Nights 1 & 2: Arumeru River Lodge Arusha, Tanzania The perfect introduction to Tanzania, your African lodge is located at the foot of Kilimanjaro, offering great views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Close to a river bordered by stately old trees, the lodge was built on the site of an old coffee farm and is convenient to Arusha and Kilimanjaro national parks. Your chalet-style accommodations are spacious and comfortable and feature private verandahs opening out to tropical gardens. International and African cuisine is available in two on-site restaurants, including an outdoor terrace restaurant and snack service at the swimming pool.
Nights 3 & 4: Kikoti Tented Camp Tarangire National Park, Tanzania Tented camps are a way of life during African safaris, and Kikoti is one of the most luxurious. In Maasai, “kikoti” means “the place where life began.” Paying homage to both its natural setting in the game-rich wilderness and the Maasai community that has roamed this region for generations, Kikoti Tented Camp embodies a wonderful campfire-style hospitality enhanced with impeccable personal service. Each of the ten large tents has sewn-in floors and en-suite bathroom facilities and is perched on a raised platform of wooden timbers; private wooden decks usher in views of the wetlands in the valley below. Your two-day stay here introduces you to local Maasai people and the wildlife of the park, offering you the opportunity to try your hand at local cultural traditions while learning more about life in the African savanna.
Nights 5 & 6: Ngorongoro Farm House Karatu, Tanzania You probably didn’t expect to spend a few nights on an African farm, but the Ngorongoro Farm House is sure to be one of the highlights of your Africa travel experience. Located on a 500-acre coffee farm near the Ngorongoro Conservation area, this lodge recreates the style of an old colonial farm and is rustically decorated with local materials. Your accommodations are spread out in three separate camps with 9 comfortable bungalows. A large thatched roof lodge houses the reception area, bar, dining facilities, library and lounge; outdoors you will enjoy a swimming pool with great views of nearby Oldeani Volcano and vegetable and flower gardens. A special treat during your stay are the homemade meals featuring the dairy and fresh vegetables grown right on the farm all year round.
Nights 7 & 8: Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp Serengeti National Park, Tanzania The Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp is located in the heart of the Serengeti on one of the main annual migration corridors for huge herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles… and the predators that stalk them. 16 luxurious tents guarded by 3-million-year-old granite towers offer 24-hour electricity, constant hot water, en suite bathroom facilities, a ceiling fan, hairdryer, four-poster beds and a private verandah. The views from the lounge’s terrace, a massive ledge of natural stone, seem to sweep on forever. Meals, which feature traditional safari-camp cuisine including flame-roasted meats, salads, fresh-from-the-garden produce, fish and great desserts, are served in the dining tent, with its own shaded terrace for outdoor dining.
Nights 9 & 10: Mbalageti Serengeti Serengeti National Park, Tanzania Reigning over the western Serengeti, the Mbalageti Serengeti promises a unique safari living experience. Canvas tented chalets, constructed of local wood and rock, offer welcome privacy and astonishing views of the migration of Africa's wildebeests, zebras, topis and more from private thatched-roof verandas. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room with great views of the Serengeti; meals are inspired by the Serengeti environment as well as continental favorites. The swimming pool is made out of local rock and is situated atop a hill overlooking the plains; the bar is also a favorite watering hole for safari guests. Game drives and a sundowner cocktail party enhance your two-night stay at this magnificent lodge.