Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Tanzania – Nyere National Park – Fanjove Island
100% customisable for you
Your Tanzanian adventure begins with a 14-hour flight to Dar es Salaam, including a brief stopover on the Arabian peninsula. On arrival, a local driver will be waiting to whisk you away to your hotel.
Spend the rest of the evening however you like: simply relaxing and enjoying the hotel’s facilities or taking a short stroll to the shore of the Indian Ocean – a calm and sensory way to let the rhythm of Tanzania settle in.
After breakfast, a private driver will return you to the airport for a short flight south into Nyerere National Park. Your base for the next few nights is a classic safari tent set beside Lake Nzerakera: a prime spot for quiet wildlife watching, where elephants often wander down to the water’s edge for a slurp.
The rest of the day is about easing into life on safari. Stroll around the camp, cool down in the pool and bask in the stillness of the savannah. As the light softens, make time for sunset by the lake – best-enjoyed with a glass of something chilled in hand – before sitting down to dinner and your first night under canvas in the African wild.
Nyerere National Park is vast – so large, in fact, that its boundaries stretch to around twice the size of Belgium – with a wonderful variety of wildlife and landscapes to discover. Acacia-studded savannah gives way to wetlands and riverine forest, all shaped by the slow curves of the Rufiji River.
To make the most of it, head out on game drives in the early morning and late afternoon when the light is soft and wildlife is most active. Accompanied by an experienced ranger and driver, explore different corners of the park, spotting everything from elephants, giraffes, and buffalo to crocodiles along the riverbanks and a bevy of birdlife overhead.
On one of the next two days, set out on a guided nature walk for a chance to slow the pace and focus on the smaller details of the bush. With an expert guide leading the way, look out for bushbabies, colobus monkeys and sun-warmed lizards, gaining a deeper understanding of the ecosystems that hold this remarkable landscape together.
Today continues your immersion in Nyerere National Park, with game drives timed to catch the bush at its most active. Early starts reward you with cool air and soft light, when predators return from the hunt and herds gather along the riverbanks. Late afternoon drives reveal a different energy as the heat eases and wildlife stirs again.
Today also brings a change of perspective with a boat safari through the park’s lush wetlands, bringing you face to face with life on the water: hippos wallowing in the shallows, crocodiles basking on the banks, and a host of birdlife darting between reeds. From the steady safety of the boat, your guide will share insight into this rich ecosystem, where every bend in the river brings something new. After a foray into the backyards of these mighty creatures, a delicious waterside lunch is well-earned.
Wave goodbye to the wide-open landscapes of Nyerere as you take a short flight south, followed by a boat crossing to Fanjove Island in the remote Songo Songo Archipelago. As you approach the shore, a smattering of bandas (tropical bungalows) emerge from the greenery, flanked by powder-soft sand and clear, azure waters.
Settle into your elegant island retreat for the next three nights and let the pace naturally slow. There’s no agenda this afternoon beyond easing into island life, whether that’s a walk along the beach or your first dip in the sea. Come evening, dinner is served in the converted Fanjove Lighthouse, now a relaxed restaurant and cocktail bar, where Indian Ocean ingredients meet the fragrant flavours of the Spice Coast – served with a delectable side of the sun sinking gently into the horizon.
The next two days are yours to slip into the easy, sun-washed tempo of the island. With sea, sand and swaying palms for company, time here is guided by the tides rather than the clock.
When the mood strikes, there’s plenty to explore beneath the surface. Fanjove is fringed by miles of pristine coral reef, ideal for snorkelling among vividly coloured fish and marine life. Further offshore, spinner and bottlenose dolphins are often seen gliding through the water, often swimming up close to eager visitors. From August to October, humpback whales pass through, and the skies above are alive with birdlife, from grey herons and Antarctic skuas to flashes of Madagascar bee-eaters.
For a change of pace, try kite-surfing in the island breeze or head out on a traditional dhow boat, skimming across the Indian Ocean in time-honoured style.
While we don’t truly believe that all good things must come to an end, today you’ll hang up your sunhat and leave Fanjove behind. Enjoy one last passage across the sparkling Indian Ocean to reach Songo Songo Island, where you’ll catch a short hour-long flight back to Dar es Salaam.
From here, you’ll board your flight home to the UK on a journey of roughly 16 hours, including a stopover at a major airport hub. Tonight, the skies will serve as your hotel, with touchdown back on home soil tomorrow morning. If you have a little more time on your trip, we recommend taking a few extra days to explore the wild and lesser-known landscapes of Ruaha National Park.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
