Kenya & Tanzania Safari

Day 1 :Basecamp Masai Mara, Masai Mara (Tue, 25 December)

• Masai Mara

The Masai Mara together with Tanzania’s Serengeti form Africa’s most famous wildlife park, the Masai Mara National Reserve. The image of acacia trees dotting endless grass plains epitomises Africa for many, then add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The undeniable highlight of the Masai Mara National Reserve is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration traversing the vast plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It is known as the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. Large prides of lions, elephants, giraffes, gazelles and eland can also be spotted in the reserve. Aside from horse riding safaris and traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Mara plains has become almost essential.

• Day Itinerary

After a leisure breakfast at your hotel in Nairobi, depart overland to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve-jewel of Kenya’s Game Park. The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s finest and most outstanding wildlife sanctuary where gentle rolling grassland ensures animals are never out of sight.
Centuries of close association with the wildlife has resulted in an almost symbiotic relationship where wildlife and Maasai people live in peace with one another.
After lunch, explore the Reserve on a late evening game drive. No matter how much you have thought about Africa, this is more than you expected—the big five-Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Cape buffalo are in abundance.
Overnight: Basecamp Masai Mara
At Basecamp Masai Mara we offer 12 spacious and luxurious Double Riverside Tents, including one Family Riverside Tent, perfect for families traveling with children. Our tents are built along the banks of the Talek River, the natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserve. The dense riverbed foliage allows for maximum privacy and comfort, without compromising the view of the Masai Mara National Reserve. With more than 286 identified bird species, you are certain to wake to a symphony of birdsong while staying at Basecamp Masai Mara.
Basis Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Basecamp Masai Mara, Masai Mara (Wed, 26 December)

• Day Itinerary

Today we will be spending in the vast eco-system of the Mara searching for the big five and much more. You also have an optional balloon safari — Many call it a once in a life time experience, once you are up, you won’t want to come down, and once you land, champagne breakfast awaits you. Game viewing is great from the air with the opportunity for beautiful pictures. The annual wildebeest migration is expected in the Maasai Mara between July and early November. Millions of animals migrate to the Mara from Serengeti in search for fresh green pastures and water. It’s worth noting that every game drive is different from the other, and missing one is missing out on the fun.
Basis Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3 :Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru National Park (Thu, 27 December)

• Lake Nakuru National Park

Located in the Great Rift Valley surrounded by yellow acacia woodlands and bushy shrublands, the Lake Nakuru National Park was created to protect the Lake and its large flocks of Lesser Flamingo, which are drawn to the algae that flourish in the saline waters of this soda lake. The national park is inhabited by over 50 mammal species including hippo, black and white rhino, Rothschild giraffe, buffalo and eland. Known as a bird watcher’s paradise, the park is home to over 450 bird species. Visitors can look forward to hiking through the scenic landscape, picnicking next to this magnificent lake, and spotting an array of wildlife on a game drive. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the beautiful Makalia Waterfall.

• Day Itinerary

After a delicious breakfast, we travel overland to Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day game viewing experience. The spectacular alkaline Lake is famously known as the feeding ground of both lesser and greater flamingos. This National park, which is fenced all round is a sanctuary for birds, Rothschild giraffes and both black and White rhinos. Other mammals in abundance include Waterbucks, Buffalos, Gazelles, Lions, Baboons and the elusive Leopards sometimes seen sleeping on the horizontal branches of the “Fever trees”. Lunch will be served at your lodge, offering its own local specialties, served with fresh produce from the region. Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Located on a range of hills that form the western limits of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, the lodge offers spectacular views over the vastness of Africa.
The lodge also overlooks Lake Nakuru and its surrounding National Park, one that is a paradise for bird watchers and wildlife lovers alike.
Lake Nakuru National Park is mainly a wooded and bushy grassland with a wide ecological diversity and characteristic habitats that range from the lake waters to the escarpment and ridges.
Basis Full Board

Day 4 :Kibo Safari Camp, Amboseli National Park (Fri, 28 December)

• Amboseli National Park

Located in the southern reaches of Kenya, the Amboseli National Park is renowned for its excellent variety of wildlife such as Masaai giraffe, elephant, lion and cheetah and not surprisingly it is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The landscape of Amboseli is dominated by the majestic snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as open plains, acacia woodland, swamps and the massif of Ol Doinyo Orok. The birding is excellent, especially closer to the lakes and swamps. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to large herds of elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and soak up spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

• Day Itinerary

After breakfast, drive to Amboseli National Park lying below the most famous symbol of Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro. Arrive for lunch at your lodge. Amboseli National Park is home to the legendary Maasai tribesmen and famous for huge herds of Elephant later in the evening. Amboseli is big game country: Lion, Cheetah antelope, Zebra, Wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe. The afternoon game run en-route is planned to introduce you to intense beauty and drama that fill each day here. Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro – can be seen from our lodge.

• Overnight: Kibo Safari Camp

Kibo safari camp is a luxury tented camp based in Amboseli National Park, set at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa standing at 5896m. Situated 140 kilometers south of Nairobi. Amboseli National Park is the second most popular national park in Kenya. Kibo Safari Camp is only a 4 hours drive away from Nairobi city and with the newly built tarmac road from Emali to Loitoktok, you are sure to get here comfortably. It is 15km away from the Amboseli airstrip and a five minutes, drive from the park gate. The ideal location of the camp ensures you get breathtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kibo safari camp offers complete tranquility and privacy as we have maintained the original nature feel bringing you closer to nature.
Basis Full Board.

Day 5 :Kibo Safari Camp, Amboseli National Park (Sat, 29 December)

• Day Itinerary

Rising early for good views of Mount Kilimanjaro before clouds build up over the summit, we set off for another stimulating game drive. Amboseli is an excellent place to view a multitude of wildlife, including everything from Wildebeest to Giraffes to Baboons.
The great diversity of Amboseli wildlife is also evident here—look for buffalo, hippopotamus, elephant, giraffe, antelope, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, lions, and in season the spectacular migration of the wildebeest and Zebra. In late afternoon we venture out in another game drive.

Basis Full Board

Day 6 :Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater (Sun, 30 December)

• Ngorongoro Crater

Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife; which makes it one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO-listed crater is said to be the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Visitors can look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five and a host of other wildlife species including large herds of zebra and wildebeest. It is famed as one of Tanzania’s best tourist attractions offering visitors an array of wonderful activities including excellent bird watching, trekking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking and visiting a local Maasai village. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on an excursion to the magnificent Olduvai Gorge.

• Day Itinerary

After breakfast, drive to the border town of Namanga where you will clear customs and immigration formalities. Proceed in Tanzanian vehicles to Arusha for lunch. In the afternoon, lovely drive takes us to Ngorongoro Crater, where our lodge sits dramatically on the rim of the crater, revealing an awesome panorama of the world’s largest, unflooded and unbroken caldera.
Be prepared for some remarkable views down into the crater. The caldera of Ngorongoro marks the ancient walls of a collapsed volcano, which was probably once the size of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Today the completely enclosed circular crater is some twelve miles across, with steep walls of over 2,000 feet. We are at an altitude of approximately 7,500 feet above sea level, the highest point on our trip. After our time on the lower plains, the cooler air here is refreshing. This afternoon enjoy a short nature walk to learn more about the local fauna, or just stay at the lodge and admire the view.

• Overnight: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Perched on the rim of the collapsed volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater, a world heritage site, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. It has the most magnificent views over the crater floor, which is home to vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, the rare and endangered black rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, lion and herds of gazelle and wildebeest.
Its position on the Eastern rim allows the most spectacular and uninterrupted views of the sunset. Situated on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, in the volcanic highlands of Tanzania, covering an area of some 240 square kilometres. The lodge is located 170 km from Arusha, approximately 4 hour drive and 40 minutes by air, with another 45 minutes transfer from the airstrip to the lodge.
Basis Full Board.

Day 7

• Day Itinerary

Early this morning we descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor to explore this natural zoological park, and observe an extraordinary variety of wildlife: elephant, rhinoceros, lion, hyena, zebra, wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, reedbuck, and buffalo.
The lovely crested crane (similar to a peacock) can be found in great profusion here and maybe you’ll spot a bateared fox. The balance of predator and prey in this extraordinary ecosystem is so precise that animals seldom leave. Our exact route is decided on the spot by our expert safari guides, depending on where the animals are. An insider’s tip: bring plenty of film-you may never take better wildlife photos anywhere else. Ngorongoro Crater is said to be one of the natural wonders of the world. A spectacular game haunt, the 102-squaremile crater is a perfect caldera, one of the largest on earth. Millions of years ago a smoldering volcano collapsed, creating the crater and a home for thousands of animals amidst its many types of vegetation grown and nourished over the centuries.
Over 30,000 animals live here: prides of lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah and giraffe, gazelle by the thousands and multitudes of wildebeest. Uniquely beautiful, we will never see its likes again. We spend a memorable morning ensconced in the crater, exploring its breadth and depth returning to the lodge for a late lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure..
The views from our lodge are outstanding and there are various outlooks from which you can survey the crater. And tonight, as we delight in another luscious meal at this exceptional lodge, we are once again stunned by the beauty of the orange sunset that hovers in the wild African sky, signaling the end to yet another unforgettable day on safari. Basis Full Board

Day 8 :Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Central Serengeti (Tue, 1 January)

• Central Serengeti

Situated in the heart of Tanzania, the Central Serengeti encompasses the world-famous Seronera Valley which is known for its prime wildlife-viewing opportunities. This picture-perfect landscape is characterized by endless stretches of savannah-covered open plains, interspersed by rocky outcrops of granite, scattered with acacia woodlands and covered in a network of rivers and streams. The Central Serengeti forms part of the great wildebeest and zebra migration and provides an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife such as giraffe, impala, waterbuck, hippo, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, serval and much more. Popular activities include: game viewing, cultural tours, horse riding safaris, and hot air ballooning over the spectacularly scenic terrain.

• Day Itinerary

After breakfast, drive to the Serengeti National Park, undoubtedly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and the greatest concentration of plains game anywhere. En route visit the Olduvai Gorge site of archeological findings, where traces of pre-historic man dating back to 3.5 million years ago have been discovered. Arriving at our lodge in time for lunch, we find ourselves deep in the heart ofthis famous migration corridor. With its wide-open spaces, bright blue skies and creature-filled landscape, over the next two days we will discover why the fabled Serengeti typifies the dream of “Old Africa.” Large prides of lions laze in the long grasses; plentiful families of elephants feed on acacia bark and trumpet to each other across the plains, while giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, eland and the whole range of African wildlife present themselves in awe-inspiring numbers. Afternoon game drive until sunset.

• Overnight: Serengeti Sopa Lodge Serengeti Sopa Lodge

is perched on a hilltop overlooking the vast plains of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s leading game reserve. The park offers unrivalled game viewing and bird watching opportunities. All the members of the Big Five; elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and cheetah may be spotted here!
Basis Full Board

Day 9 : Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Central Serengeti (Wed, 2 January)

• Day Itinerary

A Serengeti game viewing day. After breakfast this morning, enjoy a game drive. The great diversity of Serengeti wildlife is also evident here—look for buffalo, hippopotamus, elephant, giraffe, antelope, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, lions, and in season the spectacular migration of the wildebeest. In late afternoon we venture out in another game drive. Everywhere there are animals, monkeys and, yes, birds…but look closely and you will thrill to the huge jungle cats—lion, leopard and cheetah—just watching the world go by. And go by it does. Rhino, gazelle, antelope and massive elephants by the hundreds. Animals in the trees, on the wing, camouflaged inthe bush, in rivers and in streams. The adventure of a lifetime. Basis Full Board

Day 10 :Tarangire Sopa Lodge, Tarangire National Park (Thu, 3 January)

Tarangire National Park After the Serengeti, Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania and in the dry season the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland gather and not surprisingly the predators follow. This is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. Tarangire is also known for its spectacular baobab trees, and its breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south. Located just a few hours, drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the wildlife are allowed to move freely throughout.

• Day Itinerary

Breakfast at your lodge, drive from Serengeti to the Tarangire National Park, named after the Tarangire River which rises in Tanzania’s central highland. The river lures thousands of plains game to its banks. Lunch en route at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. Afternoon game drive en route to the lodge.

• Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Hidden among the kopjes, lies Tarangire Sopa Lodge, surrounded by ancient baobab trees. It is the home of the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa, and other game including the elusive leopard. Over 400 bird species can be spotted here as well. With water constantly available in the area, the greenery is lush providing a wonderful contrast to the burnt ground.
Basis Full Board

Day 11 :Tarangire Sopa Lodge, Tarangire National Park (Fri, 4 January)

Day Itinerary
Today we will enjoy a full day game-viewing drive in Tarangire National Park. We’ll pack a picnic lunch. With nine distinct vegetation zones ranging from grassland to woodland, from deep gully vegetation to scattered rocky hilltops, Tarangire offers a diverse geological landscape as well as diverse wildlife, including an extraordinary concentration of bird life. Bulbous baobab trees dot the landscape and the valley of the Tarangire River dominates the entire scene. Tarangire is teeming with an amazing diversity of exotic flora and fauna including elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo. Each of our driver-guides has extensive knowledge of the behavior of the great animals.
Elephants are plentiful here, traveling in larger herds than are normally seen elsewhere in East Africa. At lunchtime, we’ll pause at a scenic spot for a leisurely picnic meal, the great African wilderness as our backdrop. Basis Full Board.

Day 12 :End of Itinerary (Sat, 5 January)

• Day Itinerary

After breakfast, we drive to the town of Arusha for lunch and continue to the Kenya -Tanzania border at Namanga, where we clear customs formalities. Proceed to Nairobi, Kenya’s colorful capital city. You will be dropped at your hotel to refresh and change before being transferred to the airport for your flight home