Day 1: Nairobi
On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi you will be met by a representative and given a short safari briefing before being transferred to Karen residence, ideally located in the leafy suburbs of Karen, Nairobi.
Day 2: Nakuru
After breakfast, you will check out and meet your driver guide who will transfer you for excursions in the surrounding Karen Suburbs. Your first stop during the tour is Giraffe Centre where you will spend about an hour.
The centre offers guests the unique experience of hand-feeding these gentle giants at eye level from a raised platform, while watching the warthogs below snuffle around looking for titbits. Thereafter drive a short distance to Daphne Sheldricks’ Elephant Orphanage – where you have an opportunity to visit the many baby elephants that have been rescued from threatening situations in Kenya’s various national parks and even get a chance to see the calves being fed and playing with the staff.
You will then visit the Karen Blixen Museum: a chance to go back in time and discover the famous Karen Blixen’s house exactly as it was when she lived in Kenya. Located in an area which was once part of Karen Blixen’s vast coffee estate, ‘bogani’, the museum was Karen’s home from 1917 until 1931.The house and grounds were made famous by the film ‘Out of Africa ’and have been restored by the Danish community of Kenya. Visitors have a glimpse of typical colonial life in Kenya at the turn of the twentieth century.
After lunch at the lovely Tamarind brasserie, you will depart on the next part of your adventure that takes you from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi city to Lake Nakuru.
Day 3: Nakuru
Full Day at Lake Nakuru. Morning and afternoon game drive.
Day 4: Masai Mara
Today you are off to the Masai Mara National Reserve. You will check out of your hotel after breakfast and arrive for lunch at your camp in the Mara. On arrival and check in, you will have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in your tent waiting for the late evening when the temperature cools to head out on your first Mara game drive.
Masai Mara is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Acacia dotted plains, tree-lined rivers and woodlands are abundant with wildlife and an array of birdlife. Game viewing is spectacular year round; you may see a pride of lions stalking their prey, observe a herd of elephant and their fascinating social structure, or see pods of hippo wallowing in the rivers. The great wildebeest migration is one of nature’s wonders; an estimated two million animals migrate in a year-round pattern through Tanzania and Kenya, following the rain. Back at the camp, dinner is served and this gives you the perfect opportunity to look back at your day and relive all those highlights.
Day 5: Masai Mara
After breakfast drive across the Mara plains in search of the big five and other plains game or engage in the optional activities on offer at the Maasai Mara. The early mornings are one of the best times to view the animals as this is when they are their most active before the heat of the day sets in. After a mid-morning of relaxation and lunch, head out into the reserve for a chance to tick off some more animals on your “must see” list. Keep your eyes peeled as you hunt for the last members on your list. Visit the Mara River and ask your guide to show you the regular river crossing routes.
Day 6: Masai Mara
Full Day in the Masai Mara, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives.
Day 7: Arusha
After breakfast and check out, you will be driven back to Nairobi, with your packed lunch (included) and from here board the flight to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
On arrival, a vehicle will meet you for a transfer to the Mount Meru Game Lodge for the night.
Day 8: Tarangire National Park
This morning, wake to the views of Mt Meru before heading down to breakfast. After collecting your packed lunch, you will join your Tanzanian driver-guide as you head to Tarangire National Park. On clearing the paperwork at the entrance you will head into the park for a full day game drive in the park.
As the afternoon begins to end, you will make your way back to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Central Serengeti
After breakfast and check out, depart to the Serengeti with a packed lunch. On arrival into the park, game drive towards your camp.
As the afternoon begins to end, you will make your way towards your camp. On arrival you will be assisted with check in and shown your tent.
Day 10: Central Serengeti
After breakfast meet with you guide and enjoy a full day in Serengeti National Park, with morning and evening games drives. Then enjoy a quiet evening by the camp fire and the exclusivity of absolute comfort combined with the authenticity of a night spent in the African bush, an extraordinary experience for all nature lovers.
Day 11: Karatu
After breakfast and check out, depart with a packed lunch and drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you will one of the world's most important prehistoric sites, Olduvai Gorge, for a tour and lecture. Learn how the gorge was vital in establishing the African origin of humankind and in turn, why it is referred to as the 'Cradle of Mankind'.
Proceed on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and on clearing the paperwork you will drive through the Crater Rim from where you will have the opportunity – weather permitting – to see the Crater, in all its glory. Drive onto your Lodge, located in lush grounds within the Karatu Area. On arrival you will be assisted with check in and shown your room.
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater
Get up early to make the most out of your day in the Ngorongoro Crater with lunch boxes.
Return to your lodge before dusk, and in time to freshen up before dinner.
Day 13: End of Itinerary
After breakfast and check out and drive to Lake Manyara National Park with lunch boxes for morning game drives.
At a time, convenient to you, you will depart from the park and make your way to Arusha for lunch. After lunch, and depending on your flight and/or extension plans, you will be transferred either to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight home (additional supplement of $120per vehicle for the transfer to JRO) or to Arusha airport for your flight to Zanzibar or elsewhere in TZ (transfer to ARK is no charge, flight not included – ask for details).
