Tanzania, on the east coast of Africa, has an abundance of environments to explore and wildlife to encounter. From flamingoes in Lake Manyara, to big tuskers in the Ngorongoro Crater and the great migration in the Serengeti. Tanzania is home to the highest mountain on the continent Kilimanjaro and some of the most celebrated beaches and pristine coral reefs between Africa and Zanzibar.
The best wildlife viewing months in Tanzania are during the dry season from late June to October. The best time to visit Tanzania’s coast, its islands and Zanzibar is between August and October.
Where in the world?
Tanzania borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. Tanzania is located on the eastern coast of Africa and has an Indian Ocean coastline approximately 1,424 kilometres (885 miles) long.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Your designated SCC guide will be there to meet you at Kilimanjaro Airport and take you to your accommodation for the night which is located in a verdant coffee plantation. It is a sanctuary of aromatic tranquility and a welcome retreat after a long international flight. Reminiscent of traditional plantation houses, the thirty wooden chalets are spacious with modern interiors and nestled amongst the surrounding gardens and coffee trees.
Sample Itinerary
Day 2
This morning you transfer to Arusha Airport and board your scheduled light air transfer to Manyara airstrip. You will be saying in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in a grand mansion that exudes old-world charm in north-west Tanzania. The manor is comprised of 18 cottage suites, each with its own private entrance and adjoining private sun terrace. Guests can enjoy an array of activities such as lunch on the Ngorongoro Crater Floor, a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, and horse riding around the 1500-acre coffee estate.
Sample Itinerary
Day 3
Ngorongoro Crater is unofficially the Eight Wonder of the World. Visitors will understand instantly when they reach the first viewing point on the lip of the crater and take in the majesty of the ecological wonder. Descending to the floor of the crater, guests are treated to a magnificent wildlife spectacle as they traverse a variety of landscapes, from open grasslands dotted with game, soda lakes coloured pink with flamingo and dense riverine woodland, with the rising walls of the crater framing every view.
Sample Itinerary
Day 4
After a leisurely brunch, you will take a short flight to the Serengeti. Your accommodation is tucked amongst the rocks of Kogakuria Kopje with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, just a few miles from where the wildebeest cross the Mara River. Right here on your doorstep, between late July and October, is where you can see the great migration. For the rest of the year, it is wild Serengeti with all the resident game of the Maasai Mara but without the people.
Sample Itinerary
Day 5
Explore the Northern Serengeti with highly experienced guides. Game drives will allow you to get closer to the big game and cover greater distances so that you can explore further afield in this beautiful part of the Serengeti
Sample Itinerary
Day 6
Walking safaris are available in certain seasons. When the grass is longer, typically in January, February, March and June, walking will not be possible. Walking in the bush is a fantastic experience and one of the best safari pastimes. It gives you the chance to really learn about the intricacies of the African bush; to taste, touch, smell and feel Africa. You don’t get as up close and personal to the big game, but you do meet the small animals, all equally important in the grand scheme of things.
Sample Itinerary
Day 7
After an early morning game drive and a leisurely breakfast, take a short flight to Zanzibar. You will be staying on an exclusive island just 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) off the north-eastern tip of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. Surrounded by an atoll of breathtaking coral reefs within a marine conservation area, it boasts some of Africa’s most wonderful dive sites. It is renowned as one of the most romantic ocean destinations in the world, offering a privacy and rustic exclusivity unparalleled on the African coastline.
Sample Itinerary
Day 8
Spend the day trying out one of the many watersports on offer including snorkeling, scuba diving, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or deep-sea fishing. The calm, warm seas of the Indian Ocean make it an ideal place to learn with our onsite instructors. Paddle along the beach to admire the changing features of the shoreline or head out into deeper waters in the hope of encountering a pod of dolphin or some sea turtles.
Sample Itinerary
Day 9
Give in to the lure of total isolation and pretend that you are marooned on a deserted island, albeit one where your personal butler is perpetually on hand to cater to your every desire. You may catch a fleeting glimpse of your fellow guests as you lounge in the tropical sunshine in your private beach sala or take a leisurely walk around the island. But you can also choose to make the most of your solitude with a private dinner in a secluded forest clearing or enjoy the light-hearted intimacy of a sandcastle dinner set to the sound of the waves gently sighing on the shore.
Sample Itinerary
Day 10
Channel your energy and increase your self-awareness with a yoga class placed against the background of a clear ocean. Classes are plentiful and can be accommodated to fit all levels of experiences and preferred style. The island has an internationally qualified yoga instructor, who is able to take private or group classes, which can be booked in advance or once you arrive on the island.
Sample Itinerary
Day 11
Enjoy a final swim and a leisurely breakfast before heading back to Kilimanjaro Airport for your international flight home.
Sample Itinerary
Testimonials
Paradise – We have no words to describe this magnificent holiday. Thank you for complete perfection, it has been utter bliss. Thank you for making my honeymoon perfect.
Sarah Dalrymple-Hamilton, Jan 2018
Reasons to visit
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
Tanzania is home to two of the most iconic safari destinations in Africa, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The vast plains of the Serengeti are also home to the annual migration where massive herds of wildebeest, gazelles and zebra follow the rains to greener and tastier pastures.
The Ngorongoro Crater
The world’s largest inactive and unfilled volcanic caldera, is home to a huge variety of wildlife.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Walk up the continent’s highest mountain and conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. The view from the top is spectacular and the sense of achievement you’ll feel is unparalleled. But make no mistake, you are testing yourself against all that nature can throw at you.
Zanzibar
The island of Zanzibar conjures images of perfect, palm-swayed beaches, white sand, billowing sailing boats and smiling locals. Even the narrow streets of Stone Town, twisting and turning through ancient Arabic buildings, look like an exotic film set.
