Classic Tanzania
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Sanctuary Retreats representative and transferred by private vehicle to your lodge located on the outskirts of Arusha. The remainder of your day is at leisure.
Located on a coffee plantation, Arusha Coffee Lodge is designed around the original plantation houses but completely renovated to achieve the highest standards of comfort, the décor is luxuriant and stylish with undertones of the bygone days of early exploration. Each of the 18 plantation houses has been lavishly furnished and features a split-level living area and a private deck. The lodge also boasts a coffee shop, patisserie, conference facilities and a swimming pool.
Early this morning you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to Arusha airstrip for your onward flight to Tarangire National Park. Upon arrival you will be greeted by a camp representative who will transfer you to Sanctuary Swala camp in our customised open safari vehicle. The drive time is approximately 45 minutes with game viewing opportunities en route.
Each of the twelve tents at Swala is shaded by tall acacia trees and ancient baobabs and is a stone throw’s away from the well-frequented waterhole. In the afternoon there is time to relax before enjoying an exciting game drive by open four-wheel drive vehicle. Huge herds of elephants, greater kudus, impalas and zebras are all easily spotted whilst leopard lurk in the trees. Due to the camp’s secluded location, you are unlikely to see many vehicles as you venture out into the national park.
As the sun fades enjoy a sundowner as you watch the game carry on with their daily activities. Return to camp to freshen up before dinner.
Meals included: BLD
This morning awaken to the sounds of the bush as a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee is served on your tent’s deck. The rest of the morning is at leisure to enjoy the activities on offer.
Return to your camp where your hosts will greet you with a refreshing drink before taking you into the bush for a well-deserved picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you have time to relax on your private deck with a cool drink and gaze out to the plains surrounding you and watch as the game lazily congregates in the shade to escape the midday sun. As the afternoon progresses you may like to return to the Tarangire on an afternoon game drive. Return to your lodge to freshen up before meeting around the campfire for a pre-dinner drink as you get ready for an evening game drive.
As dusk falls, relax in the comfort of Sanctuary Swala’s customised safari vehicle as you venture into the park transformed by night (at an additional cost). Search for nocturnal animals rarely seen as this is one of the few places in northern Tanzania where you can enjoy a safari by moonlight. At night, you may encounter an African wild cat, the elusive leopard, or feel the round eyes of a bushbaby peering down at you as the moon rises into the sky. With specialised lighting you will be able to look for lions and hyenas, as well as smaller creatures such as spotted genet, serval, bat-eared foxes, owls and nightjars.
Meals included: BLD
After one final breakfast in Tarangire National Park, transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Manyara. Our Sanctuary Retreats guide will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you to the camp, approximately a 2.5-hour drive with game viewing en route.
Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp is located in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation area. Composed of ten luxury safari tents, the camp replicates the traditional canvas tents used by 19th century explorers, with added luxuries and comfort. Its ideal location in the Ngorongoro Crater rim valley, close to the access road into the crater, gives guests unrivalled access to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The main common areas include a dining area, bar area and lounge area as well as comfortable sofas placed in specially selected locations around the camp for you best enjoy the facilities and its incredible surroundings.
Meals included: BLD
Awaken early this morning to a warm cup of tea or coffee served on the veranda of your tent, and be the first to set eyes on the magnificence of Ngorongoro Crater. The ideal location of the camp will ensure easy and swift access to the national park where you can enjoy a game drive with an expert guide/driver in the crater and on the rim. Track and spot the endemic wildlife amidst the spectacular backdrop of the crater wall at every turn. This great caldera is home to around 30,000 animals with a high concentration of predators. Zebra and wildebeest account for almost half the animals with plenty of gazelle, buffalo, hartebeest, warthog and bull elephants. On the lake in the middle of the crater, you may see thousands of flamingos fluttering and shimmering like a pink heat haze.
Return to camp for lunch, and to freshen up before the afternoon’s activities. After a delicious lunch, partake in the Maasai Village tour, perhaps the most famous of East Africa’s tribes. The Maasai are semi-nomadic people known for their colourful shukas (cloth), beautiful beadwork and outstanding jumping skills. Explore their village and see how they have held true to their traditions, and how these are now changing with the modern world.
Finally, end your day with a hot shower before predinner drinks by the campfire as you discuss the day’s adventures.
Meals included: BLD
This morning transfer back to Manyara airstrip for your onward journey to the Serengeti. Flight duration to the camp’s airstrip varies depending on travelling season and Sanctuary Kichakani’s location in the Serengeti. Upon landing, you will be met by a member of our staff who will drive you through the National Park with game viewing en route.
Sanctuary Kichakani invites guests to intimately experience the movement of a million-plus wildebeest and zebra as they follow the fresh grasses across the Serengeti plains during the annual migration cycle. Accommodation is offered in ten remarkable luxury tents which can be packed up and moved along in a style evocative of the pioneering explorers of the 19th century, yet with added comforts. Each tent has a wooden deck perfect for pausing for a just-brewed cup of Tanzania’s finest coffee, and ensuite bathrooms. A personal tent attendant is available around the clock to fill each bucket shower to the perfect temperature.
Spend the afternoon at leisure to soak in the raw beauty of the Serengeti before settling down in the evening for a gastronomic dinner conjured up by the chef and his team.
Meals included: BLD
Start your day with a hot coffee or tea before heading out in the Serengeti for a bush breakfast and game drive. Spend your morning tracking giraffes, Thomson’s gazelles, waterbucks, and impalas. Witness the herd of a million plus wildebeest and zebra as they make their way through the lush grass plains that stretch out across the horizon. Don’t forget about the plethora of predators that such movement attracts such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs to name a few.
Return to camp for an afternoon to relax and freshen up. In the evening, sip on cocktails while witnessing a magnificent African sunset, dine to the sounds of the Serengeti, and finally, retire around the campfire to recount the day’s activities, under a starry African night sky.
Meals included: BLD
This morning, head out for one last time into the Serengeti. After tracking all the endemic species that crowd these plains, settle down for a lunch in the bush prepared and packed up by our team back at the camp. As you enjoy the panoramic views that surround you, embrace the moment and keep an eye on the wildlife roaming on the horizon.
Return to camp to rest and spend the afternoon at leisure before freshening up for a final sundowner overlooking the beautiful grasslands of Tanzania. Finally, sit down to a private dinner under the stars prepared by our talented camp chef.
Meals included: BLD
Enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing at camp or venture out early on one last morning game drive before transferring to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Arusha and transfer to another flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro connect with your onward flight.
Meals included: B