Page | 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFRICA BRIDGE - SOUTHERN TANZANIA, VILLAGE TOUR & ZANZIBAR  

 

 

 

Page | 2

 

 

 

BARRY CHILDS GROUP - JULY 2020 AFRICA BRIDGE - SOUTHERN TANZANIA, VILLAGE TOUR & ZANZIBAR 

Dar es Salaam - Ruaha National Park - Tanzania Southern Highlands - Kendwa 14 Days / 13 Nights 

Reference: RUAHA + ZNZ Date of Issue: 12 September 2019 

03 July 2020 - 16 July 2020 

 

 

Click here to view your Digital Itinerary    

Page | 3

Terms and Conditions TRAVEL INSURANCE: it is absolutely essential for guests to have taken out, prior to travel, comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation guarantees that will cater for possible eventualities during their stay in Africa. 

INTERNAL FLIGHTS 

The total baggage allowance for each passenger, inclusive of hand baggage, cameras, filming equipment and any other personal item including loose clothing items, is 20kgs (44lbs) per passenger. Excess baggage will only be carried, at the sole discretion of the Captain of the aircraft, if the payload of the aircraft and/or space permits and will be charged at the prevailing rate for carriage of freight.   If passengers anticipate they will have excess baggage, we recommend below options: 

- Excess Baggage is available in slabs of 10kgs. - Excess baggage cost: $60.00 & $30.00. - Cost varies on the route/class booked. - Maximum 4 slabs (40kgs) additional luggage can be booked per passenger. - Excess baggage can be purchased online for all classes on all routes. 

For more than 40kgs, a "freight" seat at a child fare to be booked, which will permit confirmed carriage of an extra 75kgs. Captain of the aircraft may weigh the bags at airstrips, excess baggage can only be allowed at the Captain's sole decision based on aircrafts capacity. It is highly recommended to carry soft duffle bags. 

NOTE: 

1. For clients’ safety and that of the wildlife, our driver-guides are not allowed to exceed a speed of 50KPH in the parks, while speed limit inside the Ngorongoro Crater is strictly 25KPH. 

2. Game viewing from vehicles is restricted to designated tracks/ roads and driving off-road is not allowed except in specified areas; please check with your driver-guide. 

3. Night driving is not allowed in the parks (from 1900hrs evening to 0600hrs in the morning), except where night game drives are permitted like in Lake Manyara National Park. 

4. It is illegal to own or carry government trophies (wildlife parts and products) without a permit from the Tanzania Wildlife Division. For visitors who have purchased trophies from other countries, they are required to have import license and a receipt while in Tanzania. This is in line with the heightened conservation awareness on the part of the general public and increased surveillance by government agencies especially at points of entry and exit in Tanzania. 

5. Use of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) of any size for photo taking, filming and any other purpose is not allowed in the game parks. 

Government Taxes and Levies: The rates above are inclusive of current levies & taxes as of today, however, should there be any new statutory taxes introduced and/or increase of any current levies by Government/statutory bodies the same shall be passed on to you 

PLEASE NOTE: FROM 1 JUNE 2019 TANZANIA HAS ENFORCED A PLASTIC BAG BAN. TO AVOID HEAVY FINES KINDLY DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS. 

Page | 4  

Accommodation  Destination  Basis  Duration 

Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel  Dar es Salaam  B&B  1 Night 

Ruaha River Lodge  Ruaha National Park  FB  3 Nights 

Utengule Coffee Lodge  Tanzania Southern Highlands 

B&B  2 Nights 

Landmark Hotel  Tukuyu  B&B  2 Nights 

Utengule Coffee Lodge  Tanzania Southern Highlands 

B&B  2 Nights 

Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa  Kendwa  FB  3 Nights 

 

Key B&B: Bed and Breakfast FB: Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch 

 

Price RUAHA SAFARI:  USD 2,470 Per person sharing (Based on 8 Persons) 

VILLAGE TOUR:  USD 1,130 Per person sharing 

ZANZIBAR:  USD 1,225 Per person sharing 

RUAHA: The charter flight from Ruaha to Mbeya, is based on a minimum 8 pax travelling (as the charter costs get divided by the number of people).  

Should there be less number of participants for Ruaha Safari, there will be a supplement cost applicable per person based on the final group size. 

Included Airport Transfers in Dar, Ruaha, Mbeya and Zanzibar. 

Accommodation: 1 Night on Bed & breakfast basis, and 1 night on Half board basis at Dar Serena, 3 Nights at Ruaha River Lodge, 4 Nights at Utengule Coffee Lodge on Bed & Breakfast basis, 2 Nights at Landmark Hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis and 3 Nights at Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa on All Inclusive basis 

Page | 5 FLIGHT: 13 Seater Caravan Cessna Flight 

DAR/RUAHA, RUAHA/MBEYA, MBEYA/DAR, DAR/ZNZ & ZNZ/DAR, Airport taxes, Safety fees and fuel surcharge 

Please note: Luggage 15 kg on hold and 5 kg carry on. Soft Duffel bags.  

ZANZIBAR: All Inclusive Package is valid from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at the main restaurant Kilimanjaro. Water, fresh juice, soft drink, local beer, selected house wine, cocktails list, American coffee and tea. Tea time at 5.00 pm. Mini bar in the room: one refill per day.   

RUAHA: Game Drives, Park entry fees, concession fees, Tourism Development Levy (currently US $ 1.50 per person per night) and VAT.   

PLEASE NOTE: FROM 1 JUNE 2019 TANZANIA HAS ENFORCED A PLASTIC BAG BAN. TO AVOID HEAVY FINES KINDLY DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS. 

Excluded International flight, Visas, Tips, drinks, laundry, Travel, Baggage and Personal Insurances, Evacuation fees and any items of personal nature. 

ZANZIBAR- PLEASE NOTE: Infrastructure Tax of USD 1 per person per day has to be paid directly at the Hotel. 

 

Note: Flight Departure and Arrival timings may be subject to changes.  

   

Page | 6

Day 1:  Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, Dar es Salaam (Fri, 3 July)  

Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s former capital, her largest city and main port. The distinctly African, colourful markets are well worth a visit and both German and British influences can still be seen in the architecture around the city. Conveniently positioned amidst some of the most important sea routes in the world, the city is the transport and economic hub of the country as well as a centre for arts and culture. It serves as an excellent jumping off point to explore the surrounding area including Pemba, Mbudya, Unguja islands, a variety of national parks and countless pristine beaches. Visitors can look forward to visiting a number of other activities including: learning about Tanzanian culture at the National Museum and House of Culture, visiting the eclectic Oyster Bay, and taking a stroll through the city's lush Botanical Gardens. 

 

Day 1  -  03 July 2020 

Arrival at Dar Es Salaam International Airport. Meet and greet and transfer to Dar Serena Hotel. 

Overnight at Dar Serena Hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis.  

Consultant Notes PLEASE RECONFIRM WITH THE RECEPTION, THE COLLECTION FOR YOUR PACKED BREAKFAST FOR NEXT MORNING. YOU'LL BE DEPARTING VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING ON 04TH JULY 2020 AT 0500HRS. 

Overnight: Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel   An oasis of luxury at the very heart of Dar es Salaam, the elegant and cosmopolitan Dar es Salaam Serena enjoys an exceptionally high-profile clientele and regularly plays host to both regional and international events. 

Encircled by tropical gardens and just minutes from the broad sweep of Indian Ocean beaches that characterize this vibrant city, the 230-room Dar es Salaam Serena offers a unique mix of pan-African style and world-class professionalism. 

Stylish yet relaxed, the hotel is one of the capital city’s most popular rendezvous and makes the ideal venue for both corporate and social events. 

 

Page | 7  

Basis: Bed and Breakfast  

   

Page | 8

Day 2-4:  Ruaha River Lodge, Ruaha National Park (Sat, 4 July to Mon, 6 July)  

Ruaha National Park Following its recent expansion, Ruaha is currently East Africa’s biggest national park and the second-largest on the African continent. It is also Tanzania’s most sizeable elephant haven and home to a profusion of bird species, including kingfishers, plovers, egrets, hornbills and sunbirds. Crocodiles and hippos thrive in the Great Ruaha River, which flows along the sanctuary’s eastern border and in the dry season between July and November, animals flock to the last remaining water sources, presenting an exceptional wildlife spectacle. There are a number of accommodation options available but some close for the wet season in March and April. 

 

Day 2 - 04 July 2020 

Collect packed breakfast from the Reception  

05:00hrs transfer to Dar Airport - Terminal 1 for your Auric Air flight to Ruaha departing at 7:00 AM - Reporting time: 0600hrs. 

0930hrs Arrival at Msembe Airstrip. You'll be met and transferred to Ruaha River Lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive in Ruaha National Park. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. 

Day 3 + 4        05 + 06 July 2020 

All meals and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. Game drives in Ruaha National Park. 

Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge   The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the Park; we can offer you the privilege of your own riverside 'banda' designed to blend seamlessly into the surroundings. The local stone and thatch room has minimal impact on the environment and game viewing from your veranda is a relaxing and enthralling option. 

  

Basis: Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch  

   

Page | 9

Day 5-6:  Utengule Coffee Lodge, Tanzania Southern Highlands (Tue, 7 July to Wed, 8 July)  

Tanzania Southern Highlands The Tanzania Southern Highlands is an idyllic rural area made up of 4 provinces namely, Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma. This region features volcanic mountains, vast grasslands, rolling hills, lively markets, jacaranda-lined streets, comfortable lodges and plenty of wildlife. Visitors can look forward to an array of wonderful activities including: visiting Lake Nyasa, discovering a variety of beautiful orchids of Kitulo National Park, exploring the ancien Isimila stone age site and viewing the colonial buildings in the heritage town of Iringa. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a wildlife safari at Mikumi National Park.  

Day 5 - 07 July 2020 After breakfast, with Game drive en route, you'll be transferred to Msembe Airstrip for your Charter Flight. 

09:45hrs Depart with Auric Air Flight from Ruaha to Mbeya. 

10:30hrs Arrival at Songwe Airport, Mbeya.  

You'll be met and transferred to Utengule Coffee Lodge. Overnight at Utengule Coffee Lodge on Bed & breakfast basis. 

Day 6 -  08 July 2020 Coffee Farm Visit with a Coffee Tour and AB Staff Meeting. Overnight at Utengule Coffee Lodge on Bed & breakfast basis.  

Overnight: Utengule Coffee Lodge   Utengule Coffee Lodge offers guests an oasis of calm on the slopes of the mighty Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania, with spectacular views across the East African Rift Valley. In terraced gardens on an estate famous for its gourmet coffee, the lodge has 16 rooms with en-suite facilities, the most luxurious have open glass frontages and large balconies overlooking the pool and the Rift Valley beyond. There are five attractive bungalows offering longer term accommodation, comfortable camping and a helicopter landing pad. 

Guests at the lodge can expect a personal touch with home cooking using locally-grown ingredients and exceptional hospitality offered with a smile. Guests can swim, play squash or tennis, walk, take a guided trek, a tour of the Coffee Farm, read a book, or simply watch the variety of birdlife in the gardens and marvel at the gorgeous sunsets. 

Within striking distance of Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's second largest reserve, and Katavi National Park, one of the most remote and under-developed in the country, Utengule Coffee Lodge is a perfect base and springboard from which to explore the magnificent Southern Highlands. Being an hour from the Zambian border and two and a half hours from Malawi, it is an excellent place to relax before, or to refresh after a border crossing. 

Page | 10   

Basis: Bed and Breakfast  

Day 7-8:  Landmark Hotel, Tukuyu  (Thu, 9 July to Fri, 10 July)  

Day 7  - 09 July 2020 

After breakfast, drive to Tukuyu. Visit Africa Bridge Village. Overnight at Landmark Hotel on Bed & breakfast basis. 

Landmark Hotel is situated in the small town of Tukuyu Mbeya. This hotel is a clean and safe hotel with a lot of character, which provides guests with a great place to stay while visiting the villages. The restaurant serves local cuisine and works with the program to provide meals featuring fresh, local ingredients. 

Tea is widely cultivated around Tukuyu. Tea is one of the perennial crops that many small-scale farmers depend on. Coffee is also grown extensively around Tukuyu. 

Day 8  -  10 July 2020 

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Africa Bridge Villages. Overnight at Landmark Hotel on Bed & breakfast 

basis. 

 

Basis: Bed and Breakfast  

 

Day 9-10:  Utengule Coffee Lodge, Tanzania Southern Highlands (Sat, 11 July to Sun, 12 July)  

Day 9  -  11 July 2020 

After breakfast, Children meetings. Later proceed to Mbeya. Drop off at Utengule Coffee Lodge. 

Overnight at Utengule Coffee Lodge on Bed & breakfast basis. 

Day 10 -  12 July 2020 

Page | 11 Day at leisure. Rest, Swim or hike. Overnight at Utengule Coffee Lodge on Bed & breakfast basis. 

Overnight: Utengule Coffee Lodge    

Basis: Bed and Breakfast  

   

Page | 12

Day 11-13:  Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa, Kendwa  (Mon, 13 July to Wed, 15 July)  

Kendwa Situated on the tropical island of Unguja, just off the Tanzanian coast, Kendwa is a village along the northwest coast of this beautiful island. It is renowned for its powder-fine white-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters boasting an untouched underwater wonderland and fringed by an array of tourist resorts. Visitors can enjoy snorkelling excursions to explore the abundant marine life living in these azure waters or jumping on a local wooden dhow boat for a picturesque sunset trip. For those looking for some evening entertainment, the full moon party is a definite must. Don't miss the opportunity to give back to the community and learn about local Zanzibari culture on a fascinating village tour, great for those looking to go beyond the usual resort activities. Other popular activities include: parasailing, banana boating, scuba diving, and jet skiing.  

Day 11  -  13 July 2020 Breakfast at the lodge. 

10:15hrs Transfer from Utengule to Songwe Airport for your Air Tanzania Flight TC107 from Mbeya to Dar departing at 12:10hrs - Reporting time: 11:10hrs. 

13:20hrs Arrival at Dar Es Salaam International Airport Terminal 2. 

You'll be picked up from Terminal 2 and transferred to Terminal 1 for your flight to Zanzibar 15:30hrs Depart with Auric Air Flight to Zanzibar. 

15:50hrs Arrival at Zanzibar Airport, meet and greet and transfer to Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa. Overnight on All Inclusive basis. 

Day 12 + 13  -  14 + 15 July 2020 Days at leisure at Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa. Overnight on All Inclusive basis. 

Overnight: Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa   The Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa offers an oasis of luxury and elegance, where guests can regenerate body and spirit. The hotel is located on the beach of Kendwa, about a 50 minute drive away from the international airport. Accommodation options include elegant rooms, suites and lavish villas, as well as deluxe retreats. Guests can indulge in pure pleasure at the wellness and health club, House of harmony. Be pampered with an incredible array of personalized treatments in a relaxing ambiance. Discover stunning locations and historical sights departing from the beach house resort. The hotel’s excursion desk offers a variety of tours and water sport activities. 

 

Page | 13  

Basis: Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch (Fully Inclusive Included)  

Included ZANZIBAR: All Inclusive Package is valid from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at the main restaurant Kilimanjaro. Water, fresh juice, soft drink, local beer, selected house wine, cocktails list, American coffee and tea. Tea time at 5.00 pm. Mini bar in the room: one refill per day. 

 

 

Day 14:  End of Itinerary  (Thu, 16 July)  

Day 14  -  16 July 2019 

Morning at leisure. You can check out and keep your luggage with the Reception and still use the beach facilities before getting picked up for your transfer to Zanzibar Airport. Late afternoon around 3.00pm, you'll be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your flight to Dar Es Salaam. 

Arrival at Dar Airport at Terminal 1, you'll be met by Auric Air Rep and transferred to Terminal 2 for your international flight. 

 

END OF SERVICES  

   

Page | 14

Travel Information 

 

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go! 

Banking and Currency Currency In Tanzania, the unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, which is divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100 and 200 Shillings. 

Banking Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Many banks are equipped with 24 hour ATM machines.  

Credit cards and travellers checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted can high service fees and poor exchange rates be expected. Major foreign currencies - particularly US $ - are accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US $, please make sure bank notes are in good condition, with no cuts or damage and are not older than 2004. Most banks offer higher exchange rates for US $ 100 / US $ 50 bank notes compared to US $ 20 / US $ 10 or US $ 5 bank notes. 

Travel, Transport and Getting Around If you are visiting a number of parks and reserves in Tanzania, you can either drive or fly between them. Roads in most of the wilderness areas are in poor condition and unmarked, and self-driving is not recommended. Operators will supply you with a driver who doubles as an informal guide; alternatively, you can arrange to fly to your destination and utilize a car and driver supplied by the lodgings. Elsewhere in Tanzania, towns and cities are linked by a steady stream of buses and dala-dalas (minibuses), and in the cities, there is public transport in the way of buses, dala-dalas, taxis, and, in some places, bicycles or tuk-tuks. 

Page | 15 Precision Air run regular services, mostly via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, to all main towns and other destinations in East Africa and beyond. All national parks and some of the top-end luxury lodges have airstrips and Coastal Air operates between these and the main airports on the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. ZanAir has frequent connections between Zanzibar, Pemba and the mainland. 

Driving is on the left hand side of the road 

Food, Drink and Cuisine Advice Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food, ranging in standard, but generally are excellent. Game lodges tend to offer a daily set menu with a limited selection, so it is advisable to have your tour operator specify in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. First-time visitors to Africa might take note that most game lodges in and around the national parks have isolated locations, and driving within the parks is neither permitted nor advisable after dark, so that there is no realistic alternative to eating at your lodge.  

Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travellers try to stick to mineral water. Filtered and bottled water can be difficult to find you are travelling outside of main town and so it is advisable to stock up. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available. 

Climate and Weather Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the 'long rains', lasts during about March, April and May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable beside the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s.  The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October is when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – it's a great time to visit Tanzania. During November and December there's another rainy season: the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.  If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months, January and February, which is Tanzania's 'short dry season', before starting to rain again in earnest in March. 

Clothing and Dress Recommendations It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing, preferably cotton or linen, is recommended. While on a game viewing safari, avoid brightly coloured clothing, stick to whites, beiges, khakis and browns. There may be long days sitting in safari vehicles, so it is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing such as short sleeved shirts and cotton/linen trousers or shorts. Denim will become too hot and extremely uncomfortable. Walking shoes and socks will be required. 

The evenings will be chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn. A sweater may be needed. These will also prevent you being bitten by insects. A hat should be worn at all times outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still easily burn, especially if it is cloudy and overcast. 

If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town don't forget to take a swimsuit, as it is invariably warm. Ladies are recommended to take cotton skirts, blouses and dresses. Sandals are a must for this environment! On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity is not. 

Page | 16 As over a third of the population in Tanzania is Muslim, it is therefore not etiquette for ladies to walk around in public displaying their legs and shoulders. Remember to dress modestly as short shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops will be frowned upon. 

Electricity and Plug Standards The electricity supply in Tanzania is 220/240 volts at 50Hz. Plugs are 3 point square (UK Type).  Adapters are available at major airports.