12 DAY - BEST OF TANZANIA & KENYA (Book Now)

12 DAY - BEST OF TANZANIA & KENYA

Day 1: ARUSHA - TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK (L / D)

Transfer from the safari capital of Tanzania, Arusha before driving to Tarangire National Park. This baobab laced park hosts the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem – a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx are often seen. For the more ardent bird-lovers might keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the dazzlingly colourful yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.

Arriving at your accommodation Tarangire Sopa Lodge just in time for lunch, afterwards you will set out for an afternoon game drive.

Hidden among the kopjes, Tarangire Sopa Lodge is surrounded by ancient baobab trees. With water constantly available in the area, the greenery is lush providing a wonderful contrast to the burnt ground. Each rooms is carpeted, has two queen size beds with a mosquito net around them, plus a private lounge area. Ceiling fans keep the rooms cool and glass sliding doors that open out on to a balcony, with a great view of the landscape beyond, and wildlife can some times be spotted.

Accommodation - Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Day 2: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (B / L / D)

Leaving the Tarangire behind you will drive to Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world-wide wonder, the Serengeti National Park. The park is renowned for its annual migration; when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

You will stay at another Sopa gem, Sopa’s Serengeti Lodge, which is ideally located in the center of the Serengeti for the perfect location in which to base your game viewing experience. The lodge is well equipped with each room having wall-to-wall carpeting, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom plus a private verandah which offers stunning views over the plains of the Serengeti. The meals are served in the main restaurant and are prepared in international and local Tanzania flavors by professionally trained chefs. The dining room has superb bay windows overlooking the park with spectacular views from the hilltop.

Accommodation - Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Day 3: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (B / L / D)

There’s nothing like an early morning start allowing you to experience one of the most ultimate game viewing sessions. After a hot cup of tea or coffee you will soon be wide-awake as you watch wildlife in its most active time. The cat family love to make appearances in the morning, while the early morning light makes photographing herds of wildlife a photographer’s dream.

For something completely different, we can arrange an early morning balloon safari over the Serengeti. View large pods of wildlife and watch the sun rise over the park’s endless plains, only to finish off this relaxing journey with a scrumptious champagne breakfast.

After lunch at the lodge, return to the parks open plains in search for more wildlife viewing and experiences. As the evening light approaches, you will be thoroughly rewarded with all you game spotting with sundowners at a picturesque location in the park.

Accommodation - Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Day 4: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK - NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA (B / L / D)

Say goodbye to the enchanting Serengeti National Park only to be presented with another natural wonder, the Ngorongoro Crater. This incredible formation is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 8300 square kilometres. The actual crater is 260 square kilometres and 620m deep. The original volcano was probably as high or higher than Kilimanjaro.

Your final destination consists of the fabulous Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, perched on the rim of the collapsed volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater, a world heritage site, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. It has the most magnificent views over the crater floor, which is home to vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, the rare and endangered black rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, lion and herds of gazelle and wildebeest.  Its position on the Eastern rim allows the most spectacular and uninterrupted views of the sunset.

Accommodation - Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Day 5: NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA (B / L / D)

To experience the crater without the crowds you will rise early for your full days game drive. Reaching the crater floor as the sun begins to rise, you will undoubtedly be amazed at this natural phenomenon before you. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to about 25,000 animals and is one of the last places in Tanzania where the Big Five can be seen. The NCA is considered one of the World Heritage Sites and also one of the International Biosphere Reserves. Additionally, the NCA is unique because it is a multi-use conservation area - where the animals and environment are protected but the Masai are allowed to live and continue their pastoral lifestyle.

Enjoy a picnic on the edge of one of the crater’s lake as you watch elephants quench their thirst from afar. Return to the lodge to relax and enjoy a well-earned feast.

Accommodation - Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Day 6: NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA - NAIROBI (B / L)

After a breakfast you will proceed back to Arusha through the dramatically but stunning Rift Valley in time for lunch before continuing by shuttle to Nairobi for overnight.

Accommodation - Hotel in Nairobi

Day 7: NAIROBI - LAKE ELEMENTAITA (B / D)

Departing from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi you will drive to the Lake Elementaita, a soda ash lake playing host to tens of thousands of flamingos. Located of the famous Great Rift Valley, this small but beautiful lake offers you to chance to relax or choose from a number of optional activities such as horse riding, bird viewing or a visit to the natural warm spa that flows into the lake. The newly established Sunbird Lodge provides you with comfortable and eco-friendly luxury in a wonderfully picturesque setting.

Accommodation - Sunbird Lodge

Day 8: LAKE ELEMENTAITA / LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK (B / L / D)

After a hearty breakfast you will set out of a full day’s game drive to Lake Nakuru National park. The lake itself is world famous for one of the greatest bird spectacles on earth. View sometimes over one million bright pink flamingos as they feed on an abundant of algae in the lake’s waters. There are two types of flamingo species to be found including: the Lesser flamingo, distinguished by its red carmine bull and pink plumage. Where as its Greater cousin has a bill with a black tip. The actual park surrounds the lake, with its area recently extended to accommodate 25 rhinos - the largest concentrations in the country. Other species commonly found in the area are waterbuck, Rothschild’s giraffe, giant python, plus lion and leopard making the odd appearance. Lunch is taken in the park at a lovely picnic site overlooking the lake. Return to Sunbird Lodge just in for sundowners and well-deserved meal.

Accommodation - Sunbird Lodge

Day 9: LAKE ELEMENTAITA - MASAI MARA (B / L / D)

From Lake Elementaita, the Best of Kenya safari can only get better as you proceed to the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. An on-route game drive through the reserve will only get you excited for the upcoming days.

For your three-night Mara stay, the stunning and perfectly located Keekorok Lodge shall accommodate you. Keekorok Lodge, stands amid the vast sweeping plains of Kenya’s southern Savannah of the world famous Masai Mara. The lodge was the first game lodge ever to be built in the Mara and is erected in the direct path of the spectacular annual wildebeest migration. At the height of migration, Keekorok lodge is surrounded by a swarming mass of wild game, and there is hardly any need to go on a game drive as it is not uncommon to see all sorts of wildlife on the perimeter of the grounds.

On return from your afternoon game drive experience a sundowner on the observation deck with breathtaking views over the lake, where the dramatic savannah unfolds in front of you. Meals are made from the finest fresh ingredients prepared by experienced chefs; they offer pan-African, international cuisine catering for all dietary requirements.

Accommodation - Keekorok Lodge

Day 10: MASAI MARA (B / L / D)

Depending on the time of year, we set out early morning for the breathtaking spectacle of ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth’, the awe inspiring annual migration of the wildebeest. The Mara is technically an extension of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti National Park, but it’s rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments equals to an endless amount of game viewing. Home to a wide variety of animals, the Mara is also famous for its Big Five. Depending on the game drive, we’ll proceed back to the lodge for a late lunch, only to return again in search of more wildlife action late afternoon.

Dinner and sundowners are had back at the camp’s amazing location.

Accommodation - Keekorok Lodge

Day 11: MASAI MARA (B / L / D)

Rise early and take the option of a balloon safari across the Masai Mara. Take off in the crisp morning air, only to experience a game-viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. As you silently float across the plains, forest and rivers for approximately an hour, your journey comes to end back on land but accompanied with a fully cooked champagne breakfast.

The day sees more game viewing both in the morning and late afternoon. For the bird lovers there are over 450 species that have been identified in the Maasai Mara Ecosystem.

Accommodation - Karen Blixen Camp

Day 12: MASAI MARA - NAIROBI (B / L)

It may be the last day of safari however your game viewing does not stop. After breakfast, experience an on-route game drive out of the Mara and onto Nairobi. You will arrive in Nairobi late afternoon in time for you onward journey or international flight.