One place that has always been a dream vacation has been an African safari. We recently were on an amazing journey with Ultimate Jet Vacations. You may have followed along on our social media pages as we saw amazing wildlife from all angles even hot air balloons. The following are some of the additional details of our travels.
We began in Arusha, resting at the foot of Mount Meru. This sprawling city is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania, serving as an excellent base to explore the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and the Manyara, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro National Parks. While in Arusha, we stayed at the Legendary Lodge and the Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge. Next, we headed to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, staying at The Manor at Ngorongoro, adjacent to the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area. While there, we enjoyed an unforgettable Bush Lunch in the Crater, beautifully organized by The Manor, and ended our day with magical sundowners at Pioneer Lodge. In the Central Serengeti, we stayed at the stunning Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp. This region, renowned for the world-famous Seronera Valley, is a haven for wildlife viewing with its savannah plains, rocky granite outcrops, and acacia woodlands. We were thrilled to spot elephants, giraffes, and impala on our very first day—and even woke up to elephants right outside our tent!
From there, we ventured to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, known for its two parallel rivers, the Mbalageti and the Grumeti. Instead of the originally planned Aurari Camp, we stayed at the breathtaking Tassa Lodge—a property famously visited by the Bucket List Family! The secluded region provided a perfect base amidst the migrating wildebeest and zebra herds.
We finished our journey in the Northern Serengeti, known as the hub of the great migration. Staying at Cherero Lodge, we soaked in the vast, rolling savannah and watched a dazzling array of wildlife, including buffalo, zebra, gazelles, and lions.
A highlight of our trip was the Balloon Ride over the Serengeti—an awe-inspiring core memory of this incredible adventure.