Your Luxury Honeymoon
Sample itinerary: Northern Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Karibu! Welcome to Tanzania and the beginning of your honeymoon adventure. Tanzania is a country bursting with natural beauty, wildlife, memorable experiences and some the friendliest people you will ever meet. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a Lion King representative and a big smile. You will be driven to your accommodation in Arusha and depending on your arrival time, may wish to explore the city a little. Otherwise, simply rest, refresh and prepare for the start of your Safari. Most people see Arusha as nothing more than Tanzania’s safari capital or a stopover for hiking the snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro. Located exactly halfway between Cairo and Cape Town, Arusha represents the middle of the Old British Empire marked by a simple clock tower. Dig beneath its chaotic, dusty exterior and you’ll find there are plenty of reasons to explore this city.
Accommodation: Gran Melia Arusha
Gran Melia is an oasis within Arusha, set in 18 acres of beautifully landscaped coffee and tea plantations. The hotel has a fresh, modern, luxurious feel and offers spectacular views of both Mount Meru and the surrounding City.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will be collected by your personal Driver Guide and set off for Tarangire National Park. Drive time approximately two and a half hours. The Park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. In places, the vegetation is quite dense, including elephant grass, acacia woodlands and lush groundwater forest. The Park is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire National Park than anywhere else on the planet! The huge and ancient Baobab trees can be seen here. Some of them are said to have lived for more than a thousand years and can grow to have trunks reaching 30 metres in circumference.
Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Lodge
Day 3: Rest & Relax at Maramboi Tented Lodge
Maramboi Tented Lodge is one of our favourite places to stay in Tanzania and it is worth spending a full day here. It is quite magical. The Camp sits between Tarangire National Park and the shore of Lake Manyara, with the mountains of the Rift Valley providing a magnificent backdrop. The Camp is spread out across a plain that is filled with wildlife. During your stay, you may see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, wart-hogs and a rich variety of bird life. The Camp is simple, stylish and relaxed. Accommodation is a very spacious cottage/tent, with a private outside balcony and carefully designed bathroom. House drinks are included during your stay and Happy Hour whilst watching the sun slowly dip behind the mountains is just beautiful. There is a heated pool with views across the plain and it is possible to go on a guided walk with a Maasai Warrior.
Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Lodge
Day 4: Central Serengeti (Seronera)
The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest National Park and it is also one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. Whilst the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest; accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The precise timing of the Migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year. Seronera is the heart of the park, where you will find some of the best game viewing at any time of year. Large populations of hippos, giraffe, antelope, elephants and zebras call this area home throughout the year. Big cats like lion, leopard and cheetah can also be found here. Seronera features a vast range of diverse ecosystems including grasslands that stretch out to the horizon and acacia forests. Central Serengeti offers some of the most iconic and romantic African landscapes.
Accommodation: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Kubu Kubu is a place that you will never forget. The luxury cottage tents are built in authentic African design without compromising on modern comforts. Thatch roofs provide cover over the spacious en suite canvas tent rooms, each of which are fitted with outdoor shower and Wi-Fi. The tents are set on raised wooden platforms, providing a private terrace that offers panoramic views of the sprawling Serengeti landscape. The staff at Kubu Kubu are an important part of the ambience of this place and will help to make your stay even more memorable.
Day 5: Central Serengeti & Hot Air Balloon flight
Some things are worth getting up early for and this is certainly one of them. Hot Air Balloons invoke feelings of thrill, exhilaration and trepidation. The flight offers unrivalled views of the landscape and wildlife. You will be collected before sunrise from Kubu Kubu and driven to the balloon launch site. After your flight, you will enjoy a bush breakfast and then return to Kubu Kubu. You can leave for a Game Drive at a time of your choosing.
Accommodation: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Today, you will have a final Game Drive in the Serengeti, en route to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
The Sanctuary is a Tented Camp in the middle of the Crater Rim Valley. It is located in the middle of lush green forest. The evenings and early mornings can be cold, but the Camp is set up for this with firepits and heated blankets inside the tents. It is difficult to imagine how a tent can feel luxurious, but this Camp has been designed and built to meet every need. It is situated quite close to the adventurous descent road leading down into the Crater itself, ensuring that if you choose to, you can be one of the first inside the Crater in the morning. The Sanctuary lives up to its name and provides a unique experience, on the way to a forgotten world.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland and glistening lakes and swamps. The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. It is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve which is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in the whole of the African continent. The drive down the into the Crater is an adventure in itself and when you reach the Crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The Crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands. IN the afternoon, you will leave the Crater and return to Arusha.
Accommodation: Gran Melia Arusha
Day 8: Arusha to Zanzibar (Stone Town)
The flight from Arusha to Zanzibar is approximately one hour. You will be met at Zanzibar Airport by a Lion King representative and driven to your accommodation. Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar and little has changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses. Stone Town has brought together many different elements of the cultures of Africa, the Arab region, India, and Europe over more than a thousand years. You can spend endless hours just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways, absorbing the years of history. We would highly recommend a guided tour of Stone Town, which can be organised at your hotel.
Accommodation: Emerson Spice Stone Town
Emerson Spice is a quirky hotel in the middle of Stone Town and offers a taste of a time gone by. The hotel is a lovingly restored Merchant’s House and has eleven uniquely designed rooms, each with its own character and history. The hotel rooms are structured around an airy central courtyard. Emerson Spice has two restaurants: The Secret Garden Restaurant, located in the distinctive Ruins of the adjacent garden and the rooftop ‘Tea House’ one of Stone town’s most renowned restaurants offering a stylish ambiance amidst the sound of the calls to prayer from the town’s many mosques.
Days 9,10,11: Nungwi (Zanzibar, North Coast)
At a time of your choosing, you will be transferred to the Northern Coast of the Island (approximate drive time 90 minutes).
Over the next few days, you will be able to relax and enjoy everything the Island has to offer. You can lounge on the beach or by the pool, or take part in some of the many activities. Your hotel will be able to arrange day trips to small islands or to the coral reefs. Professional PADI diving schools offer a full range of scuba diving with professional equipment. Other water sports such as kiting, kayaking, catamaran sailing, wind surfing, deep sea fishing, water skiing, parasailing and jet skiing are also on offer. Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island and was once the world’s leading producer of cloves. A guided tour of a spice farm is an option here.
Accommodation: Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Take a deep breath of fresh Indian ocean air, relax and unwind. Essque Zalu Zanzibar is an intimate boutique destination nestled in a natural cove in the north east coast of Zanzibar (Nungwi). It combines contemporary luxury with a real warmth and excellent service. This boutique hotel has the turquoise waters of the Indian ocean to one side and lush green forest to the other, and there is just a hint of spice in the warm and fragrant tropical air. The accommodation consists of individual suites and 8 villas all with picturesque views over the lush tropical garden or the ocean. The suites offer a luxurious-styled space crafted from local materials, decorated with native artwork and housed under a traditional pitched makuti roof. The food is excellent, and is mostly from farm to table. There are two restaurants, three well stocked bars and a variety of destination dining experiences. Unashamedly indulgent, the Spa comprises of two couple’s treatment rooms, four single rooms, vichy shower, a sauna and steam room. The hotel offers guests the opportunity to partake in activities to experience some of the islands most spectacular and scenic excursions.
Day 12: Onwards Travel
Today marks the end of your honeymoon adventure with Lion King. You will be collected from the hotel and transferred to the airport at a time of your choosing. May you both be blessed and enjoy your forthcoming adventures.