Tent With a View, Zanzibar and Istanbul

I was lucky enough to be invited to Tanzania, Zanzibar and Istanbul in November by Tent With A View, Peak DMC, and Turkish Airlines on a familiarisation trip with some of my colleagues. We flew ex Dublin via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines operate 2 daily flights from Dublin to Istanbul and offer connections to 315 destinations in 120 countries. Their new airport in Istanbul which opened in April of this year is very impressive in it’s size and boasts countless shops, restaurants and bars. The 4 hour flight to Istanbul and 8 hour flight to Dar Es Salaam was very comfortable and we were well looked after by the friendly crew. Their in-flight service left us all very impressed and the catering was excellent.

Our early arrival time in Dar Es Salaam (02.40am) meant we were able to complete the Visa process without any lengthy delays, the process taking much longer during the busier day time hours. Here, we met up with David Guthrie, founder of Tent With a View. His safari company is operating in Tanzania since 1995 and was set up by David and his friend Masoud Kilanga, both of whom we were lucky enough to meet on this trip.

Our first port of call was Serengeti National Park in the North of Tanzania, one of the greatest wilderness areas in the world. We accessed the park by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam, landing at Kogatende airstrip. Once on our way, we soon realised that our transfer is a game drive as we spot zebras, impalas and wildebeest in the one-hour journey by land rover to our accommodation, the Bush Rover Suites.

The Bush Rover Suites are full working Land Rovers that transform into your overnight accommodation with an elevated bedroom and balcony looking out to the wilderness. The beauty of this camp is, it moves with the Migration, so when the wildebeest migrate, so does the camp moving between 3 different camps all strategically located in the heart of the best wildlife!

Our camp was located close to the Mara River and a popular crossing point for the wildebeest. Once settled into our surprisingly luxurious accommodation, we relaxed on our balconies, taking in the splendour of the vista and the views of the Mara River. Later that afternoon, we were alerted by David to move quickly to the Land Rover, as he suspected the Wildebeest were about to cross over the river. We clambered in and made the short drive to the river crossing. We parked up at a distance from the crossing, so as not to distract the animals, and what we witnessed will stay with me forever. Hundreds of wildebeest coming in lines from various directions all converging at the same point in the river and making the dangerous crossing over. It was a moment that will stay with me forever. We witnessed other land rovers getting in the way of the animals, so was reassured that Tent With a View take the more subtle approach and don’t interfere with this amazing phenomenon.

The following morning, our game drive took us to a different area of the park where we were lucky enough to see a lion up close, feasting on the remains of its recent kill. Again, there were hoards of wildlife to be seen, from zebras to elephants. After a delicious lunch prepared by the very attentive staff, we left for our next destination which was Little Okavango on the shores of Lake Victoria. The property is located close to a network of little waterways resembling the Okavango Delta in Botswana, hence the name.

During our stay there, we took a trip to a fishing village and met some of the local villagers there, who even showed the braver of us how to perform a traditional dance! From there, we took a leisurely boat trip back to a viewing tower, from which we were able to see a variety of bird life. We had a hearty brunch there, enjoyed the views out to the lake and watched the wildlife in their natural habitat.

Out last stop on our itinerary was the island of Zanzibar, which we reached by flight from Mwanza via Dar Es Salam. We were able to spend the next 24 hours relaxing in the peaceful and friendly surroundings of the Zanzibari Hotel which is located in the North of the Island, approx. 1 ½ hours drive from the airport. We waded in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, swam in the infinity pool, got massages in the Spa and soaked up some rays. Our time there was short, but we made the most of it until our transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul.

Our final 2 nights were spent at the Galata Istanbul Hotel MGallery. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of Galata Tower and the Old city. During our time, we visited the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and of course the Grand Bazaar to pick up a few souvenirs. It is a magical city where East meets West, and so many hidden gems to be discovered.

Even though our time was short, we packed a lot in, experiencing an authentic and immersive Tanzanian safari, dipped our toes in the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar and soaked up the historic sights of Istanbul.