The Journey Begins!
Day 1 - Get In and Get Some Rest!
For your added comfort, upon your arrival at the airport, an English-speaking airport representative will greet you at customs and immigration. They will be holding a clearly marked page board with your name on it as you exit the arrivals hall. This representative will walk you through your welcome package documents and itinerary, and they will answer any questions you may have.
The representative will also facilitate the visa process for you. After completing the visa process, you will continue to the baggage claim hall and passenger pick up. Here you will be met by your driver for a private transfer to your hotel.
After arriving at your hotel, you will have the option to visit local shop and restaurants or relax at your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
- Radisson Blu Nairobi Upperhill
- Superior Room
Day 2 - Amboseli National Park
You will depart from Nairobi in the morning, passing through savanna grasslands, to reach your lodge in Amboseli. Upon arrival, set out into Amboseli National Park for a chance to share the terrain with the parks famed herds of free roaming elephants, as well as some of the world’s most elusive animals. Game viewing can be arranged either before or after checking into your camp, so call upon the knowledge of your expert guide to gain their recommendations based on your arrival time, animal activity and park hours.
In the afternoon you’ll meet with your guide and head into Amboseli National Park. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to spot free-roaming elephants, however, a wide array of other species including bushbucks, dik-diks, duikers, and warthogs are also commonly found here. The park is also host to an incredible range of birdlife, with over 400 species identified, and on a clear day, you’ll also enjoy spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. After an afternoon exploring the park, you will return to your lodge to get set for a delicious safari dinner.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ol Tukai Lodge
- Chalet Room
Day 3 - Big-Game Galore
This morning you will meet up with your guide and set out on a game drive through Amboseli Park, a land famous for its great herds of elephants. African elephants are distinguished from their Asian counterparts in several ways, the most noticeable being their ears, which are much larger. The African elephant is typically larger than Asian elephants and also feature a concave back. Both African males and females have external tusks and are usually less hairy than their Asian relatives. With any luck, today you will witness these incredible creatures firsthand as you track through Amboseli Park, in addition to a wide range of fascinating animals both large and small.
With the sun high in the sky, set out with your guide into Amboseli National Park for an afternoon game drive. Although the region is visited by travelers primarily aiming to sight great herds of free roaming elephants, the park is also home to many other animals including cheetahs, lions, baboons, wildebeest and buffalo, to name only a few. On today’s afternoon adventure, you will track through Amboseli National Park in search of these impressive and less commonly seen animals.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ol Tukai Lodge
- Chalet Room
Day 4 - A Dazzling Drive
Today you will bid a fond farewell to Kenya as your guide drives you from Amboseli to the Kenya/Tanzania border crossing of Namanga.
Upon arrival to the Namanga Border Crossing, make a quick stop to switch between Kenyan and Tanzanian guides and vehicles before continuing on your safari.
Tanzanian Visas can be purchased at the border at the cost of $100 USD for US citizens, and $50 USD for all other nationalities. Please Note: Visas must be paid in USD, and in cash. No bills can be older than 2006 as a local counterfeiting safeguard. A Single Entry Visa is valid for three months and can be used for multiple entries into Kenya and Tanzania. It is also required that you have your Yellow Fever certification handy upon crossing.
Once you're through Customs you will proceed with your Tanzanian guide to Ngorongoro.
Stop for a buffet lunch this afternoon, included on your tour.
During your stay at Ngorongoro there are many optional activities available to you. Depending on which lodge you're staying at, activities may include nature walks, cultural village visits, a hike to the Endoro waterfalls, bicycle tours, coffee plantation tours, and more. Many of these activities can be arranged in advance by your Destination Expert while others must be booked directly with the lodge upon arrival; please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ngorongoro Farm House
- Standard Room
Day 5 - Big Game Galore
An experienced tracker-guide and private vehicle will accompany you today while exploring Ngorongoro National Park.
Today, discover one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation areas in Tanzania; the Ngorongoro Crater. Departing from your camp in a privately driven vehicle alongside a local expert guide, make your way to the entrance of the park, then drive a further 20 minutes to reach the rim of Ngorongoro Crater: the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. This geological marvel was formed as the result of a gigantic explosion which caused the volcano to collapse on itself, thereby creating the massive crater. Roughly 12 miles wide and some 2,000 feet deep, the trip from crater rim to floor takes approximately 45 minutes by vehicle. The extremely fertile crater floor has attracted incredibly dense populations of wildlife, and at present over 25,000 large animals call the crater home, including some of the world’s last remaining black rhinos. The crater floor is also host to some of the highest concentrations of carnivores in the world, featuring large prides of lions, packs of hyenas and solitary predators like cheetahs and jackals. A keen eye paired with expertly procured search patterns from your guide is sure to help you spot a wide range of wildlife and perhaps some of the more elusive species like leopards, servals, and bat-eared foxes.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ngorongoro Farm House
- Standard Room
Day 6 - Where the Wild Things Are
Your guide will pick you up from your lodge in Ngorongoro and drive you to the famous plains of the Serengeti. On this drive you will have the option of stopping at Olduvai Gorge, the Serengeti Welcome Center and Lookout Point, or to stop for a picnic lunch. After entering the Serengeti, you will have the chance to enjoy a game viewing drive as you track through the park en route to your next accommodation. The drive takes five to six hours depending on the number of stops you make and the length of your game viewing experience. Longer transit times should be expected during the rainy seasons.
During your stay in the Serengeti, a number of optional activities are available to enhance your experience. One of the more popular excursions includes taking to the sky aboard a hot air balloon to soar high above the park for a birds eye view before descending down to the tree line to observe the animals up close. A visit to nearby communities is also toward the top of the priority list for many guests of the Serengeti. Depending on your lodge, these activities as well as many other additional experiences are likely to be offered, typically at additional cost. Please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.
Where you’ll be staying
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Suite Tent
Day 7 - Safari Sightings
This morning, your African adventure begins with an exploratory game drive through Tanzania’s oldest and most recognized National Park, the Serengeti. A land of unparalleled game viewing, from great herds of grazing herbivores to tactically cunning packs of carnivores, life on the plains of the Serengeti truly epitomizes the “circle of life.” A paradise for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, it is all but guaranteed that you will spot giraffes and elephants feasting on shrubbery, impalas, gazelles and buffaloes traipsing carefully through the plains to avoid being noticed by on-looking lions, cheetahs and hyenas, and a spectacular range of birdlife flitting through the sky.
Spend the afternoon searching for and tracking the impala, one of Africa's most beautiful and graceful animals. Previously thought to be a sub-species within the gazelle family, impalas have been found to be so different that they are now classified as their own species. When frightened or startled, impala herds begin to leap randomly so as to confuse predators and can jump distances of more than 33 feet and approximately nine feet high. Leopards, cheetah, lions and wild dogs are the primary predators of the impala, however, with a top speed of 55 miles per hour, impalas are often times able to escape prowling hunters.
Where you’ll be staying
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Suite Tent
Day 8 - Across the Plains
This morning, your guide will drive you from Serengeti to the Isebania border. This day-long commute includes game viewing in the Serengeti en route, as well as a multi-hour drive across highway and bumpy patches of road to the border. Depending on your camp location and the stops on your game drive along the way, the drive to the Isebania Border is anywhere between three and five hours.
Upon arrival to the Isebania Border Crossing, switch to a Kenyan vehicle and continue your safari with a Kenyan guide.
Kenyan Visas can be purchased at the border at the cost of $50 USD. Please Note: Visas must be paid in USD, and in cash. No bills can be older than 2006 as a local counterfeiting safeguard. A Single Entry Visa is valid for three months and can be used for multiple entries into Kenya and Tanzania. It is also required that you have your Yellow Fever certification handy upon crossing.
After clearing the Isebania Border Crossing, you will continue onward to the Masai Mara. This last section of driving will be partly on a paved highway and partly by dirt road. Approximate travel time to the Masai Mara is between two to four hours, depending on road conditions.
A boxed lunch will be provided today.
In between game drives, there is plenty to do to ensure your free time is filled with engaging or relaxing activities. Arrange a boma-style dinner and dine fireside, chat with fellow guests in the common areas and recount your adventures, relax within the property grounds and watch as wildlife passes before your eyes, grab a refreshment and curl up with a good book, and enjoy sundowner cocktails to welcome the starry night sky; the choice is yours! Alternatively, a range of optional activities (at additional cost) are also available, including hot air balloon safaris and interactive school visits.
Where you’ll be staying
- Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge
- Tent
Day 9 - Rise and Shine!
Your guide will pick you up in the morning where you will travel to the nearby airstrip for your return to Nairobi. This short domestic flight departs from Masai Mara and arrives at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Approximate flight duration is 45 minutes.
Please note, strict luggage restrictions apply to this flight: 1) Maximum weight allowance of 32 lbs (15 kg) is permitted per person. 2) Baggage must be soft-shelled. 3) Additional baggage allowance can be arranged at additional cost, please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.
When you arrive in Nairobi, you will have the opportunity to explore the local markets and shops so you can interact with the local vendors in search for the perfect handicraft or souvenir for yourself or your loved ones. Your guide will let you know what time you will need to be prepared to depart for the airport. Traffic can get tricky so it is recommended to be prepared to arrive at the airport early!
When you are ready to depart your hotel for the airport, a private transfer between your hotel and the airport is provided. Your guide will help you navigate the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to ensure that you have stress free and timely departure. Remember to take plenty of pictures and share them with us!
Day 10 - The Mane Attraction
The famed Masai Mara Game Reserve was named after the indigenous inhabitants of this land, the Masai, and the provider of life to the area, the Mara River. Game viewing is almost guaranteed at some point along the Mara River, and your experienced tracker-guide will know all the best spots to explore to maximize your chances of seeing some of the many animals that call this land their home. Be sure to have your camera handy as amazing photo opportunities will present themselves; elephants on the riverbanks and hippos in shallow waters are common sights in this area.
Set out this afternoon with your tracker-guide on another exciting game drive through the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Mara is one of only a few places left in Africa where guests can still spot free roaming rhinos in the wild, as – troublingly - it is estimated that there are only 4,000 black rhinos left on the continent. Today your guide will take you to locations where rhino sightings have been recently reported with an aim to bring you within camera range of these lumbering, beautiful giants.
Where you’ll be staying
- Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge
- Tent
Day 11 - Until Next Time…
Your guide will pick you up in the morning where you will travel to the nearby airstrip for your return to Nairobi. This short domestic flight departs from Masai Mara and arrives at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Approximate flight duration is 45 minutes.
Please note, strict luggage restrictions apply to this flight: 1) Maximum weight allowance of 32 lbs (15 kg) is permitted per person. 2) Baggage must be soft-shelled. 3) Additional baggage allowance can be arranged at additional cost, please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.
When you arrive in Nairobi, you will have the opportunity to explore the local markets and shops so you can interact with the local vendors in search for the perfect handicraft or souvenir for yourself or your loved ones. Your guide will let you know what time you will need to be prepared to depart for the airport. Traffic can get tricky so it is recommended to be prepared to arrive at the airport early!
When you are ready to depart your hotel for the airport, a private transfer between your hotel and the airport is provided. Your guide will help you navigate the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to ensure that you have stress free and timely departure. Remember to take plenty of pictures and share them with us!