Day 1
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, an Asilia guide will meet you with a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, a bottle of water, and a cool towel. Transfer time is approximately 35 minutes to Rivertrees Lodge, or 50 minutes to Lake Duluti Lodge, allowing for a chance to chat with your driver about the local surroundings as you acclimatise to Tanzania.
Depending on your time of arrival, relax by the pool with a cold drink and good book, or enjoy a massage to remove any post-flight tension. In-house dining at either option offers a wide selection of local and international cuisine, ensuring all taste palettes are satisfied before turning in for a good night’s sleep.
Day 2
After a delicious breakfast, you will be met by your Asilia driver or driver-guide, depending on the itinerary you have chosen. The driving safari will take you through the bustling town of Arusha before heading in a westerly direction, passing small settlements and perhaps a trading market. When passing through the small town of Mto wa Mbu, look out for bicycles laden with large clusters of bananas. A game drive through Lake Manyara National Park offers an immediate immersion into the bush and wildlife of Tanzania. The park centres around a large alkaline lake which attracts a variety of birdlife throughout the year, including greater and lesser pink flamingo between November and April, as well as pelicans, storks, herons and the flightless hippo. On the grassy plains and amongst the acacia woodlands, keep an eye open for lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. Enjoy a picnic lunch a cold drink in the shade, before continuing your journey towards Ngorongoro.
From here, the road begins to climb and the elevation changes as you ascend the steep walls of the Great Rift Valley, through the town of Karatu and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The steep road ascends the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater through lush and dense tropical jungle, until you arrive on the crater rim road with a spectacular viewpoint over the crater. If the weather is clear, this is a mandatory stopping point for photographs and the opportunity to stretch the legs. Heading in a clockwise direction around the crater rim, make your way almost to the opposite side and into the welcoming space of Entamanu Camp.
If you have chosen the upgraded flying safari, your driver will transfer you through Arusha town to the small, but busy, Arusha Airport. The hub of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, this airport is a constant hive activity throughout the daylight hours. It’s a short flight to Manyara Airstrip where you will be met by a safari guide from The Highlands. Enjoy the scenic drive up and out of the Great Rift Valley, following the same route as the driving safari until reaching the viewpoint. From here, your journey takes you in an anti-clockwise direction around the crater rim, eventually heading away from the crater rim and into the green rolling highlands of Ngorongoro. Pass by goat herders and waving school children as you circumnavigate the base of Ol Moti Crater, arriving on its northern slopes and the warmth of The Highlands. There’s a late lunch waiting for you with the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure to enjoy the views from your veranda.
Day 3
It’s an early start to the day as you aim to be amongst the first cars on the crater floor. It’ll likely be cold and dark when you depart from camp, bundled under warm jackets and Maasai blankets. However, the cold is quickly forgotten as you begin your journey down the inner walls of the unbroken caldera that is the Ngorongoro Crater. Once on the crater floor, there’s time for coffee and some breakfast snacks to see you through the morning, whilst enjoying the game drive experience in this unique location. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed alongside the hippo pool, where grunting rafts of hippo will keep you company whilst you refuel. By mid-afternoon, it’s time to start the return journey up the walls of the caldera to the rim, and onwards back to camp for a chance to freshen up and enjoy a drink in the bar before dinner.
Day 4
The drive from the crater rim down through the changing vegetation into the open short grass plains of Ngorongoro and the Serengeti is a beautiful introduction to the “southern plains”. However, it is a long drive and it can be dusty when vehicles pass in the opposite direction. At Naabi Hill Gate, where you’ll stop to arrange park fees, find a cool spot under the trees to enjoy your picnic lunch, then stretch the legs with a quick walk up Naabi Hill to take in some of the best views of the Serengeti – especially when the Migration is in the south. From here, it’s approximately 2.5 hours to Dunia Camp, but this depends on how much wildlife you see along the way. Arriving at camp in the mid-afternoon, there is time to relax, freshen up and take in your new surroundings.
If you are flying to Mwiba, you’ll depart from The Highlands after an early breakfast and slowly drive back around the crater rim and down the escarpment to Manyara Airstrip, to connect with your short flight to Mwiba. On arrival at Mwiba Airstrip, you will be met by a guide and welcomed to the wildlife reserve before embarking on your game drive transfer to the awaiting luxury of Mwiba Lodge. After a cold drink and lunch in camp, there is a chance to relax by the pool and settle into your new surroundings before embarking on an afternoon game drive.
A sumptuous dinner in camp brings the day to a close and the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of the surrounding bush from the warmth and comfort of your bed.
Day 5-6
From Dunia Camp, your guide and private vehicle offer you the flexibility to structure your game drives however you choose. Head out at 06h00 with coffee and a packed breakfast to make the most of the morning before returning to the camp for lunch or take a picnic lunch as well and spend the full day taking in the sights and sounds of the Serengeti. For a different perspective of the landscape, book a hot air balloon safari and take to the skies for a unique and truly memorable sunrise experience. From Mwiba, there is the additional option of exploring the wilderness on foot with a professional walking guide, or perhaps the lure of the spa will be too much to resist. Mwiba also offers the option of a night game drive and the chance to see some of the lesser spotted species not normally seen by day. If an afternoon in camp is needed to rest and recharge, there are plenty of comfortable spots in both Dunia and Mwiba where one can simply relax and absorb the moment.
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Day 7-9
After a final breakfast in camp, make your way towards the airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar. The plane will likely make a few stops along the way as it picks-up and drops-off passengers at selected airstrips, eventually arriving in the early afternoon. A packed lunch will have been supplied by the camp to ensure you are fed along the way. On arrival, you will be met by a representative from Zantours for your private transfer to the lodge of your choice. Kick off your shoes, test the hammock or find a suitably refreshing cocktail as you settle into the rhythm of island life.
During the days, there is the option of simply relaxing by the pool and catching up on a good read or lounging in a hammock and listening to the sounds of the waves. If more physical stimulation is required, Matemwe offers kayaks and guided reef walks, or a guided walk through the nearby village. Snorkelling trips amongst the coral of the Mnemba Atoll can be arranged through reception. At Zawadi, there is a gym and a tennis court on which to stretch the legs as well as kayaks and snorkelling equipment to enjoy in the sea.
From either Matemwe or Zawadi, there are a multitude of activities to enjoy on Zanzibar Island. A romantic lunch on your private sandbank, “Infinity Island” is a must for couples looking to do something different. Or perhaps a walking tour of Stone Town to marvel at the intricately carved doors and explore the narrow pathways through the melting pot of architectural influence. Whatever your interests, there is plenty to see and do on this beautiful island.
Day 10
A representative from Zantours will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Zanzibar International Airport for your connecting onward travel.
