Day 1: Arrival / Arusha

Idyllically situated amidst a rolling coffee plantation, Arusha Coffee Lodge offers a gentle introduction to Tanzania. You'll be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the lodge by road, where each of the bungalows are set amongst the coffee vines. Monkeys swing through the surrounding greenery, while bush babies and tropical birds call from the treetops. Relax in your spacious en-suite room and savor the views from your private balcony. Then enjoy some of the freshest coffee on the planet, straight from the plantation to your cup

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

Tarangire's landscape provides an iconic start to your safari adventure. The classic African bush is pierced by the irrefutable Tarangire River and punctuated by swamps and waterholes. Scorched in dry season, lush in wet season, the undulating landscape is covered in wildlife, many of it migrating here in search of a drink. The first things you'll notice are the elephants, giant herds of up to 300 covering the land. They stand beside ancient baobab trees, their shadows lengthening as your long afternoon game drive explores all corners of the park. Colobus monkeys swing through the trees; giraffe stand like statues on the horizon, while oryx and hartebeest are amongst the many antelope species that are always on the lookout for predators.

Life in Tarangire revolves around water, so the wonderfully intimate Tarangire River Camp couldn't be in a better position. It's perched over the river, so sit back, enjoy a sundowner, and watch all the game from the verandah. A Maasai warrior accompanies you from your luxury tent to the main part of the camp, and most nights bring the sound of lions roaring or elephants rustling in the nearby trees. These Tarangire lions have a special talent – tree climbing. You'll find them hidden on broad branches, carefully surveying their kingdom, a swinging tail revealing their location. Up in the tree the lions look cute, cuddly almost, but their penetrating eyes indicate a fearsome power.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater

This morning you'll follow the footprints, going on a thrilling walking safari that's exclusive to Tarangire River Camp. Spot zebra herds grazing just meters away, follow the giant tracks of elephant bulls, and discover just how tall a giraffe really is. After a hearty breakfast you'll leave this land of baobab trees behind, driving to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, before descending the steep crater slopes and entering Tanzania's most remarkable landscape.

Ngorongoro Crater feels like a mythical world, the sheer abundance of habitats and wildlife unrivaled by any place else on the planet. Lions are out hunting on the short grass plains, approaching a herd of zebra with slow deliberate movements. Other lion prides aren't hungry. They lounge in the shade, majestic black manes flowing on the breeze, ferocious teeth revealed with a lazy yawn. A hyena scurries past, before a giant elephant bull plods its way into the forest. Turn around quickly and a herd of buffalo stand and stare, their curled horns hinting at why they're the most dangerous of the famed African Big Five. All this and you've only been in the crater for 30 minutes.

Day 4-7: Serengeti Plains

The Serengeti's seemingly boundless plains provide a stage for nature's hypnotic spell to unfold. This is one of the world's most famous parks, but the Serengeti is indelibly marked by space and freedom. It's going to be all yours for three days. Animals move with the rains, over two million mammals forming the Great Migration and constantly searching for lush grazing land. They cross crocodile infested rivers and maraud through big cat country, kicking up dust as the annual circle of life continues. Gaze from a distance and the herds look like incongruous black blobs. But get up and close and it's easy to pick out individuals; bearded wildebeest guarding their young, hoping to keep them away from approaching lions; zebras dancing across the grass, indelible stripes moving and settling like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle.

The Serengeti is famous for its wildebeest and big cats. But there's much more to discover in this bountiful land. A boisterous hippo wades into the swamp, grunting and huffing as he bullies his way towards the best bathing spot. Another youngster starts a fight and the two briefly square up. But this commotion has alerted the alpha male, and a humongous hippo steams into the water, the pod obsequiously obeying his implied orders. On a secluded rock a lion seems to sit alone. But look closer and a handful of lion cubs are sleeping beneath her prowling gaze. Then there are the less known animals, rarely seen species that dance through the grass; diminutive dik dik, fringe-eared oryx, and even the slumbering movements of the Leopard tortoise. While in the Serengeti it's also possible to take a hot air balloon safari, an optional extra that helps showcase the sheer scale of this landscape.

Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is always green, the lush forest and verdant floodplains providing shocks of color whatever the season. It attracts birds, hundreds of different species fluttering through the trees and singing raucous concertos. Hornbills are the loudest, covering the entrance and bellowing from the treetops. Kori bustard are the largest, soaring through the air with a monumental nine-foot wingspan. It's an ornithologist's paradise, but that's not the only reason for visiting Lake Manyara. You'll weave and wind through the trees, passing baboon troops with humorous antics. Keep your eye on the branches, the lions also like to climb trees here, and it’s often just a single branch that separates safari truck from predator.

Day 9-11: Idyllic Relaxation on Zanzibar Island

After the safari adventure come the charming serenity and cultural mystique of Zanzibar Island. Wandering down the narrow streets of Stone Town is a feast for the senses. Sounds float on the breeze; a harmonic call to prayer from a historic mosque, children singing in a local school, Hindu temple bells ringing softly. Each turn through this labyrinth brings new pleasures, from the regal wooden doorways of old merchants, to the smells of fresh seafood being barbecued on street stalls. An old man pushes a wooden cart of oranges, barefoot children enthusiastically run past, and a crumbling old cathedral appears from nowhere. Different cultures have been shaping Zanzibar for over a millennium, and this living UNESCO World Heritage Site is an ode to peace and harmony.

The 236 Hurumzi hotel is centrally located, neatly tucked away on pedestrian filled streets and immersed in the charm of Stone Town. Step out of the hotel and lose yourself in your surroundings; ancient Persian baths, vivid Indian temples, elegant Portuguese churches, and the crumbling remains of a town that was once one of the richest in the world. 236 Hurumzi offers a slice of this history; its rooms are decorated in an elegant old-fashioned style and reflect the exotic mix of cultures in Zanzibar. Head to the balcony for glorious views over the rooftops, and then follow the outline of Stone Town until it reaches the Indian Ocean and a stunning coastline. It's easy to succumb to Zanzibar's charming atmosphere and to do little more than soak it all up. Optional tours continue the sensual immersion, taking you out into the fragrant spice plantations.

Day 10: Depart / Fare Thee Well

Today you'll slowly leave the wilderness behind and return to civilization. En route to Arusha you'll have the chance to stop at an artisan's market. This is a perfect opportunity to purchase locally produced handicrafts and curios including batik fabric, Maasai blankets, wood carvings, and tanzanite. You'll have day-use of a room at the tranquil KIA Lodge, before being transferred to Arusha International Airport for your flight home.