14 days – Kenya and Tanzania Component

On our first day we meet you in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

We get straight on the road, heading for Nakuru. Travelling through the spectacular Great Rift Valley, we stop at the Lookout spot for sweeping views across the region. You may also be tempted by the curio markets here. We have our Departure Meeting on reaching camp.

The following day we enter Nakuru National Park to head out on game drives in smaller vehicles with a local guide.

Nakuru is famous for its flamingo population. Thousands, and at times, millions of greater and lesser flamingos can be found here on the Lake, attracted to the algae and plankton that live in the warm alkaline waters in which they feed. The park is also a sanctuary for both black as well as white rhino, and boasts lion, leopard, Rothschild’s giraffe, waterbuck, impala and buffalo.

We have a full day game drive in this small treasure of a park.

Distance, Day 1: 162 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 1: 4.5 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Full day game drives in Nakuru National Park
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 minivan with pop up roof

We arrive in Lake Naivasha to relax for a couple of days. On the way we stop over at a children’s orphanage.

Naivasha is a freshwater lake and is the highest of the lakes of the central Rift Valley. We have a few choices of activities to enjoy over the next two days including a visit to the Crater Lake Sanctuary and taking afternoon tea on the grassy lawns at Elsamere (home to the late Joy Adamson of “Born Free” fame) where the resident troop of black and white colobus monkeys might entertain us. A hippo cruise is also arranged to enjoy the wildlife of the lake.

A cycling safari in Hell’s Gate National Park is another option. This is a great opportunity to stretch your legs out in the wilds of Africa. Cycle amidst zebra, gazelle, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and impala in spectacular and arid surrounds featuring volcanic plugs and the dramatic red cliffs of columnar basalt heading through Njorowa Gorge. A visit to the Maasai Cultural Centre deep in the Park also provides insight into the Maasai people.

Distance, Day 3: 70 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 3: 3 hours incl. a stop for shopping
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Hippo cruise on Lake Naivasha, conducted in a small boat

Optional excursions: Cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park, guided walk to Crater Lake Sanctuary, Elsamere for afternoon tea

After our two nights by Lake Naivasha we head out on the bumpy and dusty road for the remote plateau of the Masai Mara, Kenya’s premier game park. We stop at Loita Hills, home to East Africa’s ancient tribespeople, where the Maasai give us a warm welcome with traditional singing and dancing.

We spend this afternoon with a walk in the hills with the Maasai warriors, learning about their culture and the surrounding nature. We visit the local hot springs and a women’s village. This evening the warriors show us how to light the campfire and we find out more about their fascinating culture.

Distance: 154 km
Est. Drive Time: 5 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Up early and before we say goodbye to our Maasai hosts, we have time for “warrior training” and to visit the local Maasai children at their school. We then set off on the road to the Masai Mara.

The Mara is perhaps best known for being part of the setting for the famous wildebeest migration; a mass movement of up to approximately 1.7 million wildebeest, accompanied by approximately 200,000 zebra and 350,000 Thomson’s gazelle. The migration involves a journey covering 3,000 square kilometres, the equivalent of circumnavigating Britain and Ireland. The ever-vigilant predators, particularly lion and hyena, closely follow the herds.

Here, we have our first game drive in small 4x4s with a local guide on the renowned stage of the wildebeest migration. We are on the watch for all the wildlife for which Africa is famous from elephant to lion, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, gazelle and warthog.

We take our game drives by Landcruiser in this impressive National Park. A balloon safari can also be arranged the following day in place of the morning game drive if you wish to view the wildlife from a totally different perspective. We then have a further game drive later in the day, using every moment we can in the park.

Distance: 60 kms
Est. Drive Time: 2 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara (x2), Morning game drives in the Masai Mara (x1)
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 landcruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursion: Balloon safari

Up early for our last game drives in the Mara, we head out one more time wildlife spotting, before departing for the drive back to Nairobi.

Tonight we enjoy a hot shower and then head out for a fun night out in one of Nairobi’s famous restaurants.

Distance: 300 kms
Est. Drive Time: 6.5 hours through to Nairobi upon leaving the park gate
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner (contribution to evening restaurant meal in Nairobi)

Included wildlife activity: Morning game drive, Masai Mara
Vehicle for game drive: 4×4 landcruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursion: Dinner in a restaurant

There is time this morning to visit the Giraffe Centre and the Elephant Orphanage; our first chance to get up close and personal with some of Africa’s most loved animals.

Langatta Giraffe Park was established in 1979 to protect and educate people about the rare Rothschild’s giraffe. Set in the grounds of a traditional manor house, it is possible to hand feed the giraffe and from a specially created wooden walk way we come so close that we are in kissing distance with these gentle giants!

Following the visit to the Giraffe Park, there is time to stop over at Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage where we view the morning feeding session of the small elephant orphans as well as the fun of the elephant play sessions, these being an essential part of the program to assist in the survival of these highly social animals.

The rest of the day is free to explore the city or relax back at camp.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional excursions: The Giraffe Park, Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen museum, Kazuri bead factory

We depart Nairobi early to drive south across the vast Athi plains dotted with whistling thorns, a landscape so characteristic of this part of East Africa.

Crossing into Tanzania at the bustling Namanga border Maasai sell beaded trinkets, jewellery and carvings.

Heading to Arusha, with a little luck we view Kilimanjaro – at 5,895 metres it is the world’s largest freestanding mountain.

On reaching the town of Arusha, at the foot of Mount Meru, we stop in Arusha’s town centre for shopping and to change money before making our way to tonight’s campsite. We have a briefing tonight to go through what to expect on the next few days safari in the Tanzania parks.

Distance: 278 kms
Est. Drive Time: 6 – 7 hours (depending on the border)
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Leaving camp early this morning in our 4×4 open top land cruisers, we travel towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area which sits beside the Serengeti. The drive takes us through rolling plains and traditional Maasai herdsmen can be seen throughout the region tending cattle and goats.

At the edge of the Crater rim we have superb views across the ancient caldera, before descending to the flat grasslands of the Serengeti. Across these two reserves wildlife viewing is exceptional.

We arrive at Naabi Gate, the official entry to the Serengeti by mid afternoon. Here there is an excellent chance to view Africa’s renowned wildlife from hyena, lion, leopard and cheetah to elephant, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, antelope and much more across the 14,000 square kilometre park.

The seemingly endless plains of the Serengeti are the stage for the famous wildebeest migration too. This is Siringitu for the Maasai – “the place where the land moves on forever”. On the annual migration 1.7 million wildebeest and other game including zebra and Thomson’s gazelle move on mass between the Mara, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. The rains and the endless search for water and good grazing drive this movement. To encounter one of the countless wildebeest herds in a bleating, snorting, dust-kicking motion on migration is an experience of a lifetime.

We game drive through the afternoon. Kopjes – small hills of rocks – are favourite vantage points for lion dozing in the sun from where they keep an eye out over the vast grassy plains. We spend the night camped in the heart of the park with our fire burning and sounds of the African wildlife filling the night air.

Distance: 325 kms
Est. Drive Time: 6 hours including time in the Conservation Area, then game drives through the afternoon
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Lunch, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activities: Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park
Vehicle for game drive: 4×4 land cruiser with pop up roof

We are up at sunrise this morning to explore further into the park, in the hope of seeing one, if not all, of the famous Big 5 animals that inhabit this park, and much more. Viewing is often best early in the day.

Big cats and other predators always capture the imagination. Regularly blonde-maned lions can be seen nonchalantly lazing on the rocky outcrops or lolling in the shade. With a little luck cheetahs can be found pacing the open grasslands. Leopards can be located resting up in the buffalo thorns and sausage trees that line the Seronera River. Spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes and jackals also roam Serengeti, as well as the Conservation Area.

After our morning game drive we return for lunch at the Gate before leaving the plains area, to continue our journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and up into the more mountainous terrain around the Crater rim.

A visit to a Maasai boma is arranged during which Maasai warriors perform the traditional jumping dance for us. Depending on road and time constraints, the Olduvai Gorge Museum is also a stop off point (on request) where you can find out about the Leakey’s work into the origins of man.

Our overnight camp tonight is high on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. We are at altitude here, so wrap up warm tonight.

Distance: Game drives, then 163 kms to Ngorongoro Crater rim
Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the morning and slow transit in afternoon
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Lunch, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activities: Morning game drive in Serengeti National Park, return drive through the Conservation Area
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 land cruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursions: Maasai Boma, balloon safari over the Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge Museum depending on road conditions and time constraints.

Please note if you wish to visit Olduvai Museum you must let the office know prior to the tour departure.

As the low clouds clear from the Crater rim we take the journey down to the floor of Ngorongoro, for the chance to see more wildlife including the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

We spend the morning in this perfectly intact volcanic caldera and the world’s largest extinct volcano. On the Crater floor we find a garden of Eden full of all the wildlife for which Africa is famous – rhino, hippo, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo, zebra, gazelle, impala, wildebeest, ostrich, flamingo, and many, many more. Plain’s game peacefully graze. Hippopotamus are found lolling in the pools and Lake Magadi can be rimmed with the pink of greater and lesser flamingo.

We travel back to Arusha via the village of Mto Wa Mbu, where Maasai display their ebony carvings, spears and beadworks and if there is time we stop in one of the market stalls for shopping.

Back in Arusha we all enjoy a final group barbecue to celebrate our experiences over the last few days.

Distance: 195 kms
Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the morning in Ngorongoro Crater, then 5 hours to our Arusha camp in the afternoon
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Lunch, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activity: Morning game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater
Vehicle for game drive: 4×4 landcruiser with pop up roof

Today we bid farewell and travel back to Nairobi by shuttle bus. We can arrange drop off at the airport or a central location in the city. Alternatively we can drop you at Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airports or transfer you through to Moshi or Marangu if Kilimanjaro trekking. Optional to fly out from JRO, Tanzania

Distance: 278 kms
Est. Drive Time: 6 – 7 hours (depending on the border)
Meals: X1 Breakfast

Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold and are of an adventurous nature, the unexpected can arise, so do allow for this. Feel free to give us a call about your safari plans. We look forward to having you onboard.