Wild Romance in Tanzania

Duration: 11 days

Highlights: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Pemba Island

Float over the Serengeti National Park in a break of dawn balloon ride, enjoy a picnic lunch on the Ngorongoro Crater floor and a dhow sundowner in Pemba Island.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Kilimanjaro

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you are met by our representative and transferred to Siringit Villa where you will be assisted with check-in.

Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat is a luxury six bedroom villa. This elegant bush home, with a huge deck and a number of private balconies off vast en-suite bedrooms, is tucked into the indigenous scrub that fringes the fairways of the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate in northern Tanzania. The house is beautifully decorated with a gorgeous pool. Guests can enjoy food prepared by the chef or, if they fancy venturing out, at the Golf Club. Sunbird is the perfect starting point to launch yourself on a safari of the Northern Circuit.

The golf course, created by international course designer David Jones who represented Great Britain and Ireland in PGA Cup matches, is beautiful and a round of golf presents stunning views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru to the west and east respectively and the Maasai Steppe to the south. Jones describes Kiligolf – as it’s affectionately known - as ‘the most natural I have ever created’. And it certainly feels it – cast within a small conservancy, it envelops indigenous forest and is home to small numbers of wildlife and lots of birds.

Overnight: Siringit Villa

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Fly to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport (approx. 45 minutes) for the 13:00 flight to Serengeti National Park. Upon arrival, you will be met by your private 4x4 and transferred to camp.

Serengeti Pioneer Camp encapsulates the exhilaration of the Serengeti. The lodge replicates mobile explorer camps of the 1930s. An eccentric jumble of furniture within the rooms accentuates this nostalgic charm; a hat stand, travelling trunk bench and copper basins. The camp looks out over Lake Magadi and the Moru Kopjes where you can see original Maasai rock art. Every meal makes the most of the stunning views as your table is relocated to whichever location highlights Serengeti’s beauty best depending on the time of day.

Boasting some of the best resident game in the entire Serengeti, this location also makes an ideal stage for migrating animals as they pass by twice a year. Although this area of the Serengeti is very popular, the camp is situated along the quieter outskirts enjoying privacy and is unafraid of getting up close with the rugged surroundings. Whether on a guided game drive or enjoying a paraffin-lamp-lit dinner amongst the acacia trees, this place will transport you to a time when Africa embodied the exhilarating unknown.

Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer Camp

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 3 - Balloon ride over the Serengeti

You will have an early start to get to the balloon launch site.

A hot air Balloon Safari is an extraordinary way to observe wildlife. As you drift along in near silence, apart from the odd whoosh of air into the balloon, Africa reveals herself below you: elephants grow improbably small, swathes of grazing antelope and zebra span out across the plains, herds rendered more impressive with aerial perspective, giraffe browsing on treetops, glance briefly skyward as the enormous shadow of the balloon glides silently above them.

This break of day excursion means you witness Africa as she awakes, as the syrupy light of dawn steals across the savannah and the sky morphs from tangerine orange to brilliant blue, as you feel the warmth of the rising sun on your face, imagine yourself an eagle: this is his view.

An hour of silent sailing in an impossibly enormous sky, your horizons clear and far, and it's time to descend for breakfast with sparkling wine before heading back to camp for lunch.

In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in the Serengeti.

Overnight: Serengeti Pioneer Camp

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 4 - Fly to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This morning fly to the Manyara airstrip where you will be met a a Gibb's Farm driver and transferred to the lodge.

Gibb’s Farm is perfectly located between Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. Built by German settlers in 1929, the farm retains its quaint, vintage charm which contrasts pleasingly with dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley and Ngorongoro forest beyond. The individually-decorated cottages sit daintily within formal gardens. Guests can enjoy the farm ambiance from a coffee-scented distance, or plunge right into the lifestyle by harvesting vegetables, making bread, milking cows and roasting coffee. Hike up to the crater’s rim or explore nearby waterfalls and curious caves carved by elephants who dig here for vitamin-rich soil. Night drives and cycling safaris also make for tempting adventures. Your cultural immersion continues at sunset when, surrounding the Tembo fire, healers and naturalists will draw you in with their tales of wild animals, Iraqw culture, Maasai legends and tribal folklore.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater

Today, you have the morning to explore the crater. Your game drive today will be like no other as you visit one of the most dramatic safari destinations in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater. Descend to the crater floor in search of the big 5 with the back drop of the forest covered crater walls surrounding you, creating stunning back drops for all of your wildlife photographs. Travel through the Lerai Forest looking for leopard and onto the plains where the wildebeest and zebra graze whilst cheetah and lion lay and watch. Old elephants pass your vehicle whilst further afield rhino wander and hippos hide in the pools.

A picnic lunch on the crater floor will be provided.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 6 - Fly to Pemba Island

Fly to Pemba Island via Arusha & Zanzibar. On arrival transfer by boat to Fundu Lagoon.

Blending peacefully into deserted island bliss, designer tents with traditional mkuti thatched roofs make up the accommodation at Fundu Lagoon; a lodge on Pemba Island whose seclusion is made all the more special given it's only accessible by boat. Pemba, nicknamed "The Green Island", forms part of the Zanzibar Archipelago. The rooms are spread out in a double layer: one strung along the beach and the other elevated along a slope of forested hill. All the tents enjoy a sea view and suites offer a private plunge pool. Enjoy your meals on the beach or indulge in sundowners in the bar built along a jetty.

Overnight: Fundu Lagoon

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 7 - 10 - Days at leisure

In addition to experiencing some of the best diving in the world, try windsurfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, fishing or a dhow cruise. Venture into mangrove forests in a canoe or take a day trip to Mesali Island and see the turtles. Away from the crowds, with a thrilling sense that you have the Indian Ocean all to yourself, embrace everything the sea has to offer with Fundu's help - they're dab hands at making sure their guests make the most of it.

Overnight: Fundu Lagoon

Meal Plan: B-L-D

Day 11 - Depart

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airstrip for an afternoon flight to Dar es Salaam. Thereafter connect onto your international flight home.

Meal Plan: B