After a leisurely breakfast, depart for the airport where a charter plane waits to wing you to Lake Manyara. Meeting you at the airstrip, your guide drives into Lake Manyara National Park, whetting your appetite for the adventures to come. Before long, you arrive in the grove of mahogany trees that cradles Lake Manyara Tree Lodge.

Staying at the only lodge within the park creates an exclusive and intimate experience, perfectly complemented by the lodge’s relaxed ambience. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge consists of ten delightful tree-house suites radiating from an elegant central lounge, bar and dining area. Open up the sliding doors of your thatched chalet and let the African sunlight pour in as you soak up the views.

Settle in for two nights, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives plus exciting night drives. A spectacular part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara’s rich variety of natural habitats are set around the soda lake, itself a haven for clouds of flamingos and other waterbirds. This is a paradise for birding enthusiasts! The forested valleys and open savannah plains support a large elephant population as well as giraffe, buffalo and many antelope species. There are fewer predators but topping the list are Lake Manyara’s lions, famous for their habit of climbing trees.

Bid the crater farewell and board your charter flight to the Serengeti. From the air, the legendary reserve unfolds below you, its vast open plains stretching towards a distant horizon. This is where the famed Great Migration takes place at certain times of year – over a million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate a vast circular route, following the rains to fresh pastures and the soft grass shoots that nurture their new born calves and foals. Driven by instincts as ancient as the Serengeti itself, the herds brave strong currents and lurking crocodiles to cross the treacherous rivers and face hoards of magnificent predators on the open plains.

Your home in this legendary place is Serengeti Under Canvas, a mobile tented camp that follows the migration. Traditionally elegant and as comfortable as any permanent lodge, Serengeti Under Canvas makes the most of its prime location on the Serengeti plains to deliver some of the best migration sightings in the region as well as excellent year-round Big 5 game viewing.

The three days at Serengeti Under Canvas provide plenty of opportunities to see why Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations. Morning and afternoon game drives – led by specialist guides – are the main focus of your daily activities while night drives, guided nature walks and hot-air ballooning (optional extra) add new perspectives to your Serengeti experience.

After an early morning game drive and last delicious brunch in camp, you embark on the journey home. Flying over this ancient landscape, you reflect on the spectacles you have witnessed: the humbling courage of wildebeest crossing a crocodile-infested river, the dreamy serenity of hot-air ballooning, the thrill of witnessing a hunting lion pride, and the joyful antics of zebra foals at play. All the sights and sounds of the Serengeti remain in your heart, transporting you back to the wide open sky and endless savannah.