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.
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.
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
Built high on the escarpment in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, the upmarket Ikuka Safari Camp has commanding views of the park throughout the entire property. Located about a 20-minute drive from the best game-viewing areas in the park, used by several of Ruaha’s camps, Ikuka stands out for its unique location.
Built high on the escarpment in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, the upmarket Ikuka Safari Camp has commanding views of the park throughout the entire property. Located about a 20-minute drive from the best game-viewing areas in the park, used by several of Ruaha’s camps, Ikuka stands out for its unique location.
"life in the camp and the safari drives turned out to be more than excellent.."
Mr R & Ms D fromNLArrived 25 Oct 2021, 4 nights
We are always excited to see new owner-run camps open, and we think Ikuka is an excellent addition to this remote corner of Africa. It offers something quite special in Ruaha in terms of its elevated location. See our full report on Ikuka
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
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
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.
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.
"We loved this hotel for its architecture, sense of history and remarkable food"
Damara Dik DiksfromUKArrived 17 Jul 2019, 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
Activities
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Self-guided walking
Snorkelling
Watersports
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
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 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.
"The best location, incredible facilities, good food."
CC.fromPorto AlegreArrived 18 Nov 2019, 4 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
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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