Tanzania: Ultimate Luxury Safari

Your A&K representative meets you at Kilimanjaro Airport and accompanies you to your boutique lodge, nestled in the beautiful tropical gardens of a coffee plantation.

After an early breakfast, fly from Arusha to the Manyara airstrip and drive to Gibb’s Farm. You may wish to explore the lush grounds of this working coffee farm or take a guided walk to the nearby waterfall, where you have magnificent views of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Return to Gibb’s for a tasty lunch made from local ingredients. Continue your journey through dense vegetation to your lodge, perched on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail and dinner at your stunning lodge. Steeped in romance, each of the stilted, handcrafted suites is adorned with sumptuous furnishings and graceful antiques.

Descend to the crater floor in a four-wheel-drive safari vehicle for your first exciting game drive. Up to 12 miles in diameter, the crater’s short grass prairies are an ideal haven for the animals you are likely to see: lions, elephants, hyena, wildebeests and gazelles. Even the rare and elusive black rhinoceros, one of Africa’s most endangered species, is a resident here. Bird lovers should look for flamingos and many other colorful birds. Pause for a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before continuing your game drive. Be on the lookout for Maasai herdsmen, longtime residents of the crater. Meet with a village elder who introduces you to his community and tells you about Maasai culture and traditions. Return to your lodge this evening for pre-dinner drinks around the campfire followed by dinner.

Travel via the outer slopes of the crater wall to Manyara airstrip for a morning flight to Singita Grumeti Reserves, where you are met and escorted to your lodge. En route, enjoy a short game drive.

Sasakwa Lodge, built to resemble a grand English manor home, is situated on the top of Sasakwa Hill, with awe-inspiring views over the Serengeti plains. Each private cottage is air-conditioned and features a bedroom, lounge with fireplace, a veranda, en suite bathroom and dressing area, guest bathroom, heated infinity plunge pool and wireless Internet access. While you are here, set out on game drives, go mountain biking, play croquet, engage in archery and visit the Equestrian Center for English or Western riding.

Enjoy a game drive en route to your next camp, arriving in time for lunch. Reminiscent of a bygone era, each of Sabora’s canvas tents features opulent furnishings with an antique travel chest, Persian rugs and silk curtains. The main area of the camp offers a dining room, lounge with satellite television, DVD player and library, elevated viewing deck and a heated swimming pool.

Spend a full day at Sabora, where you may choose to participate in a game drive, mountain biking, tennis or just relax at your camp. Singita Grumeti Reserves is located on the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park, which includes open plains, rocky outcrops, woodland and riverine forests. Due to the lack of fences, the game can migrate between the park and the reserve. After a busy day, you may want to pamper yourself with a spa treatment.

After breakfast, embark on a final game drive as you transfer to the airstrip for a flight to Arusha. Return to Legendary Coffee Lodge for lunch and use of a dayroom that is available until you transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your departure flight.

JUN 7-11: The jewel in Africa’s crown, Masai Mara is host to the most spectacular array of wildlife in an eco-system that supports huge numbers of birds and mammals. Enjoy three days of game drives and then in Nairobi, explore the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Center, and privately visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Sanctuary Olonana; House of Waine