14 Day Classic Kenya and Tanzania Safari

Upon arrival in Nairobi, please settle in. While no formal activities are planned for today, feel free to inquire at reception about the location of your guide and fellow group members. Should you wish to meet them or explore Nairobi further with optional tours, please discuss this with your guide or reception staff.

As we leave Nairobi this morning, we drive through the Kikuyu farmlands, passing Africa’s second highest mountain (5199m/17,060ft) Mt Kenya. Outside of the Samburu National Park we explore a local Samburu village. Similar in appearance to the Masai but less known, the Samburu people who live in savanna regions are known to be a great warrior tribe and here you will learn more about their tribal life and customs by watching traditional Samburu dancing and by partaking in a walk arranged by the tribesmen for the benefit of the community. Continuing on, you will find Samburu National Reserve, a refuge for a diverse range of wildlife where we enjoy a wildlife safari drive in this wild part of Kenya to locate large populations of elephants and big cats.

This morning, we wake up early to enjoy the full day game drive we have planned for today within Samburu National Reserve. Here we will have the opportunity of seeing more rare wildlife only seen north of the equator, such as the Somali ostrich, beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, the majestic reticulated giraffe along with the long-necked gerenuk, a graceful antelope known to stand tall on its back legs to browse on the fauna in the region.

Today we head in the direction of the bustling town of Nakuru, meaning “dusty place” in the Maasai language, thi is a lively town with a range of colorful local markets. We camp outside the town, on the edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, and if time and weather permits, we may be able to visit a local tea farm and see how the tea is grown, picked, and produced.

Today is assigned to enjoying a full day game drive within Lake Nakuru National Park. Here we will be in search of the wildlife that this small but wonderful national park boasts.
Wildlife that one can expect to see in this reserve are buffalo, rhinos, and even lions and leopards along with enjoying the birdlife that the lakeside hosts, such as see pelicans, cormorants and possibly flamingos depending on what time of the year you travel.

A long day is ahead of us today, so an early start to the morning will be expected for the day as we make our way to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya would not be complete without a visit to this reserve, with its vast open plains and flat-topped acacia trees. We will arrive in the afternoon and settle into our permanent tented camp, the base for exploring the Mara and head off in the later afternoon for a wildlife safari drive will keep you entertained before heading back to camp for sunset.

Another early morning today as our intention is to get out of camp as the sun is rising as this will allow us to spot wildlife that would typically be active at night, such as predators and some more rare animals, such as porcupines, caracals and serval. A full day game drive allows us to explore a large section of the Masai Mara in search of animals and should time permit, we will get down to the river to see what activity there may be there. If you have booked a balloon safari for the Masai Mara, your flight will depart early this morning and you will consequently miss out on the morning safari drive, but you will have incredible views from above.

We say goodbye to the Masai Mara this morning as we pack up early morning and set off through the Mara one last time on a morning game drive.
Here, enjoy the morning smells and feel the fresh morning air on your face as you watch the African sun rise over the “Mara”. Keep an eye and ear open for movement and memories. Watch elephants and giraffes graze, photograph zebras and wildebeests, and if you’re lucky, you may see a predator still eating off their night’s kill.
For lunch this afternoon we stop in the rural settlement of Maai Mahiu to visit a special community project known as Ubuntu Café. This project empowers the community by providing over 400 local jobs for mothers of children with disabilities, as well as supporting pediatric health and education programs in the region. Here we have a delicious organic farm-to-table lunch at the project before heading back to Nairobi and arriving late afternoon / early evening.

This morning, we say goodbye to your guide and crew that have looked after you for the Kenyan portion of your tour. Take a shuttle to Arusha where our Tanzanian section of the tour starts. We cross the Namanga Border into Tanzania and arrive in the safari capital of Tanzania, Arusha in the afternoon. Here you can spend some time exploring the town or its bustling markets and have another night in the comfort of a hotel. Note that you may welcome new members onto your Tanzania section of your tour for the next 6 days of your journey.

Today, enjoy a relaxed morning followed by a short drive to Mto wa Mbu, a charming town steeped in culture. Experience local life on a guided cultural walk, meet the welcoming women who lead these tours, and savor a delicious traditional lunch in a local home. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Manyara National Park, renowned for its iconic scenery, including the dramatic escarpment, the unique soda lake, and the remarkable sight of tree-climbing lions. Birdwatchers will be enthralled by the diverse avian life. This evening, enjoy a relaxed dinner at your own expense. Choose from the hearty options at your camp or venture out to explore the vibrant local restaurants in Mto wa Mbu.

This morning, we wake early to a warm cup of coffee or tea, pack our bags as we disembark onto a smaller 7-seater 4×4 game viewing safari vehicle with pop up roof tops that will allow you the best wildlife viewing opportunity within the Serengeti for the next few days. The road today is long and hard road into the Serengeti, but it’s rewarded with spectacular views of the open grasslands of the Serengeti, where the wildlife roam free and days are for creating memories that will last a lifetime. This afternoon we get to our campsite in the heart of the Serengeti, known as Seronera, where we set up camp, enjoy a wonderful campfire and the sounds of animals coming to life as the sun sets.

As you can imagine, today is an early morning. You’ll most certainly wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the African bush, with hints of fresh dewy, sandy sweet morning smells that’s so unmistakable and will be one of the reasons you want to return to Africa in the future. Today is a day dedicated to traversing through the Serengeti National Park in search of wildlife like never seen anywhere else. Here we can expect hyenas with full bellies lying in muddy puddles, lions on the small rocky outcrops in the park or hanging from a tree and if you’re lucky the great migration on the move through this wonderful park. We head back for lunch and a small siesta as the day becomes too hot for you and the animals to enjoy and will happily return on an afternoon game drive once the day cools and you have rested. Once again, we enjoy a campfire and the calls of the night, such as hyenas laughing in the background, lions roaring, the odd bark of an antelope or the hoot of an owl!

Another early morning today as we make our way out of the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservancy. We enjoy a morning game drive through the Serengeti en-route to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim where our camp will be set up for the night. It’s here where we make our way down into the Crater for an afternoon spectacle of wildlife. This trip into the Crater is unimaginable as the biomes within this “small” area are able to host a magnitude of animals that never leave the crater per say. Upon arriving back at camp by the early evening to enjoy the sunset, know that this night will probably be the coldest on your tour, so remember to have a jacket handy and enjoy the crackle of a large campfire for the evening and a tasty warm meal.

Visit an authentic Maasai village and learn about the Clean Cookstove Project. The tour concludes in Arusha, where you can book onward flights departing from 6pm or extend your stay. Enjoy the flexibility to explore Arusha at your own pace.