Best of Kenya & Tanzania – 11 days
From Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara to the vast plains of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Spot the Big Five, meet Masai warriors and witness Africa’s stunning natural beauty!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Nakuru and Lake Nakuru National Park. Meet the children of the East Africa Mission Organisation. Rift Valley Escarpment UNESCO Listed Ngorongoro Crater, a vast unbroken caldera which is a haven for wildlifeKericho and the Gusii Highlands
Masai Mara National Park and tribal lands UNESCO Listed Serengeti, Tanzania’s flagship national park Musoma – the fishing town of the banks of Lake Victoria Nairobi – Kenya’s bustling capital. Extend your stay to explore the sites
INCLUDED
9 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners 1st-night dormitory accommodation at Kenya Comfort Hotel, 9 nights camping. Tents and sleeping mats provided. Services of 3 person crew (leader, driver, cook) Park entry and game drives – Nakuru NP, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro NP and Serengeti NP
Arrival transfer from Nairobi Airport A fully equipped overland truck for transportation and game drives All camping fees and appropriate equipment All road taxes and tolls
NOT INCLUDED
Sleeping bag – please bring your optional
Tipping – an entirely personal gestureInternational flights and visas
LOCAL PAYMENT 2018 – $890, paid in USD.
Day 1
Nairobi
Monday. Welcome to Nairobi! We’ll be there to collect you at Nairobi Airport and transfer you to the Kenya Comfort Hotel in Nairobi. Tonight you will stay in shared dorms. There will be a pre-departure meeting at 17.00.
Overnight: Nairobi
Day 2
Masai Mara
Nairobi – Masai Mara. Today we head on to the Masai Mara National Reserve. We enter Masai land where these habitual pastoralists are often seen tending their cattle from the side of the road. We pass through the town of Narok and continue our drive possibly getting a glimpse of some wildlife along the way.
The main section of road between Nairobi and the Reserve is in a very poor state, so be prepared for a rough ride! We arrive at our campsite, Acacia Camp in the evening. Acacia Camp looks on to the Meguarra hills and the stream that meanders by on the bottom end forms a natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Reserve remains unfenced, allowing wildlife to roam freely across into the surrounding area and if they choose – through our own camp! No need to be afraid, as the local ‘Askari’ will keep a look out for any unwanted predators.
Overnight: Masai Mara | Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Masai Mara
Masai Mara. We depart shortly after sunrise on our game drive into the Masai Mara Reserve. The Masai Mara is well known as one of East Africa’s best National Reserves and is home to a wide variety of wildlife species. Most famous for the Annual Migration, that consists of the impressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle that cross over from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania; the Masai Mara is most popular between July and October when these vast herds feast on the fresh grazing here. Following these herbivores are Africa’s predators that are often seen as a kill during this period. We game drive through a section of the park in search of the ‘Big 5’- elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard; along with the many other species of animals, reptiles, and birds who make the call this wilderness home.
Overnight: Masai Mara | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Lake Nakuru
Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru. Leaving Masai Mara we head towards our first overnight stop in the area of Lake Nakuru National Park, where our overnight campsite will be at EAMO; East African Mission Organisation. We will have the chance to interact with the local kids as well as a chance to learn more about this wonderful organization.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru. This morning we begin our exploration of the Lake Nakuru National Park. The park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen. We spend the day searching for these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, and various antelope. After our game drive, we head back to EAMO for the night.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Kisii & the Gusii Highlands
Masai Mara – Kisii/Kericho Area. After breakfast, we leave the Lake Nakuru and head to Kisii/Kericho passing through the picturesque tea plantations along the way. These towns are the main commercial centers in the Gusii Highlands, where cash crops like tea and coffee thrive because of its equatorial climate. We replenish our stocks before heading for Tanzania tomorrow.
Overnight: Kisii/Kericho Area | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
Musoma
Kisii/Kericho – Musoma. We depart Kenya and head south into Tanzania. After border formalities, our drive takes us through the scenic granite landscapes adjacent to Africa’s largest lake – Lake Victoria. We spend the night at a campsite on the banks of Lake Victoria in the fishing town of Musoma.
Overnight: Musoma | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Serengeti National Park
Musoma – Serengeti. Today we head to the Serengeti National Park, entering the park after lunch. The Serengeti (Masai for “endless plains”) is famous for its enormous concentration of game (especially the big cats) and for the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelles. The abundance of plains game in this area is truly astounding. We enter the park through the lesser traveled western corridor and game drive en-route to our campsite in the center of the park. Tonight we bush camp (no ablutions) in the wild surrounded by the sounds of the African bushveld, pierced only by the calls of the nocturnal wildlife.
Overnight: Serengeti National Park | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Serengeti National Park
Day 9
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater. After an early start, we pack up our camp and continue our game drive through the Serengeti National Park in search of the resident wildlife and head to the southern part of the park where we have the chance to see the endless plains this park is renowned for. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’! We cross from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation area at lunchtime and begin our climb up the steep Crater edge. Tonight’s camp (basic ablutions) on the crater rim sharply contrasts the warmer plains below – we suggest you bring your winter woollies as it can get very cold at night.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Crater | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10
Arusha
Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha. The Ngorongoro Crater with its 600 m high walls and 20 km width is a natural marvel. The Crater’s rim offers spectacular views, but the true scale of this caldera is only appreciated from the floor itself where the abundance of its animal inhabitants becomes apparent. It is home to nearly every species of African animal and offers a chance to view an incredible concentration of East African mammals, such as elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippo, lion and plain’s game. After spending the morning game drive in The Crater we continue to our campsite outside Arusha where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience.
Overnight: Arusha | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11
Nairobi
Arusha – Nairobi. After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Nairobi. On arrival in the late afternoon, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime!
For Departure Dates please message us as we have to many dates to list on the BOGO sale