Arusha Area Overview

Arusha is located at the foothills of Mount Meru on the eastern side of the Great Rift Valley. This is the gateway to the northern safari circuit, with easy access to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Meru. Its elevation of 1,400 m (4,600 ft) keeps temperatures relatively cool despite its proximity to the equator; temperatures generally range between 10 and 30 C (50 and 86F), with little humidity due to the altitude. Arusha is serviced by two airports, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on the eastern side, and Arusha Airport, which primarily services domestic travel. The two airports are connected by the main road, which is notorious for traffic. There is some good shopping available, including the impressive Cultural Heritage, with curio shops, a jewelry boutique, a Tanzanite and precious stone counter, a bargain center, and an art gallery.

Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa

Property Overview

Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa is set among the woodland slopes of Mount Meru at the edge of Lake Duluti. Originally a colonial era coffee farm, today the hotel offers 42 cottage-style guest rooms.
The ambience here is warmly reminiscent of the property’s history, beginning with the welcoming stone-built reception area and extending to cottage-style rooms neatly arranged among landscaped lawns and the colorful banks of bougainvillea. Elegant, country-manor interiors feature unique artifacts, leaded windows and French doors opening to extensive lake view gardens. Social areas include a library, a lounge, and a restaurant with a wood fireplace and lake and garden views.

Experience & Activities

Hike to the summit of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain or explore the crater lakes of Arusha National Park. Other activities include game drives, mountain biking, city and safari tours, and canoeing, as well as cooking lessons, Swahili lessons, and spa treatments. Note some activities may incur additional costs.

Standard Guest Rooms

Each of the 42 guest rooms have been inspired by the hotel’s 1920s heritage and nature. All stone cottage-style accommodations are clustered around a village square adorned extensive gardens. These rooms have one king-sized or two double beds, a full bathroom, private balconies with lake or garden views, a television and free Wi-Fi, and tea & coffee making facilities.

Lake Manyara National Park

Area Overview

Lake Manyara National Park is only 325 km2 (125 mi2) in size and yet offers a unique wilderness experience with an incredible diversity of habitats, from its Acacia forests and dense woodlands to its soda lake and steep escarpment. This spectacular setting, within easy road access from Arusha, makes Manyara a popular stop off on the way to the crater highlands.
The park is famous for its tree climbing lions and some of the largest baboon troops in the country, as well as for often having large numbers of flamingos at its shorelines. Great herds of buffalo can also be found, alongside general plains game and excellent birding.

Ngorongoro Crater

Area Overview

A veritable Garden of Eden, the Ngorongoro Crater is only 260 km2 (100mi2) in size yet has some of the highest densities of lion and spotted hyena found anywhere in the world. The view from the crater rim at 2,000 feet above the floor is nothing short of breathtaking. The thick mountain forests of the crater highlands strike a sharp contrast with the short grass plains of the crater floor with its yellow fever Acacia woodlands and streams. The soda lake Magadi in the center of the crater floor sometimes attracts lesser flamingos, and the area is known for very large tusked elephants, black rhino, and great predator action.
Easily accessible from Arusha, the three million year old Ngorongoro Crater was once a gigantic volcano that some suggest was even higher than Mt Kilimanjaro. It is the largest intact caldera in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walks are available on the rim in certain areas, but game viewing on the crater floor is strictly by vehicle and on designated game drive routes. Local Maasai pastoralists and their villages surround the western side of the crater whilst the eastern side is heavily forested up to the farming town of Karatu.

Ngorongoro Farm House

Property Overview

Ngorongoro Farm House is a small and exclusive hotel built on a 500 acre coffee plantation. It has been designed to take you to the comfort and style of times gone by. Take a walk around the farm, relax in the gardens or enjoy the spectacular sunsets with the Oldeani volcano as a backdrop.
The main building is situated in the middle of the lodge and consists of a restaurant, lounge and a large terrace with spectacular views of the Oldeani extinct volcano. There’s an outdoor swimming pool and the restaurant offers market style dishes with produce grown on the farm.

Experience & Activities

This is a wonderful place to stop during a safari around the northern circuit of Tanzania. You can use it as a base to visit the crater or enjoy activities such as walking to the volcano, or hiking one of the many trekking routes in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is also possible to visit Lake Eyasi in the Rift Valley, a place still inhabited by the Hadzabe tribe.

Central Serengeti

Area Overview

North of the southern grasslands lies the central part of the Serengeti, a beautiful area with wide open plains as far as the eye can see, dotted with small granite kopjes and seasonal rivers. The area is full of resident game and one of the highest densities of cats, especially lions, to be found anywhere in Africa. The eastern part of the central Serengeti was actually closed to tourists until just a few years ago and originally used as a cheetah research base. This stunning landscape of kopjes and grasslands is known for exceptional big cat sightings, especially cheetah.

The Serengeti is perhaps the most famous African wilderness area, its name synonymous with the notion of safari for nearly a hundred years. This UNESCO World Heritage site covers 14,750 km2 (5,700 mi2) of premiere game viewing in Acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and undulating savannahs interspersed with seasonal rivers. The park on the northern side borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and, together with several other smaller reserves and conservation areas, forms the larger Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.

Nyikani Camp Central Serengeti

Property Overview

Nyikani Camp Central is located in the Central Serengeti, taking advantage of year-round wildlife. Serengeti is Tanzania’s most renowned national park and a home to the greatest concentrations of large mammals on the planet. The migratory herds of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles roam widely in search of green grass and water. The name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai name ‘Siringet’ meaning ‘endless plains,’ and these rolling distances of short grass plains provide an exceptional landscape for wildlife viewing; the ultimate safari country.

Experience & Activities

Guests can enjoy game drives to see the Big 5, hot air balloon safaris, sundowners, and bush meals. Note hot air balloon safaris are at additional cost.

Accommodations

Guest Tent
The camp comprises 12 guest tents and one family tent with two en-suite bathrooms. Each has a private, shaded verandah overlooking the Serengeti ecosystem, a power extension with universal adapter, a writing desk, and digital safe. The en-suite bathroom has a flush toilet, double wash basins with running water, a safari-style bucket shower, and other essential amenities. Guests can relax on indoor and outdoor lounge chairs while enjoying morning coffee and tea butler service. Tents are approximately 20 meters apart, and a one en-suite tour leader tent is available.

Zanzibar

The Spice Island

The fasinating and beautiful island of Zanzibar, off Tanzania’s eastern coastline, has long stretches of powder-white sandy beaches, a clear warm Indian Ocean, and palm trees swaying lazily in the sea breeze. Friendly villagers share the beach, ladies collect shellfish and partake in seaweed farming, children play football and traditional fisherman sail in their handmade dhows to bring back the fresh catch of the day. The island is known for its spices and Swahili culture. The capital is called Stone Town, home to narrow streets, markets and facinating food and music scenes.

There is plenty to do on the island, including spice farm tours, forest walks, village tours, long beach walks, snorkelling and scuba diving, kite surfing and just relaxing under a palm tree with a good book, a cool drink and fine company.

Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa

Property Overview

A luxury beachfront resort with traditional Swahili charm, Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa is situated on the finest white, sandy beach on the east coast of Zanzibar. Set in 30 acres of tropical gardens with over 1,000 palm trees, the resort is one of Zanzibar’s most prestigious properties, offering the ultimate in beach comfort, excellent accommodations, fine dining, and a host of sports and leisure facilities. The famous Oasis spa boasts award-winning service and is the perfect place for relaxation. Bluebay is a magical destination for holidaymakers wishing to soak up the sun and the enchanting culture of Zanzibar.

Experience & Activities

A wide range of water sports and activities can be arranged at the Recreation and Water Sports Center, including big game fishing, boat trips, windsurfing, scuba diving, and snorkelling. Island excursions to cultural and historical sites such as the Stone Town Tour (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and safaris in Tanzania can also all be arranged. The hotel shares a 582 meter stretch of pristine Indian Ocean coastline with its sister property the Sultan Sands Island Resort & Spa and guests can take advantage of this hotel’s facilities too.

Accommodations

The seventy-four Superior Rooms occupy an elevated position in the grounds, overlooking the verdant tropical gardens. Thirty-two of the Superior Rooms have ocean view. The room offers either twin beds or a double bed, draped with billowing mosquito nets. It includes a separate dressing room and an en-suite bathroom. Guests can relax on the verandah or balcony, enjoying the view. The split-level air conditioning ensures a comfortable temperature, and entertainment is provided by a large satellite TV. Additional amenities include a mini-fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, and an electronic safe.