29 July to 15 August, 2019
Kenya and Tanzania are two of Africa's most awe inspiring destinations. Breath-taking views, lush forested mountains, exotic wildlife populations, and the stunning savanna of the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are among the many amazing sights the country has to offer. Both countries are blessed with an abundance of spectacular wildlife and lavishly gorgeous landscapes. Everywhere you go, from the teeming cities to the plains of the Masai Mara, people are friendly and welcoming. This itinerary has been designed for people who love wildlife and culture. Using a combination of lodges, tented camps and private “fully serviced” tenting, we spend more than two weeks in East Africa's most famous national reserves, parks and private wildlife conservancies.
*2019 prices are a very good approximate and based on the best information currently available from our local partners. Prices will be confirmed in October 2018.
** US$ 50 from your safari will be donated to Upendo School, which we will visit on safari.
Claire worked as a conservation volunteer in Southern Africa for more than 2 years. During this time she assisted several wildlife researchers with their projects and completed two of her own research projects. The first project was in Botswana on a bird called the African Skimmer. The second project was a visitor survey at Addo Elephant National Park, in South Africa. Using her extensive knowledge, Claire has published more than 60 children's educational books about animals. These books have been photographically illustrated using her images. More than 20 of these books are about African animals.
* UNESCO World Heritage Sites
On arrival in Nairobi you will be met by Claire and transferred to the Southern Sun, overnight on bed and breakfast basis.
After breakfast we depart for a full day excursion to visit the Karen Blixen Museum, David Sheldrick Elephant Trust/Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and Kazuri Beads. Lunch at Karen Blixen coffee gardens is included. Overnight Southern Sun, on bed and breakfast basis.
On arrival into Arusha, we visit Upendo School before overnighting. Upendo School is a school we help to support. It is a non-profit and sponsorship-supported Primary School envisioned to have Valuable and Visionary Youth in Tanzania. The school is dedicated to the educational development of students through the provision of nursery and primary education. It primarily serves vulnerable children in Arusha, giving them hope for a better future. The drive from Ndarakwai Camp to Arusha is about 1 ½ hours and from Arusha to Tarangire just over two hours. We will have a picnic lunch en-route, before we enter the park for an afternoon game-drive.
After breakfast we transfer by road to our private wilderness camp in Tarangire National Park for three nights, on a full board basis. En-route we stop in Arusha to visit a Pink Balloon Project.
Our mobile tenting is the modern-day version of a ‘traditional’ safari – with a full safari crew going ahead of our guests to set up the camp. We provide extremely spacious tents with en-suite shower/toilet, comfortable beds and quality linens. Our safari chef prepares delicious meals and the camp waiters look after your every need.
After breakfast, we continue to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a picnic lunch packed for the day. En-route we stop at the bustling town of Mto-wa-mbu.
From Mto-wa-mbu we weave our way upwards into the densely forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation area, pausing to admire the splendid view of the crater floor 600 metres below at Heroes Point. Check in at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight.
The crater rim can be very cold at night and cloaked in mist in the early mornings. You will need a warm jumper, several layers or a warm jacket here.
We leave early, heading towards the Serengeti plains. Before crossing from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti National Park, we will visit Oldupai Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we attend a short talk on the archaeological importance of Oldupai and the work of Mary and Louis Leakey in excavating the area and discovering some of Africa's most important hominid fossils. Overnight at our private wilderness campsite in the Serengeti National Park.
We bid our camp staff farewell and depart camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch for the drive to Lake Victoria, viewing game en-route. On arrival we check in at Speke Bay Lodge. The lodge’s bungalows are situated along the shore of the lake. Each bungalow is a separate structure designed to ensure your privacy. The roofs are thatched with a thick layer of grass, providing excellent insulation. The custom-made furniture in solid Mkola wood adds to the warm and elegant atmosphere.
After an early breakfast we farewell Lake Victoria, heading north into the western Tanzanian highlands. We will pass over the Grumeti River and Mara River before reaching the Isebania Border. After passing back into Kenya we turn east, towards the Masai Mara National Reserve. Mid-afternoon we check into Karen Blixen Camp for 4 nights on a full board basis.
Karen Blixen Camp is situated on the spur of the Oloololo escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, with spectacular views across the open plains of the Masai Mara national Reserve with its many wild animals. Located on a private concession leased from Masai in the western Mara.
We say a fond farewell our camp staff. We enjoy our last game drive en-route to the airstrip for our flight back to Nairobi. Connect with your onward international flight.
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