Tanzania’s Serengeti & Zanzibar

8 NIGHTS / 9 DAYS

Safari Overview

Spend nine days in some of Tanzania’s premier destinations. Start your adventure in the most tranquil of settings in Arusha, the undisputed gateway town to the northern Tanzania safari circuit. Onsea House is nestled in an idyllic estate with lush, manicured gardens frequented by a variety of exotic birds – there are over 500 recorded species in the area. It is perched on a hill just outside of the town and offers breath-taking views of the Maasai Steppe and Mount Meru.

You then move to an intimate tented camp that follows the Wildebeest Migration across Tanzania’s flagship conservation area, the Serengeti National Park. Olakira Migration Camp spends several months in two different locations (southern and northern Serengeti) to ensure front-row seats to all the action. Depending on what time of the year you travel, you could see spectacular river crossings or catch the dramatic calving season. The Serengeti is home to the greatest concentration of wildlife on Earth and is a truly magnificent safari experience.

Finally, get whisked away from the action to a secluded, palm-fringed beach with powder-white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. Spend your last few days unwinding in the peaceful atmosphere of Matemwe Lodge’s private ocean-front bungalows on Zanzibar’s north-eastern coast. Explore the rest of the Spice Island on day trips to the historical Stone Town and Prison Island, and the fragrant spice plantations. Go snorkelling, scuba diving, sea-kayaking, sailing, or simply just soak up the sun beside the pool or in your hammock.

Highlights

Game drives in the magnificent Serengeti National Park
See elephant, hippo, giraffe and all the big cats year-round
Witness the dramatic Wildebeest Migration
Unwind in a secluded location in Zanzibar
Sensational views of powdery white-sand beaches and clear aquamarine waters
Easy access to Mnemba Atoll for superb diving an

Day to Day Itinerary

Our rates are per person sharing unless we note differently. Please treat all pricing as a guide only:

All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice.
Single supplements may apply.
Request a quote or speak to one of our African Safari Experts for the best, most current rates available.

Price from

$3,150

Per Person Sharing

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After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be transferred by road to Onsea House just outside Arusha. Receive a warm welcome from the friendly and professional staff, and step into your tranquil and comfortable room. Take a stroll through the gorgeous gardens in the estate, and enjoy a refreshing sundowner drink complimented by breath-taking views of the Maasai Steppe and Mount Meru. Do not miss the chance to savour a sensational meal prepared by renowned chef Axel Janssens, who studied at one of the most prestigious culinary schools in Europe and perfected his art at various Michelin-star restaurants.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight the Serengeti. From there, you will take a scenic drive to a mobile camp that follows the Wildebeest Migration throughout the year, Olakira Migration Camp. Settle into your spacious tented suite and get ready for a few days of Serengeti magic.

For the next couple of days, you will explore one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, renowned for its large population of lions and home to the biggest terrestrial mammal migration on the planet, the Wildebeest Migration. If you are staying at Olakira between June and November, you will be camping in the northern Serengeti’s Bolongoja region, a mere 300 metres (980 feet) from a Migration crossing point at the Mara River. Between December and March, Olakira moves south to Ndutu where you will enjoy superlative game viewing and witness the Migration’s birthing season (from about February).

Aside from the seasonal Wildebeest Migration, the Serengeti’s pleasant climate and abundance of resident wildlife – like buffalo, elephant, giraffe and all the big cats – make it is an excellent year-round game viewing destination.

Be touched by Olakira’s nomadic romance, the stamp of authentication for any safari camp. Cosy up beside the camp fire for a tipple and share safari stories while the chefs prepare your mouth-watering meal with organic produce from local farms.

Awaken to something extra-special on day four – an optional hot-air balloon safari. You set out while it is still dark for the natural launch site at Little Governors’ Camp. Follow the light of the burners as the crew gets ready for take-off. And then, as the balloon fills and rises, you are transported aloft in the secure basket below.

From your bird’s-eye vantage, you can watch the sun’s rays hit the plains below, wakening the animals of the Mara. It is a sublime and elegant way to see the reserve’s riches, giving plenty of opportunities for photos and video filming. The balloon floats at will, guided by gentle air currents. Keep watch for the majestic giants of the plains – the elephants – and the tall, intriguing giraffes with their impossibly long necks. And enjoy the incredible silence and stillness of flight. You come down to earth, to a freshly cooked champagne breakfast wherever you land, though your head may well still be in the heavens. Then take a game drive back to camp for some quiet reflection before lunch and more game viewing. Tonight there will be great tales to swap over the campfire.

If you opt not to join the ballooning, then you will have a wonderful morning game drive to see the same fantastic sights from eye level.

Stock up your stories with a dawn game drive before returning to camp for breakfast. Perhaps you shall spot an elusive leopard, preparing for a day of hunting ahead, its muscles stretching and flexing in anticipation. Your day follows the timeless rhythms of the park: before the sun hits its peak and the animals seek shade, it is time for another drive. Have lunch at camp and a rest in the heat of the afternoon, before venturing out again in the cooler mid-afternoon.

At night, you may well find yourself around the camp fire, telling tales of derring-do, or penning notes of adventure to enthrall your listeners another day. But let the night sounds serenade you, for tomorrow there is another expedition awaiting – perhaps a guided walk or an optional fly-in safari to Lake Victoria for fishing and bird watching at Mfangano Island Camp.

The sun creeps stealthily across the grassland, knocking softly on your door. Today you must take your leave of the king of the beasts. After a last, lingering lunch, you are transferred to the airstrip for a flight to Nairobi. Treat yourself to a final dinner before bidding farewell to your adventure. A transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport takes you to your flight home.