Day 1 Arrive Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi met and transferred to the hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour. Dinner at Carnivore Restaurant.
Day 2-3 Samburu Game Reserve (2B,2L,2D)
Approximate Distance: 365 km
Estimated Travel Time: 7-8 hrs

This morning we depart Nairobi and drive north through the farmlands of the Kikuyu people, passing Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain (5199m), on our way to the Samburu Game Reserve. Samburu is a wildlife haven to many species rarely found elsewhere. We enjoy an afternoon game drive in search of the northern species of game that are not seen south of the equator, such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. On day 3, we spend a full day game viewing in search of the "Big 5" - elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and buffalo - in addition to another creature of the area - the long-necked gerenuk (meaning giraffe neck), a graceful antelope that stands upright on its hind legs to feed on tall bushes.

Day 4-5 Lake Nakuru (2B,2L,2D)
Approximate Distance: 348 km
Estimated Travel Time: 7-8 hrs

Descend into the Great Rift Valley enjoying stunning views of the escarpment on the way. Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake, renowned for its huge concentration of flamingos and over 460 species of birds. On day 5, embark on a safari within Lake Nakuru National Park, in search of the resident black and white rhino, buffalo, impala, and the elusive leopard.

Kenya's fourth largest town and the capital of the Rift Valley province, Nakuru, meaning “dusty place” in the Masai language, is a cheerful and vibrant agricultural town with a variety of colorful local markets. We camp outside of the town itself, at the edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, the area’s principal highlight and best natural attraction.

Lake Nakuru National Park is began in 1961 as a small protected territory, only encompassing the famous lake of the same name, and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the area’s grassland savannahs and woodland slopes, and covers an area of roughly 188 km sq.

Day 6-7 Masai Mara (2B,2L,2D)
Approximate Distance: 368 km
Estimated Travel Time: 7-8 hrs

After breakfast, we depart for the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. With its vast open plains and distinctive flat-topped acacia trees, no visit to Kenya would be complete without a visit here! In the afternoon we will arrive in the area, and get settled at our permanent tented camp, our base for our time here. Then we make our way into the reserve for an afternoon game viewing drive, with excellent chances of seeing the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino.

Day 7 starts with an early morning game drive, since the best time to spot wildlife is in the early hours of the morning. The day continues with more game viewing as you criss-cross the rolling hills of the African savannah. You will also have a chance to try the optional balloon safari, in addition to stopping at a Masai village to learn about, and interact with, the local Masai people.
Day 8 Nairobi (B,L)
Approximate Distance: 285 km
Estimated Travel Time: 7-8 hrs

This morning we make our last game drive in the Masai Mara before heading back to Nairobi. In Nairobi you have an opportunity to buy some lovely local handicrafts, or exchange some photographs with your group in the late afternoon. You will be meeting your travel companions for the next part of your safari adventure at the pre departure meeting in the early evening.
Day 9 Arusha (B,L)
Approximate Distance: 286 km
Estimated Travel Time: 6 hrs

Today, journey across the border into Tanzania, arriving in the picturesque town of Arusha in the afternoon.
Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mount Meru, Africa's fifth highest mountain. Spend some time exploring the town and its bustling markets, and have another night in the comfort of a hotel. Upon arrival into Arusha, you may be joined by other GAP travelers starting the Tanzania safari portion of the trip in Arusha.

Arusha, also known as Tanzania’s “safari capital”, is undoubtedly the most important center in northen Tanzania. With many protected national parks, reserves, and mountains nearby (on a clear day, you can see Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance), Arusha is a modern town, and with its markets, services, and fine location, it is a great base for your safari trip.

Arusha officially became a city on the 1st of July 2006. The primary industry of the region is agriculture with large vegetable producers sending high-quality produce to Europe. The city and its environs are also spotted with large coffee plantations, adding to the area’s charm. Though in recent years, due to the coffee crisis, many local farmers have been badly hit, and now subsistence farming is the most common source of livelihood.

Arusha, who owes its name from the local Wa-arusha people who resided here for hundreds of years, is historically and politically significant city within East Africa. In 1961 the official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the United Kingdom in Arusha. Six years later the Arusha Declaration of Self Reliance in Tanzania was signed. On the 4th of August 1993 the Arusha Accords were signed by representatives of competing factions in the civil war in neighboring Rwanda. After the Rwandan genocide, the UN Security Council decided by its Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 that Arusha should host the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its employees has influenced the local economy of Arusha. The tribunal is expected to end its mandate in 2008.

Day 10 Lake Manyara (B,L,D)
Approximate Distance: 130 km
Estimated Travel Time: 2-3 hrs

After breakfast, we make our way to Lake Manyara, and spend the afternoon touring and wildlife viewing in Lake Manyara National Park. This area is truly stunning, as the western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment provides a backdrop for your search of the park's phenomenal birdlife, tree-climbing lions, vast flocks of flamingoes, elephants, and hippos. The afternoon is spent game viewing along the main road that winds for several kilometers through a cool, lush, mature groundwater forest dominated by large fichus trees and a tangle of green epiphytes.

The name Manyara is derived from the Masai word “Emanyara”, which is a Euphorbia species of plant that is found around a family homestead in the area. The lake itself is a shallow, alkaline lake stretching 50km at the base of the sheer 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment. This forms part of the national park that covers an area on roughly 330km sq.

Lake Manyara National Park is home to the giant fig trees, acacia woodlands, mahogany trees and grassy flood plains. The contrasts of this area are simply breathtaking, with the open plains, huge escarpment, central soda lake, dense woodlands, and distance volcanic peaks coming together in an area best described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.

Animals such as blue monkeys, hippo, impala, elephant, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog, and giraffe all roam the park’s territory. The park is also home to legendary tree-climbing lions, and also has small populations of leopard. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s bird life, with over 400 species having been recorded within the parks boundaries. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.

Day 11-12 Serengeti National Park (2B,2L,2D)
Approximate Distance: 220 km
Estimated Travel Time: 5-6 hrs

This morning we depart our camp and continue to the world famous Serengeti National Park, one of Africa's premier game parks. The park is to Tanzania what the Masai Mara Game Reserve is to Kenya, though with an area of 14,763 sq km, it is actually over 7 times as large!

En route, stop at the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, before arriving at your camp late inside the Serengeti National Park in the afternoon. The Olduvai, or Oldupai, Gorge is commonly referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind”. It is a deep, steep ravine that is roughly 48 km long. It is famed for the discovery of the 3.5 million year-old fossil fragments of an early human civilization. Accordingly, it is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering understanding of early human evolution.

As we drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and on to the Serengeti National Park, en route you will begin to experience the sheer vastness of this territory, and you will marvel at the multitude of animal and bird life while cruising through this acacia-spotted savannah. On day 5, after an early rise we enjoy an early morning game drive, returning for a hearty lunch followed by a brief but well-deserved rest. Continue your search for the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino - while taking in the vastness of the Serengeti plains.

The Serengeti, which derives its name from the Masai for “endless plain”, is the jewel of Tanzania’s protected areas, together with the Masai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation area it protects the most varied and greatest collection of wildlife on earth. With the Big Five, the Small Five and the extensive amounts of flying and crawling wildlife, this region offers arguably the past wildlife viewing opportunities in the world.

The Masai people arrived into the Serengeti plains in the 17th century, displacing the Datoga pastoralists who had previously lived there. They lived an undisturbed, nomadic life in the region for hundred of years, until the first westerner, American Stewart Edward White, passed through in 1913. He recorded the plains in the chronicles of a journey that began in Nairobi, Kenya. What he wrote still applies today: “.. We walked for miles over burnt out country... Then I saw the green trees of the river, walked 2 miles more and found myself in paradise” .

The 14 763 square kilometers of the Serengeti is made up of a variety of different habitats – plains, kopjes, river and forest. The vast size of Tanzania’s premier National Park makes game viewing only one aspect of the Serengeti - the scenery is simply breathtaking.

There is no bad time to visit the Serengeti as every season has its own special highlight – even the rainy season has the daily thunder and lightening to look forward to. Changing seasons and light patterns form the most beautiful backdrop to view Africa’s majestic and incredible wildlife. It has more than 1.6 million herbivores and thousands of predators. Blue Wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and buffalos are the animals most commonly found in the region.

This area is most famous for the migration that takes place every year, which is considered to be one of the seven tourist travel wonders of the world. Every year around October over a million herbivores travel toward the southern plains, crossing the Mara River from the hills to the north. They continue west across the Serengeti, and then north once again, crossing the Mara River, after the rains around April, and often totals more than 800km. This phenomenon is sometimes also called the Circular Migration. Over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die along the journey from Tanzania to Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya.

Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater (B,L,D)
Approximate Distance: 160 km
Estimated Travel Time: 4 hrs

Before leaving the Serengeti, enjoy one last morning game drive to see the animal kingdom come to live in this incredible expanse of grassland savannah. You will return and break camp, and journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa's best game viewing. The views from the Ngorongoro Crater rim are stunning, and there is an ever-present abundance of wildlife, due to the permanent water supply on the crater floor. You will arrive at your campsite at the crater rim in the late afternoon.

The 8,300 km² Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named after its central feature, the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and arguably its most spectacular natural arena. Ngorongoro Crater has often been described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its inherent geological significance, but also because it serves a quite extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s most dense population of large mammals. The Ngorongoro was part of the original Serengeti National Park proclaimed in 1951, but it was made a separate conservation area in 1956 so that the Masai could graze their cattle there. The Ngorongoro Crater became a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Land in the conservation area is unique to Tanzania as it provides protection for the wildlife whilst allowing human habitation. The landscape is made up of a blend of volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests, where the wildlife is extensive. The southern and eastern boundaries are approximately defined by the rim of the Great Rift Valley, which also prevents animal migration in these directions. The annual ungulate migration passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildebeest and zebra moving south into the area in December and moving north in June. The area has healthy resident populations of most species of wildlife.

The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of more than 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals. They are not confined by the crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favorable. Since most of the crater floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate: zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, and warthogs. The swamp and forest provide additional resources for hippos, some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos, giant-tusked elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks and bushbucks, baboons and vervet monkeys. All these animals in turn support large predators such as lion and leopard, and scavengers such as hyena and jackals.

Day 14 Ngorongoro Crater/Arusha (B,L)
Approximate Distance: 200 km
Estimated Travel Time: 3-4 hrs

After breakfast we embark on a half-day crater tour. After this fabulous experience, we have to leave the crater behind us and start heading back to Arusha, where you can enjoy the last safari evening with your travel companions.

Day 15 Depart Arusha (B)

End of the SAFARI.

2 Persons Sharing.

Meet and Greet Services with assistance
All airport/Airstrip transfers with assistance
Complimentary baggage handling of two pieces per person
Free excess baggage storage.
Direct check-in with assistance in your Hotels
All meals as mentioned in the itineraries
All park entry fees
Full board accommodation whilst on Safari
Game-viewing drives whilst on safari
Services of an English-Speaking professional driver guide.
All Government taxes and levies where applicable

For camping safari

The above is applicable
Cook fees
The tents and huts
Sleeping bags and all camping gears are included.

Your Safari Price Excludes:

International Airfares
Tourist entry VISA where required
International airport(s) departures taxes
Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and /or quoted separately
Expenditures of personal nature such as telephone calls, faxes, Internet access, laundry etc.
All alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits.
Tips and gratuities to driver /guides/cook/lodge porters/hotel staff
All other extras not mentioned in the 'what's included.

OPTIONAL TOURS

Back

Day 1 Arrive Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi and transferred to the hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour. Dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant.
West of the city, the suburb of Karen is named after Karen Blixen, author of “Out of Africa”. Her house is now the Karen Blixen Museum, complete with a garden and tea house, it tells the history of the famous author. Also in Karen is the African Butterfly Research Institute , a large magical greenhouse alive with native butterflies.

South of Nairobi, in Langata, the Giraffe Centre one of the city’s best attractions, with the option of hand-feeding the rare Rothschild giraffes, plus a nature walk with 160 species of bird. The Sheldrick Animal Orphanage cares for young, orphaned elephants. The Nairobi National Park is just south of the city, and covers 114 sq km. It has over 400 bird species of and populations lions, leopards, and one of the country’s few thriving populations of black rhino. Beyond the park gate, the Bomas of Kenya, is a living open-air museum of the tribes of Kenya, including regular dance performances.

The name Nairobi is derived from the Masai word for cool waters, which they gave to a water hole known as Ewaso Nyirobi. The sprawling, cosmopolitan city of Nairobi combines the first-world glamour of reflecting-glass skyscraper buildings with abject developing-world poverty. It originated in 1899 from a handful of shacks that marked the end of the railhead during the building of the Uganda railway. Due to big game hunting bringing tourists from Britain, the city expanded dramatically in the early 1900’s. A large number of British nationals settled in the area, prompting more growth and this angered both the Masai and Kikuyu people, as they were losing hunting ground due to the expansion of the city limits. The friction increased and, eventually led to the Mau Mau uprising, which saw Jomo Kenyatta, the future president jailed. Kenya was granted independence from Britain in 1963, with Nairobi as the capital.

Apart from being Kenya’s capital and the main centre of government and commerce, Nairobi is the most significant city in East Africa and an important player on the pan-African stage. It is the diplomatic base for many counties in Africa, with its broad spectrum of international embassies and headquarters for the United Nations, multi-national companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and press correspondents. It’s also the center of the growing safari business of East Africa.

Day 2 Nakuru (B,L,D)
Descend into the Great Rift Valley enjoying stunning views of the escarpment on the way, arriving in time for lunch. Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake, renowned for its huge concentration of flamingos and over 460 species of birds. After setting up camp, embark on an afternoon safari within Lake Nakuru National Park, a beautiful environment of woodlands and grasslands, in search of the resident black and white rhino, buffalo, impala, and the elusive leopard.

Kenya's fourth largest town and the capital of the Rift Valley province, Nakuru, meaning “dusty place” in the Masai language, is a cheerful and vibrant agricultural town with a variety of coulourful local markets. We camp outside of the town itself, at the edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, the area’s principal highlight and best natural attraction.
Lake Nakuru National Park is began in 1961 as a small protected territory, only encompassing the famous lake of the same name, and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the area’s grassland savannahs and woodland slopes, and covers an area of roughly 188 km sq.

Lake Nakuru itself is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos, estimated into the millions, that famously line the shore. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. There are two types of flamingo species: the Lesser flamingo can be distinguished by its deep red carmine bill and pink plumage unlike the greater, which has a bill with a black tip. But flamingo are not the only avian attraction, also present are two large fish eating birds, pelicans and cormorants. The park is rich in other birdlife, including grebes, white winged black, stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter, the migrant waders.

The park has recently been enlarged partly to provide the sanctuary for the black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence - to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Numerous other mammals can be seen, including zebra, impala, gazelle, waterbuck, lion, warthog, bushbuck, many buffalo, and even at times leopard.

Day 3-4 Masai Mara (2B,2L,2D)
After breakfast, we depart for the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. With its vast open plains anddistinctive flat-topped acacia trees, no visit to Kenya would be complete without a visit here! In
the afternoon we will arrive in the area, and get settled at our permenant tented camp, our base for our time here. Then we make our way into the reserve for an afternoon game viewing drive, with excellent chances of seeing the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino.

Day 4 starts with an early morning game drive, since the best time to spot wildlife is in the early hours of the morning. The day continues with more game viewing as you criss-cross the rolling hills of the African savannah. You will also have a chance to try the optional balloon safari, in addition to spotting at a Masai village to learn about, and interact with, the local Masai people.

The Masai Mara (also spelled Maasai Mara) is a game reserve in south-western Kenya, which is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Named for the Masai tribes people, who are the traditional inhabitants of the area, and the Mara River, which divides it, the reserve is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of the wildebeest every September and October, a migration so immense to be called the Great Migration. Thousands of wildebeest die in the crossing due to crocodile attacks. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores: some 1,300,000 wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson's gazelle, and 191,000 zebra.

With an area of 1510 km sq., the Masai Mara is not the largest game park or reserve in Kenya, but it is probably the most famous. The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley that extends from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland, with clusters of the distinctive acacia tree in the south-east region. The western border is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment of the Rift Valley, and wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good and tourist disruption is minimal. The easternmost border is 224 km from Nairobi, and as such are the most accessible and visited regions are the reserve.

The Masai Mara is perhaps most famous for its lions, though the other members of the "Big Five" (leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhinoceros) are as well found. This said, the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotami are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek Rivers, and many cheetah, zebra, impala, gazelles, hartebeest, warthog, ostrich, topi, the unique Masai giraffe, among other mammals, all consider the “Mara” their home territory. As well, the large Roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely present elsewhere in Kenya, can be seen within the reserve borders. Like in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitant of the Masai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.

The Maasai Mara is a also major research centre for the spotted hyena. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identified in the park, including vulture, marabou, secretary bird, hornbill, crowned crane, ostrich, long-crested eagle, and pygmy falcon.

Day 5 Lake Victoria (B,L,D)
Cross into Tanzania after a morning traverse across the Mara plain, and arrive to the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. Take an hour or two to fish on the lake, bike or go birding on its shores.

Lake Victoria is the world's second largest freshwater lake covering an area of 67,850 sq km. This vast expanse, about the size of the Republic of Ireland, forms the headwaters of the Nile River. Three nations share the waters of the lake - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and Kenya's share is the smallest, at 3,785 sq km.

There is a busy network of waterways between the trading towns and villages which lie along the shores of the lake. Passenger boats and small cargo vessels ply daily from Kisumu in Kenya as far as the Tanzanian border and north to Port Victoria near Uganda.

Speke Bay is part of Speke Gulf, named after the famous explorer John Hanning Speke, who, in 1858, was the first westerner to determine that Lake Victoria to be the source of the Nile.

Day 6-7 Serengeti National Park (2B,2L,2D)
Venture to the world famous Serengeti National Park, one of Africa's premier game parks. The park is to Tanzania what the Masai Mara Game Reserve is to Kenya, though with an area of 14,763 sq km, it is actually over 7 times as large!

Enter from the less-visited western gate, and enjoy the multitude of animal and bird life while cruising through the acacia-spotted savannah. En route to the central Seronera plains, you will begin to experience the sheer vastness of this territory, and you will marvel at the multitude of animal and bird life while cruising through this acacia-spotted savannah. On day 7, after an early rise we enjoy an early morning game drive, returning to camp for a hearty lunch followed by a brief but well-deserved rest. Later on in the afternoon, as the animal kingdom comes alive, continue your search for the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino - while taking in the vastness of the Serengeti plains.

The Serengeti, which derives its name from the Masai for “endless plain”, is the jewel of Tanzania’s protected areas, together with the Masai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation area it protects the most varied and greatest collection of wildlife on earth. With the Big Five, the Small Five and the extensive amounts of flying and crawling wildlife, this region offers arguably the past wildlife viewing opportunities in the world.

The Masai people arrived into the Serengeti plains in the 17th century, displacing the Datoga pastoralists who had previously lived there. They lived an undisturbed, nomadic life in the region for hundred of years, until the first westerner, American Stewart Edward White, passed through in 1913. He recorded the plains in the chronicles of a journey that began in Nairobi, Kenya. What he wrote still applies today: “.. We walked for miles over burnt out country... Then I saw the green trees of the river, walked 2 miles more and found myself in paradise” .

The 14 763 square kilometres of the Serengeti is made up of a variety of different habitats – plains, kopjes, river and forest. The vast size of Tanzania’s premier National Park makes game viewing only one aspect of the Serengeti - the scenery is simply breathtaking.

There is no bad time to visit the Serengeti as every season has its own special highlight – even the rainy season has the daily thunder and lightening to look forward to. Changing seasons and light patterns form the most beautiful backdrop to view Africa’s majestic and incredible wildlife. It has more than 1.6 million herbivores and thousands of predators. Blue Wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and buffalos are the animals most commonly found in the region.

This area is most famous for the migration that takes place every year, which is considered to be one of the seven tourist travel wonders of the world. Every year around October over a million herbivores travel toward the southern plains, crossing the Mara River from the hills to the north. They continue west across the Serengeti, and then north once again, crossing the Mara River, after the rains around April, and often totals more than 800km. This phenomenon is sometimes also called the Circular Migration. Over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die along the journey from Tanzania to Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya.

Day 8 Olduvai Gorge/Ngorongoro Conservation Area (B,L,D)
Break camp and take in the active morning wildlife as you cross the Serengeti plains and journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa's best game viewing. Stop at the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, before arriving at your camp late in the afternoon. The views from the Ngorongoro Crater rim are stunning, and there is an ever-present abundance of wildlife, due to the permanent water supply on the crater floor.

The Olduvai, or Oldupai, Gorge is commonly referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind”. It is a deep, steep ravine that is roughly 48 km long. It is famed for the discovery of the 3.5 million year-old fossil fragments of an early human civilization. Accordingly, it is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering understanding of early human evolution.

The 8,300 km² Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named after its central feature, the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and arguably its most spectacular natural arena. Ngorongoro Crater has often been described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its inherent geological significance, but also because it serves a quite extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s most dense population of large mammals. The Ngorongoro was part of the original Serengeti National Park proclaimed in 1951, but it was made a separate conservation area in 1956 so that the Masai could graze their cattle there. The Ngorongoro Crater became a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Land in the conservation area is unique to Tanzania as it provides protection for the wildlife whilst allowing human habitation. The landscape is made up of a blend of volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests, where the wildlife is extensive. The southern and eastern boundaries are approximately defined by the rim of the Great Rift Valley, which also prevents animal migration in these directions. The annual ungulate migration passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildebeest and zebra moving south into the area in December and moving north in June. The area has healthy resident populations of most species of wildlife.

The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of more than 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals. They are not confined by the crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favourable. Since most of the crater floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate: zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, and warthogs. The swamp and forest provide additional resources for hippos, some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos, giant-tusked elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks and bushbucks, baboons and vervet monkeys. All these animals in turn support large predators such as lion and leopard, and scavengers such as hyena and jackals.

Day 9 Ngorongoro Crater/Arusha (B,L)
Venture down to the crater floor, and take in your final safari experience viewing the high concentration of wildlife, bound by the crater walls. After lunch, break camp and continue to our hotel in Arusha, a vibrant and colourful town with bustling markets.

Arusha, also known as Tanzania’s “safari capital”, is undoubtedly the most important center in northen Tanzania. With many protected national parks, reserves, and mountains nearby (on a clear day, you can see Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance), Arusha is a modern, a vibrant and colourful city, and with its markets, services, and fine location, it is a great place to spend the final evening together with your group.

Arusha officially became a city on the 1st of July 2006. The primary industry of the region is agriculture with large vegetable producers sending high-quality produce to Europe. The city and its environs are also spotted with large coffee plantations, adding to the area’s charm. Though in recent years, due to the coffee crisis, many local farmers have been badly hit, and now subsistence farming is the most common source of livelihood.

Arusha, who owes its name from the local Wa-arusha people who resided here for hundreds of years, is historically and politically significant city within East Africa. In 1961 the official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the United Kingdom in Arusha. Six years later the Arusha Declaration of Self Reliance in Tanzania was signed. On the 4th of August 1993 the Arusha Accords were signed by representatives of competing factions in the civil war in neighbouring Rwanda. After the Rwandan genocide, the UN Security Council decided by its Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 that Arusha should host the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its employees has influenced the local economy of Arusha. The tribunal is expected to end its mandate in 2008.

Day 10 Depart Arusha after breakfast.(B)

End of the SAFARI.

2 Persons Sharing.

Meet and Greet Services with assistance
All airport/Airstrip transfers with assistance
Complimentary baggage handling of two pieces per person
Free excess baggage storage.
Direct check-in with assistance in your Hotels
All meals as mentioned in the itineraries
All park entry fees
Full board accommodation whilst on Safari
Game-viewing drives whilst on safari
Services of an English-Speaking professional driver guide.
All Government taxes and levies where applicable

For camping safari

The above is applicable
Cook fees
The tents and huts
Sleeping bags and all camping gears are included.

Your Safari Price Excludes:

International Airfares
Tourist entry VISA where required
International airport(s) departures taxes
Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and /or quoted separately
Expenditures of personal nature such as telephone calls, faxes, Internet access, laundry etc.
All alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits.
Tips and gratuities to driver /guides/cook/lodge porters/hotel staff
All other extras not mentioned in the 'what's included.

TZ/KE- 03 KENYA, TANZANIA AND ZANZIBAR 13 DAYSAFARI

Day 1 Arrive Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi met and transfered to the hotel by your guide. Dinner at Carnivore Restaurant. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour.

Take today to wander the streets of central Nairobi, taking in old colonial architecture and the brightly coloured crowds to get a feel for Africa. The city’s best attraction is the National Museum, home to most of the great prehistoric finds made by the Leakey family in East Africa, from Ethiopia to the Olduvai Gorge. It also has sections on wildlife, art, geology, local history and a snake park.
West of the city, the suburb of Karen is named after Karen Blixen, author of “Out of Africa”. Her house is now the Karen Blixen Museum, complete with a garden and tea house, it tells the history of the famous author. Also in Karen is the African Butterfly Research Institute , a large magical greenhouse alive with native butterflies.

South of Nairobi, in Langata, the Giraffe Centre one of the city’s best attractions, with the option of hand-feeding the rare Rothschild giraffes, plus a nature walk with 160 species of bird. The Sheldrick Animal Orphanage cares for young, orphaned elephants. The Nairobi National Park is just south of the city, and covers 114 sq km. It has over 400 bird species of and populations lions, leopards, and one of the country’s few thriving populations of black rhino. Beyond the park gate, the Bomas of Kenya, is a living open-air museum of the tribes of Kenya, including regular dance performances.

The name Nairobi is derived from the Masai word for cool waters, which they gave to a water hole known as Ewaso Nyirobi. The sprawling, cosmopolitan city of Nairobi combines the first-world glamour of reflecting-glass skyscraper buildings with abject developing-world poverty. It originated in 1899 from a handful of shacks that marked the end of the railhead during the building of the Uganda railway. Due to big game hunting bringing tourists from Britain, the city expanded dramatically in the early 1900’s. A large number of British nationals settled in the area, prompting more growth and this angered both the Masai and Kikuyu people, as they were losing hunting ground due to the expansion of the city limits. The friction increased and, eventually led to the Mau Mau uprising, which saw Jomo Kenyatta, the future president jailed. Kenya was granted independence from Britain in 1963, with Nairobi as the capital.

Apart from being Kenya’s capital and the main centre of government and commerce, Nairobi is the most significant city in East Africa and an important player on the pan-African stage. It is the diplomatic base for many counties in Africa, with its broad spectrum of international embassies and headquarters for the United Nations, multi-national companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and press correspondents. It’s also the center of the growing safari business of East Africa.

Day 2 Lake Nakuru (B,L,D)
Descend into the Great Rift Valley enjoying stunning views of the escarpment on the way, arriving in time for lunch. Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake, renowned for its huge concentration of flamingos and over 460 species of birds. After setting up camp, embark on an afternoon safari within Lake Nakuru National Park, a beautiful environment of woodlands and grasslands, in search of the resident black and white rhino, buffalo, impala, and the elusive leopard.

Kenya's fourth largest town and the capital of the Rift Valley province, Nakuru, meaning “dusty place” in the Masai language, is a cheerful and vibrant agricultural town with a variety of coulourful local markets. We camp outside of the town itself, at the edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, the area’s principal highlight and best natural attraction.

Lake Nakuru National Park is began in 1961 as a small protected territory, only encompassing the famous lake of the same name, and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the area’s grassland savannahs and woodland slopes, and covers an area of roughly 188 km sq.

Lake Nakuru itself is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos, estimated into the millions, that famously line the shore. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. There are two types of flamingo species: the Lesser flamingo can be distinguished by its deep red carmine bill and pink plumage unlike the greater, which has a bill with a black tip. But flamingo are not the only avian attraction, also present are two large fish eating birds, pelicans and cormorants. The park is rich in other birdlife, including grebes, white winged black, stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter, the migrant waders.

The park has recently been enlarged partly to provide the sanctuary for the black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence - to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Numerous other mammals can be seen, including zebra, impala, gazelle, waterbuck, lion, warthog, bushbuck, many buffalo, and even at times leopard.

Day 3 Lake Naivasha (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Camping
Distance: 159 km

It is a short jaunt to the scenic Lake Naivasha will give you plenty of time to enjoy your time here at leisure.

There are a number of attractions in the area of Lake Naivasha, so take advantage of this day in whichever you see fit. Elsamere, the former home of the author of “Born Free”, Joy Adamson, sits on the edge of the lake and is now a museum dedicated to the famous conservationist. It also serves as a field study center and is one of Kenya’s premier environmental education centers. Green Crater Lake is a large, grown-in extinct volcanic crater filled by a soda lake and thousands of flamingos. The surrounding area is home to numerous herbivores, such as impala, zebra, and giraffe. Hell’s Gate National Park, named from its giant red cliffs outlining an interior cauldron of bubbling underground steam, has a scenic natural environment. Renting a bike and cycling through this national park allows you so enjoy the stunning scenery, unique landforms, and the resident animlas: antelope such as elands and impalas, zebra, and potentially buffalo, one of the “Big 5”. Even a stroll along the lake shore will afford great view of birds and wildlife, spotting ibis, lovebirds, fish eagles, hippo, and the black and white colobus monkey on the banks of Lake Naivasha.

The name Naivasha comes from the Masai “Nai’posha”, which means “rough water”, though Lake Naivasha is general calm in the morning, the best time for spotting hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife. A freshwater lake, Lake Naivasha is currently about 20km long and 15km wide, but the lake levels have fluctuated enormously over the years. In the early 1880s during the time of Joseph Thompson’s travels, it was reduced to a swamp, while in the 1920s lake levels were about eight meters higher than at present. Surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree, Lake Naivasha has a fairy-tale beauty to it which is rarely matched. Abound prolific birdlife from majestic fish eagles and waterfowl to tiny malachite kingfishers, is known as a world class birding destination, and is an international Ramsar site.

Between 1937 and 1950 this beautiful, peaceful lake was used as a landing place for plane passengers destined for Nairobi. The flying boat from London would land on the lake where the Lake Naivasha Country Club now stands, and travellers would board a bus for Nairobi. Today the lovely lake, with its cool climate, has become a retreat for Nairobi residents and tourists looking for peace. Because the lake is fresh water and the surrounding soil fertile, this is a major production area for fruit and vegetables and, more recently, vineyards. Many animals call the area home; giraffes wander among the acacia, buffalo wallow in the swamps and colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleep the day out in the shallows.

Day 4 Arusha (B,L)
Accommodation: Camping
Distance: 370km

Continue the journey across the border into Tanzania, arriving in the picturesque town of Arusha in the afternoon. Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mount Meru and is the gateway to most of Tanzania's safari areas. Spend the evening at your leisure.

Arusha, also known as Tanzania’s “safari capital”, is undoubtedly the most important center in northen Tanzania. With many protected national parks, reserves, and mountains nearby (on a clear day, you can see Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance), Arusha is a modern, a vibrant and colourful city, and with its markets, services, and fine location, it is a great place to spend the final evening together with your group.

Arusha officially became a city on the 1st of July 2006. The primary industry of the region is agriculture with large vegetable producers sending high-quality produce to Europe. The city and its environs are also spotted with large coffee plantations, adding to the area’s charm. Though in recent years, due to the coffee crisis, many local farmers have been badly hit, and now subsistence farming is the most common source of livelihood.

Arusha, who owes its name from the local Wa-arusha people who resided here for hundreds of years, is historically and politically significant city within East Africa. In 1961 the official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the United Kingdom in Arusha. Six years later the Arusha Declaration of Self Reliance in Tanzania was signed. On the 4th of August 1993 the Arusha Accords were signed by representatives of competing factions in the civil war in neighbouring Rwanda. After the Rwandan genocide, the UN Security Council decided by its Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 that Arusha should host the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its employees has influenced the local economy of Arusha. The tribunal is expected to end its mandate in 2008.

Day 5-7 Serengeti NP / Ngorongoro Crater (3B,3L,3D)
Accommodation: camping
Distance: 223km from Arusha to Serengeti (excluding game drives)

Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater are typical Africa, wide-open plains, thorn trees, prolific wildlife - the perfect dream of Africa. Massive herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate annually onto these plains. En route to the central Seronera plains, you will begin to experience the sheer vastness of this territory, and you will marvel at the multitude of animal and bird life while cruising through this acacia-spotted savannah. Spend the next two days on 4WD excursions to these famous national parks; with the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino), the Small Five and the extensive amounts of flying and crawling wildlife, this region offers arguably the past wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. You will see the Masai people herding their cattle amongst the wild game. Stop at the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, and camp with views from the Ngorongoro Crater rim are stunning, and there is an ever-present abundance of wildlife, due to the permanent water supply on the crater floor. You will camp in Arusha on the final night.

The Serengeti, which derives its name from the Masai for “endless plain”, is the jewel of Tanzania’s protected areas, together with the Masai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation area it protects the most varied and greatest collection of wildlife on earth.

The Masai people arrived into the Serengeti plains in the 17th century, displacing the Datoga pastoralists who had previously lived there. They lived an undisturbed, nomadic life in the region for hundred of years, until the first westerner, American Stewart Edward White, passed through in 1913. He recorded the plains in the chronicles of a journey that began in Nairobi, Kenya. What he wrote still applies today: “.. We walked for miles over burnt out country... Then I saw the green trees of the river, walked 2 miles more and found myself in paradise” .

The 14 763 square kilometres of the Serengeti is made up of a variety of different habitats – plains, kopjes, river and forest. The vast size of Tanzania’s premier National Park makes game viewing only one aspect of the Serengeti - the scenery is simply breathtaking.

There is no bad time to visit the Serengeti as every season has its own special highlight – even the rainy season has the daily thunder and lightening to look forward to. Changing seasons and light patterns form the most beautiful backdrop to view Africa’s majestic and incredible wildlife. It has more than 1.6 million herbivores and thousands of predators. Blue Wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and buffalos are the animals most commonly found in the region.

This area is most famous for the migration that takes place every year, which is considered to be one of the seven tourist travel wonders of the world. Every year around October over a million herbivores travel toward the southern plains, crossing the Mara River from the hills to the north. They continue west across the Serengeti, and then north once again, crossing the Mara River, after the rains around April, and often totals more than 800km. This phenomenon is sometimes also called the Circular Migration. Over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die along the journey from Tanzania to Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya.

The Olduvai, or Oldupai, Gorge is commonly referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind”. It is a deep, steep ravine that is roughly 48 km long. It is famed for the discovery of the 3.5 million year-old fossil fragments of an early human civilization. Accordingly, it is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering understanding of early human evolution.

The 8,300 km² Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named after its central feature, the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and arguably its most spectacular natural arena. Ngorongoro Crater has often been described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its inherent geological significance, but also because it serves a quite extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s most dense population of large mammals. The Ngorongoro was part of the original Serengeti National Park proclaimed in 1951, but it was made a separate conservation area in 1956 so that the Masai could graze their cattle there. The Ngorongoro Crater became a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Land in the conservation area is unique to Tanzania as it provides protection for the wildlife whilst allowing human habitation. The landscape is made up of a blend of volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests, where the wildlife is extensive. The southern and eastern boundaries are approximately defined by the rim of the Great Rift Valley, which also prevents animal migration in these directions. The annual ungulate migration passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildebeest and zebra moving south into the area in December and moving north in June. The area has healthy resident populations of most species of wildlife.

The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of more than 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals. They are not confined by the crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favourable. Since most of the crater floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate: zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, and warthogs. The swamp and forest provide additional resources for hippos, some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos, giant-tusked elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks and bushbucks, baboons and vervet monkeys. All these animals in turn support large predators such as lion and leopard, and scavengers such as hyena and jackals.

Day 8 Dar Es Salaam (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Rooms
Distance: 697km

It is a full day journey to Tanzania's largest city, Dar Es Salaam. Arabic for “Abode of Peace” (a word closely related to the familiar “Yer u-salem” in Israel), Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania. With a population estimated around 2,500,000, it is also the country’s richest city and an important economic centre.

The city was founded in the 19th century by Sultan Majid bin Said, the Sultan of Zanzibar, because of its strategic location on the East African coast, and its natural deep waterways. Though it really did not become a prominent centre until after the sultan’s death, German colonialists seized Dar es Salaam from its Arab rulers and fought off an uprising by the Bushiri local tribe. They built the small port into a trading center, making their mark with several grand edifices scattered around the waterfront, most notably the German Hospital, the Lutheran Church and St Joseph’s Cathedral.

The city changed hands to the British as the Germans lost their territories after World War II, and became Tanzania’s capital after independence. However, Dar es Salaam lost its official status as capital city to Dodoma in the mid-1970s, but it remains the centre of the permanent central government bureaucracy and continues to serve as the capital for the surrounding Dar es Salaam Region.

Life in Dar es Salaam revolves around the huge harbour, with the business district fanning out from here in a series of fascinating side and main streets. The cruise liners, cargo ships, and traditional dhows dot the habour while the bustling fish market of Kivukoni Front comes alive in the morning as the dhows offload the night’s catch. In the Asian business district, along India Street and the intersecting Indira Ghandi Street, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in East Africa.

Look out for the distinctive Makuti-palm roofed building that houses Nyumba ya Saana, the House of Art. Begun in 1972 by an American nun, the co-operative supports nearly 200 young artists, with work ranging from batiks through carvings, oil paintings, pottery, weaving and clothing. Other places worth a visit include the Kariakoo Market, the botanical gardens, and the adjacent National Museum, where archaeology buffs can see the skull of “Nutcracker Man”, antique tribal artifacts and some fascinating World War One memorabilia.

Day 9-10 Zanzibar (B)
Accommodation: Rooms

Zanzibar Island, 'the spice island,' has an extremely interesting history and culture as it was the centre of the slave and spice trade in the 1800s. Cross to Zanzibar by ferry and explore Stone Town, whose optional tours include: the spice plantations, the slave pits, and the ruins of the Sultan's Palace. Spend two days on the north of the island (Nungwi) that has spectacular beaches. Take part in many of the optional activities, including some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world.

Zanzibar is one of the most fascinating places in East Africa, despite a heavy increase in tourism since the early 1990s. Thanks to an ambitious and far-reaching preservation programme funded by UNESCO and the Aga Khan, many famous old buildings have been restored, or are in the process of being renovated.

The Stone Town in Zanzibar town is the heart of the island. It has an intriguing maze of narrow, cobbled lanes hemmed in by Arabic buildings. The best way to see the Stone Town is, literally, to get lost. You can spend hours just wandering the alleys and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors, or buying sweetmeats from scores of tiny cafes. Remember that Zanzibar is overwhelmingly Muslim, and immodestly dressed women, or men in shorts, will get harassed and cause great offence. Never try to take a photograph without asking permission. The polite way to ask is “Tafadhali (pronounced tougher-thaarli) naomba ruhusu kwa kupiga picha yako.” Many guidebooks say the correct phrase is “nataka kupiga picha yako”, but this is incredibly rude, the equivalent of saying “give me your picture”.

Day 11-12 Spice Plantation - Kendwa/Nungwi (2B)
Journey to the northwest coast of the island for a guided tour of a local spice plantation, and delight your senses with cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla and lemongrass. Spend two days in Nungwi, the centre of Zanzibar’s traditional dhow-building industry and the beach capital of Zanzibar.

No visit to Zanzibar would be complete without a visit to the spice plantations. Your senses will be aroused as you will receive a detailed description on the assortment of spices (black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla, lemon grass) and their various uses. It was the wonderful spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade dating back to the 1840’s.

Day 12 is all yours to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Nungwi and neighbouring Kendwa. Relax on the beautiful white sandy beaches, soaking up the African sun, or maybe a little snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystal clear waters is just for you. The day will be simply magical!

Day 13 Zanzibar (B)
End the tour in Nungwi after breakfast and choose to transfer back to Stone Town or spend some more time on this beautiful island.

End of the SAFARI.

2 Persons Sharing.

Your Safari Includes:

Meet and Greet Services with assistance
All airport/Airstrip transfers with assistance
Complimentary baggage handling of two pieces per person
Free excess baggage storage.
Direct check-in with assistance in your Hotels
All meals as mentioned in the itineraries
All park entry fees
Full board accommodation whilst on Safari
Game-viewing drives whilst on safari
Services of an English-Speaking professional driver guide.
All Government taxes and levies where applicable

For camping safari

The above is applicable
Cook fees
The tents and huts
Sleeping bags and all camping gears are included.

Your Safari Price Excludes:

International Airfares
Tourist entry VISA where required
International airport(s) departures taxes
Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and /or quoted separately
Expenditures of personal nature such as telephone calls, faxes, Internet access, laundry etc.
All alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits.
Tips and gratuities to driver /guides/cook/lodge porters/hotel staff
All other extras not mentioned in the 'what's included.

OPTIONAL TOURS

Back