Best of East Africa
Programme Overview
Duration: 14 days
From the Northern Frontier to Tarangire, this itinerary takes you to the highlights of East Africa.
Highlights: Mt. Kenya, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Serengeti
Nairobi - Mount Kenya National Park
Depart and drive north to Mount Kenya National Park. Check-in at Serena Mountain Lodge, a timbered tree house located on the slopes of Mount Kenya.
Named after Kenya's highest mountain and the country's namesake, Mt Kenya National Park is a pristine wilderness that comprises of a variety of landscapes from lakes and springs to forests and glaciers. The park is home to some unique animal species including the rare bongo.
Overnight game viewing at the flood-lit water hole from the lodge‟s viewing decks.
Overnight: Serena Mountain Lodge
Meal Plan: L,D
Mount Kenya National Park - Samburu Game Reserve
Depart after breakfast for Samburu Game Reserve. Set against the backdrop of the Ol Olokwe mountain, Samburu is a harsh, savagely beautiful wilderness in Northern Kenya. Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves lie adjacent to each other within Samburu land.
Arrive in time for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive in the reserve.
Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Samburu Game Reserve
Enjoy an early morning game drive before breakfast at the lodge.
Samburu is famous for its own 'Big 4' - the reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, thin-striped grevy's zebra and the gerenuk antelope which stands on its hind legs to feed. These animals can only be found in Northern Kenya. The Ewaso Nyiro river, the area's primary water source, also attracts a wide variety of animals including elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard.
Balance of the morning spent at leisure with lunch at the lodge. Thereafter, enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Samburu Game Reserve - Lake Nakuru National Park
Depart Samburu and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. Kenya's Rift Valley is popular for the many lakes found within this vast region. These lakes attract a variety of terrestrial birdlife numbering over 450 species. Lake Nakuru in particular is famous for the hundreds of greater and lesser flamingos that paint the lake pink - literally! Other notable species that can be found in the park are the white rhino and leopard.
Lunch at lodge followed by a game viewing/ bird watching drive around the lakeshore.
Overnight: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Lake Nakuru National Park - Masai Mara Game Reserve
Depart after breakfast and drive past Loita Plains to Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Masai Mara is one of Africa's most dramatic wildlife arenas, home to the 'greatest wildlife show on earth' the renowned wildebeest migration.
Lunch at Keekorok Lodge en route before arrival at Mara Serena Lodge and check-in followed by an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Masai Mara Game Reserve
See all the members of the Big Five in the early morning and afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Masai Mara - Nairobi
After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi. You will be dropped off at your Nairobi hotel.
Overnight: Jacaranda hotel
Nairobi - Namanga - Arusha - Tarangire
Breakfast at the otel and then drive to the Kenya/Tanzania border town of Namanga. After immigration and customs formalities meet your Tanzania driver guides and drive to the town of Arusha for lunch.
After lunch drive to Tarangire National Park. Located in Northern Tanzania, Tarangire is known for the thousands of baobab and marula trees that line its landscape.
Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: D
Tarangire - Ngorongoro Crater
Start your day by going on a morning game drive in the park. You will definately come across huge herds of elephants as they trek through the park in search of water. Plenty of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland can also be seen at the Tarangire River.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before proceeding to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Ngorongoro
A morning game drive provides the best opporturnity to view game and one on the Ngorongoro crater is unlikely to disappoint. The crater teems with wildlife all year long and it is said that the best shots of these amazing creatures are those taken in the morning.
After a picnic lunch, drive to a Masai Village to learn the heritage of these unique community.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Ngorongoro - Serengeti
After a hearty breakfast, start your drive to Serengeti National Park. En route visit the Olduvai Gorge also known as the 'Cradle of Mankind'. Continue to Serengeti with game drive en route.
Following a sumptous lunch go on an afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Serengeti Sopa Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Serengeti
Spend the day in the Serengeti enjoying thrilling morning and afternoon game drives.
Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park as well as being a world heritage site. It is famed for its annual migration when millions of wildebeest and zebra head north in search of fresh grazing and water. And whilst many may not make it, a population explosion where 8000 calves are born daily takes place to replenish what has been lost. An amazing spectacle!
Overnight: Serengeti Sopa Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Serengeti - Lake Manyara
After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park. A beautiful park best known for its tree-climbing lions.
After lunch, you will have time to rest before heading for an afternoon game drive. The park is also known for its abundance of birdlife.
Overnight: Kirurumu Tented Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: B,L,D