Our Africa Safaris

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Our Africa Safaris provides tailor-made, luxury safaris in Tanzania. We customize your Tanzania safari package to fit your needs, interests, budget and time. East Africa is the home to Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, covering over 10,000 square miles in Tanzania and Kenya, and home to the ‘great migration’, the largest and continuous movement of Wildebeest herds in the world and home to the ‘Big Five’… leopard, lion, African buffalo, black rhinoceros and elephant. Here, in this vast land, you will traverse rivers, miles of grass plains, hills and woodlands. Tanzania is home to over one hundred ethnic groups rich in culture and history, such as the Maasai tribe, a nomadic people, herders and traders. Tanzania is also home to the Ngorongoro Crater, a world heritage site and one of the natural wonders of the world and largest intact volcanic caldera on earth, offering views of Rhinos, Warthogs, Cheetah, lions and more!

Arusha

Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania and the capital of the Arusha Region. The city of Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a temperate climate. The city is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro and The Arusha National Park on Mount Meru terrains. Arusha is the gateway to your safari adventure.

Lodges and Camps in the Arusha

Mount Meru Resort

Mount Meru Resort is a five star property. Its position at the foothills of Mount Meru offers vistas of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. The resort lies on nine acres of lush terrain and offers an array of room categories together with several restaurants, bars, fitness center, spa services and a golf course nearby.

African Tulip Hotel

The African Tulip is a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Arusha. Accommodation consists of twenty nine spacious rooms, beautifully decorated to showcase African style, texture and color. The hotel offers a Restaurant, Lounge, Business center, Pool and gift shop.

Serengeti

The Serengeti is one of the world’s most spectacular eco-systems hosting the wildebeest migration with 1.4 million (current census) individuals. No matter which African country your safari is focused on, consider an extension to the Serengeti in Tanzania to view the world’s largest mammal migration. Simply put the Migration is an annual search for food and water and during the year three exciting events occur within the herd and in different locations. The Migration is a far more complex movement than what you may read in books and our specialists understand the variables and plan your time in the Serengeti accordingly.

 

Green Season

  • Defined as November- June
  • Covers the period of time that the big herds are moving from the northern Serengeti to the central and southern Serengeti for the calving season and later on the re-breeding of the herd.
  • Calving and Re-breeding (Rut) are two of the three major events during the Migration
  • Calving can begin as early as the end of December but with normal weather patterns it usually begins the middle of January and lasts through the end of February. An astounding 80-90% of females give birth during a 3-week peak within that time frame with approximately 400,000 calves being added to the herd.
  • Calving occurs on the southern plains where the short-grass habitat is rich with the minerals needed to produce good lactation
  • The Rut occurs approximately 3 months after the calving and begins around the time of the full moon, either in May or June.
  • The location of the wildebeest are influenced and determined at times by rain clouds. So their movement can be sporadic and dramatic at times and having unlimited daily mileage on game drives is essential to maximize wildlife opportunities
  • During this time of the year, an extension would include nights in the southern and central Serengeti
  • Predator prey activity is at a peak in these areas so lion, cheetah, leopard are abundant. Elephant, cape buffalo, zebra, gazelles of all kinds, antelopes are seen in large numbers as well.

Dry Season

  • Defined as July-October
  • Covers the period of time that the big herds are massing in the northern Serengeti , especially around the Mara and Sand Rivers
  • This is the time of the famous river crossings- the third major spectacle of the Migration
  • The majority of the wildebeest herd (70%) remains in the Serengeti rather than cross into the Maasai Mara in Kenya due to the Mara’s shrinking habitat (agriculture and pastoralism).
  • There are approximately nine areas of the Mara River that herds prefer to cross at
  • The rolling hills and open grasslands are spectacularly beautiful and are also home to many resident animals. Large herds of eland, elephant and cape buffalo are often seen. This is also considered excellent leopard habitat as well as home to a number of lion prides and cheetah.
  • During this time of the year, an extension would focus on the Mara River but it is recommended to include the central Serengeti as well. Cats do not migrate with the herds but maintain their territories so the huge number of lions and cheetah in the central Serengeti need to actively hunt all day for dwindling prey. It is also the time of the year lions can attempt more dangerous kills such as elephant, giraffe, hippo.

Lodges and Camps in the Serengeti

River Camp

Close to the Mara River, this gracious camp offers eight tents, tastefully decorated, surrounded by acacia trees. Its location is ideal for viewing wildebeest river crossings during the dry season from July to November.

Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge

Best month to visit this lodge is June through November. The lodge consists of ten luxurious suites. Perched on a hill and surrounded by kopjes or small hills, the camp offers lovely views of the Serengeti plains and is a thirty minute drive from the famed Mara river, where predators await the herds as they cross the river.

Serengeti Bushtops

Situated in the Wogakuria region of the northern Serengeti, Serengeti Bushtops, a permanent tented camp, offers fourteen stylish, spacious tents, raised on wooden decks overlooking the bush with uninhibited sunset views. Close to the Mara river, this is the best area to be from June to November to view the spectacular wildebeest river crossing.

Sametu Camp

Surrounded by abundant wildlife and situated on the eastern side of the Seronera valley, Sametu Camp offers eight spacious tents in a secluded and pristine wilderness area. The Ngarenanyuki River meanders close by as rhino, leopard, lion, giraffe, cheetah and elephant abound.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Four Seasons Safari Lodge is the largest property in the Serengeti, offering seventy two spacious rooms and five suites. The suites overlook a watering hole where large herds of elephants congregate. The lodge is located close to the Seronera Valley, home to giraffe, hippo, warthog, leopard, lion and other permanent wildlife.

Mbuzi Mawe Tented Lodge

Located in the central Serengeti, Mbuzi Mawe tented camp offers sixteen en-suite tents, situated in the shady areas under beautiful Acacia trees. March and April the herds are heading north, during November to January they are headed south, this wildebeest migration period is spectacular at Mbuzi Mawe. Year round klipspringer antelopes are spotted.

Tarangire

The beauty and wildlife of Tarangire National Park is often overshadowed by the identity of Serengeti National Park, but if you are traveling between June and the end of October, the peak season for this national park on the northern circuit should not be overlooked. Tarangire is most famous for its elephant migration which begins in June when more than 3,000 migratory elephants from the surrounding Conservation Land move into Tarangire to join the 3,000 resident elephants for water in the Tarangire River and nearby wetlands. Tarangire is located 75 miles southwest of Arusha and far from the Serengeti Plains but offers viewing of elephant herds as large as 300-400 individuals at a time. In addition, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, Cape buffalo, impala and many other antelopes move into the park for grazing in the wetlands. Rock pythons exit the wetlands to avoid being trampled and join the lions and leopards in the trees while waiting for their next meals. The wildlife is matched by the beautiful scenery of Tarangire National Park, the large baobab trees, date palms, old termite mounds rising 8-12 feet, and more than 550 recorded species of birds. In fact, Tarangire has the largest number of breeding species of birds in any one habitat anywhere in the world.

Lodges and Camps in the Tarangire

Sanctuary Swala Lodge

Swala camp offers twelve secluded, permanent tents, each with a sizeable living area and spacious deck. Acacia trees are abundant in this region, and during the dry season the Tarangire River is the lifeline to herds of elephant, kudu and oryx. Game viewing is excellent and to add to the beauty of this region, the succulent Baobab tree grows, icon to the African savannah, known as ‘the Tree of Life’.

Kikoti Tented Lodge

Kikoti Tented Lodge offers sixteen elevated, tented cottages with striking views of the hills. Kikoti lies six kilometers from Tarangire National Park and is well suited for walking safaris. Positioned in the Maasai plains , wildlife such as leopard, giraffe, wild dog, elephant, buffalo and oryx are plentiful.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, is more than 8,000 square kilometers of land stretching from the Ngorongoro Forest Reserve to the southern, eastern and northern boundaries of the Serengeti National Park. The Crater is the crown jewel of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and is where your safari is focused. The NCA was established to manage and integrate conservation, indigenous people, tourism, research and archeology. The Crater itself is home to a large, relatively consistent population of wildlife which benefit from the year-round access to water and grassland on the Crater floor. Referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. Highlights of the Ngororongoro Crater are:

  • A relatively self-contained population of wildlife including all major predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. The only mammals that are not found on the Crater floor are giraffe, impala and large calf and cow herds of elephants.
  • The Crater is one of the best locations for viewing black rhino and the very large, old bull elephants that live on the Crater floor.
  • Opportunities to visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous archeological discoveries as well as learning about the Maasai culture.

Lodges and Camps in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is spectacular and romantic! Each suite is built of mud and thatch with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the majestic Crater below. Without a doubt the lodge gives one a sense of a bygone era as your personal butler attends to your every need! The Crater symbolizes the ‘Garden of Eden’ and stretches from the Rift Valley to the Serengeti, some 8,300 square kilometers and is world’s largest unbroken caldera. Approximately 25,000 large animals live in the crater and has one of the densest known population of Masai or Crater lions.

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Close to the Ngorongoro Serena lodge lies the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ , the prehistoric Olduvai Gorge site. This unique safari lodge offers seventy five rock-built rooms, offering magnificent panoramic balconies and expansive terraces for sweeping views of the crater floor. Together with its Rock built dining room and bar this luxury lodge encompasses the breathtaking beauty of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than three thousand square miles of pristine African wilderness. The rooms are decorated with cave paintings. The lodge offers daily game drives into the Crater.

Lions Paw Camp

Lions Paw Camp is located at the upper eastern part of the Crater’s escarpment and offers eight heated tents. From this high altitude the views of the Crater floor are superb. There is a canvas pavilion that serves as the main gathering area for the camp’s guests. From here they enjoy a wonderful campfire, sundowner meeting place and dining area.

Gibbs Farm

Gibbs Farm is a 1929 farmhouse. Today this peaceful haven offers a selection of seventeen comfortable cottages, inclusive of indoor and outdoor showers, fireplace and private verandah. Each cottage is superbly decorated. Gibbs farm is the oldest guest house in northern Tanzania, offering a restful and quiet retreat inclusive of healthful food, natural environment and natural beauty.

Lake Manyara

Over millions of years Lake Manyara was formed as a result of the Great Rift Valley which widened and eventually formed this lake. Large amounts of salt and minerals accumulated, causing salty lake waters. Due to the large amount of Algae, fish flourish in these waters together with a multitude of birds, well over three hundred species. Pink flamingoes in their masses congregate at the water edge to feed on the blue green algae that thrive in thesw shallow waters.

Lodges and Camps in the Lake Manyara

The Manor at Ngorongoro

The Manor at Ngorongoro is situated in north west Tanzania and offers ten luxurious cottages. It is located next to the Ngorongoro conservation area, within a fifteen hundred acre Arabica coffee estate. The Manor is resonant of an elegant Cape Dutch country farm house. The manor consists of eight cottages comprising of two guest rooms per cottage and plus a private family villa, consisting of two additional bedrooms with additional living space and a loft.

The Plantation Lodge

The Plantation Lodge is a working coffee farm and a beautiful place where many couples choose to get married. Enjoy the manicured gardens and green lawns. It is a place of great relaxation. The lodge consists of seventeen rooms, some larger than others for families. The lodge is very close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara national park and the town of Karatu.

Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean located off the coast of Tanzania. It consists of two main islands; Unguja (commonly referred to as Zanzibar) and Pemba, along with 51 other surrounding small islets. Zanzibar has many things to offer, including historic and architectural sites whose Arabic and Swahili cultural influences can be seen while wandering through the narrow streets and alleyways of Old Stone Town, a World Heritage Site. One of Zanzibar’s main industries is spices; producing cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper. In fact, visitors can not only tour one of the spice plantations located just outside of Stone Town, they can also learn about their uses in cooking, cosmetics and their value in treating many ailments. The island is also rich in natural wonders, from the Jozani Natural Forest Reserve, home to the rare Red Colobus Monkey, coral reefs that are ideal of diving enthusiasts and snorkeling as well as brilliant white sandy beaches that are the perfect place to relax, sun-bathe and observe the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean dotted by picturesque traditional dhow fishing boats. Except for April and May when the southwest monsoons arrive, Zanzibar is an all year round destination.

Lodges and Camps in the Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Zanzibar Serena Hotel is situated in Stone Town, on the sea front of the ‘Old Town’ of Zanzibar City. It is positioned on the western side of the island of Zanzibar in two beautifully restored buildings. There are many activities offered such as Dhow trips, Turtle and Humpback whale watching and water sports at their exclusive beach club.

Baraza Resort & Spa Hotel

Located along the Bwejuu – Paje beach, Baraza Resort and Spa is a five star, all inclusive property, offering thirty beautiful villas. A mixture of Swahili, Indian and Arabic design. The name Baraza means “meeting place” and represents community, social interaction, and relations.

&Beyond Mnemba Island

&Beyond Mnemba Island is a barefoot beach paradise off the northeast coast of Zanzibar. This beautiful tropical and peaceful island offers relaxation, white sands and calm ocean breezes. This is a scuba divers paradise and also includes sea kayaking, snorkeling, beach massages, fly-fishing, paddle boarding and deep sea fishing. Accommodations are just ten ocean front bungalows.

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