Travel by road to Katambuga House
Accommodation
Set in flowering gardens and surrounded by coffee estates, Katambuga House is a cosy lodge with 8 rooms situated in a green and tranquil setting on the western outskirts of Arusha.
Casually elegant, the cozy main house features a selection of original photography and African art. The main house has four bedrooms, each with its private bathroom. The adjacent two family cottages offer additional two interconnecting rooms each, all with its private bathroom. Large king-size beds or twin queen-size beds are available.
Most visitors spend one night here after arriving on their international flight before beginning their safari the next day. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located approximately one hours’ drive from Arusha on the road cmoing in from Moshi.
Arusha's most famous landmark is Mount Meru, a dormant volcano that rises more than 4,500 m out of the ground in the west. The Ngurdoto Crater is located on the other side of the park, and the Momella Lakes sit between.
Arusha itself has grown considerably in recent years and there are probably around 650,000 people living in the city. The population has increased tenfold since the 1970s! In addition to tourism, Arusha lives from the trade in coffee and agricultural products and also increasingly from the export of cut flowers. Arusha lies at an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level and the climate is quite pleasant with an average temperature of around 25° Celsius.
Travel by road to Arusha Local Airport
Flight to Swala Camp
Accommodation
Swala Camp comprises twelve spacious tents, all of which sit beneath shade-giving trees atop a slightly raised platform. Guests are offered the usual comforts of an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, sofa and large, comfortable bed. The rooms are decorated stylishly and boast elegant neutral-toned interiors, adorned with rich African textiles.
The main building, consisting of dining area and lounge, is arranged around a large baobab tree. The wildlife around the waterhole can be perfectly observed from the deck and from the open fire place. The whole camp is built in a clearing where single tall acacia and baobab trees provide shade for the many animals that seek protection in the midday heat.
Swala Camp is situated inside the National Park, in a quiet, wildlife-rich corner in the southwest of Tarangire National Park on the edge of Gursi Swamp, far from the tourist rush. The location of the camp provides guests with the unique opportunity to witness wildlife and explore the natural beauty of Tarangire National Park right from the start of their safari. Camps that are located outside the park need to pass the main gate each and every time they access the park, which minors the safari experience in our opinion.
Covering more than 2,600 km², Tarangire National Park comprises a well-frequented northern part and a relatively remote southern part, which is made up of alluvial plains during the wet season, giving way to large grassy areas during the dry season. Wildlife concentrations are fantastic from June to October, when, unable to find water elsewhere, animals from far afield gather at the Tarangire River. Wildlife is naturally more difficult to find during the wet season. Tarangire is best known for its large herds of elephant, and offers a very rounded safari experience when combined with the Serengeti.
Tarangire is a two-hour drive from Arusha. We recommend the small, intimate camps located within the park itself, as these offer direct access to the wildlife.
Flight to Songa Migrational Camp
Accommodation
Songa Migrational Camp is moved twice a year, always on the heels of the large herds of wildebeest and zebra. It is a particularly elegant tented camp with a great Out of Africa flair. In the cozy lounge tent you can browse through beautiful safari books, review your snapshots of the day or have interesting conversations. A campfire is part of the daily routine and whenever possible and desired, your private outdoor table will be set up under the stars.
The camp consists of two sides that operate independently, each with its own lounge and dining tent. One side includes six double rooms, the other side two double rooms and the family tent with two en-suite tents and shared lounge. The family side is suitable for private bookings and larger families traveling with children (possible from the age of 4 years).
We recall Bernhard Grzimek’s television series and his descriptions of the wildlife paradise that is the Serengeti. The endless grassy plains are deeply impressive and the Serengeti is without doubt one of the most attractive safari destinations in the world.
If you’re in the right place at the right time, it is possible to experience the huge herds of wildebeest (up to two million), with some half-a-million zebra and a couple of hundred thousand Thompson’s gazelle, impala etc… in tow – accompanied by a couple of hungry lion, hyena and cheetah. The spectacle reaches its pinnacle in the north of the Serengeti, when the herds cross the Mara River.
The Serengeti ecosystem includes the actual national park (approx. 15’000 km²) and the bordering protected areas; chief among them is the Maswa Game Reserve in the southwest, the Grumeti and Ikorongo game reserves in the northwest, the Maasai Mara in the north, and Loliondo and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the east. The plains in the south comprise for the most part treeless flatlands that stretch out to the horizon. Typically, the plains of the Serengeti are punctuated by tree-covered granite outcrops known as ‘kopjes’, which provide the perfect resting place and observation post for predators. The northern part of the Serengeti is hillier with more vegetation.
The majority of guests travel to the camps that are located in the area where the migrating animals happen to be. If you wish to be alone, then look for a camp where the migration is NOT currently passing through, or combine several camps. There is an abundance of wildlife everywhere, mainly cheetah, hyena, jackal, lion and leopard, which are somewhat more difficult to find. In addition to wildebeest and zebra, there is a good concentration of topi, Grant and Thompson’s gazelle, eland and kudu etc… Elephant and buffalo are also present, but not in great numbers. Rhino also live in the Serengeti, but are naturally very shy creatures and therefore difficult to find.
Flight to Namiri Plains
Accommodation Namiri Plains offers 11 safari suites with en-suite bathroom and outdoor bathtub. One of the suites is desiged as a family tent with an additional en-suite bedroom for the kids. The suites are located on slightly elevated platforms and are spanned by large canvas. The interior is solidly built with a wooden roof and stone walls on three sides. Sliding doors which run the full length of the room open out on a full-length viewing deck with lounge chairs.
Namiri Plains Camp is built on a little elevation with views over a permanently green swamp area that is fed by underground water of Ngare Nanyuki river. The presence of water attracts resident plains game in front of camp. The main area compromises a lounge, library, bar, dining area and a swimming pool. Of course the open fire place in front of camp and the mobilie bar that is placed outside is where guests meet before dinner to exchange stories.
We do like Namiri Plains for its remote location with the nearest camp over 45 minutes away. You may be excused for thinking that this stretch of the Serengeti actually does belong to you.
Namiri Plains is located where the southern short grass plains meet the acacia woodland. North of camp a beautiful fever tree forest contrasts with the endless plains of the Serengeti where there is hardly any trees growing.
Flight to Zanzibar
Flight to Pemba Island Travel by road to Manta Resort
Accommodation
Manta Resort has an elevated position overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Pemba Channel. It certainly has one of the best swimming beaches in the whole Zanzibar Archipelago and offers world class diving in a remote and mainly untouched environment. The Manta Team is seriously engaged in the protection of the underwater world and works with the local communities and the government through their Kwanini foundation.
Room types include the Underwater Room, 6 Sea Front Villas, 4 superior garden rooms and 4 standard garden rooms. The Sea Front Family Villa or one of the two beautiful Ocean View Double Villas are ideal for families. The Sea Front Villas sit in the front row and offer a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean, whereas the garden rooms are set back and and do not offer the same level of comfort and view but come at a lower rate.
The Seafront Villas boast a spacious and private open-plan design, with an extended balcony and plunge pool. The beds are equipped with an EveningBreeze cooling system that provides comfort and temperature control without noise at night. During the day (and night) it is best to leave the front windows open, allow the sea breeze in and listen to the gentle noise of the waves washing ashore. The Sea Front Family Villa consists of two en-suite suites and an extended pool area between them.
Both the standard garden rooms as well as the superior garden rooms have their own private garden with outside shower and a covered verandah at the front of the house.
The two Ocean View Double Villas were built for the ultimate in comfort and consist of two large suites with dressing room, bathroom and both indoor and outdoor showers. A living room with kitchen and a large table for up to eight people separates the two suites. The large outside terrace with 5m pool offers plenty of space to relax and enjoy the magnificient ocean view. Meals can be taken either in the main building or in the privacy of your villa.
Last but not least the famous Underwater Room, situated approximately 200m off shore floating above the Blue Hole, a circular gap in the coral reef that is 12 meters deep at high tide and is roughly 50 meters wide in diameter. The construction consists of the landing deck at sea level with lounge and bathroom, the top level which is like a roof top terrace, suited for sun bathing during the day and star gazing at night. And finally the underwater bedroom, surrounded by glass almost all around you, a truly immersive experience.
The main area has an elevated terrace where most meals are served. However the team is very flexible and your personal service fundi (host/butler) will also set a private table for you at the pool deck or at the beach for a change. In the evenings, the pool bar is an attractive place to start the evening with a cool drink, admiring the sun setting over the Pemba channel, before you proceed for dinner. The food at Manta is locally sourced and usually based on a three course dinner with a choice of a fish, meat or vegetarian option.
Travel by road to Pemba AirfieldFlight to Stone Town
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 14 nights. Min 2 guests. Minimum age 8 years. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Includes all transfers from Arusha to the hotels/camps to Zanzibar
- Katambuga House: Standard Room. Breakfast.
- Swala Camp: Standard Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Songa Migrational Camp: Standard Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, private vehicle / guide provided by the lodge.
- Namiri Plains: Standard Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Manta Resort: Sea Front Villa. All meals, drinks (beer, local spirits, house wine, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee), laundry service, one spa-treatment per person per day at the Kipepeo Spa. Included activities are kayaking, SUP and free use of snorkeling equipment. Excluded are diving, marine activities, excursions on the island and transfers from the airport to the resort
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