Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Relaxing in Arusha

Idyllically situated amidst a rolling coffee plantation, Arusha Coffee Lodge offers a gentle introduction to Tanzania. You’ll be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the lodge by road, where each of the bungalows are set amongst the coffee vines. Monkeys swing through the surrounding greenery, while bush babies and tropical birds call from the treetops. Relax in your spacious en-suite room and savor the views from your private balcony. Then enjoy some of the freshest coffee on the planet, straight from the plantation to your cup.

What’s Included: One night in a luxury room at Arusha Coffee, breakfast

Days 2 – 3: Spectacular Safari in Tarangire National Park

Life in Tarangire National Park revolves around water. A vast grassy savanna is punctuated by ancient baobab trees, their immensely broad trunks towering over brittle grass. Meandering through the park, the great Tarangire River attracts migrants from hundreds of miles around. At some points it flows wildly. Large concentrations of waterbuck and zebra tentatively enjoy its life-giving goodness, ever watchful for surrounding predators. Yet in the dry season, animals must dig beneath the parched riverbed, using remarkable intuition to discover water. A procession of mammals head towards waterholes, including lions, leopards, and elephants, all uninhibitedly heading for an easy drink. Shaded by an immense acacia tree, your luxurious canvas tent overlooks one of these waterholes, meaning that Tarangire’s unique wildlife essentially comes to you.

Situated in a secluded area of Tarangire, Sanctuary Swala offers privacy, exclusivity, and a unique harmony with nature. Each en-suite tent is unashamedly luxurious, featuring comfortable beds, plush sofas, and indoor and outdoor showers. They’re also opulently furnished with traditional materials. Raised on stilts above the savannah, the spacious tents have private viewing decks which gaze down on Tarangire’s unique world. Elephant herds roam past the camp, a giraffe’s distinct shape is silhouetted against a slow burning sunset, while a lion pride approaches for a drink. A spectacular infinity swimming pool also overlooks the waterhole, while a personal attendant will attend to every one of your needs.

During the evening, the wildlife is easily spotted from your tent. Daytime safaris then explore diverse areas of the park. Elephants wander between the baobab trees, often in herds of up to 300 strong. Their enchanting interactions always draws smiles; a baby playfully takes its first steps, two young males test out their newly found power, while a gracious bull leads the herd towards water. Fluttering through the park are 550 different bird species, congregating at swamps and singing from the treetops. Giraffe and zebra provide elegance, adding their distinct colors to the Tarangire landscape.

Gaze towards the trees and a swinging tail grabs your attention. Nestled onto a broad branch, eyes half closed yet always alert, a tree-climbing lion waits to pounce. Up in the tree it looks small and cute. But the lion has spotted something of interest and it nimbly descends onto the savanna floor. An eerie silence ensues as the lion slowly checks out the safari truck, yawns to reveal ferocious teeth, and then ambles away. Return from safari and the whole animal cast will continue to entertain you from your private deck.

What’s Included: Two nights on a fully inclusive basis in a luxury tent at Sanctuary Swala, all safari activities, meals, and local brand drinks

Days 4 – 7: The Ultimate Safari Experience at Sanctuary Serengeti Migration Camp

Tanzania’s vast wilderness offers one of the world’s final animal havens. The national parks have no fences or barriers. The parks merge into one another as animals roam freely across the landscape of dense forests, endless savannas, lakes and swamps. East Africa’s inimitable mammals travel across the land and find personal havens in different habitats. Other than a few Maasai tribes, this beautiful wilderness isn’t populated by man. The Sanctuary Serengeti Migration Camp offers the most authentic immersion into this animal world. Private tented camps are pitched in hand selected wildlife areas, offering an intimate bush experience that doesn’t leave any footprints on the environment. On day four you’ll be transferred to the Tarangire airstrip for a flight to your camp.

Each private camp is exclusively designed to suit your interests and tastes. They are pitched in secluded areas of wilderness where you’ll find no other accommodations, tourists or safari trucks. For four days your private camp becomes part of the landscape and who knows which animals will wander past for closer inspection. In Tanzania, the tents are pitched in either the endless grass plains of the Serengeti or in the Ngorongoro Nature Reserve. The exact location depends on the guest and could take into account the location of the Great Wildebeest Migration. A meandering soundtrack accompanies every moment; a herd of buffalo rustles through the grass, a hippo’s wheeze-honk sails on the breeze, and a lion’s roar punctuates the evening silence. Attentive staff cater to all your needs and ensure that nothing gets too close. Despite being fully immersed in nature, this is a completely safe experience. After all, the Maasai have harmoniously lived side by side with these animals for centuries.

Extremely spacious tents are carefully furnished with traditional furniture, hand woven rugs, and king sized beds. A fully flushing china toilet and hot running water is available in your en-suite bathroom, while solar power provides electricity for the camp. Dining tables are erected in the bush and sumptuous meals are enjoyed with breathtaking 360º views of this surreal landscape. Each day is individually tailored to your needs, and could include any range of game viewing activities including scenic flights, hot air ballooning, camel and horseback safaris, or daytime and nighttime game drives.

These four days will offer a breathtakingly authentic experience in Africa’s game-filled wilderness, while also providing luxury and comfort. Morning footprints beside the camp suggest that a leopard was nearby. A huge bull elephant slowly approaches, ears flapping as it wanders past. Thompson’s gazelle and wildebeest munch on the fresh grass that surrounds the tent, tentatively coming closer when they learn that you’re not a threat. With sights, sounds, and smells, your private camp offers a multi-dimensional experience that very few others have experienced.

What’s Included: Four nights fully inclusive at the Private Mobile Camp, all safari activities, all meals, and all local brand drinks

Days 8 – 9: Luxury Safari at Singita Grumeti

On a private charter flight, you’ll fly over the endless grass plains of the Serengeti, heading to Singita Grumeti Reserve in the north west of Tanzania. Adjacent to the Serengeti, this enormous private concession is integral to the Great Wildebeest Migration and offers a luxurious safari experience. Every year, over two million mammals migrate across this land, heading north for the rich grasses of the Maasai Mara. Great herds dot the plains with tens of thousands of wildebeest marching together and leaving a swirling trail of dust behind them. Zebras and Thompson’s gazelle join them, trying to keep their distance from the predators that trail behind. But a lion pride stirs panic in the herd, lionesses approaching from different angles and offering the confused prey nowhere to run. A lame wildebeest is separated from the herd and the furious final attack lasts just a few seconds.

At all times of year the Singita Grumeti Reserve thrives with wildlife. The Serengeti has no boundaries, and every species on four legs wanders over into this private concession. But while the Serengeti is also populated by safari trucks and tourists, Singita Grumeti offers a very private and personal safari experience. Enjoy daytime game drives that reveal giant herds and hunting predators, or explore the nocturnal magic of Africa on a nighttime drive. Intermediate and advanced horseback riders can take enchanting rides onto the endless grass plains, galloping alongside zebra and infiltrating a giraffe herd.

Each cottage at the Singita Sasakwa Lodge has a private infinity pool that gazes out onto the Serengeti, a landscape that the Maasai call “the land that stretches forever.” Mixing traditional African influences with stately luxury, your private cottage includes a four poster bed, deep verandahs, high ceilings, and never-ending views. You’ll be fully experiencing your own piece of Africa. Elephants and giraffes wander in the distance, their distinct shapes towering above a small herd of kudu that rest in the grass. Nighttime brings a beautiful starry sky, and perhaps a pair of incandescent looking buffalo eyes just meters from the cottage. Leopards lurk nearby, as do lion prides. Don’t worry if you don’t spot them from your verandah, the experienced trackers will locate them as soon as you head off on a morning game drive. Two nights in the Singia Grumeti will provide both a luxurious and highly personal safari experience.

Days 10 -12: Idyllic Beach Paradise on Private Mnemba Island

After eight exhilarating days on safari, you’ll be transported to the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar. Surrounded by calm Indian Ocean waters, Mnemba Island is just one mile in circumference. Traditional wooden dhows drift along the horizon, coconut palm trees line irresistibly white sand, while the tropical forest hides just ten quaint palm-frond bandas. Just a handful of lodge guests and a discreet team of staff stay on this island. You’ll have a blissful piece of beach paradise all to yourself. Fresh lobster and prawns are served on wooden platters, romantic candlelit dinners follow a serene sunset, and the temperate waters provide safe swimming all year around. Named in Conde Nast Traveller’s gold list of the best hotels in the world, and UK Tatler magazine’s best 101 hotels in the world, the Mnemba Island Lodge offers an exquisite experience that is difficult to find anywhere else on the African coastline.

Before your transfer to the idyllic Mnemba Island you’ll have the option to take a private tour around Zanzibar’s Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site that reveals the cultural history of this iconic island. It’s still a thriving town, and a charming wander takes you through a labyrinthine collection of narrow streets. Locals congregate around domino games and street-side televisions, men sell mountains of oranges from wooden carts, while barefoot children skip past ancient churches and mosques. Diverse influences harmoniously juxtapose on these atmospheric streets. Persian baths stand beside ornate Islamic courtyards, Hindu temples are hidden behind British colonial remnants, and boisterous cafes look out onto opulently decorated wooden doorways.

A fragrant journey takes you from Stone Town to the north eastern tip of Zanzibar, passing through lush spice plantations and rich jungle. From here it’s a 20 minute boat ride to your private island. On Mnemba Island it’s easy to relax into an unhurried atmosphere where time is often irrelevant. Lounge on your own piece of beach or enjoy languid hours on your banda’s secluded verandah. Each banda features traditional materials and offers a tropical version of a beach cottage. A covered walkway leads you into the forest and an en-suite bathroom with a huge shower. Thatched bar areas have unobstructed views of the beach and the island of Zanzibar. Between April and August, green turtles lay their eggs on the beach, and within a couple of months the island is filled with cute turtle hatchlings.

It’s easy to unwind and do little but enjoy the exquisite beach and tranquility. Wade into the turquoise waters or snorkel along spectacular coral reefs that reveal a vivid assortment of tropical life. Mnemba Island is part of a marine conservation area, and there is an on site PADI dive school that can take new and experienced divers into the pristine marine world. Deep-sea fishing and specialty dives can also be arranged. Attentive staff fulfill all of your needs and an array of delicious meals are served in the most enchanting of surroundings. After eight days on safari, these three days will show you another side to Tanzania’s charms.

What’s Included: Three nights in a beach banda at Mnemba Island Lodge, on a fully inclusive basis which includes activities, meals, and drinks

Day 13: Farewell to Africa

You’ll take the short boat ride back to Zanzibar Island and be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your departing flight.