Escape to Tanzania - Private Safari

Game drives are a fantastic way to see Tarangire. This park is second only to the Serengeti in its concentration of wildlife and is well known for big herds of buffalo, elephant that stand picturesquely beneath the spreading branches of baobabs and prides of lazy lion sprawled in the shade of acacia scrub. The muted colours of Africa are frequently lit up by the bright reds and yellows of barbets, starlings and bee-eaters; there are over 550 species of birds here. Sometimes we'll take advantage of our freedom to venture out at night for this is when elusive creatures also choose to softly tread the trails. Few things are more exhilarating than catching a glimpse of the patterned flank of a leopard as it slinks through the grass beside our car.

You will wake in the cool of the early morning and walk straight out of camp to discover evidence of the night's activities along the course of the Tarangire River. There's something very special about placing one's own foot within the print of an elephant, or kneeling to cradle the nest of a praying mantis, glistening with dew. It's the sort of rare freedom that we seldom enjoy in our busy lives.

After dark the bush changes and you have a chance to meet some of our nocturnal neighbours. Genets, civets, porcupines and bush babies are often seen, and if you're lucky you might even catch the big chaps out on a hunt as lions and leopards head off on the prowl.

A big highlight of any stay here, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most iconic wildlife destinations. The beauty of Entamanu Ngorongoro is that it sits within the Conservation area and only 30 minutes drive from the descent road into the Crater. An early start is highly recommended to enjoy the Crater before the majority of visitors make it in from other camps. You will set off with your guide and a packed breakfast and return to camp in time for lunch. Or, head out in the afternoon and enjoy sundowners on the rim on your way back to camp.

Entamanu Ngorongoro offers guided walks along the rim of the Crater and in the surrounding highlands. You will head out with your guide and a member of the local Maasai community and learn all about medicinal plants, Maasai beliefs, as well as track any local wildlife that has wondered close to camp. Walks are all about soaking up the view at a slower pace and learning to appreciate the little things and they come highly recommended.

Sometimes we drop round to see our Maasai neighbours, who are living a largely traditional life in the boma in the next valley, and still grazing their cattle in the conservation area. It will be just us and them, and a warm welcome, with insights into the pastoral life, from building huts to warrior ceremonies.

You can enjoy game drives from here on a shared or on exclusive use basis. We use a combination of open and closed 4 x 4 Land Cruiser vehicles. Very reliable, comfortable and well-maintained with charging facilities, fridge on board, photography stabilizing bean bags, vehicle recovery equipment, VHF Radio communication, specialized guide books, first aid kit, seatbelts, binoculars and last but not least, great guides who undergo bi-yearly training with our internal and external guide trainers.

A balloon safari offers an opportunity to see the wildlife areas from a unique perspective. Take in the wilderness below as you silently float over the vast plains (in whichever direction the wind takes you). Follow a large herd of wildebeest, see a lion stalk its prey or just marvel at the magnificent scenery before touching down for a bush breakfast like no other. If you only take one balloon flight in your life, this is the place to do it.

No safari is complete without experiencing a traditional outdoor, open-air lunch or dinner. Relax under the natural canopy of an acacia tree, while your personal butler serves up a feast. Nothing is quite so essentially safari as this. White linen, fine bone china and crystal glassware create a real "Out of Africa" experience - both daytime and night.

Sundowners are more than just a happy hour. They are a very cherished African tradition and form an integral part of your safari experience. It is a time to relax, reminisce the day gone by, enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine around the camp fire with fellow travellers, and watch as the sun goes down over the Serengeti plains.

Rhino Experience - In The Serengeti
Supporting Ecotourism and conservation of endangered Eastern Black Rhinos in Serengeti National Park. The greater Serengeti Ecosystem offers a number of habitats suitable for a stable black rhino population to thrive and several projects have been implemented to conserve the species in Tanzania and Kenya. The Serengeti National Park in particular has wonderful potential and the Conservation Project we visit is doing a great job of both monitoring and protecting this critical population.

Before heading off into the field guests visit the Michael Gryzmek Memorial Museum and the Black Rhino Conservation Visitor Centre to listen to a detailed explanation of the Rangers’ role in the protection and monitoring of the critically endangered Eastern Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) also known as the East African Black Rhinoceros, a subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros that once was abundant in East Africa but has suffered due to decades of poaching.

Participating to the Black Rhinos watching activity will offer guests rare insight into the challenges of the Conservation Project, in particular how critically important it is to preserve the habitats on which rhino depend before protecting individual Rhino individuals and why human impact on these ecosystems needs to be monitored and controlled in order to assure a stable future in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem for this iconic species.

The activity has a cost and the money will go directly to sustain the Rhino Conservation Project, assuring the rangers will have the funds to continue to patrol and protect the animals 24/7, monitor them through the GPS devices, and the necessary equipment needed for their day-to-day duties, a lifetime dedication effort to save the species from the edge of extinction.

After a short briefing on how to behave in the field - and crucially how to turn off geo-tagging on phones and cameras in order to ‘hide’ the rhino locations - we embark with Rangers to track down rhinos in the field. We take advantage of the Ranger’s experience and intimate knowledge of these rare creatures to approach them with the barest of influence on their behavior. This rare and privileged experience is further enriched by the knowledge and experience of the Rangers who are tasked with escorting the Rhino on a daily basis and the scientific insight and knowledge of the field guides.

Tanzania has great appeal for families. Seeing animals is very exciting for children, and nothing can prepare a parent for the delight of watching their child’s reaction when they catch sight of a lion, giraffe or elephant for the very first time. Lemala Cubs offers our special guests under the age of 12, a range of wonderful opportunities to experience and enjoy the magic of the African bush. These activities are fun, educational and interesting, showing future generations the need for conservation of Africa’s wildlife, and keep kids well entertained while mum and dad relax.

A variety of treatments, tailored to suit your needs, are offered within the privacy of your cottage. Based on Maasai healing techniques, the naturally derived treatments draw from over 50 different indigenous plants and offer a complete sensory experience.

Enjoy swims in our 25m lap pool and a session of yoga with a view on the deck.

Through Gibb’s Farm’s artists-in-residence program, East African artists stay at the farm and create commissioned artwork. Meet some of East Africa’s most talented artists, learn about their influences and inspiration and watch them create their artwork, which is available for purchase.

Gibb’s Farm offers many different walks, depending upon your interests and desired activity level. Experience a real working farm as you explore our organic 10-acre fruit and vegetable gardens and 30-acre coffee fields.

Experience a one day wildlife safari, starting early in the morning in closed safari vehicles with pop-up roofs. A magnificent experience is sure to be had! Lunch is served picnic style, surrounded by the natural wonders around you as well as the exceptional wildlife, roaming freely, with which you share these extraordinary paradises.

This leisurely two-hour walk around our neighboring village of Tloma provides a personal look at Tanzanian village life.

Explore the back roads of the village by bicycle, or for the more adventurous, take a mountain bike day trip to Rhotia, an unforgettable way to experience rural Tanzania. 1.5 Hour Village Cycle Tour, 2.5 Hour Mountain Bike Adventure.

Ngorongoro Crater boasts more than 30,000 animals, in and around the crater, including lion, hippo, hyena, wildebeest, zebra, African buffalo and more. You will soon see why Ngorongoro Crater is considered to be among the world’s great wonders!

A delicious gourmet picnic on safari with farm fresh bread and produce tops the experience

Outing to Tloma, a nearby village, where you have the opportunity to meet a local family and learn about Iraqw culture and traditional ways of life. Discover the age-old process of making pots, try your hand at pounding grain and taste the local brew.

Visitors can donate a school desk, engraved with their own special message and personally deliver it to the school whilst staying at Gibb’s Farm. The material is purchased locally and our carpenters expertly build the desks to specifications after which they carefully engrave the guest’s message by hand. Guests are welcome to join our carpenters for an afternoon in the workshop and assist with

the crafting of the desks.

Meet the students and teachers at Tloma Primary School and learn firsthand about the successes and challenges of education in rural Tanzania.

On this two-hour hike through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will discover a magnificent waterfall and incredible “elephant caves” created by elephants digging up the earth to ingest the vitamin-rich soil. You may see buffalo, bushbuck, waterbuck and baboons, also attracted by the soil.

A 40-minute stroll through eight historic gardens with a horticulturist.

Indigenous Maasai healers lead you through the Ngorongoro Forest, where over 20 medicinal plants commonly used in Tanzania to treat health problems are described.

A Gibb’s Farm naturalist is your guide for this tranquil two-hour walk through the farm and into the Ngorongoro Forest. Discover more than 200 species of birds, dozens of native plants and trees, and an incredibly diverse array of wildlife.

After an early Breakfast, experience a guided drive to Lake Eyasi to meet a local Hadzabe tribe. Meet the family and learn about the culture and the traditional ways of living of the Hadzabe people. Hunt together with the warriors and taste the local brew.

Join the team for the early morning bread making ritual. What could be more fun than baking brea, and of course, sampling it hot from the oven?

Join in the laughter and banter as the chefs go about their daily ritual of harvesting fresh organic produce from our vegetable garden, to be enjoyed at lunch or dinner time.

Experience traditional coffee cultivation and roasting, just as it has been done for generations. Enjoy the aroma and taste of a cup of wonderful organic, fresh-roasted Arabica coffee each day at the main lodge.

The evening begins here for many guests, with a glorious sunset accompanied by a refreshing drink. Complementing the relaxed mood, our naturalists and traditional healer share stories about primates, Iragw culture, elephants traditional medicine, Maasai legends and tales of tribal folklore.