Mount Meru Game Lodge

Arusha: 1 Night

Set in beautiful and tranquil surroundings, the Mount Meru Game Lodge is nestled between the Usa River and a wildlife sanctuary, which is home to zebra, ostrich, water buffalo, mongoose, duiker and a wide array of birds and monkeys, including the elusive Colobus monkey. The majority of the animals were once either orphaned or badly injured and were brought to the sanctuary for rehabilitation. By choosing to stay at Mount Meru Game Lodge, you will also be playing a very important role in helping these animals since the activities of the sanctuary are entirely financed by the lodge.

The lodge and sanctuary were established by Dr Von Nagy in 1959, and still remains within the family. Being one of the first lodges in Northern Tanzania, the lodge has had the pleasure of hosting a long list of visitors, including numerous presidents, the King and Queen of Sweden, Prince Charles, the Hemingways, the Kennedys and a number of modern day celebrities.

Equidistant from the city of Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport - each an easy 30 minute drive on good roads - the lodge provides an excellent starting point for those interested in visiting the Northern circuit Parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, or for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru.

The lodge features a total of 18 guest rooms (including 2 family rooms) surrounding the main lodge building. All the rooms are en-suite and have a small veranda where one can enjoy the gardens, monkeys, birds and animals.

The main building consists of the reception area, lounge and bar. The lounge, with its enormous picture windows and comfortable furniture, provides a relaxing environment, and the bar offers a wide selection of spirits, beers and minerals, complemented by a carefully selected collection of wines. To the front of the main building is a terrace which is shaded by enormous old mango trees and enjoys magnificent views of the gardens and sanctuary.

In the grounds of the lodge there is an outdoor dining area, and in the evening a camp fire allows guests to dine under the African star-lit sky whilst listening to the exciting night sounds.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Tarangire National Park: 1 Night

Hidden among the kopjes in the Tarangire National Park lies Tarangire Sopa Lodge, surrounded by ancient baobab trees.

The lodge is located on the eastern side of the Tarangire River opposite Tarangire Hill. The Tarangire National Park is 2,850 square km of remarkable beauty and rewarding game drives, and is on the traditional migration route. The Park is also home to the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa. Over 500 bird species can be spotted here as well. With water constantly available in the area, the greenery is lush providing a wonderful contrast to the burnt ground.

The lodge is 30 km from the Park entrance gate, about an hour's drive through an area rich in wildlife.

Located at the swimming pool, the Pool Bar is surrounded by a patio area and small sheltered umbrella areas, and is an ideal venue to relax around in between game activities.

Masai village visits can also be arranged, as can bush dinners.

Children are very welcome at the lodge, and babysitting services are available.

There are 75 spacious rooms in total, all with a private lounge with a mini bar. Each room has 2 queensize beds with a mosquito net around them.

Ceiling fans keep the rooms cool and glass sliding doors open out onto a balcony, with a great view of the landscape beyond.

The dining room is a spacious, light and airy room with an outside seating area which is ideal for BBQs and themed dinners.

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Ngorongoro Crater: 1 Night

The unique Ngorongoro Serena Lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater in the world.

Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the crater some 600 metres below.

Deep within the crater, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests, including bull elephants, rhinos and lions.

Guests staying at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge can enjoy a variety of activities, including daily game drives down into the crater, sundowner drinks on the rim of the crater, picnic lunches, early morning breakfasts in the crater itself, guided nature walks around the crater rim, and nightly Maasai dancing.

Visits to local Maasai villages and cattle markets can also be arranged.

Each of the 75 rock-built rooms are strung around the crater rim. Each has its own rock-enclosed balcony, and all enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheatre far below. The rooms feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, and locally inspired decor including Masai carvings and stylised cave paintings.

The spacious Kimba Suite has a dressing area and natural stone en-suite bathroom, and an elegantly appointed sitting room with crater views and a stone-built balcony.

The main lodge areas are linked by arched stone passages and timbered decks. The lodge walls are also decorated with stylised prehistoric cave paintings and lit by flickering torchlight, and at the heart of the lodge there is a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight.

The main restaurant is beautifully designed in a traditional Tanzanian style to create an enchanting dining experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows and double doors leading out on to an expansive terrace complement each meal with panoramic views of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

The Serengeti: 2 Nights

Set high on a tree-clad ridge, the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge offer panoramic views across the Serengeti’s vast, endless grasslands, where lions and cheetahs stalk their prey and massive migrating wildebeest herds darken the landscape in a relentless search for fresh grazing grounds.

Centrally located adjacent to the famous Western Corridor and Grumeti River, guests staying here can enjoy a variety of activities, including spectacular game drives, or a gentle nature trail in the company of an experienced naturalist. Balloon safaris over the Serengeti plains, followed by a champagne breakfast at the landing site in the bush can also be arranged (at an additional cost).

An essential part of traditional safari life, the concept of having drinks whilst watching the sun go down dates back to the time of the great safaris of the 1920s. Timed to commence as the sun starts its descent, which on the Equator is usually around 18:00, the Serengeti sundowner begins with a gentle drive to a scenic spot. Chairs, lamps, a campfire and a bush bar with cocktail snacks will already have been set up. This activity is an additional cost.

The lodge has been designed to blend completely into the landscape. A series of traditional domed rondavels are widely spaced throughout the grounds, which are cooled by groves of acacia trees and watered by sparkling streams. Looking out over the plains, each room has its own private balcony, private entrance, spacious bedroom, natural stone bathroom, and intricately carved furniture.

The Serengeti Suite is set slightly apart from the rest of the rooms, and has a sitting room as well as the en-suite bedroom.

The main lodge facilities include a traditionally carved domed dining room, a scenic bar with a timbered outside terrace, a central barbeque area and water gardens, and a gift shop. There is also an infinity pool which looks out over the endless plains.

Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

Lake Manyara: 1 Night

Standing high on the edge of a towering terracotta escarpment with panoramic views over the glittering alkaline waters of Lake Manyara, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge welcomes you to this peaceful location. The lake is home to over 300 migratory birds including flamingoes, long-crested eagles and grey-headed kingfisher, and the lodge is designed to mimic this extraordinary birdlife, with an architectural motif featuring swooping avian curves and vibrantly coloured wall frescoes depicting the intricacy of bird migratory patterns.

Safari activites include morning and afternoon game drives around the lake itself, night game drives, canoeing safaris on the lake and morning bird walks.  Other activites that can be arranged are boating trips around the lake and its ecosystem, visits to the villages of the Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme offering village walks (with lunch), bicycle tours and dance displays, high-action mountain biking around the Park, and day trips to nearby Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.

The main reception area of this highly unusual lodge is built in a traditional African style, and is accessed via a bridge over a small stream. Beyond the reception lies the central dining room, bar and veranda. Perched on the very edge of the cliffs, with stunning views over the lake is the 'vanishing horizon' swimming pool, the pool bar and the observation point.

The 67 rooms are housed in circular, double-storey, white-washed 'rondavals' (traditional circular buildings with conical thatched roofs), which are strung out along the edge of the cliff so as to allow for maximum views. Each spacious circular room has its own small veranda while the interior décor reflects the blue of the lake and the pink of its flamingos. Behind each bed hangs a spectacular hand-woven rug, while the furnishings and fittings reflect traditional Maasai beadwork.

The Losimingori Suite features a spacious bedroom with a kingsized double bed, walk-in mosquito nets, sumptuous furnishings, a dressing area and a marble en-suite bathroom. A separate sitting room provides panoramic views and there is a balcony overlooking the infinity pool. 24 hour room service is available, and fruit and wine is laid out to welcome you. The suite is set slightly apart from the other rooms, and enjoys its own private access.

Breezes Beach Club & Spa

Zanzibar: 6 Nights

Located on the south-east coast of the island of Zanzibar, Breezes Beach Club & Spa is the perfect getaway retreat. With its pristine white sandy beach, rustling palm trees, exquisite attention to detail and genuine hospitality, this exotic resort captures the very essence of Zanzibari style.

The cuisine features the freshest catch, the most exotic spices and the lush natural fruites from the island, all prepared and served in the most stunning venues. For a more romantic setting, guests can choose to dine at The Tides, a private beachfront dining only for two people overlooking the Indian Ocean with impeccable personalised service.

Windsurfing, sailing, kite surfing, and snorkelling trips can be arranged, as well as professionally organised diving activities including PADI Open Water Courses. For the more active, head to the Fitness Centre for a workout, or indulge in a game of tennis on the floodlit tennis court.

If all that sounds too energetic, simply relax around the pool and enjoy a cocktail from the Pool Bar, or make an appointment at the Frangipani Spa,where you can enjoy a variety of treatments and therapies, all aimed at relieving the negative impacts of a modern lifestyle such as stress or exhaustion.

The resort has 74 rooms and suites in total.

The Deluxe Rooms are located on the ground floor of bungalows, and each has its own terrace. They are tastefully decorated in ivory tones with cotton throws, teak wood finishes and Zanzibar carvings.

The Standard Rooms are located further away from the sea, and have with a terrace and garden view.  A sofa bed in each room doubles up as a third bed, making these ideal for families.

The Suites are located on the upper floor of bungalows, and have a walk in dressing room, a large bathroom, and a large balcony with sunbeds and a covered outdoor lounge area.