Wings over Tanzania
Don't miss out on this amazing and luxurious flying safari, offering you less time on the road between the parks and more time spent watching the wildlife, and then on to Zanzibar!
Don't miss out on this amazing and luxurious flying safari, offering you less time on the road between the parks and more time spent watching the wildlife, and then on to Zanzibar!
This safari takes you to some of the most prestigious lodges in northern Tanzania’s core parks of Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti, including a trip to Lake Manyara and four wonderful days in Zanzibar. You'll visit each of these parks in luxury as you fly over the dramatic landscape on board your light aircraft, which offers 9 club-class seats and is outfitted with a coffee station and bar.
Itinerary
| Day 1 - Arusha | Meals: L D |
This 5 Star Group Tour takes you from park to park in a luxuriously-fitted light aeroplane. The small group you will be travelling with will range in size from a minimum of two to a maximum of nine and, of course, all accommodation is individual and private. Your tour begins when you arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport and are transferred to the comfortable Arusha Coffee Lodge. Set on the outskirts of Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania, the lodge is situated in the heart of the country’s largest coffee plantation area. This boutique hotel lodge has been designed around the farm's original plantation home and radiates the inviting warmth of the historic plantation homes. Luxurious accommodation, fine cuisine, and roaring fires welcome the traveller. The Arusha Coffee Lodge is the perfect place to relax ahead of your safari.
Accommodation: Arusha Coffee Lodge
| Day 2 - Arusha to Tarangire National Park | Meals: B L D |
Today you'll wake up to the glorious sound of birdsong. After a delightful breakfast there will be an opportunity to go on a tour of the coffee estate followed by an alfresco lunch in the garden. After lunch you will be driven to Arusha Airport to board the Executive Grand Caravan airplane that will fly you to Kuro Airstrip in Tarangire National Park. Upon arrival the Tarangire Treetops team will meet you and take you on an afternoon game drive in Tarangire National Park en route to Tarangire Tree Tops Lodge. The lodge sits alone in a private game reserve bordering Tarangire National Park and the Masai Steppe amid rolling, baobab-studded hills with views to Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley wall. Tarangire Treetops has a magical and exotic feel, and exudes a timeless essence, with its majestic tree-filled gardens reminiscent of days gone by.
Accommodation: Tarangire Tree Tops
| Day 3 - Tarangire National Park | Meals: B L D |
After breakfast we will spend the day game in Tarangire National Park, which hosts the greatest concentration of Tanzanian wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem – a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx can be seen quite often. Lunch is taken in one Tanzania’s loveliest picnic locations, overlooking an evergreen swamp dotted with elephants as you enjoy some delightful bush-inspired cuisine. Those who enjoy bird spotting will want to keep an eye open for screeching flocks yellow-collared lovebirds, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania. You will have the opportunity to go on a game walk in the private concession followed by sundowners atop Sunset Hill and an opportunity to see the nocturnal animals of Africa on a night game drive. After the night drive we'll arrive back at the lodge in time for dinner.
Accommodation: Tarangire Tree Tops
| Day 4 - Tarangire to Karatu (Ngorongoro Highlands) | Meals: B L D |
Today, after a leisurely breakfast, we will depart on a morning game drive in search of more animals. In this way we will spend the morning, cameras and binoculars at hand, spotting many of the denizens of Tarangire with the help of our knowledgeable guides. After a while we will stop at a scenic spot within the park and lay out the delicious picnic hamper that the chef will have prepared for us. After this alfresco lunch you will continue to Kuro Airstrip where you connect to Manyara Airstrip, aboard your aircraft. We will leave the baobab trees behind and fly over the palm-fringed Lake Manyara before landing on an escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. When we land the team from The Manor at Ngorongoro will be there to meet us. There will be a short drive to the town of Karatu and an opportunity to visit an African market, before continuing the foothills of the Ngorongoro Highlands and our next lodging. Set within the Shangri-La Estate. The Manor at Ngorongoro is reminiscent of a sophisticated, upcountry farmhouse in the Cape Dutch style of architecture. Each luxurious guest cottage fuses the earthiness of East African safari design with old world Afro-European architecture. After some tea and crumpets you will have time to enjoy the Manor’s surroundings on horseback. You could also attend a coffee tasting and take part in a guided estate walk or a bike ride. If you prefer to completely relax head to the snooker or library room or sample the extensive list of cellar wines.
Accommodation: The Manor at Ngorongoro
| Day 5 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Meals: B L D |
To experience the crater without the crowds it is best to rise early. Reaching the Ngorongoro Crater floor as the sun begins to rise, you will undoubtedly be amazed by the natural beauty surrounding you. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to about 25,000 animals and is one of the last places in Tanzania where the Big Five can be seen. Furthermore, it is a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserves - unique because it is a multi-use conservation area in which the animals and environment are protected but the Masai are allowed to live and continue their pastoral lifestyle. After our game drive we will enjoy a picnic on the edge of one of the crater’s lakes and watch from afar as elephants quench their thirst. Later, we will return to the Manor to relax and enjoy a well-earned feast cooked by the lodge's excellent chefs.
Accommodation: The Manor at Ngorongoro
| Day 6 - Ngorongoro to Serengeti | Meals: B L D |
After breakfast you will have the opportunity of visiting Lake Manyara National Park, consisting of a narrow strip running between the Gregory Rift Wall wall to the west and Lake Manyara, an alkaline or soda-lake, to the east, which is famous for its population of flamingos. The park encompasses three distinct habitats including a lush groundwater forest, open floodplains and acacia woodlands. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds graze on the grassy plains, as do giraffes and other plains game. The narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favoured haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. This very scenic park will delight your senses. For those who would prefer, you are more than welcome to skip Manayara and stay at the lodge and explore the estate. There are a host of activities available at the lodge such as horseback riding, cycling, an estate tour or a massage treatment or, you may opt to just relax with a good book. After lunch you will be driven to the Manyara airstrip for your flight to the Serengeti. Upon arrival you will be met by the Migration Camp team and taken on a short game drive en route to the Camp. Richly furnished throughout, the Serengeti Migration Camp is a haven of indulgent comfort within the raw beauty of the surrounding bush. Its spacious tents have been carefully placed to provide privacy and blend into nature’s architecture, overlooking the Grumeti River with its resident hippos. Surrounded by a 360-degree veranda deck and with a capacious 45 square metres of internal floor space, each guest tent is a private sanctuary. The split level lounge, cigar bar, restaurant, sundecks and swimming pool are perched among the outcrops and overlook the vast and rugged landscapes that is the setting for one of the world's greatest natural spectacles - the Great Migration. This evening there will be cocktails served on the sundowner deck before proceeding for dinner.
Accommodation: Serengeti Migration Camp
| Day 7 - Serengeti National Park | Meals: B L D |
There’s nothing like an early morning start allowing you to experience one of the ultimate game viewing experiences. After a hot cup of tea or coffee you will soon be wide-awake as you head out to observe the wildlife at its most active time. The cat family loves to make and appearance in the morning, while the early morning light makes photographing herds of wildlife a photographer’s dream. THe Serengeti is renowned for its annual migration, at which time some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson's gazelles join the wildebeests on their trek to find fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants and giraffes, and thousands upon thousands of elands, topis, kongonis, impalas and Grant’s gazelles are all there to be seen. We will stop off for a bush lunch during the game drive before continuing across the open plains in search for more wildlife. Tonight, a delectable dinner will be served at camp beneath the stunning starry African sky.
Accommodation: Serengeti Migration Camp
| Day 8 - Serengeti National Park to Zanzibar | Meals: B |
After breakfast there will be one last opportuity to explore the banks of the great Grumeti River on a guided game walk and savour your last few hours in the great outdoors Lunch is served at the lodge after your walk and you will then be taken to the airstrip in time for your scheduled flight to Zanzibar and the fabulous Kalindi Resort. On arrival you will be met and transfered to the Resort where you can indulge in a late lunch before spending the rest of the day on the beach.
Accommodation: Kilindi
| Day 10 - Zanzibar | Meals: B L D |
This morning you should wake up early and enjoy a stroll on the beach before breakfast. The perfect way to unwind and relax before breakfast. An action packed day is available to you if you wish. With a water sports centre the resort is fully equipped to fulfil any ocean bound activities you may wish to try. After a full day a relaxing dinner under the starts is the perfect end.
Accommodation: Kilindi
| Day 11 - Zanzibar | Meals: B L D |
Today journey into Stone Town for a tour of all this ancient town has of offer. The slave caves, museum and a spice tour are all on the programme before you return to the hotel for a quite last afternoon by the ocean.
Accommodation: Kilindi
| Day 12 - Depart | Meals: B |
Today you will be transferred to the International Airport in time for your flight home. We hope that the memories of your safari and beach adventure stay with you for a lifetime.
Included
- Full board accommodation on safari
- Soft drinks, beers, wine and non-premium brand spirits
- Park entrance fees
- All game drives in a custom built 4x4 safari vehicle driven by the camp/lodge drivers on a shared basis
- Domestic scheduled flights Arusha - Tarangire - Manyara – Serengeti – Zanzibar
- Government taxes and levies
Excluded
- International air fares
- International and domestic departure taxes
- Visas
- Travel and health insurance
- Gratuities to your guide, hotel staff and porters
- Any personal items and anything not mentioned under 'Included in the Price'
Tour starts/ends:
Starts: Unless otherwise stated, most tours start in Arusha. Zanzibar tours start at Zanzibar Airport.
Ends: See itinerary for details
Note: we can also pick you up or drop you off at the hotel of your choice in the greater Arusha area if you notify us in advance.
Expected group size:
On regular group tours the expected total group size is between 2 and 10 travellers.
Type of vehicles used:
In Tanzania all your transfers and game drives will be in 4x4’s.
Level of ability required:
Although there will be no special strength and fitness requirements, please note that safari lodges situated in remote areas are by their very nature lacking in many of the modern conveniences found in cities. For this reason please be prepared for uneven floors and sometimes challenging access.
You must be able-bodied and have the ability to move independently without help on most of our tours. If you have any specific mobility requirements please contact us beforehand.
Food and dietary information:
The food prepared at the lodges and/or hotels on this tour will be of an international nature and suited to a broad range of visitors. If you have any specific dietary requirements please let us know in advance so that we can inform the lodges and hotels along the route. Alcoholic drinks, unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary, are not included in the price.
Health and vaccinations:
You should speak to your health provider about what vaccinations you will need for your trip to Tanzania. In addition, most doctors recommend taking anti-malarial pills for your visit and following measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitos, such as covering up exposed arms and legs. Lodges will provide mosquito nets over the beds.
If you take any medication, be sure to bring it with you, as well as details of your prescription.
We advise all travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance before their trip.
What to wear:
Although Tanzania lies in the tropics it can get chilly in the evenings and early mornings. On this trip we recommend that you include the following in your baggage:
- A pair of sturdy lightweight shoes or boots
- Light coloured clothing with long sleeves and legs for the evenings and early mornings
- A hat to keep the strong sun off your head
Baggage and what to bring:
Important note: If your itinerary includes a leg of the journey on a light aircraft then please be advised that the maximum TOTAL weight allowance including hand luggage is 15kg (approx.. 33lbs) and all luggage must be in a soft bag i.e. NOT a suitcase. These rules are imposed by the airlines and we are unable to make allowances.
We recommend that you do not forget to pack the following:
- Insect repellant cream/spray
- Camera and binoculars
- A torch (flashlight)
- A waterproof/dustproof bag
Visa requirements:
Depending on your nationality you will probably need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania for this tour. The current cost of a single-entry tourist visa is USD 50 per person if traveling on a British Passport and $100 per person for an American passport holder (subject to change) Other nationalities vary in fee’s from free to $50, and these can be purchased on arrival, for most nationals, in all major currencies.
For more comprehensive information visit the Project Visa website.
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