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FROM US$6,020-US$7,820

Red Colobus Monkey Safari

This luxury holiday suggestion combines a wildlife safari in Ruaha National Park with a week on Zanzibar, exploring Stone Town’s narrow streets and relaxing on a palm-shaded beach.

Red Colobus Monkey Safari: Day-by-day

More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Red Colobus Monkey Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.


Day 1

Starts: Dar es Salaam International Airport

After collecting your luggage, you’ll be met by a local representative for the five-minute shuttle transfer to the Domestic Terminal.

Day 1

Dar to Ruaha by light aircraft & 4WD

From Dar's Domestic Terminal, board a light aircraft for Ruaha, heading west across the Uluguru Mountains and landing at Msembe Airstrip after around 2½ hours. You'll be met by a guide from Ikuka for the 4WD game drive to camp, taking about 45–90 minutes depending on wildlife spotted en route.

Ikuka Safari Camp
Days 1-5

Ikuka Safari Camp

4 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesRuaha National Park, Tanzania

Small, stylish and owner-run, Ikuka Safari Camp sits in a prime position high on the escarpment in Ruaha National Park. From this superb vantage point, every part of the lodge looks out over the plains below, just 20 minutes from the park’s best game-viewing areas.

Ikuka Safari Camp

Small, stylish and owner-run, Ikuka Safari Camp sits in a prime position high on the escarpment in Ruaha National Park. From this superb vantage point, every part of the lodge looks out over the plains below, just 20 minutes from the park’s best game-viewing areas.

The hand of an experienced architect is clear from the outset. Neutral colours, from soft cream curtains to toning bed linen, combine with natural materials to instil a sense of both calm and sophistication.

Plenty of thought has gone into the setting of the seven open-sided rooms, which face either the sunrise or the sunset. Low quartz stone walls and large balconies make the most of the views, while high thatched roofs attract even the lightest of breezes.

The natural theme continues through to the two-storey lounge, built among boulders and complete with spotting scope trained on the plains. Leather chairs and low tables with a range of wildlife books invite relaxation; a large table encourages sociable dining over excellent meals.

Spend your days exploring the game-rich area around the Mwagusi River in an open 4x4 game-drive vehicle, or consider a guided walk and seek out the minutiae of the park’s flora and fauna.

"High end camp...great attention to detail. Beautiful views of the park from room"

Mr P & Ms WfromHerts

Arrived 20 Oct 2023, 3 nights

Then return to the gorgeous infinity pool, just waiting to round off your day with a cooling dip-with-a-view. See our full report on Ikuka Safari Camp

97%
55 reviews of Ikuka Safari Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Guided walking safari

Hot air ballooning

Day 5

Ruaha to Zanzibar by road & light aircraft

Leaving Ikuka, take a leisurely game drive to the airstrip, and climb aboard a light aircraft for the 3½-hour flight over the Ruaha River to Zanzibar, usually via Dar es Salaam. Your journey finishes with a fascinating 15-minute drive to Stone Town, with a final five-minute walk to Emerson Spice.

Emerson Spice
Days 5-7

Emerson Spice

2 nights
Bed & BreakfastStone Town, Zanzibar

Strikingly grand and theatrical, Emerson Spice delivers a colourful twist on traditional Swahili design in the very heart of Stone Town. Created by the late Emerson Skeens, Stone Town luminary and boutique hotel pioneer, Emerson Spice is testament to his vision, flamboyance and love of the city’s heritage. It’s both exotic and historic, oozing individuality and charm.

Emerson Spice

Strikingly grand and theatrical, Emerson Spice delivers a colourful twist on traditional Swahili design in the very heart of Stone Town. Created by the late Emerson Skeens, Stone Town luminary and boutique hotel pioneer, Emerson Spice is testament to his vision, flamboyance and love of the city’s heritage. It’s both exotic and historic, oozing individuality and charm.

The building has been restored with tremendous thought and care and is uniquely decorated. The eleven atmospheric bedrooms feature immense ceilings, vibrant murals, intricately carved doors and a sense of drama compounded by their dedication to notable leading ladies: Aida to Desdemona.

The rooms are grand and well-equipped, and the attention to detail continues throughout the building: a cool courtyard with a tinkling blue fountain, a palm-filled walled garden to laze in a hammock, and acclaim for culinary creativity. The fine Swahili degustation menu at the rooftop Spice Tea House and the enchanting Secret Garden - a crumbling ancient marketplace transformed into a courtyard restaurant – both excel at producing delicious, seasonal Spice Island cuisine.

"Front desk staff are welcoming and eager to help"

Mr & Mrs GfromColorado

Arrived 11 Oct 2023, 2 nights

The staff are unfailingly cheerful here, with broad smiles and plenty of sightseeing tips for exploring from this super, central spot. See our full report on Emerson Spice

91%
26 reviews of Emerson Spice by travellers since August 2007

Activities

Boat trip

Cultural excursion

Self-guided walking

Snorkelling

Watersports

Day 7

Stone Town to northern Zanzibar by road

It's usually a short walk to your vehicle in Stone Town before leaving the maze of streets in air-conditioned comfort. During the drive of around 1–1½ hours along the west coast to Zuri Zanzibar, it may be possible to visit a plantation or the Kidichi Persian Baths with prior notice.

Zuri Zanzibar
Days 7-12

Zuri Zanzibar

5 nights
Half BoardNorthern Zanzibar, Zanzibar

Zuri Zanzibar is a luxurious, beach resort situated on Zanzibar's pretty north-west coast. This area of the island has a more steeply shelving coastline than Zanzibar's east coast, allowing you to swim in the sea throughout the day, and the west coast of Zanzibar also enjoys beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

Zuri Zanzibar

Zuri Zanzibar is a luxurious, beach resort situated on Zanzibar's pretty north-west coast. This area of the island has a more steeply shelving coastline than Zanzibar's east coast, allowing you to swim in the sea throughout the day, and the west coast of Zanzibar also enjoys beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

"Wow! What a hotel! The finishing touches were also incredibly considerate.. "

Dav & KayfromManchester

Arrived 31 Jul 2022, 5 nights

We were really excited to see a high-quality resort hotel in this area of the island. With a stylish, contemporary design and relaxed beach vibe this is a good choice if you're looking for a larger hotel with plenty of on-site facilities and opportunities to swim at most stages of the tide. See our full report on Zuri Zanzibar

96%
9 reviews of Zuri Zanzibar by travellers since August 2007

Activities

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Scuba-diving

Snorkelling

Watersports

Day 12

Northern Zanzibar to Dar by road & air

As you leave Zuri Zanzibar, enjoy your last views of the "spice island" during the drive along the coast, arriving at Zanzibar Airport in about an hour. It's then just a short light-aircraft flight over the Indian Ocean, touching down in Dar es Salaam in around 20–30 minutes.

Day 12

Ends: Dar es Salaam International Airport

On arrival at the Domestic Terminal, you’ll be escorted to a shuttle for the International Terminal, taking just five minutes.

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Experiences you can add to this trip.

Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.


Princess Salme Spice Tour

Princess Salme Spice Tour

Half-day

Discover the captivating story of the smart and rebellious Princess Sayyida Salme, the youngest daughter of Sultan Said. Join a knowledgeable local guide to follow in her footsteps through palaces and plantations, as well as the fascinating Zanzibar spice trade on a working plantation.

More about Princess Spice Tour
91% (7 reviews)
Swahili Cooking Workshop

Swahili Cooking Workshop

Half-day or combine with other tours

Zanzibar’s cuisine and culinary influences are as exotic as the island itself. This genuinely authentic culinary workshop will take you to the heart of the spice farm region, teach you how to select and blend an array of spices, create souvenir blends, and guide you through cooking a traditional Swahili meal.

More about Swahili Cookery
92% (5 reviews)
Stone Town Discovery Tour

Stone Town Discovery Tour

Half-day

Spend a morning wandering through Stone Town’s maze of alleyways with an erudite Zanzibari resident, meeting the locals, marvelling at its fusion of architecture and cultures, learning about the food, music, beliefs and everyday life, for an utterly fascinating experience.

More about Stone Town Tour
89% (21 reviews)
Zanzibar Dhow Safari

Zanzibar Dhow Safari

Full day - approx. eight hours

Discover the coast and islands of the Menai Bay from a traditional Zanzibari dhow. Explore this beautiful marine conservation area with a local guide, snorkelling over coral reefs, swimming through mangrove lagoons and keeping an eye out for dolphins. To top it all, you’ll also be treated to a fabulous beach barbecue.

More about Zanzibar Dhow Safari
80% (1 reviews)
Jozani Forest Tour

Jozani Forest Tour

Half-day or combine with other tours

For nature lovers, Jozani Forest is a must. One of the last sanctuaries of the red colobus monkey, it features a diverse range of habitats, from mangrove forests to salt marshes. Keep your eyes peeled for other forest residents, including Sykes’ monkey, bushbabies, duikers and more than 40 species of bird.

More about Jozani Forest
64% (5 reviews)
Jambiani Village Tour

Jambiani Village Tour

Half-day - mornings

Tear yourself away from the soft white sands of Zanzibar to get under the skin of the history and culture of Jambiani village. Join a knowledgeable local guide to discover the intricacies of day-to-day life in this traditional coastal village, with much of the profits being ploughed back into the community.

More about Village Tour
Prison Island Tour

Prison Island Tour

Half-day

Escape the hustle and bustle of Stone Town on a 30-minute boat ride to Changuu Island, now commonly known as Prison Island. This is your chance to find out about the darker side of Zanzibar history, as well as to get up close with the island’s Aldabra giant tortoises, and to engage in a spot of coastal snorkelling.

More about Prison Island
Balloon Safari over Ruaha

Balloon Safari over Ruaha

Three hours - one hour flight

Varied and scenically stunning, Ruaha National Park features rolling hills, woodlands, open plains and two wide meandering rivers: the Ruaha and the Mwagusi. What better way to view it than from the air, at sunrise? A balloon safari offers just this, the landscape unfolding below your basket as you float almost silently above.

More about Ballooning in Ruaha

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