My Journey Through Tanzania

Some adventures are so full of wonder that they demand to be shared. My 8 night safari through Tanzania, weaving from the iconic plains of the Serengeti to the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater and wilds of Tarangire, is undoubtedly one of them. If Africa has ever captured your imagination, let me bring you along on the journey I just experienced, where every moment was thoughtfully curated and each day unfolded into a story of pure wonder.

From the moment I stepped out of Kilimanjaro airport, any hint of jet lag faded into excitement. My guide was waiting smiling, the transfer was seamless to Hamerkop House, an arrival stopover night allowing me enough time to breathe, settle and let anticipation build for the days ahead.

The next morning brought another smooth connection, this time by light aircraft to Kogatende in the Northern Serengeti, an adventure in itself. On arrival in Kogatende we set off on a private game drive straight away. The Serengeti lived up to every one of its stories and more.  Endless grassy plains dotted with acacia, herds on the move and the ever-present promise of a lion, cheetah, or leopard sighting. Wildebeest and zebra in herds moving like a living river. True magic was found in every encounter, a matriarchal elephant herd, buffalo staring through the dust, the quiet graze of a gazelle.

My guides throughout were not just drivers, they were storytellers, masters at reading tracks in the dirt and so full of knowledge. We could pivot between quiet moments in the shade, to all-day expeditions, fuelled by breakfast stops and iconic lunches set against sweeping horizons. Evening time brought meals, laughter and stories back at camp, with the sounds of distant animals as the soundtrack.

After my days up north, it was time for Seronera, a drama of endless plains.  If the Serengeti ever felt like a wild dream, here is where I become truly convinced it’s real. The mornings were crisp setting out onto dew bright grasses, always spotting something extraordinary like the regal silhouette of a lioness, elephants in procession or my favourite, moments with no one else around, offering precious solo sightings.

Leaving the plains behind, we drove up into the Ngorongoro Highlands, watching the landscape subtly transform. Cresting the rim and glimpsing the vast caldera below was nothing short of breathtaking, it’s impossible to describe the scale until you’re there, its like gazing into a world within a world. Staying at the new luxurious Lemala Osonjoi Lodge, at dawn, we descended into the Crater, the mist lifting to reveal grasslands teeming with wildlife. Black rhino, wallowing hippos, enormous tusked elephants and a congregation of flamingos turning the lake pink, every loop around this unique ecosystem brought new treasures. The private hot picnic lunch in the crater surrounded by the pulse of the wild was a memory that will never fade.

The last adventure led us down through lush highlands, past villages and baobab dotted savannah, into iconic the Tarangire National Park. Here, the landscape changed yet again, ancient baobabs, massive elephant herds and the romantic sweep of African wilderness and all from the comfort of Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge. There’s a ritual to arriving here: we were welcomed by gracious hosts, checked into our stunning suites on the ridge, and enjoyed the most incredible sunset views with a drink in hand as the plains glowed gold below us, followed perfectly by a final dinner under the stars.

An early start at 4am leaving Mpingo Ridge, but for good reason, the treat of a sunrise hot air balloon ride. A 45 minute drive to the launch site, important safety briefing and then it was time to fly! The silence was astounding, just the occasional whoosh of the burners and the gentle breeze whispering past. Tarangire unfolded beneath us, the curves of the river, ancient baobab trees dotting the landscape and herds of elephants moving gracefully across the savannah, their dust trails glimmering in the rising sun.  From this vantage point, the park felt infinitely vast and serenely untouched. We spotted giraffes browsing the tree tops, zebra herds fanning out across the plains and antelope and buffalo pausing momentarily to look up at our drifting shadow. It was extraordinary to witness the wilderness awaken, with the sky all to ourselves, save for the birds soaring alongside. No hot air balloon flight is complete without a celebratory toast, and ours was no different, after landing we tucked into a sumptuous bush champagne breakfast amid the wild, swapping stories and relishing the views. There, with Africa stretching endlessly around us, I felt deeply connected to both the land and to this beautiful shared adventure.  A hot air balloon safari in Tarangire is more than a bucket-list tick, it’s a poetic encounter with Africa’s wild soul and a moment of genuine wonder that stays with you long after your feet touch the ground.

As we travelled on to the airport, there wasn’t a true farewell, only a "kwaheri ya kuonana"  - bye, until we meet again.

During my time in Tanzania, I stayed at the following properties, Lemala Hamerkop House, Lemala Mara Tented Camp, Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge, Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp, Lemala Nanyukie Lodge, Lemala Osonjoi Lodge and Lemala Mpingo Ridge Lodge and I’ll review these separately as if included here it would become a book!

My Tanzania adventure was layered with discovery, luxury without pretence and the sense of coming home to somewhere wonderfully new. Every guide, every lodge and camp and every moment felt deeply personal and expertly arranged, reminding me why a tailor-made safari is unlike anything else in the world.

If Tanzania is on your horizon, let me help you live this story, crafted to your tastes, paced to your rhythm and filled with memories you’ll hold on to forever.  Contact me today to start planning your own unforgettable safari - the wild is calling, and the adventure of a lifetime awaits!