There's no escaping it: luxury African safaris are expensive - often surprisingly so. When Travel Africa reader Phill Capstick asked us to select a sample safari in Tanzania, we forwarded his request to Okavango Tours and Safaris, experts in luxury tailor-made trips, only to find we'd presented them with a tall order.

The Brief: Phill asked for a week on safari in Tanzania, based in lodges and including a balloon trip, followed by a week on Zanzibar's beaches. He and his wife are 36 and have budgeted £2000 each. OTS have designed a tempting itinerary, although to keep within budget, hotels must replace lodges and the balloon trip is extra. Champagne Africa comes at a price.

"Champagne Africa": 14 days in Tanzania with Okavango Tours and Safaris

Day 1 Fly overnight from London Gatwick to Nairobi.

Day 2 On arrival in Nairobi, transfer to Wilson Airport for the flight to Kilimanjaro. Drive to Tarangire Sopa Lodge, set in the wooded Tarangire Hills, an area known for large concentrations of elephant. Sopa means "welcome" in the Maasai language, and each hotel in the Sopa chain has a style and décor to reflect its setting, with a large pool for cooling down in the noon heat.

Day 3 Morning game drive in Tarangire (in a minibus with sunroof for game viewing and photography; maximum 7 people). Drive to a hilltop for lunch, continuing on to the Serengeti, viewing game en route. Stay at Serengeti Sopa Lodge, overlooking the vast plains. Ideal for observing the legendary wildebeest migration.

Day 4 Rise before dawn for ballooning (US$375 per person - book before leaving home, as demand is high). Drift gently above the plains, observing wildlife below in the morning light. Afterwards, enjoy a champagne breakfast in the middle of the plains (often cooked on the balloon burners themselves).

Day 5 After a dawn game drive, continue to Naabi Hill for a picnic lunch. Visit the Olduvai Gorge before driving to Ngorongoro Crater. Spectacularly situated on the rim, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge boasts astounding views. Below, wildlife is prolific, soda lakes host thousands of flamingos and flora includes gigantic euphorbias, African fever trees and forests of fig trees.

Day 6 After a morning game drive and lunch, drive to the outskirts of Arusha for a night at the tranquil Moivaro Coffee Plantation. Fourteen cottage rooms give views of Mount Meru. Relax in the beautiful grounds and sample Moivaro's renowned cuisine (all meals included).

Day 7 Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar, the Spice Island. Transfer to Emerson's and Green, a fairy-tale hotel in Stonetown set in a restored Omani palace. Armed with a guidebook, explore Stonetown, including the market, David Livingstone's house, the Palace Museum, Old Dispensary, palaces, churches, and the Arab Fort. Try a spice tour (cloves, nutmeg and turmeric are among the valuable spices grown) or a day trip to Jozani Forest Reserve, famous for red Colobus monkeys.

The hotel's rooftop restaurant offers views over the city's skyline. Take off your shoes, sit on floor cushions at the low tables and enjoy traditional live music, before retiring to your typical Zanzibari bed (an elaborately carved four-poster). Continental breakfast included.

Days 8-12 Continue exploring Stonetown before transferring to the pristine white sands of Kiwengwa Beach on the east coast. Spend four nights at the small owner-run Shooting Star Hotel, built in simple Zanzibari style and offering friendly hospitality. The beach stretches away in both directions.

Explore the local fishing village and seaweed cultivation projects. Ten minutes' walk along the sand is a larger resort with pool and dive centre open to Shooting Star guests. Dive or snorkel on the vibrant Mnemba Atoll, teeming with fish. With luck, you'll encounter turtles, dolphins or even Whale sharks.

Day 13 Transfer to the airport for flights to Dar es Salaam and Gatwick.

Day 14 Arrive back in London early morning.

Cost: £1,988 per person, sharing.

Includes all flights and airport transfers in Africa, and dinner and breakfast unless otherwise stated. Excludes drinks, gratuities, airport departure taxes and entry visa fees.

Published in Travel Africa Edition Sixteen: Summer 2001 Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)