Your adventure begins with one of the country’s most iconic sights, Mount Kilimanjaro, looming beyond your airplane window. After being whisked away by private transfer to your lodge, you’ll witness the snow-dusted peak once again from the hotel before tomorrow’s day hike on Africa’s highest mountain. But this first day is all about downtime – relaxing in the hotel’s pool, spa or simply tuning into birdsong in the garden. Come evening, gather with your fellow Flashpackers for a welcome drink and dinner, ahead of your East African adventure.

Rested and restored, it’s time to tick off a bucket-list moment – a challenging 3.5-hour trek on Mount Kilimanjaro, following an undulating section of the scenic Shira Route. Driving to your starting point at Morum Point, keep your eyes open for arboreal Colobus monkeys, high up in their happy place. From here, you’ll hike to Shira 1 Camp, climbing through wild shrubland, ascending to a height of 3,500 metres and glimpsing views of Kibo Peak on the way, the highest of the three volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro. Once you’ve reached camp – and celebrated your epic hike – you’ll feast on a picnic lunch, before heading to your next stay in Arusha.

You’re up early to seize the day. And what a day it will be. A short morning flight from Arusha airport will take you into the heart of the Serengeti National Park, one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, teeming with two million wildebeest and hundreds of associated animals during the Great Wildebeest Migration. After landing on the park’s airstrip, you’ll transfer (read: take a mini game drive) to your scenic camp for the next two nights. En route, there’s every chance you’ll witness passing wildlife, going about its daily business, so keep your eyes peeled. Once at camp, you’ll stop for lunch under canvas, before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Dinner is back at base, under star-lit night skies.

Today is a full immersion into the Serengeti with morning *and* afternoon game drives. Roaming on four wheels, the anticipation will be palpable. Prides of lions, herds of elephants and towers of giraffes all call the Seregenti home. Depending on the season, you might bear witness to the Great Migration when millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles rotate between the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing. Lunch at camp divides the day before your afternoon safari. But psst: there’s one more treat in store – a surprise dinner. *You have the option to begin Day 4 with a sunrise hot air balloon over the Serengeti for an additional cost.

This morning takes you out of Serengeti and into the Ngorongoro Crater. But in true Flash Pack style, the journey will be studded with adventure. First, you’ll visit a Massai boma (village), where you’ll chat with the tribe as they go about their lives, tending to livestock, thatching a roof or dancing in ebullient style. Then it’s time to dip into the vast Ngorongoro Crater, formed over 2.5 million years ago, stretching 20 kilometres across and 610 metres deep – and regarded as one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. You’ll have a picnic lunch inside the crater and digest with a nature walk around Hippo Pool – known for its noisy namesakes. After lunch, it’s back on four wheels for an afternoon game drive, followed by a short drive to your next lodge. Come evening, you’ll debrief over dinner and drinks at the end of a memorable day.

After breakfast, you’ll put on your walking shoes for a 2.5-hour nature excursion in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Soak up the lush landscapes as you hike through the montane forest to the picturesque Endoro Falls, which tumbles 60 metres down a series of rocky ledges. The path continues to the nearby Elephant Caves – loved by the animals for their calcium-rich walls – where you might even spot some in residence. This afternoon, you’ll head to the Karatu community, where you’ll join a local family for a hands-on cooking class. You’ll learn how to prepare some fresh local dishes before sharing the home-cooked meal together. Finish your day with dinner back at the lodge.

It’s time to head back to Arusha, where your journey began – but this time you’ll be heading off on a different kind of adventure. First up, you’ll stop off at Arusha Coffee Lodge, where social enterprise Shanga employs people with disabilities to create jewellery, glassware and homewares from recycled materials. It’s a great opportunity to see local crafters in action, pick up some handmade gifts and learn about traditional techniques. Enjoy lunch at the lodge, before boarding an afternoon flight to the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar. Crack out those flip-flops for a mosey along idyllic white sand beaches, with fronds swaying in the background and glistening blue sea on the horizon.  

After a week of bucket-list sights, today you can explore things at your own pace: sink into a poolside lounger or take up the option of a full-day snorkelling and dolphin-watching tour at nearby Mnemba Island (for an additional cost). With its aquamarine waters and colourful coral gardens, this reef and marine reserve is home to shoals of luminous fish including blue-spotted rays, triggerfish, octopi and more. Your captain will navigate towards the best locations for dolphins, too, en route to a flavourful barbecue lunch. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Why not ask your Pack Leader to arrange a taxi to guidebook-gracing Nungwi Beach for a bar hop around the beach huts of this vibrant fishing village.

It’s your final day – and how you spend it is up to you. Perhaps you might take a taxi to Stone Town: the historical centre of the island’s bustling capital, Zanzibar City. With its ornate alleys and intricately carved doorways, this 19th-century trading town and Unesco World Heritage Site was once a thriving port for the spice trade. History enthusiasts can book an optional guided walking tour (at additional cost) to learn about the history of the Sultanate and exotic spice routes. Don’t forget to ask for tips on the best places to try Zanzibarian dishes for lunch. Make sure you’re back in time for this evening’s sundowner cruise, for a chance to celebrate the trip with your fellow Flashpackers, before a final farewell dinner.

It’s time to bid a fond farewell to your time in this mighty African nation. Thankfully, you’ll be taking home vivid memories, wildlife-rich tales and joyful new friendships long after the sun has set on this trip of a lifetime. If you’re already feeling the holiday blues, don’t worry. There’s always another Flash Pack adventure…