Family Celebrations on Safari in Tanzania

The family arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport where they were met by VIP airport services who escorted the family to waiting transfer vehicles for their drive to Arusha Coffee Lodge. Wanting to pack as much action into their visit as possible,the group took a guided walk around the workings of a coffee plantation to see how coffee is grown, harvested, dried, and produced into the aromatic coffee that we drink every day, culminating in an all-important coffee tasting! They could also choose to go on the Trader’s Walk: a collection of 5 boutique shops and gourmet food spots within the grounds of Arusha Coffee Lodge showcasing some of the best creativity and ingenuity of Tanzania, or opt for a day trip to Arusha National Park for a picnic lunch and a visit to the slopes of Mt Meru for the birdlife and some spectacular views.

On day two of their journey, Phyllis and her family enjoyed an early breakfast at the lodge before meeting their drivers in the hotel foyer for their transfer by road to Arusha Airport for their flight to Lake Manyara Airstrip, where they were met by the &Beyond safari team. Hopping into 4×4 vehicles, the family drove to Ngorongoro Crater Lodge for their check-in. Perched on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge comprises three separate camps totalling just 30 suites. Each stilted, handcrafted mud and thatch suite is adorned with antiques, chandeliers and elegant African treasures with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the magnificent Crater below. A personal butler discretely caters for each guest’s every need, bringing tea in bed, stoking fireplaces and drawing luxurious bubble baths. Frequently described as Maasai meets Versailles, each camp has its own guest sitting and dining areas, as well as viewing decks. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the Big 5, with huge herds of wildebeest and zebra traversing its plains during their annual migration. Livestock belonging to the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe graze alongside wild animals.

After a magnificent two-night stay at Lake Manyara, the family took breakfast at the lodge and checked out before meeting their rangers for a transfer back to Lake Manyara Airstrip to board their private charter flight to Grumeti Airstrip. Upon arrival, they were met by the Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp team for a transfer from the airstrip to the camp in open 4×4 vehicles for their first game drive. Located in the remote Western Corridor of the Serengeti, Grumeti provides a private Serengeti experience with exclusive game viewing in some of the most secluded parts of Africa’s most famous game reserve. Its rustic yet sophisticated safari tents are tucked into the shade of an evergreen forest on the banks of a tributary of the famous Grumeti River.

With a hearty breakfast in their bellies, Phyllis and family checked out for their next transfer to Mwiba Airstrip where they met the Subeti Tented Camp team. Their transfer to the camp took place in open 4×4 vehicles, as part of a game drive ending at the Mbono Tented Camp for an exceptional five-night stay. Situated between the Mwiba and Maswa Reserves, Maswa Kimali Game Reserve is a wilderness wonderland with easy access to both the shortgrass plains of the Serengeti as well as the cultural experiences and wildlife wilderness of Mwiba.

Their next leg of the journey took the family to Sasakwa Airstrip via two aircrafts, the Cessna Grand Caravan C208B, single engine with two pilots, where they were met by the Singita team for a transfer to the lodge in open 4×4 vehicles. Arriving at Sasakwa Lodge, Phyllis and her family checked in at leisure for their two-night stay. Singita Sasakwa Lodge is located in the Grumeti Reserves in northern Tanzania and forms part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem. Singita Sasakwa Lodge holds special appeal for those with a passion for refined splendour, ensconcing its guests in comfort, luxury and old-world elegance. From this superb vantage point, one can become absorbed in the marvel of an abundance of wildlife.

On their final morning, Phyllis and her family could enjoy breakfast at the lodge with a leisurely morning before their transfer to Sasakwa Airstrip for the flight to Arusha Airport. Upon arrival in Arusha, they made their way to Arusha Coffee Lodge for lunch, storing their luggage at the hotel until their departure from Arusha later in the afternoon. Wanting to squeeze as much as they could into the last hours of their safari holiday, the family visited Shanga Village, a successful social enterprise which employs people with disabilities to create unique, high-qualtiy, handmade jewellery, glassware and homeware using recycled materials. These products are sold in Tanzania and all over the world, with profits being reinvested back into development of new products and further employment of disabled people. With their hearts full, the family continued on to Kilimanjaro International Airport for their check-in for their journey back home.