Let’s Get Wild: Tanzania

African safari vacations embody the peak of travel for many adventurous jetsetters.

The vastness of the African continent opens up millions of possible itineraries and routes, meaning travel-planning can feel like a bit of a steep climb. For those who want to engineer a customized, tailor-tuned African adventure, turn to Epic Private Journeys (EPJ), a trusted partner in the Jet Linx Elevated Lifestyle program.

With EPJ, clients see the world the way they want to see it, whether it’s an independent or privately-guided journey. EPJ’s teams of Inbound and Operations Consultants work together to customize every itinerary based on a client’s interests and expectations. With EPJ, there’s no such thing as a “standard” safari or holiday. It has to be special and unique, one that speaks directly to the heart of the traveler. All experiences are private, including dedicated vehicles and activities for your party only.

Guests only need to relax and immerse themselves into the experience, as every detail is taken care of, from their Jet Linx flight to their first night in the African wilderness.

Arusha – Legendary Lodge

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha, Tanzania, you exit the arrivals terminal where you will be greeted by your driver and transferred to Legendary Lodge, a drive of about an hour.

Legendary Lodge is located in the foothills of Mount Meru, on the outskirts of the bustling town of Arusha and is the gateway to the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. This classic haven boasts lush tropical gardens and is surrounded by a working coffee farm. The peaceful cottages are the perfect place to prepare for your safari. Guests can indulge in gourmet meals including a full English breakfast, delicious lunches and romantic candle-lit dinners, served with a selection of fine African wines.

The ten garden cottages each have private verandas and stunning views of Mount Meru that make for the perfect place to relax before a safari. The interiors have been designed with a unique blend of African style combined with Western comforts and old colonial luxury. Each ensuite cottage features comfortable split-level living to include king-size beds with mosquito nets, lounge with fireplace, satellite television, direct dial phone, broadband connection, complimentary mini-bar, fruit basket and coffee and tea station. The bathrooms have a vanity with double basins, bathtub, rain shower, separate toilet and a full range of amenities.

Optional activities offered include a savory coffee tour to a nearby working coffee plantation, shopping at the nearby Cultural Heritage Centre or an excursion to Arusha, Tarangire and Manyara National Parks or other nearby attractions. Legendary Lodge is on the doorstep of a host of wonderful wilderness areas that make for a fabulous day trip via a game drive in Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, or a trek to the first base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A scenic helicopter flight around Mt. Kilimanjaro is also available for additional cost, but well worth the experience. Legendary Spa also offers a full range of professional services. After a long flight, ease your body into African time with a relaxing massage or reflexology treatment.

Tarangire National Park – Little Chem Chem

Sandwiched between the endless savannas of Tarangire National Park and the bird-rich waters of Lake Manyara National Park, Chem Chem lies in the renowned migration corridor. This concession covers over 250,000 acres of Tanzanian wilderness characterized by vast grasslands dotted with ancient baobab trees and inhabited by diverse wildlife, including herds of elephant, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, and over 400 species of birds.

Little Chem Chem, known as the ‘sunrise camp,’ sits on the edge of an acacia forest and plays host to an abundance of elephants in the area. Lying adjacent to Tarangire National Park, the camp overlooks the freshwater Lake Burunge with impressive baobab trees lining the horizon. Lions roam the camp and call each other at night; stately elephants march down to Lake Burunge to get a sprinkling of fresh water; cheetahs hunt on the plains facing the lake; leopards, eland and lesser kudu can be seen in the denser woods in the inner part of the concession. Wake to sunrise and fresh coffee with one of Little Chem Chem’s renowned seed biscuits, enjoy breakfast with a view of the watering hole, savor lunch in the dappled shade of the trees and relax over dinner surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.

The luxury of sharing 50,000 acres of wilderness between 20 guests sets the stage for an elegant, authentic stay. Five elegantly decorated vintage tents offer a large bedroom with study desk, and ensuite bathroom with outdoor shower and complimentary gown and slippers. The rustic luxury at Little Chem Chem oozes the authenticity of a bygone era, but complimentary Wifi, pure cotton linens, laundry service and spa still offer luxurious options for pampering.

Activities include private game drives on a 4×4 Land Rover, and day trips to Tarangire National Park to view elephants and huge baobab trees. There is also a sunrise hill climb to gaze across the vastness of the land, as well as hot air balloon safaris and helicopter rides around Mt. Lengai.

Southern Serengeti – Mwiba Lodge

Mwiba Lodge can be found among the massive boulders and ancient coral and acacia trees overlooking the rocky gorge of the cascading Arugusinyai River. Guests can take their time to explore the 126,000-acre wildlife reserve that offers 33 freshwater springs, lush wildlife and colorful botanicals. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the game viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention but a few.

The lodge itself fuses modern and traditional architecture. Just below the cool respite of the infinity pool, guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of a constant parade of wildlife coming to drink from the valley’s springs. Ten double suites all give way to a wide-open layout, conceived with the aim of making the most of each spectacular vantage point. Inside, traditional canvas accented with copper features, vast soaking tubs, private outdoor showers and hardwood decks conspire to offer an experience of the wilderness unlike any before. Guests also have the option to spend an intimate night under the stars in a luxurious fly-camp. This off-the-grid option delivers a fully-immersive wilderness experience and opportunity to connect and reminisce.

Activities at Mwiba Lodge include walking safaris, daytime and nighttime game drives, and walks with the local Hadzabe hunter-gatherer tribe. Indigenous to the area, the Hadzabe live in perfect symbiosis with their environment, which provides them with all their needs for food, medicine and shelter. Accompany them for a morning as they move through the wilderness, foraging for food and following honey-guide birds to sweet treats.

Western Serengeti – Singita Sabora

Singita Grumeti is located adjacent to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, bordering the national park, and encompasses 400,000 acres of unrivaled wilderness. Wide river valleys meander through the plains, grasslands, woodland and forest. The area forms part of the famous migratory route, which is traveled by hundreds of thousands of animals every year. Singita Grumeti features unparalleled exclusivity combined with the ability to enjoy a wide selection of activities not allowed inside the Serengeti, as it is not governed by national park regulations.

The famous Great Migration, an annual trek of two million animals through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, bisects this reserve annually. Called The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth, it has been the dramatic backbone of this enormous wilderness since time immemorial. During your stay at Singita Sabora Lodge, you are likely to spot a great variety of wildlife including cheetah, bearded wildebeest, bat-eared fox, black rhino (in an enclosure), Maasai giraffe, lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, zebra and the rare Colobus monkey.

Singita Sabora Lodge awakens the senses with seamless indoor-outdoor spaces that allow for continuous game-viewing. Guests have the opportunity to reconnect with nature and oneself through the stillness of the Serengeti. Tented suites (air-conditioned) close to the ground capture every sight, sound and smell of the bush. The experience is amplified by glass paneling that welcomes the Serengeti plains to private indoor lounges with décor that evokes the timeless spirit of East African adventure. Nine self-contained suites include private pantries, meditation decks and outdoor salas with secluded daybeds overlooking Sabora’s two waterholes. Facilities include a spa, gym, and swimming pool.

Rwanda – Bisate Lodge

Bisate Lodge is located in the natural amphitheater of an eroded volcanic cone and has dramatic views of the peaks of the volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi, rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. With only six luxurious Forest Villas on the compound, your comfort and privacy are maximized. The one-of-a-kind spherical thatched structures echo the thousands of hills dotting the Rwandan landscape and the design of the Royal Palace. Each Forest Villa consists of a generous combination of bedroom, bathroom and reception space. The natural architecture is warmed by a central stone fireplace, complemented by breathtaking views across your private deck towards Mount Bisoke.

Bisate Lodge offers the best base camp in the world for those who want to partake in a one-hour close encounter with one of the 10 habituated gorilla groups. After arrival to park headquarters, you will complete park formalities and be allocated a gorilla family group for the day. Which group you’re allocated will depend upon your fitness level and your desire to trek. Some of the gorilla families are located further away than others.

You are able to spend a full, magical hour with the gorillas. Nothing can prepare one for the impact of encountering a fully-grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors. Guides note that “to visit these peaceful, intelligent and entrancing animals (of which there are only just over 1,000 left) in their natural habitat will remind you how vulnerable we all are on this small planet of ours.”

Activities at Bisate Lodge also include visiting nearby Volcanoes National Park for a guided day hike and observing the park’s group of endangered endemic golden monkeys. You may also enjoy a guided walk to the local pyrethrum fields and end the day at sunset with spectacular views of Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno volcanoes from the viewing deck at Bisate.