtually unknown and creates a sense of travelling back in time to the early 20th Century. Surrounded by a barrier reef teeming with colourful tropical marine life, the warm, colourful waters of the Indian Ocean provide an ideal location for many sea activities.

Almost half the coastline of Mafia has been gazetted a marine park by the Government and over 50 types of corals, more than 450 species of fish and five different species of turtles have been recorded in its waters. Experience some of the best diving and snorkelling off the East African coast or discover the many islets and natural, unspoilt sandbars where you can enjoy a picnic lunch after sailing there on a traditional dhow.
Take the day out on deep-sea fishing, walking or biking on the nature trails or sea kayaking. Several ancient ruins remaining on a few of the islets date back to the 15th century from the first Arab settlers and you can also get a glimpse of the friendly culture of the Swahili people in the local villages.

Accommodation: Pole Pole Resort


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Compared to Zanzibar, Pemba Island is seldom visited and very laid-back. In addition to its lush green hilly terrain, the island offers an intriguing, largely undiscovered culture and spectacular diving. Much of the island's coast is lined with mangroves but there are a few good stretches of sand and several idyllic offshore islets.

Pemba is a particular good place to mix sailing and diving as it is spectacular both above and below the water. It is a truly unspoilt paradise with dolphins under the bow and the occasional African dhow sailing by. The surrounding Islands, many of which are uninhabited beckon to be explored. With tantalising white beaches and interesting vegetation and wildlife, they provide an ideal opportunity to stretch your legs. The Arabian sailing dhows are still actively used by the local fishermen and traders and it is quite a sight to see a fleet of over 20 large dhows sailing past at sunset.

Accommodation: Fundu Lagoon

Dar es Salaam
Day 9
Enjoy your last day on the Indian Ocean before flying back to Dar es Salaam (1 hour) for your onward journey or for your flight back home.
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