Best of Kenya & Tanzania

12 days—The consummate wildlife safari

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$11550 USD

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Safari summary

The Best of Kenya & Tanzania is our most comprehensive trip in the region. You will visit the great game parks, following the migrating herds. Circle the major parks starting and ending in Kenya.

Four flights are included for your comfort. Start on a short flight to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park, where the elephant population number close to a thousand. Go on your first game drive in the shadows of snow-capped Kilimanjaro. The reserve is the home to huge herds of elephant, cheetah, kudu, zebra, oryx, and buffalo.

Cross into Tanzania by land. Scenery is stunning and constantly changing as you travel from the lush Ngorongoro highlands, then drop down into the Olduvai region and the Serengeti. Next fly into Kenya and the Maasai Mara. During your travels, visit a local Maasai village. You will be struck by their ingenuity, progressive way of thinking, and friendly nature.

The Serengeti and Maasai Mara are one ecosystem, with the country border dividing the parks by an invisible demarcation. There are no fences, and the herds wander at will. You will be awestruck by the sight of hundreds of animals as they do their annual trek to find richer feeding grounds and water.

Each accommodation is strategically selected to maximize game viewing. From July-September, the safari will spend more time in Kenya's Maasai Mara and, during the rest of safari season, longer in Tanzania's Serengeti. This is the perfect safari for the person passionate about wildlife.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	January, February, March, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
	Countries	Kenya Tanzania
	Parks	Amboseli Lake Manyara Masai Mara Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti

Fine details

Safari highlights

Cultural visits—orphanages, markets, schools

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Internal flights
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Hot air balloons
International flights
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

Day 01 - Nairobi

Touch down in Nairobi, where you are welcomed with a warm friendly smile by our Born Free VIP host, who will assist with formalities and escort you to your hotel. Get a good night’s sleep, as your adventure will begin in the morning! Nairobi is a surprising city, with excellent large hotels, small boutique properties, and world-class restaurants. There is a strong British influence with everything from high tea to their bit of formal friendliness. "Karibu" = "Welcome" in Swahili

Day 02 - On Safari

Amboseli

A short flight takes you to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park. You are met at the airstrip and escorted out on your first game drive. The park is home to large herds of elephant, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and Cape Buffalo. Amboseli has an endless supply of water filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Mt. Kilimanjaro’s snow melt converging into clear freshwater springs in the heart of the park.

Day 03

Amboseli

Up at dawn, head out for some game viewing to one of the five main swamp areas where elephant & hippo gather. This is also the time that the lions go on their hunts. Every turn will bring a new wildlife surprise. Herds of zebra and wildebeest are easily seen. Return to the lodge for a delicious buffet lunch and then out again for an afternoon game drive.

Day 04 - to Arusha

Be sure to be up early, the best time to see the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Then with your guide, head to the border to meet your Tanzania guide. Arrive in Arusha in time for late lunch at our lodge nestled in the foothills of Mt. Meru. The lodge is located on an active coffee farm. Just steps away is the volcanic crater lake where you can take a guided walk to encounter the rich birdlife and local small wildlife. Guests can tour the on-site coffee farm as well.

Day 05 - Treetop Walkway

Lake Manyara

Head out early for the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Ernest Hemingway referred to Lake Manyara as “the loveliest place I have seen in Africa.” More than two-thirds of the park is covered by lake, and the highlight is the large flamingo population when in season. In addition, the park is known for its tree-climbing lions, which may be seen sleeping off the heat of the day. After your game viewing in Lake Manyara, continue up the Great Rift Valley wall to the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Day 06

Ngorongoro Crater

Early morning wake-up call, breakfast, and then head down into Ngorongoro Crater for prime-time game viewing. The area is inhabited by an impressive variety of wildlife, including lions with black manes and the highly endangered black rhino. Picnic lunch by the hippo pool and continue for a few more hours exploring the Crater. The area has a very delicate ecosystem, and, in order to protect the area, travelers must start out of Ngorongoro by 3:30 p.m.

Day 07 - Olduvai Museum & Gorge

Serengeti

Leave early this morning and stop if you wish at the Olduvai Museum and Gorge. This is known as the "Cradle of Mankind." The site is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Leakeys discovered one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world showing evidence of human evolution. On to the Serengeti. This is the Africa you’ve been dreaming of! The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem consists of over 15,000 square miles of rocky outcroppings, grassy plains, savannah, and woodlands.

Day 08

Serengeti

With unlimited game viewing, you can set the pace of the game drives. Early morning is the best time to see the wildlife in action looking for food to feed their young or just actively grazing the plains. The average day is up early - hot tea or coffee wait. Out on a game drive for a few hours and then back to camp for breakfast. Then go out on full-day drives with picnic lunch. Sundowners (cocktails) out in the bush and back to lodge for dinner, comparing stories with other guests.

Day 09

Serengeti

Head off exploring the Serengeti across the landscape as your guide tracks the predators and roaming herds. Spend time quietly observing elephants tending to their young, waiting in anticipation as a lion stalks its prey, or simply laughing at warthogs with tails held high as they skitter into the plains. On full-day game drives, stop for a picnic lunch or head back to the lodge for a wonderful hot buffet. Venture out again in the late afternoon exploring the Serengeti.

Day 10

Masai Mara

Cross back into Kenya with an air and land transfer to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the northern extension of the Serengeti Plains. Sweeping views of rolling grasslands studded with acacia trees, rivers, and forests lend chance to see a range of animals, from the "Big Five" to cheetah, crocodile, and birds of prey. Your base for exploration will always be selected to maximize game viewing during the time you travel.

Day 11

Masai Mara

We highly suggest the optional Hot-Air Balloon Safari this morning. Wake up just before dawn and head to the launch pad. Board the balloon, offering magnificent views of the Mara below. Set down for a champagne breakfast and then back to game viewing around 9:30 a.m.

Day 12 - Your Journey Onwards

After breakfast in the Mara, bid farewell to the bush and the friends you've made at camp. A short flight takes you back to Nairobi, and a dayroom waits for your convenience. Rest and relax until your flight onwards, taking with you memories that will last a lifetime. "Kwa Heri" = "Goodbye"

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