12 Days Sanctuary Wilderness

Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport (try to bag a window seat for views of Africa's highest mountain). The charming and tranquil Arusha Coffee Lodge, nestled amid a leafy plantation, is home for the night.

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It's a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa's highest peak, 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains.

There's nothing like exploring Tanzania with your own private driver and guide, who will open your eyes to the country's creatures and culture over the course of your stay. Under their expert guidance, you'll embark on your first game drive through Tarangire National Park - home to the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. Your ultimate goal is the exclusive Sanctuary Swala Camp, which sits on the edge of the Gurusi wetlands - much-loved by elephant. Once you've settled in, head off on an afternoon game drive, exploring the wooded savannahs by the Tarangire River.

There's time for one last early morning game drive in Tarangire before you head north, stretching your legs on a forest walk, investigating a working coffee farm or visiting a Maasai village en route to the most iconic of safari spots: Ngorongoro Crater. Your bolthole here, Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp, offers the classic experience - nights under comfortable canvas, perched up on the crater rim. The views are spectacular. The World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro is a natural wildlife amphitheater, the crater walls encircling a magnificent menagerie. Awake early and drive down onto the crater floor in search of animals - from black rhinos to bull elephants, from big cats to spotted hyenas - before picnicking amid the acacias, pools and streams.

Perhaps the only wildlife destination that could top Ngorongoro is the mighty Serengeti. The journey to Sanctuary Kusini Camp, hidden in an offbeat corner of the reserve's south, doubles as a game drive. Arrive with a head full of wildlife, in time for a convivial dinner and drinks around the campfire. The short-grass plains, rocky outcrops and tortilis woodland around Kusini Camp seem to suit all types of animal. You can see virtually everything here, especially huge numbers of wildebeest (during migration season, December to March) and families of cheetah. Pack a picnic lunch and you can stay out exploring the Serengeti all day.

The most sublime way to end a Tanzania trip is on the spiciest island in the Indian Ocean. Fly from the plains, via Arusha, to Zanzibar. The palm-wafted Baraza Resort, a fusion of Arabic, Swahili and Indian design, is an idyllic base for days of barefooting on pure-white sand, snorkelling vibrant reefs, exploring the historic alleys of Stone Town - or doing nothing at all.
Baraza is Zanzibar’s most exclusive boutique resort. With just 30 villas, this stunning fully inclusive resort evokes the heritage of Zanzibar dating back to the era of the Sultans. A fusion of Arabic, Swahili and Indian design, with Swahili arches, intricate hand carved cement décor, beautiful antiques, handmade furniture and intricate brass lanterns; Baraza offers unparalleled standards of luxury on the Island of Zanzibar.

Sadly it's time to drag yourself from the sea, for the transfer to Zanzibar airport and your flight to Dar Es Salaam for your onward flight.