Northern Tanzania
& Rubondo Island

• Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Transfer to Arusha
• Overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge

On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by an Asilia driver and warmly welcomed to Tanzania. The drive to Arusha takes approximately 90 minutes, allowing you the opportunity to chat with your driver about the local surroundings and enjoy sights of the bustling and colourful town of Arusha. Once you arrive, you can relax by the pool with a cold drink and a good book and unwind from your international travel.

• Fly to Lake Manyara Airstrip
• Transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Overnight at The Highlands

After a delicious breakfast to set you on your way, your Asilia driver will collect you for the short transfer to Arusha Airport. Relax in Asilia’s “Pole Pole” airport lounge before your flight to Lake Manyara Airstrip. Upon arrival, a guide from The Highlands will meet you and take you on a 3-hour scenic drive to the heights of Ngorongoro. During the drive, you will pass through the lively market town of Karatu, eventually passing through the gates of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road then steadily climbs the outer edges of the Ngorongoro Crater through a dense tropical jungle until you reach the crater rim road.

After a quick stop for photographs from the viewpoint, you will continue your journey around the crater rim, into the lush green highlands of Ngorongoro. You will see goat herders and schoolchildren enthusiastically waving at you along the way. You will circumnavigate the base of Olmoti Crater, arriving on its northern slopes and the warmth of The Highlands’ welcome fireplace. After the long drive, settle down for a welcome lunch and the opportunity to relax in the camp and acclimatise to the altitude. Consider an afternoon hike up the slopes of the Olmoti Crater for phenomenal views over the ancient landscape.

You will have an early start to the day to ensure you are one of the first safari vehicles on the Ngorongoro Crater floor. When you leave the camp, it may be cold and dark, but you will be wrapped up in warm jackets and Maasai blankets. The cold will quickly be forgotten as you descend the inner walls of the unbroken caldera, an unforgettable setting for a safari. Once you reach the warmer temperatures of the crater floor, you will have some time to enjoy coffee and breakfast snacks while experiencing the unique game drive. Seek out rhino in the forest, or lion prowling the grasslands, before stopping for a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, where grunting rafts of hippo will accompany you. After lunch, you will start your journey up the caldera’s walls to the rim and return to the camp for a restful afternoon. Perhaps indulge in a spa treatment or sauna, or enjoy an informative cultural visit with the neighbouring Maasai community.

In the evening, you can enjoy your favourite drinks at the bar before being seated for a delicious dinner accompanied by the warm and friendly attention of The Highlands team.

• Flight to the Serengeti National Park
• Overnight at Dunia Camp

After having breakfast in the camp, you will depart from The Highlands and return along the crater rim and down the outer slopes of Ngorongoro until you reach Lake Manyara Airstrip. Say goodbye to your guide from The Highlands and board your flight to the Serengeti. A guide from Dunia Camp will be on hand to meet you and briefly introduce you to the area. You will then embark on a slow game drive towards the campsite, leaving the bustling Seronera region behind as you head to the Moru Kopjes and the sanctuary of the boutique and delightful Dunia Camp. This camp is staffed entirely by women, Africa’s first all-female safari camp, and a source of great pride and passion for the team, who offer a warm welcome to the family for all guests.

After lunch under the umbrella of acacia trees, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the beautiful views from your private veranda or the elevated lounge. As the temperature cools in the afternoon, join others for coffee, tea or your favourite beverage before setting out for an afternoon game drive across the sweeping Serengeti plains. As the sun starts to set, find a good spot and enjoy a drink while taking in the serene surroundings. Once back in the camp, you’ll have time to freshen up before enjoying drinks by the fire beneath the sparkling canopy of stars, followed by a delicious dinner.

A full day of exciting game viewing lies before you. Game drives are Dunia’s primary activity, both morning and afternoon. We recommend enjoying a picnic breakfast for the morning adventure to maximise time discovering the wildlife. Dunia Camp’s central location allows access to the herds of the Great Migration many times a year, as well as multiple key game viewing areas through the Moru Kopjes and Seronera regions. For an additional cost, there is the option of enjoying a hot air balloon safari and the opportunity for an entirely different perspective on game viewing.

Whatever your choices, our warm and hospitable team at Dunia Camp will welcome you back for a relaxing and delicious dinner and the promise of a beautiful night’s sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti.

• Flight to Rubondo Island National Park
• Overnight Rubondo Island Camp

Departure day provides the opportunity for a slower start to the morning with a full breakfast enjoyed in camp. It’s then time to wave goodbye to the ladies of Dunia as you make your way to Seronera Airstrip for your flight to Rubondo Island.

It’s an exciting approach to the island, circling low over the water then touching down on the grass airstrip hewn between the trees – already a very different experience to the dusty airstrips of the Serengeti. Members of the Rubondo team will be on hand at the airstrip to meet you and welcome you to the island, before undertaking the short transfer to Rubondo Island Camp, arriving in time for lunch.

Rubondo Island Camp sits between a pristine stretch of lakeside beach and the towering subequatorial rainforest. The gentle lapping of the waves on the shore blend with the sounds of the forest, creating a unique auditory experience completely different to the sounds of the bush. With multiple dining decks, seating areas, and comfortable nooks, the main area of the camp is a welcoming space offering views across the water and ample opportunity to while away an afternoon with a good book and a cold drink.

Your three-night stay on the island allows sufficient time to make the most of the diverse activity offering from Rubondo Island Camp. Chimpanzee trekking through the dense forest is a key highlight and an exciting adventure beneath the canopy of green. Exploration of the island by vehicle is also a rewarding experience, seeking out the white colobus monkeys or venturing to the open plains in the far south where giraffe enjoy the sunshine. On the water, enjoy catch-and-release fishing for Nile perch, or trace the shoreline enjoying the myriads of bird species from Kingfishers to fish eagles whilst keeping an eye on the water for crocodiles and spotted-neck otters.

Offering the perfect blend of relaxation and activities, a stay at Rubondo Island Camp can be curated to provide you with the exact experience you need most, whether that’s adventure and exploration or the opportunity to simply unwind, slow down, and soak up the moment.

• Flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Connect with onward travel

After a final breakfast overlooking the waters of Lake Victoria, make your way back to the airstrip for your flight to Arusha Airport. On arrival, you will be met by an Asilia driver, and transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport, to connect with your onward travel.