8 Day Classic Tanzania Circuit Safari

DAY 1: ARRIVE ARUSHA
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to our partner hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.
Arusha Coffee Lodge is located on a coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha. Designed around the original plantation houses but completely renovated to achieve the highest standards of comfort, the decor is luxurious 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.
Meal plan: Dinner

Overnight: Arusha Coffee Lodge (Partner Hotel)

DAY 2: ARUSHA TO SERENGETI
Early this morning you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to Arusha airstrip for your light aircraft flight to the Serengeti, flying time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Upon arrival you will be met by a Sanctuary Kusini representative and transferred to the camp. Driving time to Sanctuary Kusini is 15 minutes from the airstrip through the Serengeti with game viewing en route. Arrive at your camp with time to freshen up before lunch is served.
Accommodation is offered in twelve double tents which are scattered around the main kopje, or rocky outcrop. Each tent is attended by a personal attendant and has en suite facilities with hot and cold running water. Private verandahs with comfortable furnishings extend in front of each unit. The dining area, lounge and library are housed in the main area, which affords spectacular views from its wooden deck and the adjacent kopje.

This afternoon discover why the Serengeti is an icon of Africa on an afternoon game drive. The open plains spread out as far as the eye can see so it is no surprise that the name Serengeti comes from the Maasai language meaning, “endless plains”. The park itself covers 14,763 square kilometres, making it one of the world’s largest wildlife sanctuaries and host to one of the world’s largest land migrations. Every year around 1.5 million wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, followed by hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelle and other plains game in search of fresh grazing pastures. Sanctuary Kusini is ideally placed to catch the migration that can be found in this area of the park from mid December to April when zebra and wildebeest drop their young.

Return to your camp this evening to freshen up before dinner. Following dinner, retire to the kopje where you may take this rare opportunity to enjoy a star safari as the camp manager unravels the myths of the night sky.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Sanctuary Kusini

DAY 3: SERENGETI
Today you may choose to either partake in a full day game drive into the heart of the Serengeti with a picnic lunch, or remain close to camp with morning and afternoon game drives.

The area around Sanctuary Kusini is famed for its cheetah population. Whilst at Sanctuary Kusini you have the chance to contribute to cheetah conservation through the Cheetah Watch Campaign by submitting your sightings of cheetah in Tanzania to the Serengeti Cheetah Project. On a morning game drive learn how to identify cheetah and record their behaviour before combining this data with photos and a record of their location. This information is sent to the Cheetah Project’s researchers who use it to help them monitor cheetahs, and in return will provide you, where possible, with a background of your cheetah, including its name, age and its family history.

This evening return to camp and climb to the top of the kopje for stunning 360 degree views of the Serengeti. Relax with your preferred drink as you watch the setting sun paint the Serengeti with pinks, oranges and reds.

Settle in at the dining tent for a deliciously prepared meal before retiring to your tent after an eventful day of game viewing.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Sanctuary Kusini

DAY 4: SERENGETI – MANYARA – NGORONGORO
This morning you may choose to relax at your camp or venture out early for one last game drive before transferring to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Lake Manyara.

Upon arrival at the airstrip you will be met and transferred to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. The freshwater lake runs along the edge of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and is surrounded by a lush ground forest. The park is famous for its beauty and the many bird species found here including flamingos, long-crested eagle and grey-headed kingfisher. HIppos are also found in abundance along with impala, elephants, buffalo and mischievous baboons. Continue your journey as you drive to the village of Karatu in the centre highlands and onto your lodge, a partner hotel of ours. Arrive in time for a quick massage or relax with afternoon tea on the verandah before adjourning for dinner.

The Manor is reminiscent of an elegant, up country farm home and sits on the hill overlooking the surrounding farm land. The Manor at Ngorongoro features 20 luxurious guest cottage suites each with indoor showers, a private courtyard and deck.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Manor at Ngorongoro (Partner Hotel)

DAY 5: NGORONGORO
Leave your lodge this morning after a hearty breakfast and descend to the crater floor by 4WD vehicle for a day of game viewing with the spectacular back drop of the crater wall at every turn. This great caldera is home to around 30,000 animals with a high concentration of predators including some of the finest black-maned lion in Africa. Rhino can be seen with calves at heel and eland and waterbuck appear not to notice the human visitors, enabling photographers to shoot with ease. Zebra and wildebeest account for almost half the animals with plenty of gazelle, buffalo, hartebeest, wart hog 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.

Today you have the unique opportunity for a bush picnic by the hippo pool on the floor of the crater.
At the end of your day, return to your lodge for a relaxing evening in the snooker room or in the lounge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Manor at Ngorongoro (Partner Hotel)

DAY 6: NGORONGORO – TARANGIRE
This morning is at leisure to enjoy one of the alternative activities on offer at the Manor, you might like to explore the surrounding countryside by horse back or stretch your legs on a gentle walk.

Continue your safari later this morning with a drive to Tarangire National Park and onto our secluded luxury tented camp, Sanctuary Swala, with game viewing en route. Tarangire is renowned for its elephant population that flood the park in their herds as they drink by the edge of the Tarangire River.

As you arrive at Sanctuary Swala you will be greeted by your butler and taken to your tent to freshen up. Each of the twelve tents is shaded by tall acacia trees and is within sight of the well frequented waterhole. Furnished with comfortable sofas, en suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers and traditional materials, the canvas pavilions at Sanctuary Swala are unashamedly luxurious but still close enough to nature to permit an exciting night under canvas. The main dining area, lounge and library are lifted on stilts around an enormous and ancient baobab tree, allowing guests a wide view of the grasslands of Tarangire. Animals come right up to the camp to drink at the water hole, in front of camp, and leopard is often spotted among the baobabs nearby.

In the afternoon there is time to relax before enjoying an exciting game drive in an open four wheel drive vehicle. Huge herds of elephant , greater kudu, Impala and zebra 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.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Sanctuary Swala

DAY 8: TARANGIRE – DEPART
Enjoy a leisurely morning either relaxing at camp or out on a morning game drive. Have lunch at the camp before commencing your return journey to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your international departure flight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch.