From the volcanic depths of the Ngorongoro Crater to the epic spectacle of the Great Migration around the Serengeti, this is a trip of wonder, and it ends in the wonderful paradise of Zanzibar.
There are few places in the world that can offer a first class tropical paradise and a mind-blowing wildlife experience within one set of borders, but Tanzania does so with aplomb. With 38% of its landmass designated as protected, and for good reason, Tanzania offers some of the world’s most intense wildlife experiences, and this safari cherry-picks the best of them.
The trip begins at the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The crater is the blown-open caldera of an ancient volcano of epic proportions, and the crater floor is a rich and fertile landscape. Rolling plains and woodlands hold vast amounts of wildlife, and predators lurk to feast on them. With the volcanic remnants of the crater ever-present, this is a truly unique landscape.
The next stop is the fabled Serengeti, where the miracle of the Great Migration takes place. Millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles take up an ancient route around the Serengeti ecosystem to chase fresh grass. Along the way, they will be stalked by hundreds of lions, leopards, cheetahs and other predators. They will also have to endure river crossings through water that is infested with crocodiles that have had years of practice. This is one of the planet’s greatest wildlife shows.
Finally, this safari whisks you away to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar, with its endless beaches, diving, fishing, and rich island culture.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
The Serengeti Under Canvas Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. It comprises Zanzibar (Unguja) Island, Pemba Island, and a raft of smaller islands. Zanzibar itself is approximately 90km long and 30km wide. Lying only a short distance off the Tanzanian coast, it is at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asian sea faring trade. Zanzibar has long been at the centre of any self respecting Indian Ocean experience in East Africa. Over centuries different cultures have influenced Zanzibar to become what it is today. Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Omani Arabs, Dutch and British have settled here at one time or another and influenced the local culture into its present beautiful fusion.
Inhabiting a remarkable spot right on the rim of the Crater, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undeniably one of the most luxurious and architecturally spectacular safari lodges in Africa, with breathtaking views and excellent wildlife to complete the experience. Located in the south-east of the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, the Crater is a place of rare natural wonders. From its phenomenal terrain to the lavish fauna and flora it supports, it is undeniably worthy of its status as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What better way then, to experience this brilliant gem of a wildlife location than from &Beyond’s flagship property. With luxurious rooms, food and service to complement the stunning views and complete serenity of the property, one might not want to leave... but the rich wildlife of the crater floor will soon draw even the most relaxed guests out for a thrilling game drive. Descending from the rim of the crater to the floor is a unique but time-consuming experience, so unlike most lodges, the format here is to offer one daily drive.
The lodge comprises three camps, where North and South have 12 suites each, and the intimate Tree Camp has 6. Each camp has separate dining and lounge areas, with breathtaking views, and each suite has a personal butler.
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
Serengeti Under Canvas is a luxurious semi-permanent tented camp that moves location in order to track the Great Migration throughout the year. Each location brings guests the best views of the large herds as they pass through the open plains of the Serengeti. Throughout the year, the camp moves between Ndutu, Grumeti, Seronera and Kogatende allowing guests the opportunity to be in a prime location for game viewing. Carefully positioned for close proximity to the large herds of the Great Migration, Serengeti Under Canvas camp provides the ultimate viewpoint for this amazing natural phenomenon.
Being mobile does not come at the cost of any luxury. The camp is always near an airstrip for convenient transfers, and the 9 tents are classic luxury safari tents with en-suite facilities, hot bucket showers, flush toilets and chandeliers hanging over the large beds. Each morning, a personal butler will awaken guests with hot tea or coffee to enjoy on their private deck.
Twice daily game drives allow for intimate encounters with the spectacular herds of the Great Migration, and the serene location of Serengeti Under Canvas makes the hours between game drives a veritable wilderness experience in themselves. The safari 4x4 vehicles are closed, with roll down canvas windows and pop-top roofs.
The Serengeti Under Canvas Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
Mnemba Island Lodge is located 4.5km off the tip of Zanzibar on an exclusive island inhabited only by guests and the staff taking care of them. Just 1.5km in perimeter, Mnemba is surrounded by an atoll of breathtaking coral reefs and boasts some of Africa’s most magnificent diving sites. The calm blue seas surrounding the island offer irresistible snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing and swimming directly from the beach.
The stunning setting of the lodge makes it one of the most romantic ocean destinations in the world. This paradise of powdery beaches and turquoise waters disturbed by frolicking dolphins invites you to indulge in its unpretentious style and enjoy the carefree beach life, and with only ten luxury bandas dotting the white sand, privacy comes easy.
Mnemba Island is one of the best scuba-diving sites in Zanzibar, with a wide variety of corals, turtles, three species of dolphins, whale sharks and approximately 600 species of coral reef fish. Humpback whales visit between July and September and the island is a nesting place of the threatened green turtle. These prehistoric creatures can be seen laying their eggs on the beaches throughout the year, with ‘turtle season’ peaking between April and August. Mnemba is also a fisherman’s paradise, with catch-and-release game fishing and fly-fishing, and deep-sea fishing at extra cost.
Most visitors who travel to Zanzibar head out to enjoy one or more of the magnificent beaches. However, it is worth spending at least one night at the beginning or end of your stay in the historic island capital. Stone town is the main city in Zanzibar and it is of prominent historical and cultural importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, as well as a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements, with the East African culture being preeminent. For this reason, the town was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Zanzibar’s beaches are miles long with palm-fringed shores, powder-soft coral sands and turquoise seas, living up to the Indian Ocean Island idyll. The atmosphere is compounded by a colourful Swahili culture where traditional wooden dhows sail beneath billowing lantern sails. It is a great location for exploring, diving and snorkelling and has a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Additionally there are several small islands off the coast of Zanzibar, which offer an even more exclusive experience than the main island. Some of these islands can be stayed on while others are visited only on day trips from Zanzibar. Zanzibar's most famous island is Mnemba, which is simply mind-blowing in its beauty.
This safari commences in Arusha, Tanzania and ends in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
There are few places in the world that can offer a first class tropical paradise and a mind-blowing wildlife experience within one set of borders, but Tanzania does so with aplomb. With 38% of its landmass designated as protected, and for good reason, Tanzania offers some of the world’s most intense wildlife experiences, and this safari cherry-picks the best of them.
The trip begins at the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The crater is the blown-open caldera of an ancient volcano of epic proportions, and the crater floor is a rich and fertile landscape. Rolling plains and woodlands hold vast amounts of wildlife, and predators lurk to feast on them. With the volcanic remnants of the crater ever-present, this is a truly unique landscape.
The next stop is the fabled Serengeti, where the miracle of the Great Migration takes place. Millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles take up an ancient route around the Serengeti ecosystem to chase fresh grass. Along the way, they will be stalked by hundreds of lions, leopards, cheetahs and other predators. They will also have to endure river crossings through water that is infested with crocodiles that have had years of practice. This is one of the planet’s greatest wildlife shows.
Finally, this safari whisks you away to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar, with its endless beaches, diving, fishing, and rich island culture.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. It comprises Zanzibar (Unguja) Island, Pemba Island, and a raft of smaller islands. Zanzibar itself is approximately 90km long and 30km wide. Lying only a short distance off the Tanzanian coast, it is at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asian sea faring trade. Zanzibar has long been at the centre of any self respecting Indian Ocean experience in East Africa. Over centuries different cultures have influenced Zanzibar to become what it is today. Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Omani Arabs, Dutch and British have settled here at one time or another and influenced the local culture into its present beautiful fusion.
Located on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the Ngorongoro National Park, the Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp provides the best setting for a nature lover’s dream with its spectacular views of the unique landscape and a diversity of wildlife leading from the Crater rim to its floor. The Ngorongoro National Park indulges guests with invigorating game drives to the Crater floor, combining special scenery with diverse wildlife. With approximately 30 000 animals roaming around the park’s vast landscapes, it is a game viewing gem. The area in which the camp is situated is home to a large variety of wildlife including zebra, wildebeest, hippo, buffalo, elephant and an amazing population of predators including lion, hyena, jackal, cheetah and leopard.
10 luxury tented suites offer en-suite bathrooms with an indoor bucket shower and stunning views of the surrounds. The main common area includes a dining area, bar and lounge area as well as comfortable sofas carefully situated in prime locations around the camp.
Twice-daily game drives are led by highly-trained and knowledgeable guides in an open 4x4 game viewing vehicle. The guides will take you to the Crater floor to witness the massive variety of animals, including its impressive population of predators. Guests can also enjoy guided walking safaris and cultural interactions by visiting the nearby Maasai villages.
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is hidden amongst an outcrop of kopjes in Northern Serengeti. The Serengeti is rich in game throughout the year but also provides the stage for the world’s largest animal migration. Shifting its location within the Serengeti three times a year in order to follow the movement of the Great Migration, the Serengeti Migration Camp offers guests year-round access to this incredible spectacle. The camp blends seamlessly into the environment and allows guests a wonderful opportunity to view the phenomenon of the Great Migration.
Made from stone, wood, and canvas, the camp’s 20 luxurious elevated tents blend into the natural surroundings. Each tent is richly furnished in wood and leather, with an en-suite bathroom that has a separate shower and double vanity and a 360-degree private veranda. The main tent has a split-level lounge, a swimming pool, and a restaurant and viewing platforms that offer breathtaking views of the vast open plains and river.
Morning and afternoon game drives are guided by knowledgeable and experienced guides. Guests have the amazing opportunity of seeing the spectacle of the migration as the viewing is focused on the migration and other species and predators within the area. Guests can request to head out on a game drive with a packed lunch for a full-day safari giving you the opportunity to explore deeper into the park.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
Matemwe Lodge is set between two idyllic beaches in north-east Zanzibar looking out towards Mnemba Island. The lodge is perched on an outcrop overlooking a shallow coral-fringed lagoon and the peaceful Indian Ocean, offering guests powdery white sand beaches, clear aquamarine water and beautiful reefs. Matemwe Lodge is adjacent to a long stretch of beach on the east coast, which has not been noticeably altered by tourism and remains an important thoroughfare for locals. The lodge has a close relationship with the local fishing village situated on the far side of the beach. It is home to many of the Matemwe team, with the lodge actively supporting the local school.
The lodge's location offers fantastic beach access, and all the perks that come with it – kayaking, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, or simply long strolls along the unspoilt sands while watching the billowing dhows of the local fishermen chasing the tide. The nearby atoll of Mnemba Island offers the best diving in Zanzibar.
Matemwe lodge has 12 luxury suites with high thatched roofs and en-suite bathrooms with large bathtubs and walk-in showers. The rooms offer differing amounts of privacy, so all tastes can be catered for. The communal areas have a very relaxed feel to them, with an open-sided restaurant and infinity pool offering great views out over the ocean. A cosy lounge and poolside cocktail bar completes the experience.
Most visitors who travel to Zanzibar head out to enjoy one or more of the magnificent beaches. However, it is worth spending at least one night at the beginning or end of your stay in the historic island capital. Stone town is the main city in Zanzibar and it is of prominent historical and cultural importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, as well as a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements, with the East African culture being preeminent. For this reason, the town was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Zanzibar’s beaches are miles long with palm-fringed shores, powder-soft coral sands and turquoise seas, living up to the Indian Ocean Island idyll. The atmosphere is compounded by a colourful Swahili culture where traditional wooden dhows sail beneath billowing lantern sails. It is a great location for exploring, diving and snorkelling and has a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Additionally there are several small islands off the coast of Zanzibar, which offer an even more exclusive experience than the main island. Some of these islands can be stayed on while others are visited only on day trips from Zanzibar. Zanzibar's most famous island is Mnemba, which is simply mind-blowing in its beauty.
This safari commences in Arusha, Tanzania and ends in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Take advantage of the lower South African exchange rate and get a luxury trip at an amazing price:
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