HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT FOR
Honeymooners – Super-romantic accommodation in beautiful landscapes
Migration safaris – Excellent proximity to the Mara River for mid-year crossings
AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES
Game drives
Night drives
Sundowners
Nature walks
BEST TIME TO GO
High Season⊕: July to October
Green Season⊕: November to June
OVERVIEW
‘Bush and beach’ is a time-honoured African tradition. After the early mornings, thrilling sights and sometimes jam-packed schedules of safari, it’s a welcome relief to take a complete break and not do much for a few days except sun bathe and indulge in water sports. This itinerary idea combines an energetic week on Tanzania’s famed Northern Circuit with another only-as-energetic-as-you-like week on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.
All the safari ‘biggies’ are included: Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. If you arrive from about July, you may be lucky enough to catch the wildebeest thundering over the Mara River. Then the Spice Island beckons… the sweet smell of cloves, nodding palm trees, warm water all await at an exclusive beach retreat.
TRIP SUMMARY
DURATION
15 Nights / 16 Days
DESTINATIONS VISITED
Arusha, Tanzania
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Ngorongoro National Park, Tanzania
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Zanzibar, Tanzania
ACCOMMODATIONS VISITED
DAILY ITINERARY
Machweo has anything and everything you need to get over a long-haul flight. After landing at Arusha Airport, you will be whisked into the flourishing gardens of this upscale wellness retreat that has some of the best fine dining in Tanzania. After a specialist massage or a swim, enjoy drinks on the terrace and your first crimson East African sunset.
Arusha is a lively town and acts as the kick-off point for Northern Circuit safaris to Tanzania’s most popular wildlife reserves.
Why we love Machweo:
- Garden cottages allow for privacy and space to unwind
- Excellent cuisine that fuses Europe and Africa
- Full spa with lots of different therapies and treatments
- Guided yoga sessions to foster optimal wellness
The drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park sees buildings give way to baobabs, streets give way to savannah. Tarangire is known for its elephants and you’ll hopefully spot your first pachyderms on the way to Tarangire Treetops, your extraordinary accommodation for the next two nights.
‘Treetops’ is no exaggeration: your room is elevated to be amid the treeline with sunny decks that allow you to scan the bush below. Twice-daily game drives in the national park are on the agenda here.
Why we love Tarangire Treetops:
- Private concession bordering Tarangire National Park
- Main area built around a thousand-year-old baobab
- Elevated rooms on the treeline of towering marulas
- Rooms with 180° views of the landscape from the deck
After exploring the length and breadth of Tarangire, today you’ll be driven to Karatu, a fertile area on the back slopes of Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is one the world’s premier game-viewing destinations where it’s not unknown to see all of the Big 5 in a day.
Home is a gracious estate known as Gibbs Farm, which not only affords access to the crater but also cosy accommodation with plenty to see and do, including morning baking sessions with the chef!
Why we love Gibbs Farm:
- Historic coffee plantation dating the 1920s
- Farm-to-fork ingredients used in the kitchen
- Boutique, artists gallery and garden chess
- Walking, caving and birding on the grounds
Take to the air this morning for a light-aircraft hop from the Manyara to Kogatende airstrips. Looking down, you’ll see why the Serengeti is such an animal paradise: open plains allow not only for good grazing but also suit predators…
Sayari Camp has an enviable location on the Mara River if you’re visiting during the Wildebeest Migration as they cross into Kenya. If not, don’t despair: the wildlife is generally highly reliable and Sayari’s staff will pamper and look after you.
Why we love Sayari Camp:
- Closest camp in the Serengeti to the Mara River
- Solar-powered microbrewery for local craft beer
- Elegant tents and an unobtrusive design
- Indoor bathtubs overlooking the bush
Zanzibar has two surprising connections to pop music legends: Freddie Mercury of Queen was born here and Benny Andersson of ABBA built a house here, that is today the Kilindi Zanzibar resort. Set in sprawling tropical grounds on the warm Indian Ocean, it is an idyllic playground for grown-ups.
For a week, you can sleep late, goo paddle boarding and kayaking, enjoy sundowners and just bliss out next to your private pool… Let the staff take care of everything while you recalibrate.
Why we love Kilindi Zanzibar:
- Couples-only resort with no under-16s
- All rooms have private plunge pools
- Scandinavia meets the Middle East in Africa design
- Right on the beach in 50 acres of garden
INCLUDED*
EXCLUDED*
* Subject to change. Your personal consultant will confirm all the details with you while helping you plan your safari to Africa so you have a full understanding of costs with no surprises.
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