7-Day Flying Safari to Singita Serengeti

The journey begins in Arusha where you will be met and transferred to Arusha Airport to meet your scheduled charter plane. A two-hour scenic flight wings you over the endless, rolling plains known to the local Maasai as Siringit, ‘the place where the land moves on forever’. Arriving at Singita Sasakwa airstrip, your guide meets you for a game drive to Singita Sabora Tented Camp. The drive allows you in breathe in the untrammelled wildness of the region and whet your appetite for the wildlife experience that awaits you.This one of the planet’s last remaining natural migration corridors and one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. The climate, vegetation and fauna have remained mostly unchanged over the past million years. Also unchanged is the natural instinct that drives the annual Great Migration of more than a million wildebeest, gazelle and zebra - an instinct so powerful that neither drought nor crocodile-infested rivers can halt it. Outside of the migration period, a host of wildlife remains to be seen. This is classic Big 5 country set in an epic landscape of vast proportions. Arriving at Singita Sabora Tented Camp, you notice this intimate 1920s-style explorer’s camp is permeated by a sense of nostalgic adventure. With a unique character and atmosphere of opulence, the lodge stands in delightful contrast to the savannah plains that surround it. Wood, canvas, leather and detailed finishing touches are the dominant themes - you might feel as though you have just stepped into the pages of Karen Blixen’s “Out of Africa”. Your luxurious suite is a welcome haven that you might not want to leave, but wander over to the lounge area where a sumptuous high tea awaits you. After a refreshing drink and a sample of the delicacies on offer, embark on your first afternoon game drive.

Settle into the ancient rhythm of the land around you, an endless drama that unfolds in patterns as old as time itself. You rise with the sun, eager with the anticipation of what the morning’s game drive will bring. The dew glitters in the grass, the air is cool, and animals are still active. The tracks and spoor on the ground tell the tale of the night before. Your guide reveals the marvels that surround you, the myriad secrets of the bush that show themselves to the careful observer. A drag-mark in the grass leads you to the tree where a leopard hid his kill the night before. You revel in the thrill of knowing that he may be somewhere nearby. As you breathlessly take in the scene, the lazy flick of a tail suddenly reveals the majestic cat, supine on a branch, perfectly camouflaged by his beautifully spotted coat. Just as the clear air sharpens your appetite, you return to the lodge from your morning drive to be greeted by a hearty and wholesome gourmet brunch. The siesta period during the heat of the day allows you to relax with a chilled drink at the pool, visit the spa or simply soak in the glorious atmosphere from your private viewing deck. This is when the cicadas thrum hypnotically, birds coo in the trees above, and everything is cloaked in a warm air of tranquillity. After a few hours of rest, reading or relaxation, you find yourself eager to venture out again on a game drive or guided walk to see first-hand what nature has in store for you. The evenings are spent reliving the day’s events; share the experiences, insights and anecdotes with your fellow safari companions around a campfire. Meals are a sumptuous culinary affair accompanied by fine wines at the convivial main table or in romantic, candlelit seclusion. Round off the evening with your favourite cognac at the fire, beneath a dazzling swathe of stars, immersed in the palpable pulse of the wild Serengeti.

Your final accommodation is Sasakwa Lodge, situated on the top of Sasakwa Hill. Taking in the majestic Serengeti plains below, the views from the lodge’s spacious veranda are stupendous. The turn-of-the-century manor house and cottages have been designed with a sense of colonial grandeur, fused with European style and interspersed with East African touches. Here you encounter a refined splendour and comfort plus old-world elegance. From this superb vantage point, one can become absorbed in the marvel of this extraordinary scene. While exuding the grandness of a bygone age, the service is impeccable and facilities are state of the art. What Sasakwa is most famous for however are its horse-back safaris. The in-house equestrian centre has a number of horses to choose from, depending on your ability. This is an unrivalled experience - the feeling of absolute freedom and unity with your mount as you approach game more closely than ever before. Gallop alongside a herd of zebra, revel in the wind in your hair, the pounding hooves below you. After the excitement and thrills of a day in the saddle, return to your lodgings for a refreshing poolside cocktail at sunset. Enjoy a cordon bleu dinner in the grand surroundings of the dining room below crystal chandeliers, or share an intimate meal on your own private deck. The blissful days are filled with game drives and safari walks, horse-back safaris and archery lessons. Perhaps you feel like a set of tennis or two before indulging yourself at the spa; this is the life of a colonial grandee lived out in splendour above the spectacular plains of the Serengeti.

After a leisurely breakfast you have time for a game drive as you make your way to the airstrip and your charter flight to Arusha and onwards. Relive the moment you encountered your first leopard, or the sound of a million thundering hooves, the low moan of a lion’s roar in the tapestry of colour woven by the African sunset. Remember moments by the fire below the dazzling Milky Way, the chortling of hippos as you drifted off to sleep. You keep with you treasured memories of this enchanting place, the sweeping plains where the land goes on forever. END OF SAFARI