Onsea House

Arusha: 1 Night

Arusha is a small town in northern Tanzania, and is the gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Most visitors will pass through here on their way to or from their safari destination.

Depending on the time your arriving flight lands, a stay in one of the many lodges and hotels in/around Arusha is either a necessity as you will be arriving late at night or it is recommmended so that you can relax and rest after your longhaul flight, ready to start your safari adventure fresh the next morning.

If you have time to explore, the streets jostle with safari vehicles, market traders, Masai warriors in traditional dress, and excited tourists. Curio markets offer the opportunity to buy good quality crafts and gifts at reasonable prices. The nearby Arusha National Park is just a 40 minute drive away, and offers the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats and spot wildlife if you want to add to your Tanzania safari adventure. The imposing Mount Mero towers over the town, adding to the appeal of a stay here.

Onsea House is a luxury guest house, located about 7 km east of Arusha, offering a personalised service and a high level of comfort to all guests who stay here. Experience the calm African-Colonial setting, featuring tasteful decorations.

The outdoor floodlit swimming pool is, thanks to its location and size, probably the most comfortable in Arusha with a nice temperature almost throughout the year. The pool and the lawn bar are the perfect place to prepare or wind down from your safari or mountain climbing adventure, and comes complete with stunning views of Mount Meru.

There are 5 tastefully decorated rooms. The cosy and tranquil country inn, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, consists of 2 double en-suite rooms which open onto a shared terrace.  Also here is the spacious Family Suite, which consists of 2 double rooms and one twin room, all sharing one bathroom.  The Family Suite has a private garden, and a private living room connects the different rooms.

The adjacent self-contained 2 bedroom guest cottage can easily accommodate up to 6 people. The 2 sunny en-suite bedrooms feature a private wooden balcony with a swimming pool and garden view.  The terrace offers direct access to the swimming pool. There is also a fully equipped living room and kitchen. 

All rooms have 4 poster double queensize beds with mosquito nets and have en-suite bathrooms.

Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp

Tarangire National Park: 1 Night

Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp, set within 25,000 hectares of concession area, is just 3.5 km from the main entrance to Tarangire National Park. The camp overlooks the Tarangire River.

Tarangire is one of the most diverse and beautiful Parks in Tanzania. There is an abundance of big game here including lion, elephant, Black rhino and buffalo, as well as a vast bird and lesser game population. During the dry season, when the Tarangire River has shrunk to a mere shadow of its former self, the elephant dig deep into the damp earth of the riverbed in search of underground springs. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and gazelle congregate with rarer species such as eland and oryx around each shrinking waterhole.

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 lead into a proper bonfire area and game viewing deck that also overlook the same stunning views. The small gift shop offers the families of the nearby Maasai villages a chance to sell some of their handmade wares.

Guests are accomodated in 14 safari tents, all of which have either a kingsize or twin beds, en-suite facilities with hot and cold running water as well as a private deck. There are also 5 family tents each sleeping 3, 4 or 5 people, and one Luxury Safari Tent with a deck with an amazing outdoor shower and bath, which enhances the romantic setting of this tent. All the tents are tastefully furnished with all the comforts you will need whilst on safari.

Friendly and attentive staff are also always on hand to cater to your every need.

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

Ngorongoro Crater: 2 Nights

The 5* Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge is a colonial lodge set on 40 acres of pristine lush green gardens which alone attracts over 130 species of birds. The lodge is elevated on a hill with 360 degree views that extend seemingly for miles into the distance. 

The lodge is accessed over a pond and your first impression is of the grand central hallway with wooden trusses looking out over the rim flow infinity pool and further onto Mount Oldeani, which is part of the caldera of the world famous Ngorongoro Crater, which itself is only 12 km away.

Over 30,000 animals live within the Ngorongoro Crater, making this the most densely packed concentration of wildlife in Africa. On a game drive into the crater, watch out for wildebeest, elephant, lion, zebra and hyena - just some of the animals that can be found here. The crater is also home to black rhino - a rare sighting in Tanzania. Around the lake you may also find flocks of pelican, ibis and flamingos.

The spectacular stone main house includes a main lounge, dining room, boutique shop, media (TV) room, outside fireplace pit, billiards room, internet cafe and a childrens' activity room. The Ole Sere Spa offers a great chance to rejuvenate and re-energise after a bumpy and dusty safari adventure. There is also a Movie Theater with recliners and a big screen.

For the more energetic, the fitness center has a well-equipped gym, or outdoor fitness workouts can be arranged with the staff - varying from a jog round the 1 km stone pathways to cycling.

Your stay at the lodge includes a hearty breakfast, a picnic lunch for your day out on safari, and then a sumptuous dinner served in the evening.

All 50 suites and the Livingstone Suite have infinite views of the surrounding area. All rooms are tastefully decorated with all the amenities one would expect in a 5* establishment, including inside and outside showers, bath tub, air conditioning, a fireplace, Wi-Fi, minibar, and a private deck terrace.

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Moru Kopjes

The Serengeti: 2 Nights

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Moru Kopjes is ideally located within Central Seronera area of the famous Serengeti National Park around the vicinity of the famous Moru Kopjes and Lake Magadi.

The camp is perched between the Rongai Hills and Nyaroboro Hills, a few metres away from the banks of the Mbalageti/Seronera River and a hippo pool. The area boasts an abundant variety of resident wildlife (including all the Big 5), and at the right time of the year, the annual wildebeest migration can be witnessed as the camp lies on one of the main migratory corridors.

The camp offers a daily walking safari, which starts from the boma. Lasting between one and 2 hours, you will learn all about the various plants and animals that you com across. The walk is led by a professional guide along the river towards the plain areas. The walks normally depart at 07:00 or 16:00.

Each luxury en-suite tent has a private viewing deck with uninterrupted panoramic views. There are 20 tents in total, including one Family Tent. The en-suite bathrooms have flushing toilets and pressurised running showers with 24 hour power supply.

The main guest areas consist of a well-stocked bar and a spacious dining tent. The evenings can be enjoyed sitting around the fireplace while exchanging stories about your day's adventures with other guests. On some nights, dinner is served in the Maasai Boma, where the background music is nature's unique sounds, mostly dominated by the lions roaring in the distance.

The Swahili phrase, Hakuna Matata (meaning No Trouble)  was made famous by the Lion King Disney movie, and guests can expand on this one phrase an learn more Swahili words with the resident teachers who will give you a one on one lesson every evening at the fireplace.

Lake Manyara Kilima Moja Lodge

Lake Manyara: 1 Night

The Lake Manyara National Park is renowned for its excellent bird-watching opportunities in general, as more than 400 different bird species have been recorded. Other wildlife includes elephant, buffalo, cheetah, hippo, Masai giraffe, wildebeest, impala, zebra, warthogs, large troops of baboons, and the legendary but rarely seen tree-climbing lions - yes, they really do climb trees!  

During the wet seasons (November/December and March to May), the lake itself can cover up to 60% of the Park's total area. The lake's high alkaline waters attract a variety of migratory waterbirds, including huge flocks of pink flamingos as well as pelicans, storks and cormorants. During the dry seasons, however, the lake can dry up considerably.

The Lake Manyara Boardwalk trail meanders 300m through to the lake, and gives visitors a unique view and wonderful photo opportunites along the route. Educational signage at key points further enhances the experience!  For the braver tourist, check out Tanzania's only Treetop Walkway too, giving you a birds-eye view of the area.

Nested on the rim of the Great African Rift Valley with stunning views lies Lake Manyara Kilima Moja Lodge. The lodge is set on pristine lush green gardens with over 130 species of bird. It is the ideal place in which to base your Northern safari experience. Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, Oldeani, Lake Eyasi, and the Ngorongoro Highlands are all just a short drive from the lodge.

Each of the 50 suites has its own spacious private veranda and viewing deck, with en-suite bathrooms that have slipper baths with views over the highlands, inside and outside showers and double basins. The 2 bedroom Villas also have panoramic views of the surrounding area.

The main house has a main guest lounge, a dining room, spa, boutique, media (TV) room, rim flow pool, billiards room, an internet cafe and a children's activity room. Dining is table d'hotel with international traditional cuisine and fusion. There is outside and inside seating overlooking the escarpment.

Sitting around the ouside fireplace watching the sun setting over the Great Rift Valley and listening to the humming of the birds the background is a fitting way to end a day.

Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa

Zanzibar: 5 Nights

A luxury beachfront resort with traditional Swahili charm, Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa is situated on the finest white, sandy beach on the east coast of the island of Zanzibar. The hotel spreads over 30 acres of tropical gardens with over 1,000 palm trees.

The Oasis Spa is idyllically situated right on the beach where the cool breeze and sounds of the ocean provide you with the ultimate experience in relaxation. Bluebay’s qualified massage and beauty therapists offer an impressive range of treatments to soothe away the stresses of modern day life.

The Makuti Restaurant enjoys magnificent views over the swimming pool to the ocean beyond and offers breakfast, lunch and themed evening meals with live entertainment. If you prefer an exclusive dining experience, the beachfront Bahari Grill is famous on Zanzibar for its fresh seafood and Italian specialities - the perfect setting for a romantic meal. The Blue Marlin Restaurant offers beach barbecues and the Pool Bar boasts an enticing selection of wines and spirits.

The resort is home to the 5* PADI One Ocean Dive Centre. The most popular destination for divers and snorkellers is Mnemba Atoll, which lies off the northern tip of the island in the channel that separates Zanzibar from Pemba Island. The pear-shaped atoll measures around 15 square kilometres and the reefs are home to a huge variety of marine life from the tiniest of shrimp to huge turtles.

Other watersport activities include big game fishing, boat trips and dhow cruises, windsurfing and snorkelling. On the land, there is a floodlit tennis court, a fully equipped gym, and table tennis and pool tables. 

All rooms at Bluebay are spacious, bright and beautifully decorated in Zanzibari style with hand-carved furniture.

The comfortable Garden Rooms overlook the grounds, while the popular Superior Rooms are elevated, offering views over the gardens to the beach and ocean beyond. The exclusive Junior Suites are only 30 metres from the ocean and are split level with a large seating area, magnificent verandah and even a private garden with outdoor shower.

Finally, there are 2 beachfront Sultan Suites - the ultimate in opulence, privacy and luxury – a Sultan would expect nothing less!