Sample itinerary - LUXURY RUAHA & ZANZIBAR

Discover urban living at its finest at Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, ideally located in the heart of the city's business district. This cosmopolitan gem offers a unique blend of pan-African style and professionalism, creating an oasis for both business and leisure travelers. It's just moments away from sandy Indian Ocean beaches, vibrant fish markets, craft bazaars, and delectable restaurants.

Amidst tropical gardens, this distinctive five-star hotel promises a warm welcome, vibrant experiences, and indelible memories. With a generous offering of 230 rooms, the hotel provides an abundance of options for your stay.

Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel is celebrated as one of Tanzania's most prestigious establishments, embodying the city's essence: diverse, stylish, yet remarkably relaxed and down-to-earth. It's a place where you can immerse yourself in the cosmopolitan charm of the city while enjoying the comforts and conveniences of a retreat, all set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean and the lively cityscape.

Built high on the escarpment in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, the upmarket Ikuka Safari Camp has commanding views of the park throughout the entire property. Located about a 20-minute drive from the best game viewing areas in the park, used by several of Ruaha’s camps, Ikuka stands out for its unique locations.

View our own short video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8duKDHOFyQI&t=1s

Opened in late 2016, Ikuka is one of the newest properties in the park, named after the area of Ruaha where it’s situated. It is managed by one of the owners Mark Sheridan-Johnson, an experienced safari guide and lodge manager in Tanzania. Ikuka's six open-sided rooms arestrung out along the escarpment, each with stunning views over the national park. Rooms 1-3 facing the sunrise and 4-6 facing the sunset. All have been beautifully designed and feature low walls, created from locally collected white quartz, and high thatched roofs to allow for a fresh breeze. A neutral colour scheme and the architect's [Neil Rocher] hallmark use of natural materials give the rooms a sophisticated look and a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Each room has a central tented area with a super king-size bed, surrounded by full-length cream curtains. Two rustic wooden lamps sit either side of the headboard and glass decanters provide fresh drinking water. On one side of the room you will find a comfortable dark leather sofa with a scattering of tasteful cushions and a low coffee table. The floor is covered by makuti matting, with shoots of mother-in-law's tongue growing through it. Combined with large quartz boulders, this creates added interest and helps Ikuka feel in keeping with its surroundings.

The spacious en-suite bathrooms have a good rainfall shower, flush toilets and twin stone washbasins with lovely views. A large mirror hangs on the back wall and Ikuka provides complementary toiletries by Inaya Zanzibar. The bathrooms are separated from the bedroom by a shoulder-height wall constructed from a wooden frame filled with quartz rocks. This looks stunning, and gives the entire room an open, airy feeling, but does limit privacy within the room itself. All rooms have a gas boiler to provide an almost inexhaustible supply of hot water.

Outside, a large wooden balcony, complete with director’s chairs and a hand-carved table, allows you to relax while taking in the panoramic views.

The central area is equally stylish. As with the rooms, its wood-and-thatch construction has been left open-sided to maximize the views – helped by a viewing scope that has been set up to spot game on the plains below. This space has been built around several trees and boulders that were left in place during construction and form a focal point. At ground level you'll find a number of comfortable leather sofas and low tables with coffee-table books. The dining area forms the focus for all meals, which are sociable occasions, with all guests dining at one large table. Up a set of steep stairs is a second relaxation area with plump, colourful cushions and a small library containing several field guides. The team at Ikuka were building a lovely new sleep out deck a few minutes from camp - that will make a nice adventure for two!

From the central area, a few steps lead down to a raised wooden veranda where guests can relax by a beautiful oval swimming pool, set out with shaded sun loungers, and enjoy more spectacular views. Attentive staff are on hand to offer drinks.

Safari activities at Ikuka centre around 4x4 game drives, mainly in the game-rich area surrounding the Mwagusi River. While out on game drives in 2021, we encountered several large herds of elephants and prides of lions, and three leopard sightings albeit brief encounters. No off-road driving in national parks!

Guided walks are also available for an extra cost of US$50 per person, and need at least 24 hours’ notice, so that the necessary park rangers can be arranged. The walks are usually led by Ikuka’s owner Mark, a highly experienced guide. You will typically head out early in the morning to learn about the tracks and signs of the bush and discover some of Ruaha's lesser-known birds and animals. You’ll then normally end with a full breakfast out in the bush.

Conservation Safari Company recommends Ikuka as a slick, personally managed lodge with good food and hospitality. The rooms are charming and original. The 20 minute drive up and down the ridge is a little tiresome after a while but all in all and fantastic camp. 

Rates include all meals, drinks and game drives - walks are additional.
 

Zuri Zanzibar is a luxurious, beach resort situated on Zanzibar's pretty north-west coast. This area of the island has a more steeply shelving coastline than Zanzibar's east coast, allowing you to swim in the sea throughout the day, and the west coast of Zanzibar also enjoys beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

The far north-west corner of Zanzibar has long had a reputation as a backpackers' hub, but this is changing, and Zuri is certainly far removed from the low-budget market.

The hotel was designed by award-winning architects Jestico and Whiles, and is a member of Design Hotels – their only property in Zanzibar. The hotel has been thoughtfully designed throughout, combining 21st-century elegance with environmentally friendly architecture, taking inspiration from Zanzibar’s landscapes and people. Zuri has been awarded a gold rating from EarthCheck which recognises the resort’s commitment to sustainability, and its work to reduce its environmental footprint and improve its social impact.

With 55 bungalows, two suites and two villas, the resort is relatively large, and though it was completely full when we visited it didn’t feel crowded.
 

• The 55 bungalows are split in to four different categories: Garden, Zuri, Ocean and Ocean Jacuzzi. These are then split into smaller groups, named after local spices, to help with orientation and to create a more exclusive experience. The bungalows, although set relatively close together, are surrounded by mature foliage and feel very private. There is an emphasis on wood and other natural materials, resulting in clean and fresh interiors.
  
  The Garden Bungalows are set in the tropical gardens; the Zuri Bungalows have partial ocean views; the Ocean Bungalows have full ocean views; and the Ocean Jacuzzi Bungalows have private whirlpool baths. In design terms, the bungalows share a similar style, with a wraparound veranda and en-suite bathroom with an outdoor rain shower. Inside are all amenities of a high-end resort, with an evening-breeze overbed air-conditioning system, tea- and coffee-making facilities, satellite TV, and WiFi throughout.
• The two suites offer an even higher level of luxury. In addition to the amenities found in the bungalows, both suites come with a separate living area, a large deck and a spa pool as standard. The Zuri Suite has a partial ocean view whereas the Ocean Suite directly overlooks the spectacular, palm-fringed beach.
• If you’re looking for a more exclusive experience then you might consider one of the villas: two-bedroom or three-bedroom. These offer space and privacy, with your own lounge, kitchen, outdoor space, and an area of private beach.

The focal point of Zuri Zanzibar is the 32-metre infinity pool, surrounded by a wooden deck dotted with sunloungers and overlooking the ocean. There’s a pool bar and a restaurant here serving European, Zanzibari and fusion cuisine.

Alternative dining options include the Beach Restaurant and Bar which is open all day for light meals and is also open to non-guests. The main Upendo Restaurant has live cooking demonstrations and is next to the Peponi Bar, which has plenty of soft seating. Near reception, the Zuri library has an impressive array of books and more than 500 DVDs available for loan.

For ultimate relaxation the Maua Wellness spa offers a wide range of treatments including facials and pedicures, from its three massage rooms. There’s even an in-house hairdresser. Group and private yoga and meditation sessions can be arranged on Zuri’s yoga deck, on the beach or in the garden. And if you’re feeling energetic, you can pay a visit to the outdoor fitness area.

The 300-metre white sand beach at Zuri shelves steeply enough to mean you can swim at all stages of the tide. There’s an on-site watersports and PADI diving centre, which hires out snorkelling equipment, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The centre also books sunset sailing excursions on the Zuri boat and snorkelling trips over the colourful coral reefs near Tumbatu Island.
 

It is great to see a high-quality resort hotel in this area of the island. With a stylish, contemporary design and relaxed beach vibe this is a good choice if you're looking for a larger hotel with plenty of on-site facilities and opportunities to swim at most stages of the tide.