The Ultimate Jabali Private House & Thanda Island
8 Days: Ruaha National Park And Thanda Island
Combining 3 nights at Jabali Private House and 4 nights at Thanda Private Island
Day 1: Overnight at Jabali Private House, Ruaha National Park
On arrival at Dar es Salaam airport, take the morning light aircraft flight to the remote Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania. Enjoy views of the meandering Great Ruaha River as you come in to land, and meet your private safari guide from Jabali Private House who will be with you for the duration of your safari. Enjoy a leisurely game drive back to the house and settle in here with some refreshing drinks and enjoy lunch on the deck overlooking the valley of baobabs.
Spend the heat of the day sleeping in the shade or relaxing by the plunge pool before going out on an afternoon game drive to explore this wildlife-rich park, seeking out leopard, lion, elephant and much more with your expert guide. This evening gather your group together to enjoy drinks under the spectacular African stars before enjoying a beautiful dinner cooked by your private chef.
Jabali Private House
Offering complete exclusivity to families or friends travelling together, Jabali Private House offers the height of sophistication in this remote safari setting. Built around three baobab trees, the house comes staffed with your own expert safari guide and vehicle, chef and staff to look after your every need.
Built on one expansive deck, there are two master bedrooms each with an en-suite bathroom with outdoor shower, and a children’s twin bedroom to the back of the house with its own en-suite bathroom with indoor shower.
The living space is open plan and makes the most of the views out onto the baobab valley, with plenty of comfortable sofas to lounge in and a sun deck with private plunge pool. Dining is a highlight here, with a private chef creating culinary delights accompanied by a hand-picked collection of wines, enjoyed either indoors or outdoors depending on the weather and your preference.
Day 2 – 3: Overnight at Jabali Private House, Ruaha National Park
Spend your days on safari enjoying game drives and guided walking safaris with your expert private safari guide from Jabali Private House. Activities focus on the early to mid morning and the late afternoon to early evening when the wildlife is most active, leaving the heat of the day to relax in the privacy of the house, enjoying the pool and lounge area, or having a massage in the privacy of your room.
Full day game drives with a picnic lunch can also be arranged – you have the flexibility to decide how each day unfolds with your guide. A walking safari will offer a lovely contrast to the game drives, the chance to stretch your legs and gain a wider understanding of how the whole ecosystem of Ruaha fits together.
Your guide knows Ruaha like the back of his hand, ensuring you the best possible safari experience in this unspoiled gem of a national park. One tenth of the world’s lion population lives in this park, as well as good numbers of leopard, cheetah and some more unusual species such as sable antelope and lesser kudu.
Day 4: Overnight at Thanda Private Island, Mafia Island
There is time for a final morning game drive before you fly out to the unspoilt Thanda Private Island off the coast of Mafia Island in the Indian Ocean. A representative from Thanda Island will meet you here and transfer you by boat across to the island where you will be greeted and orientated to your new home.
The entire island is your playground for the next four nights, with a beautiful private house, 8 hectares of island to explore, a kilometre-long stretch of pristine beach and a reef bursting with marine life to explore on snorkeling or diving trips.
Thanda Private Island
Located south of Zanzibar, and off the coast of Mafia Island in the southern waters of Tanzania, Thanda Private Island is an idyllic coastal retreat. Built as a sophisticated home for a Swedish family, it is now available to hire on an exclusive use basis, offering an extravagant beach house experience fully staffed with everyone from a bartender to a diving and fishing guide.
There are five en-suite bedrooms, chic living spaces both indoors and outdoors, a glass rim-flow swimming pool and large deck. The facilities are abundant, with a yoga sala, spa treatment beds, gym, tennis courts, bonfire pits, copper beach bath tubs, an indoor aquarium and even a Steinway grand piano.
Day 5 – 7: Overnight at Thanda Private Island, Mafia Island
Spend your days at Thanda Private Island completely unwinding in the pristine environment, sipping on beautiful wines and indulging in spa treatments and yoga. If you prefer a more active beach stay, there is plenty to keep you busy here, too, from birding walks to snorkelling and diving trips, big game fishing, kayaking, and sailing.
The reefs surrounding the island and greater Mafi a Archipelago offer some of the best diving in East Africa, and the expert guides are there to tailor your excursions to your abilities. Whale sharks spend time in the waters around these islands between late October and March, and the chance to swim with these gentle giants of the sea is unforgettable.
Day 8
You will say your goodbyes to the team at Thanda Private in time for your light aircraft flight to Dar es Salaam where Island today, making your way by boat across to Mafia Island your adventure ends.
What people say
“The trip itinerary that Penwell Safaris put together for me was the perfect balance of cultural and environmental explorations. Each camp I stayed in, from the Ngorongoro Crater to Central and Southern Serengeti, to the island of Rubondo, had a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff who celebrated the natural beauty of their surroundings. Their love and respect for their country inspired me to take in every moment with complete awe and appreciation for the diverse, intelligent ecosystems and majestic wildlife that thrived in the Bowl of Plenty and endless plains of the bush. Driving through thousands of wildebeests and zebras while they fed on grass and instinctively migrated through the great Serengeti was an overwhelming sight to behold with muffled sounds of hoofs and grunts, yet deeply peaceful at the same time. It sometimes took my breath away. Even the industrious dung beetles rolling their dung balls were as exciting to observe as the the big five and scavenging hyenas. But the strikingly beautiful faces and welcoming attitude of the Tanzanian people were the icing on the cake. Pure joy and a sense of belonging came through every “Mambo” greeting they shared with each other and with us as we wandered through their vast, abundant land. My trip was a life-affirming adventure that I would recommend to anyone. And I plan to go back for more!”
— Sue Baile
“We traveled to Africa in August 2018 and visited Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The tours were very well organized and could not have asked for a better experience or accommodations. Every guide and driver we had were knowledgeable, personable, and funny. They really wanted you to have the best Safari experience possible. In Uganda, it was such a great experience to see the gorillas in the rain forest. It was a hard trek but totally worth the experience. We got to see so much wildlife in Tanzania (lions, zebra, cape buffalo, hyena, jackals, cheetah, elephant and so much more), but most importantly we were lucky to see 5 Wildebeest migrations across the river!
We were really impressed with the food offerings and the chef at each camp was sensitive to the dietary needs of our party (vegetarian for one traveler and lactose sensitivity to another). From the early morning game drives and morning tea in the bush, to afternoon lunches at the camps, to beautiful sundowners in the evening, and delicious dinners we felt catered to at every stop. The staff at each camp was amazing! We look forward to our next trip over to Africa!”
— Marc Foreman
“I could not describe how magnificent my experience was on a 10 day safari through the Serengeti with Kathy. Of all of my world travels, this was the most memorable trip. From sundowners on top of beautiful rock structures, to an extraordinary lakeside breakfast watching the sunrise to the thrill of watching a cheetah hunt and kill. Every moment of the trip was memorable. Kathy brings a breadth of experience and opportunity that few other African safari companies can provide. I cannot plan my next trip soon enough! Happy Travels! Asante.”
— Michael Wilcox
“I met Kathy back in the late 1980s. One day 5 friends began talking about taking a trip together and Kathy mentioned Africa. How could anyone say “no” to tagging along with Kathy, since she was/is a world traveler and traveled to Africa tons of times. Kathy said she loved planning the trip and managed it all, from phone calls and tons of emails. She asked us if we wanted to rough it, go glamping or a bit of both. She arranged the entire trip and Oh Em Gee, WOW!! That was THE trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Arusha, where we met up with THE BEST safari guide (father, brother & uncle) there is, Jadim George Luangila. This was an amazing trip filled with wonderful people, 100% white glove customer care, the most beautiful animal kingdom you will ever witness, along with the most gorgeous night skies.
When you get that desire to travel to Africa, it’s a MUST you call Kathy Harvey!”
— Lisa Goldman