Tantalising Tanzania to the Spice Islands

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.