Sun, Safari and Sustainable Lodges: An Eco-Friendly Adventure in Tanzania

Though you may have to pinch yourself to believe it, you’ll wake up this morning to stunning views across the African bush, before getting ready for a day of outdoorsy adventures. Begin with a guided walk in a local tropical rainforest, inhabited by an astonishing array of biodiversity. Marvel at the colobus and blue Vervet monkeys, as well as a large variety of bird species. This is a great way to gently ease into your new environment, before your first safari this afternoon. After a spot of lunch, head to Tarangire Park with your private ranger-guide. From the safety of your open-top vehicle, discover a landscape of savannah dotted with acacias, baobabs and tamarind trees, and observe wildlife in their natural habitat as you drive. From climbing lions, savannah elephants, plains zebras, Masai giraffes, wildebeest, buffalo and many many more, this is truly a Mecca for wildlife lovers. Learn more about the region’s curiosities, including the Masked Lovebirds occupying the wet banks and the termite mounds surrounded by dwarf mongooses. Round off your first full day in Tanzania with a private starlit dinner around a crackling campfire.

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge with views of acacia trees and baobabs before heading out for a second guided safari in Tarangire Park this morning. After a few hours of action and adventure in the heart of the park, head to a beautiful restaurant nestled in the bush to enjoy a lunch with panoramic views of the park. Continue on this afternoon to the small village of Bashay, in Karatu, an hour-and-a-half’s drive away. Your home for the night here is a charming little eco-lodge nestled in the hills and surrounded by coffee trees. After settling in and freshening up, a guide from the hotel will take you on a tour of the grounds and explain all the eco-friendly elements of the property and gardens.

Today brings you to a new destination and to one of the most fascinating natural wonders on the continent: the Ngorongoro crater. As the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, it is home to over 30,000 animals, and with a radius of around six miles, you can drive right into the heart of the basin. On the lakes, flamingos often settle in their thousands, while in the sky, pelicans, Tantalus ibis and black kites swirl in their masses. On land, the buffaloes and hippos occupy the muddy banks while the ostrich and gazelles watch on from the grasslands. As the lions nap in the shade, zebras graze gracefully, coexisting peacefully with the blue wildebeest. The Ngorongoro crater really is a pantheon of greats, a true spectacle to behold that you can spend the day savouring. Later this afternoon, your private driver-ranger will whisk you an hour and half off to your next destination: a simple yet comfortable camp located at the foot of the magnificent kopjes, which are granite formations typical of the region.

On this morning’s agenda is a privately guided walk through the Olduvai gorges. An exceptional paleontological site, these gorges have been nicknamed the ‘Cradle of Humanity’ or the ‘Garden of Eden’, due to their significance in the history of evolution; approximately 1.7 million years ago, Homo Erectus first stood here. Today, it is giraffes, dik diks and cheetahs that call this slice of the eastern Serengeti plain home. After a walk here, you’ll continue on the road into the heart of the Serengeti. This is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the famous wildebeest and zebra migration, which takes place between July and October. The Big Five also converge here, which makes for sensational viewing as you get to witness lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, antelopes and black rhinos in their natural habitat. When your tummy starts to grumble, settle in for a delicious lunch in a nomadic camp in the central area of the park. Then, continue on to the west of the park and check in for two nights in an authentic eco-lodge nestled in a reserve just outside the park, home to a lovely collection of sedentary fauna. Later this evening, head out with the hotel’s seasoned rangers for a guided night safari in an electric vehicle. In the dark and quiet of the evening, the local fauna really steps into its element.

Rise and shine, it’s your final full day on the Tanzanian savannah and there’s not a moment to waste. Head out at the break of dawn this morning for a guided hike with a seasoned ranger to the Grumeti River. Located almost entirely in the western part of Serengeti National Park, this river is particularly well known for its thriving population of Nile crocodiles. Travelling the savannah on foot is a very different experience from a traditional vehicle safari, as you create less noise and see them in a less tense state. Settle in for a delicious lunch on the banks of the river before heading back for an afternoon of R&R in your beautiful lodge-hotel.