Wild About Comfort

There is simply nowhere else in the world where you have the opportunity to interact with giraffe from the comfort of your room or while enjoying breakfast!
Accommodations: Giraffe Manor, 1 night, dinner, bed and breakfast

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya: Originally built in 1933 by the Macintosh Family, famous for their Macintosh Toffee, Giraffe Manor allows guests to get up close and personal with a bevy of giraffe! I am not much of a morning person but being able to share my breakfast with a long lashed beauty (other than my wife) is good reason to get out of bed. Betty, our favorite room, is located upstairs in the main house and has a fireplace, the original bathroom from the early 1930s, and a large balcony from which you can feed the giraffe. Often completely booked 1 year in advance some rooms are more basic than others. Bucket list all the way!

Set in an exclusive concession, bordering both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti in Tanzania, enjoy the wildebeest migration away from the madding crowds. Cottar’s is unique in that they employ 3 of Kenya’s 15 Gold guides. Activities include morning, afternoon and night drives in open 4×4 vehicles. Professionally guided walks are offered and we highly recommend a night spent camping “Under African Skies”. For those wishing to experience a bit of culture you may visit a nearby Masai Village. A hot air balloon excursion followed by a champagne breakfast can be arranged although it is quite a drive very early in the morning. As the balloon takes 16 guests it is quite a social outing. This property is at its best August through October when the migration comes through.
Accommodations: Cottar’s 1920s, 3 nights all inclusive

Cottar’s 1920, Masai Mara, Kenya: From Hollywood’s elite, to heads of state, those in the know head to Cottar’s 1920s. The Cottar Safari tradition began in 1919 and you will be transported to a bygone era that speaks of adventure and elegance. Untouched by any kind of tourism or development the wilderness surrounding Cottars offers the discerning client privacy amongst an abundance of wildlife. The 10 tented rooms are spacious and luxuriously furnished. They include original safari antiques from the ’20s, private ensuite dressing and bathrooms, main bedrooms and verandas. The camp’s main areas include an extravagant dining / lounge tent, curio shop, and chilly spring fed pool with pool house.
Ultimate Africa Exclusive: As an Ultimate Africa guest we will arrange a campaign style bubble bath on your verandah. The collapsible canvas tub takes one back to a time when porters carried an amazing assortment of comforts through wildest Africa.

When it comes to the wildebeest migration location is EVERYTHING. Set within 98,000 acres of untouched wilderness at the Serengeti’s northernmost tip the camp has been built literally a stone’s throw from the Mara River. In fact it is the closest property to the river giving guests a front row seat to dramatic wildebeest crossings (unlike guests at most camps / lodges that have to drive long distances to view the action). Although the camp provides surprisingly good year round wildlife viewing the main show, the wildebeest migration, is only in town from roughly late July through early October. We suggest skipping rainy months when the grass gets tall and it can be very buggy. No crowds, unparalleled location on the Mara River, professionally guides safari walks, and open vehicles. No one does it better than Singita.
Accommodations: Singita Mara River Camp, 3 nights, all inclusive

Singita Mara River, Serengeti, Tanzania: A Tanzanian safari is not complete without a few nights spent under canvas. The 6 tented rooms have en-suite bathrooms with showers along with private open-air baths overlooking the Mara River. You can watch wildebeest crossings right from your bed, toilet or tub. Please note that the rooms are lavishly appointed but do feel small’ish. The camp’s main areas include a communal lounge, dining area, bar and large splash pool with sundeck. In our opinion Singita Mara River Tented Camp it the most luxurious example of a simple under canvas experience we have seen.
Ultimate Africa Exclusive: As Ultimate Africa clients Singita will arrange a private candlelit dinner under the stars for you one evening.

You will spend 3 nights at Crater Lodge. Perched on the crater rim the views into the crater are breathtaking. On day 9 enjoy a privately guided full day wildlife viewing in the Crater with a lavish private picnic lunch on the crater floor. On day 10 depart on a privately guided full day visit to Olduvai Gorge – the birthplace of mankind, Shifting Sands, and a Masai village with a boxed lunch. In the evenings take care as elephant and buffalo wander freely amongst the rooms.
Accommodations: Crater Lodge, 3 nights, all inclusive

Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania: Masai meets Versailles… It is as if an African village was inhabited by a mad Victorian aristocrat. Coconut leaf roofs and ochre colored walls contrast with bejeweled chandeliers and ornate wood paneling. Wonderfully large 4 poster beds and equally spacious 5 piece bathrooms with cast iron tubs complete the whimsy. The property is divided into 3 camps: North, South and Tree. We always request North or South Camp for our clients as the suites are twice the size of Tree Camp’s at the same price. Your personal butler will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fireplace and draw your bath. Crater Lodge made Conde Naste’s 2006 Gold List as one of the “Best Located Hotels in the World” and is consistently voted Tanzania’s Best Safari Lodge.
What we do: After a long day viewing wildlife take a relaxing bath overlooking the crater below. As mornings and nights can be cold we request a fireside table for meals. A guided crater rim walk may be arranged at extra cost.
Ultimate Africa Exclusive: As an Ultimate Africa guest you will receive a complimentary bag of Crater Lodge’s incredible organic coffee to take home.
Ultimate Africa Exclusive: As an Ultimate Africa guest your stay includes private wildlife viewing activities, an opulent picnic on the crater floor, and an intimate private dinner.
Tip: If you want to avoid the crater crowds sleep in – enjoy an amazing breakfast at the lodge before heading down into the crater midday / early afternoon after most visitors have left.

You will be met on arrival and transferred by road the short distance to Kia Lodge where you will have the use of a day room. As the sun is setting head up to the pool deck for a view of the world’s tallest free standing mountain – Kilimanjaro. Later this evening you will be transferred by road to the airport and assisted with the check in to your onward flight.

Kia Lodge, Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania: Kia lodge, 3 minutes by road from the Kilimanjaro Airport, is set in 30 acres of lush, tropical and savannah gardens, providing a haven for over 100 bird species. The lodge has 40 basic, en-suite rooms. They are nothing to write home about… in fact the word spartan comes to mind. The swimming pool is located on top of a hill, with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and the Maasai steppe. Please note that we are not suggesting Kia Lodge as a quality destination. It is simply a very convenient location where clients can clean up and rest before their long international flight home.