Day 1 - Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya
Check in to the historic Fairmont Norfolk Hotel, a luxury landmark set on private tropical grounds in the heart of the city.
Day 2 - Into the Masai Mara
Your safari adventure begins this morning at the Giraffe Center, established in 1979 to save the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. At that time, there were only 130 left in the wild. Today, thanks to the Center’s pioneering conservation efforts, there are nearly 500 Rothschild Giraffes in Kenya! Then visit the Daphne & David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where the care of orphaned elephants and rhinos is just a small part of their decades-long conservation work.
A short flight from Nairobi brings you deep into the Masai Mara National Reserve, longtime favorite of travel writers, film makers and seasoned travelers. This is one of the few places on the Continent where visitors can see big game in the same super-abundance that existed a century ago. You’ll be met at the airstrip for a scenic transfer and game drive en route to the deluxe Fairmont Mara Safari Club.
Meals B,L,D
Day 3 - Thrilling game drives in the Mara
Set in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, the golden grasslands of the Mara - punctuated by acacia woodland - stretch to the horizon where rugged rocky hills shimmer in the distance. The valley floor is abundant with the Big Five, plus giraffe, zebra, rhino, cheetah, and more than 450 bird species including spectacular birds of prey like eagles and owls. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives today with lunch, dinner and time to relax back at the Safari Club. Meals B,L,D
Day 4 - In the shadow of Kilimanjaro
Embark on another thrilling early morning game drive in the Masai Mara before your flight to Amboseli National Park. This magnificent little gem presents the quintessential African landscape – open plains, rolling savannah and woodlands set against the imposing backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising to nearly 20,000 feet! Upon arrival, enjoy a light lunch at Dorman’s Café and an afternoon game drive as you continue onward to Ol Tukai Lodge., famed as the best place in the world to observe elephants! Your chalet-style rooms are comfortable and stylish, built with indigenous materials like gum tree planks and local river stone.
Meals B,L,D
Day 5 - Explore Amboseli National Park
Be sure to set your alarm clocks because you won’t want to miss your first morning safari across the dew-touched landscapes of Amboseli! The animals are up with the first light of day, and the early light is one of the best times to experience the full majesty of Africa’s tallest mountain. After lunch, you’ll have time to take full advantage of your Lodge’s pristine setting, nestled between the open plain and Acacia woodland. Enjoy panoramic vistas from The Elephant Bar or take a refreshing dip in the crystalline pool. As the sun edges toward the horizon, an afternoon game drive reveals more wildlife across the plains and woodlands of Amboseli.
Meals B,L,D
Day 6 - Through the Great Rift Valley
This morning’s scenic drive brings you to the border town of Namanga. Cross into northern Tanzania for lunch in the bustling town of Arusha and journey on in the direction of the Tarangire, a pristine river which lures plenty of game! There will be some great opportunities to observe the wildlife en route to the luxurious Tarangire River Camp.
Meals B,L,D
Day 7 - Explore Tarangire National Park
This little known gem is celebrated for its concentration of big game, including some unique mammals rarely observed in the larger parks – like eland, Oryx, Grant’s gazelle and gerenuk. Your morning and afternoon game drives are complemented by a mid-morning visit to a local Masai village, an enriching opportunity to experience Africa beyond its game parks and reserves.
Meals B,L,D
Day 8 - Onward to Lake Manyara
Travel westward this morning across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park, a little known gem often overlooked by other tour groups trying to save time on their way to the much better known Serengeti. Although not large, Lake Manyara is one of the prettiest and most game-rich parks in the country. You arrive for lunch and time to relax at the luxurious Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. Later, an afternoon safari drive reveals the dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife of Lake Manyara, from the large flocks of flamingoes, herons and pelicans that gather on the lakeshore to olive baboons, Sykes monkeys, and bushbuck. The Park is especially known for its unusual tree-climbing cats – woodland lions that drape themselves in the shady branches of the umbrella tree. Return to your Lodge for dinner and a spectacular evening under African skies!
Meals B,L,D
Day 9 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This morning’s visit to a local school offers deeper insight into the daily rhythms of life here in Tanzania. Your drive continues northwest toward Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world. This awe-inspiring natural landmark stretches almost 12 miles across, with an encircling volcanic rim that appears in the distance as a chain of mountains soaring 2,000 feet above the crater floor. You arrive in time for lunch at the intimate Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp, set spectacularly on the rim of the crater! Settle-in to your luxurious safari-style accommodations before an afternoon bush walk with your experienced ranger guide.
Meals B,L,D
Day 10 - Down to the crater floor!
There is no place like this anywhere else in the world. Ngorongoro truly offers an absolutely unique environment for wildlife viewing. First, you won’t see any giraffe or impala inside the crater; though they would love to graze the abundant vegetation, these delicate-legged animals find it nearly impossible to navigate their way down the steep cliffs. But because it is so enclosed and the crater floor is mainly open grassland, this conservation area is easy for game officials to patrol, and the result is a healthy population of endangered species like the Black rhino and cheetah. It’s like a giant fishbowl, and this morning’s game drive across the crater floor will be amazing! You return to Camp for lunch with the afternoon free to enjoy its amenities and unforgettable setting.
Meals B,L,D
Day 11 - From Olduvai Gorge into the Serengeti
Visit Olduvai Gorge en route to the Lemala Luxury Camp, a unique mobile camp positioned seasonally for optimal wildlife viewing here in the famed Serengeti. Join your guide for an afternoon game drive across the plains in search of antelope, wildebeest, giraffe and more! Meals B,L,D
Day 12 - The Amazing Serengeti
Tucked away in an Acacia grove near a spillway which flows from Lake Ndutu, your camp is ideally situated to observe the animals that gather here, attracted by the water and salts of the spillway. Each day, our expert trackers will lead you on morning and afternoon game drives to explore the vicinity and the deeper regions of the vast Serengeti, famed for an amazing concentration of big plains game – both herbivores and their ferocious predators.
Meals B, L, D.
[Note: From July into October, Lemala Luxury Camp moves to the northern Serengeti... where the animals are!]
Day 13 - Further Exploration into the Serengeti
The Masai call it Siringitu, ‘the place where the land moves on forever.’ Indeed, the wide open expanses of the Serengeti are truly awe-inspiring, unparalleled for its natural beauty and renowned for its amazing concentration of African wildlife. Today’s morning and afternoon game drives bring you deep into these hauntingly beautiful landscapes for unforgettable wildlife encounters!
Meals B,L,D
Day 14 - Out of Africa
After an early morning game drive, you’ll be escorted to the airstrip for your flight to Arusha. After lunch in town, transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward flight.
Meals B,L