Arriving in Kilimanjaro from London, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel situated on a working coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha. With gourmet meals, rejuvenating spa treatments and superb views of Mt Meru, it’s the perfect spot to recharge after your flight.
Stay: One night in a Garden Cottage at Legendary Lodge – full board
Today you will be transferred to Chem Chem Lodge, an exclusive property with an unbeatable location between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. An area that boasts a truly staggering concentration of wildlife. On game drives and walking safaris you can expect to see large herds of elephant, great lion prides, long-necked gerenuks, oddities like the fringe-eared oryx and up to 550 different species of birds. As well as excursions within Tarangire National Park, you’ll also spend time exploring Chem Chem’s private concession.
Stay: Two nights in a Double Tent at Chem Chem Lodge – full board
Your adventure now brings you to the Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping along the way for a picnic and a game drive through Lake Manyara National Park. You’ll be staying in a traditional guesthouse close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with great views over the Great Rift Valley.
It’s the ideal base for visiting the famous Ngorongoro Crater (the world’s largest intact caldera) with its abundance of wildlife that includes elephant, black rhino, hippo, lion, zebra, buffalo and antelope. As well as an impressive richness of game, the region is known for its spectacularly diverse landscapes and fascinating archaeological remains.
Stay: Two nights in a Garden Cottage at Gibbs Farm – full board
Just when you thought the game-viewing couldn’t get any better, you board a flight to the world-famous Serengeti National Park. If you arrive during migration season you can expect to be overwhelmed by the sight (and sound) of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle making their way across the Serengeti. A jaw-dropping migration thought to be the largest movement of land mammals on Earth.
You’ll be staying on a private reserve adjacent to the southern Serengeti, a sprawling wilderness home to lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, eland, impala, topi and countless birds. During your stay you will have the option to enjoy a variety of activities including day and night game drives, bush walks, picnics and cultural experiences.
Stay: Three nights in a Tented Suite at Mwiba Lodge – full board
You now set off to experience something entirely different. A short flight brings you to the serene island of Zanzibar, a historic gem cast into the shimmering Indian Ocean. You’ll spend four nights here at a luxurious resort in the midst of white sand and welcoming turquoise waters.
When you’re not relaxing in your private villa you can stroll along the beautiful beach, soak up some sun by the pool or indulge in a treatment or two at the spa. You’ll also have access to a wide array of outdoor activities, from sea kayaking and snorkelling to scuba diving, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding. Excursions to Stone Town, Prison Island and Jozani Forest can also be arranged.
Stay: Four nights in a Korongo Villa at Xanadu Villas – full board
It was a great experience and now I have dipped my toes in the Ultimate waters I shall be back for more.
- JE, October 2014
