Augustine MwangotyaReturn to Arusha from your Mainland Safari
July 31
Spend a relaxing afternoon and evening enjoying the Kia Lodge and reflecting on the amazing wildlife you have encountered so far on your trip.
Where Culture Meets Coastline
Zanzibar Extension
August 1-5, 2025
Cost: $3,700
Leader: Augustine Mwangotya
Group Size: 12
Days: 5
Safari Overview
Zanzibar beckons with its alluring blend of cultures, intricate history, and natural beauty. This Tanzanian archipelago in the Indian Ocean entwines African, Arab, and European influences creating a unique Swahili culture evident in the UNESCO-listed Stone Town’s wooden doors and maritime heritage. Gentle waves create the backdrop for white sand beaches fringed by palm trees. Fragrant plantations highlight Zanzibar’s “Spice Island” legacy, while landmarks like Marahubi Palace and slave trade remnants offer a poignant glimpse at the tragic past. Explore vibrant markets, search for wildlife in the lush forests, and relax under the sun – Zanzibar promises an unforgettable combination of exploration and leisure.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Take a guided tour of the beautiful island.
- Encounter the rare red colobus monkey.
- Explore the winding streets of Stone Town and the bustling seaport.
SAFARI OPTIONS
- This is a post-trip extension to our Tanzania trip from July 16 to August 1, 2025.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
 |  |  |
Itinerary Updated: October 2023
Print Trip
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 31 | Spend a relaxing evening at the Kia Lodge after your Tanzania trip. | Kia Lodge, Arusha | B,L,D |
| Aug 1 | Fly to Zanzibar, Tanzania and begin your island adventure. | Zanzibar Serena Inn, Zanzibar | B,L,D |
| Aug 2-3 | Spend 2 full days exploring the island’s cultural and natural highlights. | Zanzibar Serena Inn, Zanzibar | B,L,D |
| Aug 4 | Enjoy a relaxing morning before flights to Dar es Saleem then continue homeward from there. | B,L,D | |
| Aug 5 | Arrive home. |
Our Trip Leaders
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Augustine Mwangotya
Augustine, founder and owner of our local safari operator, studied at Tanzania’s College of Wildlife Management and served with the Tanzania Wildlife Department, developing an invaluable set of connections and knowledge. He received his Master’s in Conservation Biology and Ecotourism from Prescott College in Arizona. Augustine’s warmth and humor, intimate knowledge of animal behavior, friendships with indigenous people, and command of logistical details have given him a well-deserved reputation in the safari field.
Detailed Itinerary
A glimpse into our journey
Arrive in Zanzibar, Tanzania from our Tanzania trip.
Aug 1
You’ll fly to the island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of mainland Tanzania. Zanzibar is actually an archipelago, consisting of Zanzibar Island (640 square miles); Pemba Island, 30 miles to the north; and the smaller island of Tumbatu and Latham. Zanzibar town was originally a small fishing village, probably founded by Arabs. Over the centuries, African and Arab cultures mingled to produce the Swahili language and culture all along the East African coast. It is said that the purest form of Swahili is spoken here. Europeans first appeared in 1498, when Vasco de Gama stopped during his historic voyage, but the golden era of Zanzibar’s prosperity began much later, in 1832, when the sultan of Oman transferred his home to the island. He expanded clove cultivation and sent caravans into the interior of East Africa for ivory and slaves. In the middle of the 19th Century, explorers like Sir Richard Burton and John Speke outfitted their exploration inland from Zanzibar. Africa’s greatest European explorer and missionary, David Livingstone, began his last journey here in 1866. Gradually, the slave trade was reduced, and British warships surrounded the island in 1873 to abolish it once and for all. A cathedral now stands where the slave market once was held. In 1890, Zanzibar became part of British Empire.
Today you can still hear echoes of the past in Stone Town with winding streets, carved Arabian doors, sailing dhows in the harbor, and cloves drying in the sun. Palm trees line the white-sanded beaches. Small villages with houses made of coral and thatch, spice plantations, and ruins such as the Marahubi Palace, where the sultan housed his harem, fill the interior of the island.
Explore Zanzibar
Aug 2-3
You have two full days to explore. You’ll have a guided tour of the island to visit spice plantations, villages, and the Jozani Forest, where we’ll find the rare red colobus monkey. There will also be free time to meander around the historic seaport, watch the trading dhows come in, and walk the narrow streets to see beautifully carved wooden doors and chests studded with brass. You can take an optional trip to Changuu Island to see 200-year-old tortoises or go on a sailing adventure on a dhow.
Fly to Dar es Saleem and continue homeward
Aug 4
Savor your last morning on the island of Zanzibar. This afternoon, you’ll fly to Tanzania’s port city of Dar es
Salaam where you’ll have a dayroom at the Kilimanjaro Hotel. After a farewell dinner, you will go to the airport for your flights.
Arrive home
Aug 5
- Cost & Payments
- Included
- Not Included
- Climate
- Fitness Level
- Flights
Conservation- Conditions
Cost & Payments
Costs (in US$)
| Type | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|
| Trip Cost, double occupancy | $3,700 |
| Single Supplement | $540 |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare (except for flights from Arusha to Zanzibar and Zanzibar to Dar es Saleem ), singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will try to find a roommate for you, but if we cannot pair you with a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement.
Payment Schedule
| Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
|---|---|---|
Payment is due with your main trip’s final payment; see the itinerary for Tanzania for details.
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another trip if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included
- Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
- Leaders for all activities unless described as optional.
- Flights from Arusha to Zanzibar and Zanzibar to Dar es Saleem
- Accommodations (double occupancy) for the nights of August 1 through August 3 and a dayroom on Aug 4.
- Meals from breakfast on August 1 through dinner on August 4.
- Transfers on August 1 and August 4 between the Serena and the Zanzibar airport.
- Trip Planning Materials – information about entry requirements, flights, packing, gratuities, etc.
- Short-term AMREF Flying Doctor emergency evacuation insurance. This does not include hospital or treatment costs.
Not Included
- Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
- All airfare (except flights listed as included), airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Round-trip airfare is approximately $1,200 to $1,500, depending on origin, from the US to Arusha and back to the US from Dar Es Saleem.
- Passport and visa fees.
- COVID tests.
- Divergent airport transfers and extra hotel nights.
- Gratuities – tipping is always discretionary. However, we suggest budgeting about $20 to $30 per participant per day for 4 days with our leaders (about $80 to $120 total per participant).
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Traveler Form.
Climate
August falls in the dry season in Zanzibar, so rain is unlikely. The average highs are in the low 80’s°f cooling off to the low 70’s° in the evening.
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness is required for this trip. You should be able to walk comfortably in town and in the forest. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Flights
Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Planning Materials we will send you.
Flights you book
- Because you are arriving from our Tanzania trip, see the Flights section in its itinerary for arrival information.
- Depart from Dar es Saleem, Tanzania (DAR) after 8:00pm on August 4.
Flights we book
- Flights from Arusha to Zanzibar and Zanzibar to Dar es Saleem are included in the trip cost.
FAQ
Accommodations
Seasickness
Transportation
Conservation
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:
- Ecotourism and Conservation for Tanzania
- Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral.
- Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. You can purchase offsets with most airlines (Delta includes them automatically), use our handy carbon calculator and donate to Sustainable Travel International, or contribute to your favorite offsetting organization.
Conditions
Read our current Terms and Conditions.