Adventurers travel in style on board SkySafari's own executive class Grand Cessna Caravan plane, the only aircraft of its kind in Tanzania, between the parks and conservation areas in the air and in custom-fitted Safari Land Cruisers and Land Rovers on the ground. The seven-night, eight-day journey takes travellers across Northern Tanzania's iconic locations with accommodations at four Elewana Collection lodges and camps.
In the Serengeti, guests are in for the pinnacle of glamorous camping in tented rooms that pay homage to the mobile camps of the 1930s and exude decadence reminiscent of African high society life in days gone by, all whilst being strategically positioned to offer access to the extraordinary annual Great Migration.
On the edge of an elephant migration corridor they step up to luxurious new heights in tree houses perched high up above the baobab and marula trees with unmatched views of the largest herds of elephant on the continent. And on a huge coffee estate in the hills south of the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the first safari lodges to blend East African hospitality with old-world Afro-European architecture and decor offers the perfect grandiose rest stop on the safari trial.
Starting at Kilimanjaro International Airport, adventurers are chauffeured to the town of Arusha. Here the Arusha Coffee Lodge is nestled in one of Tanzania's largest coffee plantations at the base of the volcanic Mount Meru and offers invigorating glimpses into the region's historic coffee rituals in spacious comfort designed around the original landowner's early 20th-century home.
From the industrious coffee pickers gathering in the harvest to the aromas of the morning brew emanating from the main house, Arusha Coffee Lodge is full of sensory experiences that revitalise the body and soul for the African safari adventure and excitement that lies ahead.
After a fascinating coffee walking tour, giving the opportunity to learn about coffee harvesting, roasting and sampling Tanzania's finest organic roast on the working estate, the plane awaits at Arusha Airport for the short hop to the Tarangire National Park.
The Tarangire Treetops lodge occupies a serene spot in a private game reserve bordering the Tarangire National Park, south of the open grass plains of southern Masailand. Centred around a 1000-year-old baobab, the retreat invites safari-goers to luxurious new heights for a lavish stay, just as the name suggests, in the treetops. The luxuriously appointed elevated guest rooms, some of which are built in the trees, afford unrivalled vistas of the famed elephant corridors and over 550 bird species.
Guests can live the safari dream with day game drives in the Tarangire National Park, set out into the mystical night for astonishing wildlife encounters under a starlit African sky, or enjoy guided walking safaris. A visit to a nearby authentic Masai village affords a glimpse into the tribe's daily life.
Surprises are all around and none more so than when, as night falls, guests ascend Sunset Hill to discover a table dressed with the finest white linen and laden with refreshing cocktails and pre-dinner delights. Here the last rays of sunshine across the Tarangire plains to the distant Lake Manyara mark the end of an unforgettable day of discovery in one of the most idyllic and unforgettable settings on the planet.
A game drive starts the day of exploration on an exhilarating note, stopping along the way for a bush picnic lunch, en route to the Manyara Airstrip from where the plane takes off to reach The Manor at Ngorongoro in time for afternoon high tea.
In the hills south of the Ngorongoro Crater stands The Manor at Ngorongoro. With spacious cottages - including a three-bedroomed, double-storey Stable Cottage - and a magnificent manor house, The Manor at Ngorongoro evokes memories of an elegant upcountry farm house with cottages that have been carefully positioned to maximise the views of the adjacent verdant hills, whilst maintaining the intentional intimacy and privacy of this old-world homestead.
An unmissable highlight is a day trip to the Ngorongoro Crater, famed as being the Eighth Wonder of the World. This extinct volcano - with its 18-kilometre-wide crater floor - is home to an abundant and unique ecosystem that encompasses almost all of the wildlife that safari-goers would wish to see in Africa. The spectacular setting is an opportunity to experience the rawness and beauty of Africa's natural fauna and flora. Lunch here is an event of colonial proportions when a table dressed with the finest linen and silverware is laid on the edge of a lake where hippos splash metres away and the chef's choice of tantalising fresh dishes is served with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
For those who prefer to marvel in blissful tranquillity and relaxation, horseback riding, bicycle trails and coffee processing tours on the estate offer a welcome respite. Day excursions to a nearby Masai market, Lake Manyara or the Olduvai Gorge are also on offer.
The glorious splendour of the Serengeti awaits after a flight into the national park and a game drive to the Serengeti Migration Camp, arriving to sundowner cocktails as the sun sets over the savannah.
At the starting point of the Serengeti Migration, the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet, the award-winning Serengeti Migration Camp boasts luxuriously appointed tents that blend seamlessly with the surrounding rocky outcrops and overlook vast and rugged landscapes. A mere 30 metres away the Grumeti River is home to a pod of hippos that can be observed in their natural habitat from the safety of a bough that hangs over the river.
The unexpectedly large, elevated canvas pavilions have been carefully placed to endow guests with unlimited privacy and blend effortlessly into nature's architecture. Inside, hardwood floors and luxuriant rich furnishings reveal the epitome of old-world safari style fused with contemporary luxury.
The colonial-style luxuries continue with dining and public areas perched on a rocky outcrop. Guests are invited to unwind and the recall the day's safari adventures in the airy opulence of a split-level lounge and cigar bar that overlook the Ndasiata Hills, or dine in elegant splendour as the Grumeti River lazily flows by.
Restored and revitalised by their plush surroundings, guests can set out on exhilarating journeys to track and follow the Great Migration with day game drives, or admire the African extravaganza from inspirational lofty heights as they soar into endless blue skies with a balloon safari.
With Mount Meru coming into sight and Mount Kilimanjaro towering over the plains in the distance, the flight back to Arusha affords a last bird's-eye view of the cradle of humanity that is Africa.
A SkySafari Plus option offers travellers a custom-made package with additional nights at their favourite safari sanctuary, or at the Elewana Collection's boutique beach hotel on the tropical island of Zanzibar to conclude a safari adventure with a bespoke beach holiday. Located on the north-west coast of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago off Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast, and lying adjacent to the clear turquoise waters of the sparkling ocean, is Kilindi Zanzibar. A rarity in the world of luxury boutique hotels, the haven was originally designed for Benny Andersson, one of the members of 1980s' pop sensation Abba, and is as unique in character and design as its idyllic locale.
The SkySafari by Elewana packages include all private flights between the Elewana Collection properties and private airport transfers, accommodation, laundry, meals, drinks, game drives and bush walks.
For more, go to www.skysafari.com and www.elewanacollection.com.
