Diary of Our Tanzania Safari – Part One

Hi Everyone,

Anyone who’s been following me on Instagram will already know that Mr FunkyForty and I have just had the most incredible vacation in Tanzania. On safari and then a few relaxing beach days at the end in Zanzibar.

Today’s “Diary of Our Tanzania Safari – Part One” article is  different from any other on FunkyForty.com so far. For one it is actually written by Mr FunkyForty himself. Created with a lot of love (I can vouch for this). There are funny moments which will make you laugh and scary moments but all is well that ends well.

We started off in Arusha, then Manyara Lake Reserve, Ngorongoro, Central Serengeti, Northern Serengeti and then finished off in Zanzibar. Each place having something very special.

Before starting I would like to mention a special thank you to our guide Meritho Katei, actually a Maasai Prince who made our trip absolutely unforgettable.

Keep reading for the “Diary of Our Tanzania Safari”

 

Diary of Our Tanzania Safari

Start to the Adventure

The adventure began with Yvonne’s valiant check-in attempts, which ended in a mini-panic. She even drove to the airport on Friday night, but alas, no luck. We rose early to be the first in line, and everything seemed fine until we found ourselves on standby for the second leg. Confused, we wondered why, as our luggage was booked and there seemed to be plenty of seats. Istanbul awaited… to be continued.

We arrived at the massive Istanbul Airport, headed to the main Business Lounge, and secured our seats. In the end, all was well. It is good to note that Turkish Air will not allocate seats for this flight until you are in Istanbul. Their help line does not know this.

 

In the Istanbul Airport Lounge

Of all the business class lounges we have ever been to, Istanbul had the very best food selection – simply amazing.

Planes

ZRH – IST Turkish Airlines A231-200

IST – JRO Turkish Airlines B737-8 MAX

ZNZ – DXB Flydubai B737-8 MAX

DXB – ZRH Emirates A380

 

Day 1: Arusha

We arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport at 4:00 AM, feeling like we’d stepped back 40 years. No finger docks or buses here—just a warm welcome and a stroll across the airstrip. Immigration was formal and strict but surprisingly basic. All our luggage made it safely, except for the pricey Sprüngli chocolates, which mysteriously vanished on the plane.

Our driver picked us up at the airport exit in a classic Asian minibus, and off we went into the darkness. Just a kilometre from the airport, we spotted a Shakal—what a start to the day!

At the sleepy hotel (as it was still dark), we were greeted nicely, and check-in was quick. By 6:10 AM, we were finally in bed, after Yvonne insisted on changing rooms as she wanted one double bed not two singles.

We slept until 11:00, then got ready for a light breakfast. Later meeting Doris from Go2Africa, who briefed us on our upcoming safari and answered all our questions. We also arranged a 2-hour Arusha tour starting at 14:00. It kicked off at the cultural centre with fascinating African art…

… followed by a visit to the main food market.

We had two guides and were the only tourists and white people there. Yvonne seemed oblivious to this.

Back at the hotel, I hit the gym for a casual session, while Yvonne explored the grounds. The highlight was dinner at the rooftop restaurant, where we enjoyed excellent food and good wine at a very reasonable price.

 

Day 2: From Arusha to Ngorongoro

This morning started innocently enough—nice breakfast, bags packed, and our driver already waiting. Turns out he’s a Maasai Prince! Not a bad way to kick off a safari. Let the adventure begin…

First stop: a village tucked inside a banana plantation, home to several tribes. Super interesting—and naturally, Yvonne couldn’t resist picking up a few wooden souvenirs.

We also dropped by the local school, which was full of energy and smiles.

Then it was off to the wild, starting with a picnic and a treetop walk. That’s where things got real: baboons everywhere, a few blue-tailed monkeys, bushbuck antelopes, and birds galore.

But the real show began at Lake Manyara National Park. We saw monkeys, elephants, hippos, a giant lizard, giraffes, zebras, and more birds than a David Attenborough documentary. Absolutely unreal.

We also had some more adventure …

A few unexpected twists later we made it to Kitela Lodge— a beautiful place situated just outside Ngorongoro, unbelievably kind staff, and a perfect spot to crash.

More tomorrow. Usiku mwema!

 

Day 3: Ngorongoro from Groggy to Glorious

What a start. As a proud non-morning person, being up at 05:20 to collect breakfast and lunch felt borderline cruel. But hey—what began as a nightmare quickly morphed into a dream.

We were off to the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. After a 30-minute drive, finding ourselves wrapped in mist, winding through jungle terrain. The main road from Arusha to Serengeti had turned into a narrow dirt path snaking through dense forest. We climbed to 2,400 meters above sea level, only to descend into the crater at 1,600 meters. Fun fact: the crater floor spans 260 km², which makes it bigger than the entire canton of Zug. Wild, right?

Speaking of wild—our first sighting was a group of young lions, full of energy and mischief. They even came closer to check us out.

Not long after, we spotted not one but two servals (yes, actual servals!).

Then came the parade: zebras, buffaloes, wildebeests, warthogs, hippos, gazelles, and a bird bonanza featuring flamingos, herons, grey crowned cranes, and many more.

We even glimpsed a rhino way off in the distance—like a rare cameo in a wildlife blockbuster.

By the time we rolled back to Kitela Lodge, we were gloriously exhausted. The staff welcomed us with their signature warmth, and dinner hit the spot.

Tomorrow: Serengeti. Let’s see what magic awaits.

 

Day 4: Serengeti Central

Wow—what a wild ride!

Today felt almost like a sleep-in… well, sort of. We “only” had to wake up at 06:30—practically a lie-in by safari standards! After a solid night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast, we packed up the trusty Land Cruiser and said the warmest, most heartfelt goodbye to the lovely folks at Kitela Lodge. They really know how to send you off in style.

We headed once again toward Ngorongoro, but this time we skirted the crater rim instead of diving into its depths—onward to the legendary Serengeti!

After about two hours of scenic driving, we reached the Serengeti gate, where Yvonne unintentionally became the centre of attention, sparking a spontaneous gathering of curious Maasai women. A true people magnet!

And then—boom—we were officially inside Serengeti National Park. Barely minutes in, and already we were surrounded by herds of herbivores: gazelles galore!

But the real jaw-dropper? Three cheetahs on the hunt. Yes, three. In action. Unreal.

Lions? Oh, plenty. Again and again, they made their regal appearances.

The absolute showstopper of the day?

A leopard feasting on a fresh kill, lounging like royalty in the golden grass. Nature’s drama at its finest.

As the sun dipped low, we continued spotting wildlife until well past 19:00, Yvonne nearly had a heart attack as we crossed over this bridge – apparently it brought back childhood memories of rugged hanging bridges on the South Island of New Zealand.

Finally we arrived at our next haven: the Serengeti Explorer Lodge. Five-star luxury tucked right into the heart of the wilderness.

Just to keep things spicy, we nearly collided with a cobra on the way. No dull moments here!

Once again, Meritho, our phenomenal Maasai guide (and actual Maasai prince!), proved his deep connection to nature and encyclopaedic knowledge of every creature we encountered. Truly the best guide one could ask for.

Tomorrow’s another mystery waiting to unfold. Can’t wait to see!

Stay tuned for “Diary of Our Tanzania Safari – Part Two”.

 

---

Sign up for the FunkyForty newsletter for regular Fashion and Lifestyle updates!