Kenya and Tanzania

OVERVIEW

The Masai Mara National Reserve (also spelled Maasai Mara and often referred to as The Mara) is the park where Federico Veronesi has spent the best part of the last six years, and one of the places with the highest photographic potential in Africa and the world. It is part of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem, and it hosts the famous Wildebeests’ migration during the dry months of July to October.

Ngorongoro was named by the Maasai as El-Nkoronkoro meaning Gift of Life. This was because they were migrating from Central Africa for a permanent settlement. Based on fossil evidence found at the Olduvai Gorge, various hominid species have occupied the area for 3 million years. Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera Tarangire is home to more than 550 species, the park is a haven for bird enthusiasts who can expect to see dozens of species. It also comprises of wide variety of wild animals.

Lake Manyara National Park is known for the flamingos that inhabit the lake. It has more than 400 species of birds. Leopards, Masai lions, cheetahs, elephants, blue monkeys, dik-dik, gazelles, hippopotami, Masai giraffe, impala, zebras and many more wild animals inhabit this park and many can be seen throughout the year. There is a hippo pond at one end of the park where visitors can get out of their cars and observe from a safe distance. The leopards and lions are both known to lounge in the trees while not hunting for prey.

The Serengeti National Park is a Tanzanian national park in the Serengeti ecosystem in the Mara and Simiyu regions. It is famous for its annual migration of over 1.5 million white bearded (or brindled) wildebeest and 250,000 zebra and for its numerous Nile crocodile and honey badger.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Nairobi- Masai Mara 

Depart Nairobi for an adventure Kenya  safari driving south along the floor of the great rift valley then past Narok climb the western wall entering Hemingway’s country ‘’Serengeti plans’’ and into Masai Mara. Arrive in time for lunch. Afternoon enjoy a game drive in this famous reserve. Dinner and overnight at the camp/Lodge.

Explore Nature Mara Lodge 3* www.explorenaturemaralodge.com

Mara Sopa Lodge 4* www.sopalodges.com

Ashnil Mara Luxury Camp 5* www.ashnilhotels.com

Day 2: Masai Mara

Full day game viewing whereby you leave the camp after breakfast with picnic lunch.

The Mara is the land of African legend: Lion are abundant throughout the park, as are the elephants, giraffes, and a variety of gazelle species and zebra. Cheetah and leopard are also regularly seen and, less commonly, rhino. The annual wildebeest migration, one of nature’s few remaining wildlife spectacles, occurs in Maasai Mara from July to September where the big animals and their predators are to be present in abundance during the time frame of this trip. Several species of Bee-Eater, the flying rainbow that heads the list of the Mara’s birds, occur in the reserve. As well as wildlife, the Maasai Mara is also home to many members of the colorful Maasai tribe who may be seen around the borders of the park – Morans (warriors) loping across the plains, young boys herding goats, or elders grouped under a tree discussing matters of the day. This is an African Safari. Dinner and overnight at the camp/lodge.

Day 3: Mara – Isebania- Serengeti.

Breakfast at the lodge/camp. Depart for Isebania boarder with picnic lunch.

After customs, change vehicles and proceed to Serengeti National Park with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight at Kati Kati Camp or similar standard. www.tanganyikawildernesscamps.com

Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Breakfast at the camp/lodge. Depart with picnic lunch for a full day game drive in this African wildlife park. The park has endless plain which is a home for lion, leopard, elephants, cheetah, buffalo, wildebeest migration, eland, wild dog, gazelle, crocodiles and many more. A variety of birds decorate the park with different sounds. Dinner and overnight at Kati Kati Camp or similar standard. www.tanganyikawildernesscamps.com

Day 5: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Enjoy early breakfast, proceed for a morning game drive lunch at lodge/campsite. In the afternoon we depart to Ngorongoro Conservation area. We will stopover at Olduvai Gorge, boasting with a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of the 'Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Farm Lodge or similar standard. www.twctanzania.com

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater - Karatu
After breakfast, you descend with picnic lunch into Ngorongoro crater; enjoy full day game drive in the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its huge population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Dinner and overnight at Kudu Lodge or similar standard. www.kuducamp.com

Day 7: Lake Manyara - Tarangire

Breakfast at the lodge. Proceed to Lake Manyara with picnic lunch. Enjoy an full day game drive. The park has varied habitat that attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara's unique tree-climbing lions, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, baboons, warthog, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. In the afternoon transfer to Tarangire National Park. Dinner and overnight at Burunge Tented Camp or similar standard. www.twctanzania.com

Day 8:  Tarangire – Arusha
Breakfast at the lodge. Depart for an extended morning game drive. The park consists of natural vegetation mainly of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during Tanzania's dry season. The Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa.

This African National Park is also home to three rare species of animals - the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings. Lunch at the camp later depart for Arusha.  Dinner and overnight at Kibo Palace Hotel or similar standard. www.kibopalacehotel.com

Day 9: Tarangire – Arusha - Nairobi
After breakfast drive to Namanga boarder, change vehicles and proceed to Nairobi. On arrival connect to onward flight.

Note: This safari can be extended to Zanzibar or Mombasa beach

DAY 1: ARRIVAL – LAKE MANYARA
Depart Arusha for Lake Manyara arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game drive. The park has varied habitat that attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara's unique tree-climbing lions, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, baboons, warthog, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. Dinner and overnight at Octagon Lodge or similar standard. www.octagonlodge.com

DAY 2: LAKE MANYARA - SERENGETI
After breakfast we head towards the Serengeti National Park, via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - the Serengeti National Park - with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight at Kati Kati Camp or similar standard. www.twctanzania.com/en/accommodation/kati-kati-tented-camp/

DAY 3: SERENGETI
Breakfast at the camp. Depart with picnic lunch for a full day game drive in the park. The park has endless plain which is a home for lion, leopard, elephants, cheetah, buffalo, wildebeest migration, eland, wild dog, gazelle, crocodiles and many more. A variety of birds decorate the park with different sounds. Dinner and overnight at Kati Kati Camp or similar standard.

DAY 4: SERENGETI - NGORONGORO
Enjoy early breakfast, proceed for a morning game drive lunch at lodge/campsite. In the afternoon we depart to Ngorongoro Conservation area. We will stopover at Olduvai Gorge, boasting with a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of the ‘Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Farm Lodge or similar standard. www.twctanzania.com/en/accommodation/ngorongoro-farm-house/

DAY 5: NGORONGORO - KARATU
After breakfast, you descend with picnic lunch into the crater; enjoy full day game drive in the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its huge population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Dinner and overnight at Kudu Lodge or similar standard. www.kuducamp.com/

DAY 6: KARATU - TARANGIRE
Breakfast. Drive to Tarangire National Park. On arrival enjoy game drive enroute. Lunch at the camp. Afternoon game drive. The park consists of natural vegetation mainly of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during Tanzania's dry season. The Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa.

This African National Park is also home to three rare species of animals - the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings. Dinner and overnight at Burunge Tented Camp or similar standard. www.sopalodges.com/tarangire-sopa-lodge/overview

DAY 7: TARANGIRE – ARUSHA - ZANZIBAR
After breakfast drive to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar.

On arrival in Zanzibar you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Bluebay Beach Resort or similar standard. http://bluebayzanzibar.com/

DAY 8: ZANZIBAR

Full day spent at the beach with an option to engage in activities and excursions.

Overnight at Bluebay Beach Resort or similar standard.

DAY 9: DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on flight time, transfer to the airport for final departure.

Day 1: ARRIVE NAIROBI

Arrive at the Airport in Nairobi. You will be met by our representative followed by transfer to your hotel. Excursion in Nairobi with a city tour, visit to Karen Blixen and Giraffe Centre.

Overnight at Double Tree by Hilton www.doubletree3.hilton.com

Day 2: NAIROBI – SAMBURU

Depart Nairobi and drive north to Samburu National Reserve to arrive in time for lunch. After lunch proceed for an afternoon game drive in the park that is famous as the place for the Samburu semi-nomadic tribesmen. Samburu Game Reserve is situated in the hot and arid fringes of Kenya's vast Northern Frontier District. The area is home to the Samburu tribe, pastoral relatives of the Maasai. Samburu Reserve as a safari destination has rugged and dramatic landscape; the Ewaso Nyiro River runs along the southern boundary dividing Samburu Game Reserve and is home to crocodiles and hippos with the many other animals visiting to drink during the heat of the day. Samburu safari may offer sightings of buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs and other plains game. Species of game unique to Samburu game reserve include the beisa oryx, the long necked Gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the blue shanked Somali ostrich. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge/Camp.

Suggested Accommodation or similar standard

Samburu Sentrim Camp 3* www.sentrim-hotels.com

Samburu Sopa Lodge 4* www.sopalodges.com

Elephant Bedroom Camp 5* www.atua-enkop.com

Day 3: SAMBURU - NANYUKI

Early morning game drive. Breakfast at the camp/lodge. Drive to Nanyuki and arrive in time for lunch. Afternoon Leisure with an option to engage in activities such as visit to Mau Mau caves, half day Mt.Kenya hiking. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. www.naromoruriverlodge.com

Day 4: NANYUKI– LAKE NAKURU

Breakfast at the lodge. Depart for Lake Nakuru and stop en-route at Thomson falls before arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in this beautiful park .Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar standard. www.lakenakurulodge.com

Day 5: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Early morning game drive and return to the lodge for breakfast as well as lunch before your afternoon game drive. This national Park hosts Lake Nakuru, which is well known for thousands and sometimes millions of Flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of this shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink Flamingos. The lake’s abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of Flamingos that famously line the shores. The park was recently enlarged partly; to provide sanctuary for black Rhinos. This undertaking has necessitated the putting up of a fence to keep out poachers rather than restrict movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 Rhinos and this is one of the largest concentrations in the country and chances of spotting these survivors are high. There are also a number of Rothschild Giraffes which were trans-located for safety from Western Kenya way back in 1977. Waterbucks are very common as well. Dinner and Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 6: LAKE NAKURU - KAKAMEGA

Breakfast at the Lodge and depart to Kakamega Forest National Reserve before arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy your lunch and proceed to the forest for an afternoon walk. Kakamega forest is a tropical rainforest situated in the Western Province of Kenya. This forest is Kenya’s only Tropical rainforest and is said to be the country’s last remnant of the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once spanned the African Continent. This forest is home to over 400 species of Butterflies, about 300 Bird species and 27 species of Snakes. The park also supports more than 350 species of trees which are famous for their medicinal value and 7 primate species including the endangered De Brazza Monkey, Black and White Colobus Monkey as well as the Vervet Monkey. Potto which is the world’s slowest mammal on earth is found here plus Duikers and Dik Diks. Dinner and Overnight at lodge. www.golfhotelkakamega.com

Day 7: KAKAMEGA – KISUMU

Breakfast at the Hotel and depart for Kisumu to arrive for Lunch. Afternoon leisure before you retire to bed at the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Kiboko Bay Resort www.kibokobay.com

Day 8: KISUMU – ISEBANIA – LAKE VICTORIA

Breakfast at the Hotel, drive to Isebania border from where you will cross over to Tanzania. Once you are through with immigration formalities, you will exchange vehicles and head to L. Victoria with picnic lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight at Lodge. http://hoteltilapia.wixsite.com/tilapia-def

Day 9: LAKE VICTORIA – SERENGETI

Drive off to Serengeti after breakfast and early lunch so as to enter the park in the afternoon with game drive en-route. Dinner and Overnight at Lobo Wildlife Lodge. www.hotelsandlodges-tanzania.com

Day 10: SERENGETI

Today, we shall have a full day game drive in Serengeti which is undoubtedly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world with unequaled natural beauty and the greatest concentration of plains game. Covering an area of more than 14,000 square Kilometres, the world famous Serengeti National Park is Tanzania`s oldest park. The park`s name is derived from the Maasai word ‘Siringet ’which means endless plains. Vegetation in this park ranges from the short and long grass in the south to the acacia savannah trees in the central region and wooded grasslands which are concentrated around the tributaries of Grumeti and Mara rivers. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains’ game in Africa including more than 3 million large mammals. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge. www.serenahotels.com

Day 11: SERENGETI – NGORONGORO

Drive off to Ngorongoro with picnic lunch after breakfast and optionally pass by Olduvai Gorge (@ USD 20 pp not included in the price) The Gorge is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world to learn about human evolution .Here, you will enjoy an on-site talk about the interpretation of the gorge by a resident guide before proceeding to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge www.sopalodges.com

DAY 12: NGORONGORO CRATER – ARUSHA

After breakfast you will descend some 600 metres into the crater which is home to an abundance of wildlife and is a photogenic paradise for full day game viewing with picnic lunch in between. Ngorongoro crater is the largest intact Caldera in the world and it teams with abundant wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. Prides of Lions, herds of Cape Buffalos, Impalas, Thomson Gazelles Rhino, Giraffes, Golden & Black – backed Jackals, Zebras, Cheetahs, Leopards and spotted Hyenas on a lucky day freely roam plains of the crater floor. Unmatched for its natural variety and breathtaking beauty, there are very few places on earth where such tremendous diversity of landscapes exists inside a region of this size. Besides its wildlife riches, the crater is also of great archeological importance with remains of some of mankind`s earliest ancestors discovered in the area. Also, there are quite a number of Bird species refreshing in the small lakes therein the crater floor. In the late afternoon, ascend the crater and drive to Arusha. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. https://www.kibopalacehotel.com

DAY 13: ARUSHA - NAIROBI

You will be transferred after breakfast to the Namanga boarder where you will change vehicles after customs. Lunch enroute (own cost). Drop off at the airport for final departure.

END OF SAFARI