Serengeti and Rubondo Luxury Safari

Gran Melia Hotel is located in Arusha. This 5-star hotel offers room service. The property features a year-round outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna, and garden.

The hotel provides guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a coffee machine, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace, and a private bathroom with a shower. Every room is equipped with a kettle, while selected rooms have a kitchen with a fridge. All units in Gran Melia Arusha have complimentary toiletries and an iPod docking station.

The accommodation offers a buffet breakfast daily. Gran Melia Arusha has a restaurant serving African, Indian, and Peruvian cuisine. A gluten-free option can also be requested.

With staff speaking Afrikaans, English, Spanish, and French, guidance is available at the reception.

The Highlands Lodge redefines the Ngorongoro experience. Set on the edge of the mountain forest hugging the Olmoti volcano to the north of Ngorongoro Crater, The Highlands strikes a perfect balance between an authentic wilderness experience and a high-style, contemporary escape. Experience the highlands of the wild Ngorongoro Conservation Area surrounding camp, home to leopards, buffalo, and elephants. Follow ancient Maasai trails to the summit of the Olmoti crater and visit local communities to glimpse the traditional Maasai way of life that has defined this corner of East Africa for centuries. The famous Ngorongoro Crater is easily accessible from camp, while the setting ensures maximum privacy, a rich adventure, and a range of activities not possible elsewhere in Ngorongoro.

During your stay at The Highlands Lodge, an array of unforgettable experiences awaits. Set out on a guided tour to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and marvel at its vast, wildlife-rich plains. Embark on a thrilling game drive and witness the spectacle of lions, elephants, and rhinos in their natural habitat. For a more immersive cultural experience, visit a local Maasai village and gain insights into their fascinating traditions and way of life.

Back at the lodge, indulge your senses with a pampering spa treatment inspired by ancient African rituals. As evening falls, savor exquisite meals at the on-site restaurant, where a fusion of international and local flavors tantalizes your taste buds. 9 Days Serengeti and Rubondo Luxury Safari

• Driving Distance: 154 / km (2.45 Hrs)

After breakfast, you will spend several months in the northern Serengeti before migrating to the southern section, closely following the herds. Your safari tent, equipped with showers and flush toilets, provides a comfortable connection to the untamed wilderness and offers an authentic African escape.

Over the next few days, you will explore in pursuit of some of Africa's most exceptional game-viewing opportunities. Vast grasslands, endless savannahs, riverine forests, and woodlands set the stage for unforgettable encounters with iconic wildlife, including the elusive leopard, majestic lion, and swift cheetah—the continent's coveted big cats. As the sun sets, you will return to camp, where you can relish a delicious dinner and share the day's adventures in true African fashion, gathered around a crackling fire.

After a final morning in the Serengeti, you will be flown to Rubondo Island Camp on Lake Victoria. The only camp on the island, Rubondo Island Camp overlooks the lake and is surrounded by tropical forests. It's an untouched haven where hippos and crocodiles sunbathe, and chimpanzees and monkeys populate the lush forest canopy.

One of your mornings will be spent setting out with a guide, a researcher, and a ranger to search for chimpanzees and be a part of the Rubondo Island National Park habituation program, a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be some of the first travelers to meet the island chimps.

The island offers various activities, including guided nature walks, safari-style game drives, and floating serenely on calm waters in a traditional dhow. Leisure hours are spent in utter relaxation, reclining poolside, or retreating to your private veranda with a chilled bottle of wine serenaded by the sounds of the forest.

After your final breakfast overlooking Lake Victoria, you will be driven to the airstrip for your morning flight back to Kilimanjaro International Airport to continue your adventures or start heading back home.

End of 9 Days Serengeti and Lubondo Luxury Safari