Tantalising Tanzania to the Spice Islands
Seasonal Information
Get to know the natural beauty of Tanzania on this trip like no other. Safari in some of the world’s richest ecosystems, like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater; experience the fizzing cultures of the historic Arusha and Zanzibar and end your adventure with three days of paradise in the Spice Islands. Every stop on this explorer’s itinerary is couched in its environment, seeking to minimise the distance between you and the natural world – while still affording a luxurious escape.
- White sands and seclusion at Kilindi, Zanzibar
- Living among the trees in the Tarangire wilderness
- Exceptional game viewing in the Serengeti
- Explore the crystal oceans of the Spice Islands
Touch down on day one in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania at the foot of Mt. Meru. A one-night stay among the famous leafy coffee plantations will give you time to recharge your batteries before your safari begins and, for the more curious, a chance to explore this fascinating cultural hub tucked alongside the mountain. Nearby Arusha National Park teems with wildlife like flamingos and giraffes. Arusha now is an important diplomatic city and capital of the East African Federation, while its history tells of German and British occupation that have shaped life there today. Explore the intriguing Natural History Museum or gain a first-hand feeling for the city wandering its thronging markets. Rest up in luxury at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Wake up and smell the (incredible) coffee, before moving on to Tarangire National Park. This lesser-known, but incredibly diverse area is home to the fascinating tree-climbing lions as well as a host of other characters that congregate on migration at the Tarangire river over the dry season. Tarangire’s lush marshes and baobab woodland make for a unique landscape and offer particularly good birding. Predators include leopards and cheetahs as well as the infamous honey badger and endangered African wild dog. And who could forget the spectacular concentration of elephants?
Ngorongoro Crater is your next stop and needs no introduction. Staying at the wonderful European-styled Elewana Manor at Ngorongoro, your visit is awash with natural charm. Make the most of your time in the world’s largest intact caldera exploring the land on game drives and bike trails. Giant tusked elephants roam the forest, the lion is king of the grassland and the swirling mists over the crater make it easy to feel as though you’ve entered another world. Keep your eyes open for flamingo and black rhino too! A view from the rim is an absolute must, while horse riding in a coffee plantation is a delightful way to become acquainted with your surroundings.
Arrive in the Serengeti for an experience at the heart of safari’s roots – and the heart of one of the world’s most impressive natural phenomena. Elewana Pioneer Camp whisks you back to the original safari expeditions of old, camping in resplendent tents in the height of luxury. This environmentally conscious location is also ideal for viewing the great migration that occurs every year, perched atop a hill surveying the vast plains of the Serengeti. Interact with the vibrant local Maasai villagers and get up close and personal with the Big Five.
Finally, Zanzibar is an island with much more to its name than its idyllic setting and inviting temperatures. A historical trade hub, its winding streets and alleys are alive with clues to the past and delight the senses with a cacophony of cultures and cuisines, hawkers and idlers. The arts scene is alive, with Zanzibar hosting its own annual international film festival and the city home to a flourishing music scene. European, Indian, Bantu and even Chinese influences are present in Zanzibari cuisine – be sure to sample local delicacies while out and about. Of course, it would be a waste not to enjoy the endless white beaches and warm blue waters that teem with life. The pavilions of Elewana Kilindi interweave the island’s gorgeous tropical plants and invite bare-foot intimacy with nature. Let Zanzibar wash away your worries in a true luxury island getaway.
Disembark for a warm welcome at Kilimanjaro Airport from an andBeyond team member who will transfer you to Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge. Your stay in a plantation suite will delight the senses, nestled within Tanzania’s largest coffee plantation. These spacious suites are resplendent with four-poster beds, a split-level seating area, and ceiling fans. Help yourself from the personal bar and relax by the open fire or sit on your private veranda and survey the charming rows of coffee bushes that populate the lodge’s grounds. The lodge is built around a glimmering pool, with a flourishing garden terrace ideal for slow lunches. The Grill Room whips up exquisite international fare, flavoured with local influences and cooked with fresh ingredients.
Arusha may be the gateway to safari in Tanzania’s national parks, but this vibrant town brims with plenty of energy, culture and history of its own. You’ll be hard pushed to decide how to spend a day – a tour of the magnificent coffee estate, perhaps? Or venture into Soko Kuu, the central market, for a sensory explosion. The aroma of fresh spices, beautiful Maasai handicrafts and striking textiles vie for your attention. Arusha’s Natural History Museum, meanwhile, is impressive and provides a fascinating insight into the German colonisation of the city as well as how archaeology in the area has been influential in our understanding of human evolution. Arusha National Park nearby has Africa’s largest giraffe population as well as offering canoe game viewing. The vibrant community of animals here is the perfect way to whet your appetite for the safari to come.
Recommended activities (at additional cost):
- Coffee Estate Tour
- Natural History Museum
- Arusha National Park
- Cultural Heritage Centre
Following a delicious breakfast, an andBeyond team member will take you from Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge to Arusha Airport for your flight to Kuro Airstrip in Tarangire. Your home for the next two days will be the spectacular Elewana Tarangire Treetops, in a spacious, open-fronted treehouse suite overlooking Lake Manyara. Fantastic views from your private deck are just the start. Natural material interiors make the suite feel like a part of the scenery, while modern design and features like ceiling fans, mosquito netting and a double shower ensure comfort and luxury. Lie back in the swimming pool and watch animals frolicking at the watering hole, then dine out beneath the stars before local Maasai dancers in a traditional boma. Soak up the perfect African sunset sipping on cocktails atop Sunset Hill and reconnect with yourself amongst the baobabs and marulas.
Venture out into the majestic Tarangire, where tree-climbing lions, olive baboons and a huge number of elephants are common game viewing. Wildebeest and zebra herds also populate the park, and an incredible number of bird species breed in Tarangire’s marshes. Dozens are visible even in the dry season. A guided walking tour lets guests get close to these, as well as the smaller species and the multitude of flora that grows in the bush. Feel the earth beneath your feet and become part of the landscape. Night game drives are also on offer at Treetops and make for a special outing with lesser-seen nocturnal species in action. This is also a common time for predators to hunt, while the air is cooler. Away from safari, a visit to a Maasai village to witness the Tang’oru Arsage ceremony is an exciting way to encounter the culture of the local people. A delightful lunch in the bush is an excellent way to spend the afternoon in this beautiful national park.
Recommended activities (at additional cost):
- Boma dinner
- Masai village tour
After breakfast, a team member will transfer you to Kuro Airstrip for your flight to Manyara Airstrip. Soaring over the Great Rift Valley promises breathtaking views. On landing an andBeyond representative will take you to Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro, your base for exploration for the following two nights.
The Manor at Ngorongoro is as individual as it is luxurious – and well-located to boot. Drawing on old-world Cape Dutch style, cottage suites provide the ultimate tranquillity among the lush, green foothills of Ngorongoro Crater. The manor encapsulates African hospitality and offers fantastic locally-inspired dining.
As well as game drives either in the Ngorongoro Crater or at Lake Manyara, included in a stay at The Manor is a unique way to explore your surroundings – on horseback. This trek through the neighbouring hills offers gorgeous views and a taste of life on the estate. The misty caldera and the world of wildlife within are, of course, the main attraction for most visitors. Game drives bring you up close and personal with the black rhino, elephant and lions that patrol the grasslands and forests of the crater, while bicycle trails offer panoramic views from the rim and exciting proximity to the wildlife on show. Ask your hosts about the chef’s special picnic, taken on the crater floor. A tour of the coffee estate and an excursion to a local Maasai village are also available. Revel in the beauty of the estate as you sip sundowners at the end of an adventure-packed day.
Recommended activities (at additional cost):
- Estate tour
- Maasai village tour
- Deep tissue massage
You will be taken to Manyara Airstrip after breakfast for your flight to Seronera Airstrip in the Serengeti. Here begins your adventure in one of Africa’s seven natural wonders and home to some of the most diverse ecosystems across the continent. Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp is perfectly poised, overlooking Moru Kopjes, Lake Magadi and the sweeping Serengeti Plains. No wonder it was listed in the Condé Nast Traveler reader’s choice awards in 2019 and 2020. Aside from incredible views of the migrating herds, Pioneer Camp is right at the heart of the park’s game-viewing areas. The camp treads lightly, using solar power and proactively engaging in sustainable practices. The tented accommodation evokes nostalgia for the mobile camps of old, but ensure the utmost luxury, with natural wood and leather furniture, copper bathroom furnishings and flushing toilets. The open-air, thatched-roof lounge is the ideal place to sip a drink in comfort while watching the world stroll by. Take your meals under the African sky and enjoy delicious lunches in the bush on safari.
On top of the phenomenal Big Five and migration access via game drives and guided bush walks, Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp offers a truly breath-taking experience – a Serengeti balloon safari.
Recommended activities (at additional cost):
- Serengeti balloon safari (must be booked in advance)
Wave goodbye to the team you’ve got to know at Pioneer Camp before being transferred to Seronera Airstrip for a flight to Abeid Amani Karume Airport. You will then be met for a transfer to Elewana – Kilindi Zanzibar.
Step into paradise as you enter the 50 acres of tropical gardens that make up Kilindi, dotted with the secluded pavilions that house guests. The ethos here is an embrace of nature, and this is channelled at every point – wooden shutters allow the open air to flow through your suite, carrying with it the sounds of the resident birdlife; private plunge pools afford relaxation in the surrounds of tropical plants and rainfall shower rooms open to a view of the ocean, letting guests bathe in undisturbed freedom. A discreet, private butler adds to the completeness of your surroundings, bringing meals to wherever tickles your fancy for a delectable dining experience. A large infinity pool at the main pavilion overlooks the cerulean waters of the Indian Ocean, with a ‘waterfall bar’ nearby to quench any afternoon thirst. The pristine white beach and alfresco terrace are two popular locations for dinner or evening cocktails.
Rejuvenate at the Kilindi spa, with a range of indulgent choices. Your stay includes kayaking and paddleboarding as the perfect way to enjoy the blissful waters, but for the adventurous there are plenty of other ways to make the most of the ocean. The coral reefs around Zanzibar are a diver’s paradise, while snorkelling excursions are a chance to look down through the crystal water over a rainbow of sea life. A sunset dhow cruise is a romantic end to a day in the heavenly spice islands.
The island of Zanzibar is an adventure in itself. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is home to Zanzibar’s rainforest and the rare Zanzibar red colobus. Gain an understanding of Zanzibar’s history at the world heritage site of one of the last open-air slave markets, Stone Town. Bustling markets beckon the curious, and stunning design can be seen everywhere from the teak doorways downtown to the museum of history and culture and the grand amphitheatre. Wander into bars like Africa House and revel in the coming together of cultures and stories, surrounded by the sounds and smells of the spice islands.
Recommended activities (at additional cost):
- Spa treatment
- Jozani forest tour
- Historical stone town tour
- Safari blue dolphin & snorkelling tour
- Island spice tour
- Dhow cruise
- Deep-sea fishing
After breakfast and a fond farewell, you will be transferred from Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar to Abeid Amani Karume Airport for your onward travel arrangements.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
Elewana employ an ethos of sustainability at their locations, often using solar power and power storage technologies and recycling as much as possible. They have eliminated disposable plastic bottle and straw usage from their locations, and employ the majority of their staff at many locations from the local communities they are based in. Food is sourced locally. All Tanzania properties have received either a “seed” or “sapling” eco rating from Responsible Tourism Tanzania, and Elewana are a full member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
- Meet and Greet service at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Accommodation as per the itinerary. Stay at Arusha Coffee Lodge includes breakfast. Accommodation at Tarangire Treetops, The Manor at Ngorongoro, Pioneer Camp and Kilindi Zanzibar includes all meals and drinks (expect for Champagne, private cellar wines and spirits).
- All private road transfers:
– Kilimanjaro International Airport/Elewana – Arusha Coffee Lodge
– Elewana – Arusha Coffee Lodge/Arusha Airport
– Kuro (Tarangire) Airstrip/Elewana – Tarangire Tree Tops
– Elewana – Tarangire Tree Tops/Kuro (Tarangire) Airstrip
– Manyara Airstrip/Elewana – The Manor at Ngorongoro
– Elewana – The Manor at Ngorongoro/Manyara Airstrip
– Seronera Airstrip/Elewana – Serengeti Pioneer Camp
– Elewana – Serengeti Pioneer Camp/Seronera Airstrip
– Abeid Amani Karume International Airport/Elewana – Kilindi Zanzibar
– Elewana – Kilindi Zanzibar/Abeid Amani Karume International Airport - All scheduled flights:
– Arusha Airport/Kuro (Tarangire) Airstrip
– Kuro (Tarangire) Airstrip/Manyara Airstrip
– Manyara Airstrip/Seronera Airstrip
– Seronera Airstrip/Abeid Amani Karume International Airport - Personal Travel Journal
- Park Fees and Tourism Development Levy
- Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
- Administration Fee
- International inbound and outbound flights
- Visa costs
- Vaccinations
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Additional travel requirements outside of included transfers
- Gratuities
Particularly suited to:
- First-time Africa travellers
- Wildlife enthusiasts
- Budding photographers
- Beach lovers
- Romantics
Suitable for ages 16 to 70
Elewana Kilindi operates a couples only policy, with a minimum age of 16. Families are welcome on a fully exclusive booking of Kilindi.
Seasonal Information
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