9 Days Serengeti & Rubondo Island Luxury Safari

Upon landing at Kilimanjaro Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your personal African Diurnal Safaris guide with a beaming smile and the greeting, Karibu Tanzania – welcome to Tanzania! From there, your guide escorts you directly to Gran Melia Hotel. Gran Melia Hotel is located in Arusha town. This five-star hotel provides room service, alongside year-round access to an outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna, and garden. It’s a perfect place to relax and immerse yourself in the distinctive African atmosphere.

The following day, you embark on an exclusive 9-Days Serengeti and Rubondo Island Luxury Safari tailored entirely to your rhythm. Revel in the comfort of a private safari jeep, granting you the freedom to pause and marvel at the incredible wildlife for as long as you wish.

Today, you embark on an adventure to the Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable day of game drive. This stunning location is home to nearly 30,000 animals, including the iconic Big Five. The crater is alive with the presence of zebras, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, warthogs, baboons, elephants, flamingos, ostriches, hippos, cheetahs, and a small number of the elusive black rhino. The vibrant colors and swirling clouds create an almost dreamlike atmosphere in the crater.

Due to its breathtaking scenery, the Ngorongoro Crater has been recognized as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. As the day winds down, make your way to Melia Ngorongoro Lodge at the rim of the crater for an evening relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast in your lodge, make your way to Seronera Airstrip to connect with your flight to Rubondo Island.

It’s an exciting approach to the island, circling low over the water then touching down on the grass airstrip hewn between the trees – already a very different experience to the dusty airstrips of the Serengeti. Members of the Rubondo team will be on hand at the airstrip to meet you and welcome you to the island, before undertaking the short transfer to Rubondo Island Camp, arriving in time for lunch.

Rubondo Island Camp sits between a pristine stretch of lakeside beach and the towering subequatorial rainforest. The gentle lapping of the waves on the shore blend with the sounds of the forest, creating a unique auditory experience completely different to the sounds of the bush. With multiple dining decks, seating areas, and comfortable nooks, the main area of the camp is a welcoming space offering views across the water and ample opportunity to while away an afternoon with a good book and a cold drink.

Your 3-night stay on the island allows sufficient time to make the most of the diverse activity offering from Rubondo Island Camp. Chimpanzee trekking through the dense forest is a key highlight and an exciting adventure beneath the canopy of green. Furthermore, exploration of the island by vehicle is also a rewarding experience, seeking out the white colobus monkeys or venturing to the open plains in the far south where giraffe enjoy the sunshine. Moreover, on the water, enjoy catch-and-release fishing for Nile perch, or trace the shoreline enjoying the myriads of bird species from Kingfishers to fish eagles whilst keeping an eye on the water for crocodiles and spotted-neck otters.

Offering the perfect blend of relaxation and activities, a stay at Rubondo Island Camp can be curated to provide you with the exact experience you need most, whether that’s adventure and exploration or the opportunity to simply unwind, slow down, and soak up the moment.

After your final breakfast overlooking Lake Victoria, you’ll be transferred to the airstrip for your morning flight back to Arusha Airport / Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward travels.

This marks the conclusion of the 9-Days Serengeti and Rubondo Island Luxury Safari.

Having second thoughts? It’s also possible to extend your holiday to another paradise island, such as Mnemba, Pemba, or Mafia!