Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a national park in Arusha Region, Tanzania. The majority of the land area of the park is a narrow strip running between the Gregory Rift wall to the west and Lake Manyara, an alkaline or soda-lake, to the east. Lake Manyara National Park is known for the flamingos that inhabit the lake. During the wet season they inhabit the edges of the lake in flocks of thousands but they are not so present during the dry season.

More than 400 species of birds inhabit the park and many remain throughout the year. Because of this Lake Manyara National Park is a good spot for bird watching. Visitors to the park can expect to see upwards of 100 different species of birds on any day.

Leopards, lions, elephants, blue monkeys, dik-dik, gazelle, hippo, giraffe, impala, and more inhabit the park and many can be seen throughout the year. There is a hippo pond at one end of the park where visitors can get out of their cars and observe from a safe distance. The leopards and lions are both known to lounge in the trees while not hunting for prey.

What to do
Game drives, night game drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high.
Cultural tours, picnicking, bush lunch/dinner, mountain bike tours and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.

When to go
Dry season (July-October) for large mammals;
Wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.

Accommodation
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, Gibbs Farm, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge

Arusha National Park

The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safarigoers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.

The entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.

Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.

What to do
Forest walks, numerous picnic sites;
three- or four-day Mt Meru climb - good acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro.

When to go
To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.

Accommodation
Arusha Coffee Lodge, Lake Duluti Lodge, Arusha Hotel

Migration in Masai Mara...

The Great wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara has finally started and huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra numbering 16,000 have already crossed the Sand River. When the Serengeti and Masai Mara is filled with large numbers of zebras this time, then it means that the wildebeest migration this year will be a spectacle that no guest would want to miss. The early heavy rains has made it possible for the wildebeest and zebra to have plenty of food. The long grass in Maasai Mara is plenty for all these herbivores.

At the moment the Wildebeests have split into 3 different groups in the Serengeti, one group is in the Sand River region, while the other group is in that area of Grumeti River. Another group has reached the Northern part of Serengeti, Klein’s camp area.

In Maasai Mara near Talek gate there are herds of wildebeests and the lions and other big cats are not very far away. Remember when these herds of wildebeests move, they move with the predators. Lately that area of Mara Bush Camp, guests have witnessed stunning scenes….

Joy's Camp in Samburu

An elegant oasis in the arid lands of Samburu; Joy's Camp is built on the site of Joy Adamson's tented home in Shaba National Reserve.The camp overlooks a large natural spring where elephant and lion jostle for watering rights with herds of buffalo and the rare desert species of Beisa Oryx, reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.Each of the 10 sumptuous tents is uniquely decorated with handmade glass and the vibrant fabrics of the local nomadic tribes creating a chic, sophisticated and stylish camp. Each tent has breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, with its own private veranda - ideal for game viewing as well as relaxing, reading and soaking up the truly wild environs offered by Shaba.

The eastern corner of the Samburu eco-system, Shaba is a secluded idyll; an arid landscape dotted with lush springs and rocky river gorges. Joy's Camp is the perfect choice for discerning guests interested in a glimpse of Kenyan history, as well as those looking for an authentic wildlife experience combined with the comfort of a luxury-tented camp. Joy's Camp, "Forever Free"!

Owned by professional guides, the camp's emphasis is on a complete safari experience – fun, intellectually stimulating, oneness with nature:

• Game Drives
• Guided Bush Walks
• Bush Breakfasts along Ewaso Nyiro River and Gorge
• Sundowners
• Swimming pool
• Massage
• Joy Adamson Museum

Fresh homemade breads and pastas, traditional Italian risottos, and fresh organic salads await you at this chic boutique camp in Shaba.

During lunchtime, gaze over the camp's neighbouring lush springs teaming with elephant, buffalo and other plains game. After nightfall, while enjoying dinner, you will look out over the same floodlit springs, where lion and other preditors now appear, seeking refreshment after a long hot day.

At Joy's Camp guests dine individually (unlike some of our other tented camps, where dining is communal).
Private romantic dinners can also be arranged on request.

Olumara Tented Camp

The camp is an all season camp located along the banks of the Olare Orok River, on the boundary of masai Mara game reserve and Mara North conservancy, and conducts its game drives in the Masai Mara main reserve, Kenya.

Olumara is hidden in the shadow of indigenous trees. The camp recreates the atmosphere of the natural environment. Each room is furnished to a complete standard. The beds have been hand carved from specially selected wood from fallen trees. The interior of each tent also includes a hot and cold Shower, flush toilet, dressing area and a mirror. Each tent has a large, extended Balcony for relaxation, reading, and game viewing or even holding private events e.g. private dinners.

Once upon a time, this kind of safari was affordable only to the elite. The camp was specifically designed to blend with its natural surroundings. A rope suspension bridge across the river affords an adventurous entrance to our higher leveled camp, embraced by a bushy gorge.

With only eleven spacious, self contained luxury tents, we pride ourselves for our exclusive service on, one on one basis, with our guests.

Local game include elephant, Butchells zebra, Masai giraffe, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, elands, the rare honey badgers as well as the occasional spotted resident leopard. The Masai Mara is famous for its bird life, including riverine and forest species. Game drives are conducted by our long experienced guides, taking you to the famous Mara river migration crossing spots. A day of successful game spotting, will be followed by our Olumara sundowner cocktails of your choice served by our guides, in appreciation of the splendid Mara sunset.

Soroi Serengeti Lodge

The newest Lodge in our collection, Soroi Serengeti is set high on a natural plateau with endless views over the vast plains of Musabi, giving you a truly unforgettable African experience.

With its unique architecture and design elements, Soroi is a stunning Lodge located in a prime spot in the Western corridor of the Serengeti National Park. 

The luxurious Soroi Serengeti Lodge is an eclectic combination of architectural shapes, textures and colours combined with modern styled interiors. The main lounge and dining area offers ample seating with several decks as well as a small library. One of the main features is the unique infinity ‘rock’ pool where one can lounge whilst enjoying a plethora of game scattered on the plains.

The Lodge’s large open fireplace deck, also overlooking the plains, creates an inviting ambience. Tantalizing meals are served from an interactive open plan kitchen or under the star-filled skies and the exceptionally high standard of service adds to the delight of this tranquil spot.

Twenty- five individual thatched chalets complete with hardwood floorboards and dreamy mosquito nets are linked to the main lodge pathways by raised timber walkways. With soft comforting furnishings, combining fabrics and finishes with traditional earthy tones, the Chalets feature large expanses of glass and spacious viewing decks for better game viewing.

Each Chalet features a writing desk and chair, mini-fridge and en-suite bathroom with a stand-alone bath, an outside shower for the more adventurous and a full range of guest amenities. The Suites enjoy an extended Lounge area with WIFI and Satellite TV.

The Serengeti is famed for its annual migration and offers a once in a lifetime Safari experience. Yet even when the migration is quiet, this Park offers arguably the most scintillating game viewing in Africa. Drives set out at first light, again returning late afternoons. 

Hot air balloon safaris over the Serengeti are probably the most beautiful balloon flight in the world. The Safaris take off at dawn, rising slowly as the sun rises and floating in whichever direction the winds of the morning takes you.

Tarangire River Camp

If you are looking for an authentic safari experience under traditional canvas showcasing spacious views and enriching culture, Tarangire River Camp, where there is always a warm welcome and a wonderful atmosphere, is the perfect choice.

Tarangire River Camp is set within 25,000 hectares of concession area, included on the land is a branch of the Tarangire River itself, which the camp overlooks. The property is in a great location for game viewing since it is only 3.5km from the main entrance to Tarangire National Park.

Traditional grass thatching adorns the roof of the main lodge structure, which is set off the ground on an elevated deck. The breezy lounge boasts ample seating in a relaxing open-air environment. The dining area, where culturally inspiring meals are served, consists of simple safari style seating and the elevated position allows for excellent views over the riverbank below.

Both the dining and lounge areas are married into a proper bon-fire area and game viewing deck that also overlook the same stunning views. A smaller, secondary game viewing deck rises above the ceiling and offers a high, intimate perch above it all. The lodge’s small, informal gift shop offers the families of the nearby Maasai villages a chance to sell some of their handmade wares.

Accommodation consists of spacious tents built on wooden platforms with a thatched roof, all of which are en-suite and tastefully furnished with all the comforts you will need whilst on Safari. 

Each tent’s generously proportioned private veranda open out onto stunning views of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro in the distant horizon and several of the tents also offer views of the river, which morphs to a dramatic sand bed in the dry season. 

Mara Intrepids

Mara Intrepids Luxury Tented Camp is Made up of 30 tents widely spread across a large riverside site to ensure guest get optimum privacy and peace. Recently refurbished to accommodate to modern, discerning safari traveler, the tents are large and spacious with private verandahs to enjoy the plains, giving infinite views of the Mara. It is luxury in the wild.

Overlooking the Talek River, at the very confluence of the Mara’s four game-viewing areas, Mara Intrepids enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world’s best-known wilderness.Mara Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where more than a million wildebeest and zebra make their perilous migration crossing every July and August. For the remainder of the year, the camp offers some of the world’s finest game viewing, with large local populations of plains game, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and all the Big Cats. In 2004, some 75% of the footage for the BBC’s famous Big Cat Diary was shot in the vicinity of the camp. Mara Intrepids is 298 kilometres and a six-hour drive from Nairobi, while our all-weather airstrip enables guests to be at the camp within 45 minutes of leaving the capital.

Sitting on a shady raised platform facing the Talek river, each luxury tent covers approximately 26sqm and is fitted with a queen size bed 150x190 or 2 twin beds 90x190. it is furnished in the classic style of the grand African safaris; with large four poster beds and reproduction furniture, offset by modern en-suite bathroom with a hot shower; flush toilets and all the necessary amenities. 

Royal Mara Safari Lodge

Welcome to the Masai Mara of Kenya (also spelled "Maasai Mara"), recently designated as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The Royal Mara Safari Lodge is situated directly on the annual wildebeest "Great Migration" route, near the two world famous wildebeest migration Mara River crossing points and near Leopard Gorge, all made internationally known by the BBC's Big Cat Diary television program. Our tented lodge and camp is located on the popular Hippo Bend Lagoon of the Mara River, amongst several elephant, buffalo and giraffe herds, and with close proximity to several lion prides, including the Maternity, Musiara Marsh, Aitong, and River prides. Given the position of our camp in the richest game section of the Masai Mara, the Mara North Conservancy (winner of best wildlife conservancy in Kenya 2011 by EcoTourism Kenya), our camp guests are in the best location to most readily discover the Big Five mammals. Thousands of wildlife documentaries and countless millions of photographs stand testament to this timeless corner of the world. 

The Royal Mara's eight luxury guest accommodation suites, all with Mara River frontage, are built on elevated mahogany wood decks with private verandas. Our accommodations are a blend of the classic tented safari camp with the amenities of a lodge facility - the result is an exclusive luxury tented lodge and camp like nothing else in Africa. All accommodations are equipped with four-poster super king and double size beds, elegantly hand-carved solid wood furnishings and full en suite bathrooms. We have hosted many couples and honeymooners with great success - our location, accommodations and setting in the Masai Mara safari environment make for a beautiful, romantic retreat. Royal Mara camp guests are spoiled as they sunbathe in our open veranda chaises lounges, dine along the river frontage of the camp as hippos wallow in the nearby river, and experience elegant haute cuisine on their own unique African wilderness safari.

Take a hot air balloon ride and float across the savannah plains above herds of wildlife. You will be transported to the launching site in the early morning and after a one hour balloon ride you will enjoy an open savannah champagne breakfast followed by a game drive back to the camp.

Meet the local Maasai community on a cultural excursion. The Maasai eagerly welcome guests into their homes to show their lifestyle and culture. Visit the local school and meet pioneer teachers who struggle to bring education to the bush.

Great Wildebeest and Zebra Migration Updates….

The majority of  the Wildebeest and Zebra have crossed the Grumeti River and are heading towards the northern part of Serengeti National Park. The crossing has not yet stopped completely and the cats ( lion, leopard, Cheetah, hyena ) are not stationed very far from the Grumeti River. The crocodiles have managed to capture some of the wildebeests and zebras. The lodges and Camps positioned in northern part of Serengeti will be the place for the clients to be and enjoy this spectacle. Especially that area of Kogatende. Camps like Olakira, Sayari, Lemala Mara and Dunia.

Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Nestled in 190 acres of wooded Masai land, the lodge sits on the foot hills of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. Mature wooded gardens with a variety of trees and plants, from thorn trees and acacias to fragrant frangipanis, colourful bougainvillea and giant cactus plants thrive in these surroundings. Different species of birds build their nests while monkeys with their young ones clinging under their bellies and squirrels dart through the gardens.

The restaurant named after the tallest peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, is a round structure with a thatched papyrus roof and an exterior giving it a feel of an African hut, with the exterior walls plastered to look like rough and painted earth red/mustard colour, giving it an African bush like ambiance. The glass windows and doors face the mountain and right in the centre is a fire place with bakuba fabrics extended and tied to the ceiling. The fireplace is decorated all around with carvings of wild life.

The accommodation is amazing with king size beds, some of the rooms have interconnecting doors, ideal for families. There are also rooms for physically disabled people. The pathways leading to the rooms are sheltered with beautiful plants and trees. The rooms are constructed as individual huts and they are all spacious, with en suite bathrooms and verandah.

Wasini Island

Wasini Island lies off the southern Indian Ocean coast of Kenya next to Shimoni and close to Diani. It is approximately 5 km long and 1 km across. The Island is sparsely populated and undeveloped. A site of early Swahili civilization, this coral island is occupied by the Vumba people, an indigenous group of Bantu speaking peoples who have a rich history. They speak Swahili and Kivumba and they number about 1500. Mkwiro and Wasini are the two villages present on the island - each at opposite ends. Their history includes invasion and settlement of Arab influence from the Persian Gulf states, and from the island of Zanzibar, further south.

The island is some 10 km from the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. This park annually attracts many thousands of overseas and local tourists per year. Wasini Island is a famous place and it offers great opportunities for snorkeling, dolphin spotting, turtles, tropical fish, watching the sunset while on the dhow. Also the island has variety of plants and birds. From baobab to the mangrove tress all this can be found in this island.

Kibo Safari Camp in Amboseli

Kibo Safari Camp is a luxury tented camp set at the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. With the newly built tarmark road from Emali to Loitokitok, getting to Kibo Safari Camp is now a comfortable 4 hours drive from the city of Nairobi. The camp is set only five minutes drive from the park entry gate and 15 kilometers from Amboseli airstrip. Whether it is for a weekend getaway or for a well-deserved holiday Kibo Safari Camp offers you tranquil atmosphere to unwind and relax.

The ideal location for our camp makes sure you never miss the breath taking morning view of Mt. Kilimanjaro as all our tents are facing the majesty of Kilimanjaro.

In addition, as you relax by the camp you may have a chance to see the graceful elephants pass by the camp! Kibo Safari Camp offers complete tranquility & privacy as we have maintained the original nature feel and authenticity of our grounds bringing you closer to nature. Kibo Safari Camp is electric fenced; therefore you are assured of complete security inside the camp. Guests can enjoy bush breakfast and bush lunch while listening to the sounds of the birds.

Wild Dogs at Oliver's Camp in Tanzania

After we were lucky to have lots of Wild Dog sightings at Ubuntu South between December and February last season, there is now also a pack of 15 wild dogs in the Tarangire National Park close to Oliver`s Camp.

The most exciting sighting last week was two wild dogs that were spotted during a walking safari hunting impala.The Wild Dogs walked very close to the guests on their walking safari – meaning only about 5 meters away from the guests. The image was taken by our walking guide Alex on the walking safari. 

Ndololo Safari Camp in Tsavo East

Ndololo safari camp enjoys one of the most spectacular sceneries in Tsavo East. Kenya’s preserved game renowned for it's concentration of diverse wildlife and home to the fabled “Man Eaters of Tsavo.

The luxurious tented camp lies on the broad, thickly forested banks of Voi River in Tsavo East National park. It's accessible throughout the year by all weather roads and is located 7km from Voi gate, 63km from Buchama gate and 36km from Manyani gate.

This exclusive camp offers 20 luxurious, well-spaced tents each self contained with a Verandah and bedroom. Some of the tents have single, double and triple bed's to cater for different tastes. All are furnished in a classic blend of ancient and modern, rich African fine hand carved olive wood furniture, with modern amenities.

The camp offers unsuited facilities fully equipped kitchen, dining room where well prepared and delicious cuisine is served and a well equipped bar serving a variety of drinks. Bush barbeques are also served. The reception center offers a variety of African curios, books and momentos.

The indigenous forests around the camp are home to the big five wild animal's, including the elephant's, the buffalo's, the rhino's, the lion's and the leopard's. The environmental are also frequented by ostrich's, zebra's, giraffe's and many more safari animals, while the trees are filled with melodies of a wide variety of birds.