Best of Kenya & Tanzania Safari

Overview

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

• Depart the USA this evening on your overnight flight to Kenya

Day 2: Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

1 night EKA Hotel Nairobi or similar. 

• Upon arrival in Nairobi, following customs and immigration formalities, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel.

Day 3: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

1 night Sweetwaters Tented Camp or similar.  Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your camp
• In the afternoon, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary followed by a game drive
• This evening sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, depart for the 90,000 acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located on the equator, in Kenya’s Laikipia District, between the foothills of the Aberdares and the snow-capped Mount Kenya. The conservancy hosts a large variety of animals, including the “Big Five”, Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, cheetah and chimpanzee. Enjoy lunch at your camp. In the afternoon, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary followed by a game drive. In the evening sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals.

Day 4: Samburu Game Reserve

2 nights Samburu Game Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp, Samburu Simba Lodge or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Travel north to the remote Samburu Reserve with morning game spotting
• Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive

Full Day Itinerary: After an early breakfast, drive to Samburu. On the way you'll pass through Ol Pejeta Conservancy and have another opportunity for game viewing. Cross the foothills of Mount Kenya to a dusty outpost called Isiolo, en route to Samburu Reserve in time for lunch at your lodge. This is the homeland of the nomadic Samburu people, whose culture attaches great value to tending their livestock of cattle, sheep, goats and camels as their main economic activity. The Samburu people's appearance is dramatic with bright reds, braided hair and skin daubed in red ochre. Samburu is rich in species not seen in southern Kenya's more famous parks, such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx and gerenuk. You'll also have a good chance at spotting lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. The semiarid landscape is dramatic, with the rugged outcrop known as Mt. Ololokwe a prominent feature. In the afternoon, take part in another game drive, returning to the lodge as the sun sets. 

Day 5: Samburu Game Reserve

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning game drive
• Lunch, followed by some free time to relax
• Early evening game drive

Full Day Itinerary: Enjoy another day of game viewing drives in the Samburu Game Reserve. One drive in the morning and another in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography. Guided by your expert driver, enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area.

Day 6: Lake Nakuru National Park

1 night Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Early this morning, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Once in the park, there will be a game drive followed by lunch at the lodge
• In the afternoon, there will be another game drive prior to check-in and dinner

Full Day Itinerary: Early this morning, travel south to Lake Nakuru National Park via Isiolo. Travel through the town of Nanyuki and then head west via Nyahururu, still known to many as Thompsons Falls. Continue to Lake Nakuru. This park is a rhino sanctuary, offering the rare opportunity to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild's giraffes, buffalo, leopards and lions. Once in the park, there will be a game drive followed by lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, there will be another game drive prior to check-in and dinner.

Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

2 nights Mara Intrepids Tented Camp or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• After breakfast, head out for the Masai Mara National Reserve
• Enjoy lunch and an afternoon game drive at your camp

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, set out for the Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Every year, between June and September, millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate into the Mara in search of water. The timing of this phenomenon varies, depending on the rains, but they usually start heading back to the Serengeti in October.

Whether you see the migration or not, the grassy plains and lush landscape offer a huge variety of game including lions, cheetahs, buffalo and abundant bird life such as ostriches, cranes and storks. Enjoy lunch at your camp upon arrival, then set off for an afternoon game drive. 

Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning game drive
• Mingle with Masai villagers in their natural setting
• Late afternoon game drive

Full Day Itinerary: Today you will take two safari drives, one in the morning and one in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography.

After lunch, you have the opportunity to mingle with the interesting Masai villagers in their natural setting. Experience what the Masai tribal life is like as you walk through a traditional village compound. You'll be greeted by the village chief and be escorted around the village by a local host who will explain the history, culture and practices of the Masai. Before departing the village, enjoy a cultural performance by the young men of the tribe, the famed warrior "morans".

You'll have the option of replacing one safari drive with an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari, which provides a thrilling opportunity to soar high over the plains for animal viewing from above. Whether you go by air or land, you will enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area accompanied by your expert guide, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush.

Optional Excursion: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari, $450 (purchased locally). Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird's eye view of the plains below. Before returning to your lodge, your balloon pilot will present you with a Balloon Flight Certificate. This is certain to become a once in a lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! Flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable.

Day 9: Masai Mara & Nairobi

1 night EKA Hotel Nairobi or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive before departing the Masai Mara for Nairobi
• Visit the Karen Blixen Museum and the Langata Giraffe Center
• Enjoy an all-you-can-eat dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
• After dinner, return to your Nairobi hotel for overnight

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, enjoy your final early morning game drive before departing the Masai Mara Park. Continue through the acres of rolling wheat and barley farms, stopping for a picnic lunch in Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Masai land. After lunch, continue to Nairobi and visit the Karen Blixen Museum, which is the former home of "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen and served as the farm house for her 4500 acre farm from 1917–1931. Next, you'll visit the Langata Giraffe Center, established to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Guests are permitted to feed the giraffes from a raised feeding platform, from which you'll also see several warthogs which roam freely with the giraffes.

This evening, join your fellow travelers for an "all you can eat" dining experience at the world-famous Carnivore Restaurant. Here you'll find wide variety of meats, basted and roasted on traditional Masai swords over a huge charcoal pit at the entrance of the restaurant, then carved to order by your waiter at your table.

Day 10: Arusha & Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

1 night Tarangire Sopa Lodge or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• This morning, fly to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania
• Enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge in Tarangire National Park
• Lunch will be served at the lodge followed by an afternoon game drive

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, fly to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano that is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. After completing border formalities, you'll drive to Arusha, a pleasant city that serves as a trading center for the surrounding farmlands.

Continue to Tarangire National Park, home to thousands of elephants, and, in the dry season, game which congregates along the river after having migrated from the Masai Mara. Large herds of antelope, zebras, gazelles, buffalo, wildebeest, leopards, rhinos and many smaller mammals also make the park their home. Tarangire is an ornithologist's paradise, rich in an incredible variety of birds.

Enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge located deep within the park. Lunch will be served at the lodge followed by an afternoon game drive in Tarangire Park.

Day 11: Lake Manyara National Park

1 night Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge or similar. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• This morning drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• After lunch, take a game drive in search of tree climbing lions and flamingos

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Located at the base of the Great Rift Valley, the park is covered with forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps. After lunch, take a game drive in search of tree climbing lions and see the flamingos that congregate in the thousands on the lake.

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater

1 night Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• This morning drive to Ngorongoro Conservation
• Your lodge is perched on the edge of the famous Ngorongoro Crater
• Taking along a picnic lunch, descend into the crater

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, drive through the stunning hilly countryside of Karatu and the highlands covered with wheat and coffee plantations. Your destination is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where your lodge is perched on the edge of the famous Ngorongoro Crater. The completely intact rim rises 1800 feet above the base and offers the very finest game viewing in Africa. It is considered one of the world's greatest natural wonders, and its abundant game includes rare species such as black rhinos and cheetahs. The magnificent scenery will thrill even the most experienced safari traveler.

Taking along a picnic lunch, descend into the crater. With the passage of time, the crater floor has become grassland with a lake in the middle, a sanctuary and source of water for the abundance of wildlife found here.

Day 13: Ngorongoro, Arusha & Depart Nairobi

 Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport or similar (day-use room). Breakfast & lunch.

• Heading southeast, travel back to Arusha through the scenic Rift Valley
• Enjoy a picnic lunch then continue to Kilimanjaro Airport
• Bid farewell to Africa as you transfer to the airport for your return flight

Full Day Itinerary: Heading southeast, travel back to Arusha through the scenic Rift Valley escarpment with great views of Lake Manyara in the distance. Pass by the Masai Steppe, filled with picturesque African villages and banana plantations. Enjoy a picnic lunch then continue to Kilimanjaro Airport for your short flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, check into your day-use room. Later today, bid farewell to Africa as you transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Day 14: Arrive USA

• Your amazing adventures come to an end as you arrive in the USA today

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS/PRECAUTIONS: Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry for passengers arriving from Yellow Fever Endemic Countries, such as Kenya. Click here to find a local vaccination center.

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 12 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Kenya? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Tanzania? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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