Epic Active Tanzania

Once an old coffee estate, Rivertrees is now a charming country inn nestled in abundant foliage with the Usa River flowing by. Set in the foothills of Mt Meru, conveniently close to Kilimanjaro International Airport and a short drive to Arusha, its location proffers a wealth of natural wonders to explore. Comprising the original Farm House, an elegant River House, luxurious River Cottages and several beautifully appointed Garden Rooms, it also serves delicious garden-fresh cuisine in its stunningly set restaurant. The swimming pool and spa are tailored for relaxation, and friendly personalised service ensures a memorable stay, whether for a one-night stopover or much longer.

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Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

Credit: RivertreesCountryInnhttps://rivertrees.com/

The Expedition Camp is a true mobile camp, designed for the purpose of being able to be light weight, functional, easy to move and comfortable. Each tent has sleeping cots, a full set of bedding and pillows, mat and bedside tables, a wash basin outside as well as camping chairs. There are toilet and shower tents located between every two tents. The camp moves with you and is then put up at the location you find most appealing and here the crew build it, welcome you and cook wonderful food for you in true wilderness style. Activities include game drives, walking safaris and cultural activities.

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The Highlands redefines the Ngorongoro experience. Set on the edge of the mountain forest hugging the Olmoti Crater to the north of Ngorongoro Crater, The Highlands strikes a perfect balance between a true wilderness experience and a stylish, contemporary escape. Experience the highlands of the wild Ngorongoro Conservation Area surrounding the camp, home to buffalo, smaller predators, and majestic moorland scenery. Follow ancient Maasai trails to the rim of the Olmoti Crater and visit local communities to catch a glimpse into the traditional Maasai way of life that has defined this corner of East Africa for centuries. The famous Ngorongoro Crater is easily accessible from camp, while the setting ensures maximum privacy, a rich adventure, and a range of activities not possible elsewhere in Ngorongoro.

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The Highlands - Family dome

The Highlands - Family dome private dinner

The Highlands - Enjoying a whiskey on the terrace

The Highlands - dining tent

The Highlands - View from camp

The Highlands - Whiskey Bar

The Highlands - Lounge tent

The Highlands - Lounge area with a view

The Highlands

Double Tent - 2 pax Family Tent - 4 pax Honeymoon Tent - 2 pax

The Highlands has six large, luxury guest tents with fantastic views stretching to the Gola Mountains. The domes have the option of being twins or doubles with several having a mezzanine available for a third bed. The tents all feature king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms with separate flush toilet and double-headed plumbed shower. Each tent also has a wood burning fireplace and plenty of cosy blankets and rugs for warmth in the colder months.

The Highlands features one family tent specifically designed to accommodate two adults and two children. The main dome is a standard double with a covered walkway leading to a smaller dome with twin beds and en-suite shower room for the children.

The Honeymoon dome emphasises privacy, rest, and relaxation, with a king-sized bed, en-suite bathroom with a double headed shower, as well as wood burning fire place for warmth in the colder months. In addition, there is a seating area, large elevated deck, and an outdoor hot tub which looks out over the beautiful landscape of Ngorongoro.

Property Facilities

Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Malaria Free, Spa

Room Facilities

Balcony / Deck, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fireplace, Hair Dryer, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah

Services

Airport Shuttle (Complimentary), Credit Card, Room Service

Ngorongoro Crater Descent Olmoti Climb Empakaai Descent Community & Cultural Visits

Enjoy a game drive in one of the most game-rich areas in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater. Explore the vast 300km2 floor with an experienced guide and stop for lunch in a shady spot under the trees, maximising your time in this unforgettable landscape. Our seven-seater closed vehicles are fitted with power points so you’re able to charge your devices, as well as a fridge to keep your drinks deliciously frosty.

The Olmoti climb follows an ancient Maasai cattle trail through mountain forest, grasslands and rocky outcrops. Make the most of outstanding birding opportunities and the chance to see a vast array of butterfly species. At the top, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the crater below.

Descend into the Empakaai crater accompanied by an NCA ranger and walk to the sparkling soda lake on the crater floor, famous for the pink flamingo that congregate on its shores. Because of the camp’s proximity to Empakaai, it is the only property that gives you the opportunity to make this a half-day excursion.

Guests will have the opportunity to join a Maasai staff member on a visit to a local community. Many of our staff members are drawn from the surrounding communities and are always eager to share their experiences, providing a richer understanding of the culture that defines this corner of East Africa. Guests will be invited to a Maasai boma to gain an insight into the traditional cattle-herding practices and school visits will also be available depending on the time of year.

Serian’s Serengeti is a mobile camp, and its movement is governed by the wildebeest migration. From mid-June to mid-November, they – along with 1.6 million gnus – are situated in the far north of the Serengeti plains. The beauty of Northern Serengeti is it is the heart of the crossings, and in this respect, it is all about location. The camp is set a mere 2 kilometres from the Mara River, within minutes of the major crossing points. The camp strikes the perfect balance between colonial camping style, and elegant accents of comfort – home away from home, in the form of six spacious, lavish tents. Each is complemented by tasteful décor that lends a touch of sumptuousness to the interiors. The en suite bathrooms include a bucket shower and a flushing toilet – classic safari simplicity with a nod to life’s little comforts. Watching a crossing is something that is thrilling to the core: the intensity, the trauma and the sheer spectacle, is all-absorbing, and resonates on a deep and primal level. Hundreds of thousands of pounding hooves set the tempo, and the nasal grunting hits a frenetic pitch: creatures cease to be individuals and operate as a swarm, teeming unseeingly toward the water. The crush, dust and panic as they launch themselves in and struggle across the current – claimed by crocodiles and crushed by each other – epitomises the quintessential rawness of nature’s character. The cornerstone of a safari experience at Serian is that each group has their own open-top safari vehicle, and their own dedicated guide and spotter. The freedom this grants you is key to getting the most out of your stay: go where the day takes you, be it a full day out with a picnic in the wilderness, or a lazy siesta back in camp before that ice-cold sundowner… The guides have an intimate familiarity with the landscape, and will translate and render it until you see it through their eyes. Walking safaris are also a beautiful way to explore: set off with the first light in the company of Alex or one of the other guides, and tune into the whispering savannah silence away from the hum of a vehicle. As you ease into a slower pace, you’ll notice your senses picking up on the finer details: the intricate perfections of a skeleton, a map of secret paw prints, a microcosmic universe in a termite mound.

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From the Mara River

Wildlife photoography

Traditional safari tent

Traditional Safari Tents

Much like at Serian and Ngare Serian, life at Kimya Kimya is low key and tranquil. With all the creature comforts of a bush camp; leather and worn wood, swathes of cotton, cold beers, fireside barbeque and tinkling ice-laden GNT's.

By day, the living room is ideal for lounging and reading, lazy snoozing, playing board games or sorting through the day’s photos… In short, anything that entails spreading out and relaxing in a comfortable space.

Property Facilities

24-hour Security, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Malaria Free, Meal on Request, Private Vehicle Available

Room Facilities

Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Pure Cotton Linen, Shower, Verandah

Services

Room Service

Game Drives Early Morning Walks

The cornerstone of a safari experience at Serian is that each group has their own open-top safari vehicle, and their own dedicated guide and spotter. The freedom this grants you is key to getting the most out of your stay: go where the day takes you, without the limitations of fixed schedules, or fitting in with other peoples’ plans. Nothing but personal desire need dictate what you do.

Our vehicles are specially customised to be a climbing frame, and a photographer’s extra tool. They are comfortable, able to handle the terrain, and cover the distance…. And were designed for sun, rain, wind, and above all, the feeling of having as little as possible separating you from what’s out there.

Our guides and spotters are intimately familiar with these special places, so they know all its secrets and the ways the animals interact with it, from the subtle changes of the seasons, to the stages of an animals lifecycle, to the flora that sustains it all – they are the key that can unlock it all for you.

Although ‘Walker’ really is Alex’s surname, being born to such an identity turns out to have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. Spending his childhood days out on foot with his father’s trackers, then turning this into a full-time career as soon as he possibly could, Alex’s passion is walking, and it is without a doubt his preferred method of accessing the bush.

Walking safaris epitomise the golden chance to get away from the trails and beaten tracks, and immerse in the environment in a way that the noise and speed of vehicles don’t permit. Once you slow down, there’s a whole world that you never noticed before. The beauty of walking is that it engenders an appreciation of an ecosystem’s sheer perfection: every tiny element has its place, and plays its role.

Stripping away the layers between you and an untamed setting beckons forth your primal instincts: your hearing, sight and smell all sharpen in response – and your appreciation of what you perceive is heightened as a result.

In Serian’s Serengeti North, the focus is on the Mara River – water is always a concentration of so many life forms, and with the wildebeest crossing back and forth over it at this time of year, their effects on the bush, the predators and scavengers makes for fascinating exploring along the banks. We tend to steer clear of the herds though, as the idea is to steer clear of the crowds and vehicles – but this meander offers a combination of big game encounters, and beautiful countryside.

Serian's Serengeti North - Our Dining Table

After a day out in the silence, solitude and indescribable immensity of the bush, the ancestral ritual of coming together to enjoy fire and food caters to our innate appreciation for sharing.

We are social animals, and part of what makes things vivid and real to us is this capacity to share: the pleasure of dissecting your day, raking over the delicious details and unwrapping the delights over and again as you enjoy a meal, is what renders the evening perfect for digesting and processing the day.