DAY 1: NAIROBI
Meet at Nairobi airport upon arrival and transfer to your lodge for pre-safari briefing.
THE BOMA HOTEL (Dinner)
DAY 2: NAIROBI – MASAI MARA
After breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for bush flight into the heart of the Masai Mara. Meet with camp vehicle and guide for shared and scheduled game driving. The Mara Game Reserve is largely plains and the open grasslands are habitat to rich and varied wildlife such as lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, crocodile etc. There are also several species of birds such as vultures, herons, shrikes, etc. The annual migration of millions of wildebeest and antelope from July to September is a spectacle never to be missed by any visitor to the Mara. Continue to lodge for overnight.
ASHNIL MARA CAMP (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 3: MASAI MARA
We spend our time on shared and scheduled game drives in the Mara. Early start recommended. We’ll have our picnic lunch on the banks of the Mara river as we watch hip-pos. We return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
ASHNIL MARA CAMP (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 4: MASAI MARA – SERENGETI
After breakfast, transfer to Masai Mara airstrip for bush flight to Migori to join road shuttle across the Isebania border to Tarime on the Tanzania side. Fly from Tarime into the heart of the Serengeti to meet your private Tanzanian guide and vehicle for Tanzania briefing and then continue with game driving and onto tented camp for overnight.
KASKAZ MARA CAMP (Jun-Oct) or EHLANE PLAINS CAMP (Nov-May) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 5: SERENGETI
Serengeti is calling today – drive directly to the Serengeti! Game drive in the rolling grasslands. Criss-crossed with forested riverine valleys, the Serengeti plays home to millions of Africa’s large mammals, making this one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations. Return to your glamping for overnight.
KASKAZ MARA CAMP (Jun-Oct) or EHLANE PLAINS CAMP (Nov-May) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 6: SERENGETI
All day game drive in Serengeti. Best time for the wildebeest migration is Dec to June but there are spectacular wildlife sights at anytime of year.
KASKAZ MARA CAMP (Jun-Oct) or EHLANE PLAINS CAMP (Nov-May) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 7: SERENGETI – NGORONGORO
Game drive out of the Serengeti – passing through Olduvai Gorge and a view of the archaeological sites (and visit the museum) where early human tools and fossils have been found (included). Otherwise, we continue through the conservation area and onto the Ngorongoro crater for overnight.
NGORONGORO CRATER LODGE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 8: NGORONGORO – CRATER HIGHLANDS
Ngorongoro is collapsed volcano – an incredible natural amphitheatre, 25 km across and teeming with all of the African big game. Early morning descent into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. In late afternoon, we return to the rim for a wilderness walk that showcases incredible views of the caldera. Continue onto the crater highlands for overnight in Cape Dutch style lodge amongst the coffee plantations.
THE MANOR at NGORONGORO (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 9: CRATER HIGHLANDS
Leisurely walking safari through farms and villages on the rift valley escarpment. You can discover the farming, irrigation and cattle husbandry techniques, visit houses and, if you want, sample local cuisine of the Iraqw tribe. There is also traditional wood-fired brick making, local musicians and you can generally gain a deeper understanding of the lifestyle of the people who live and work here. Return to lodge for afternoon resting and overnight.
THE MANOR at NGORONGORO (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 10: CRATER HIGHLANDS – LAKE MANYARA – ARUSHA
Game-drive around Lake Manyara National Park. This park is famed for the bird life round the soda lake – flamingos in particular, and is home to unusual tree-climbing lions. It is also has a large elephant population. In the mid-afternoon, we transfer into the Maasai Heartlands to a village called Esilalei (Toothbrush Tree) located in the wildlife corridor in between Tarangire and Lake Manyara. We enjoy a packed lunch just as we enter the village and are met by the villagers who offer us to freely explore this authentic village. Your visit supports the building of their school here. Return to Arusha for overnight.
ARUSHA COFFEE LODGE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 11: ARUSHA
Transfer to Arusha departure point.
(Breakfast)
