Tanzania & Kenya Safari Itinerary

The Wilds of East Africa

Day 1 • Friday

U.S. / En Route

Depart the U.S. on our connecting flight to Tanzania. (Meals Aloft)

Day 2 • Saturday

Arusha

Transfer to our flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. On arrival, we meet our safari guides and drive to Mountain Village Lodge for the night. (Meals Aloft)

Day 3 • Sunday

Arusha / Lake Manyara National Park

We drive across the Great Rift Valley, en route visiting Mto Wa Mbu and a village. On a leisurely stroll with a village guide we will visit local homes, farmlands and a school, meeting the residents along the way. We stay at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, which is perched on the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking views. (B,L,D)

Days 4 & 5 • Monday & Tuesday

Lake Manyara National Park / Ngorongoro Crater

We spend this morning on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. In the park's north is an extensive area of forest populated by baboons, monkeys and flocks of noisy hornbills. Further south is an area of umbrella thorn trees where we find impala, zebra, girafe and wildebeest. We visit Manyara's hippo pools and search for the most famous residents: tree-climbing lions. On Tuesday we drive down into Ngorongoro Crater, where an abundance of food and fresh water provides a permanent home to more than 30,000 large mammals. This is also the only place in East Africa where one can easily observe a natural population of black rhino. Spend the night at the magnificent Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, located on the crater’s rim. (B,L,D Daily)

Days 6-8 • Wednesday-Friday

Olduvai Gorge / Serengeti National Park

We drive to Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family did important work that shed light on early human development. We then continue to one of the grandest settings in all of Africa — the Serengeti Plains, home to the greatest concentration of large mammals on Earth. The migratory herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle roam widely, searching for green grass and water. They face challenges from predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs who must hunt to survive. We spend three nights at our private mobile tented camp, situated where wildlife viewing is likely to be best. (B,L,D Daily)

Days 9 & 10 • Saturday & Sunday

Amboseli National Park

After breakfast, fly to Arusha and drive to Namanga, Kenya. We continue to Tortilis Tented Camp, located on private property just outside Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is one of East Africa’s best locations for spotting elephants and provides awe-inspiring views of magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro. (B,L,D Daily)

Days 11 & 12 • Monday & Tuesday

Samburu Reserve

This morning we fly to Samburu, located in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District. Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and reticulated giraffe are characteristic of this harsh yet picturesque region. Morning and afternoon game drives allow ample time to explore this unique area and observe its abundant wildlife. We spend two nights in the beautiful Samburu Intrepids. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 13 • Wednesday

Mount Kenya Safari Club

Following breakfast, we navigate the slopes of Mount Kenya and wind our way through picturesque, rolling hills to the Mount Kenya Safari Club. Built at the base of Mount Kenya, this luxurious country home has become a Kenyan tradition. The original house, with its many guestrooms, was converted to an inn in 1948 and later purchased by actor William Holden, who established it as one of the most exclusive clubs in the world. The views are spectacular: from the main house, the sweeping lawn stretches to the dark-green, forested foothills brushing the base of snow-capped Mount Kenya in the distance. We have the afternoon free to swim, golf or visit the wildlife nursery located on the grounds. (B,L,D)

Days 14 & 15 • Thursday & Friday

Masai Mara Reserve

This morning we transfer to Nanyuki to board our flight to the Masai Mara Reserve. This northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most rewarding wildlife observation sites. The rich savannah is famous for its concentration of plains game and predators, including leopard, cheetah and hyena. Our next two days include morning and afternoon game drives. You may choose to skip a game drive and instead take an optional hot-air balloon safari over the Mara. Enjoy a farewell bush dinner beneath the African sky on our last night. We spend two nights at the Mara Intrepids. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 16 • Saturday

Masai Mara Reserve / Nairobi / En Route

After breakfast and a morning game drive, we fly to Nairobi. Upon arrival, we travel to the Norfolk Hotel and check into our dayrooms. There is time to relax or do some last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for our connecting flight to the U.S. (B,L, Meals Aloft)

Day 17 • Sunday

U.S.

Connect with our flight to the U.S. (Meals Aloft)