19 Day Wildlife Safari and Tropical Island Discovery

Day 1:NAIROBI AIRPORT – NAIROBI CITY HOTEL

We look forward to meeting you at Nairobi Airport upon your arrival where we will transfer you to your accommodation for the evening. Included: Transfer and accommodation.

Day 2:NAIROBI TO ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will be welcomed by your guide and drive north to Aberdare National Park. The Aberdares are a beautiful mountain range in the central highlands of Kenya, for the most part, over 3000m (10,000ft) in altitude. Within the Aberdares National Park, a magical place of dense forest, and misty moorlands, where icy rivers plunge in glorious cascades and waterfalls. This area is rich in wildlife. Amongst a variety of mammals more commonly seen are elephant, buffalo, rhino, forest-hog, colobus and Sykes monkeys and a wide variety of antelope including the legendary and rare bongo. Birdlife is abundant and varied. 200 species have been recorded, perhaps the most conspicuous group of which the sunbirds are. Included: B, L, D and Accommodation.

Day 3:ABERDARES TO LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

This morning you will head west to Lake Nakuru National Park, which is notorious for its flocks of Flamingos and Pelicans. The park also boasts over 30 Rhinos as well as a large population of Leopards. The rest of the day will be dedicated to Game Drives.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 4:LAKE NAKURU TO HELLS GATE NATIONAL PARK AND LAKE NAIVASHA

This morning you will head to Hells Gate National Park where you will partake in a game walk. Afterwards you will continue onwards to Lake Naivasha. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. An optional boat ride is possible.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 5:LAKE NAIVASHA TO MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE

After breakfast you head towards the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The road leads you into wide serpentines, passing spectacular viewpoints from the cool highlands down into the hot and dry Rift Valley. You will reach the Masai Mara by early afternoon and there will be time for extended game drives in the afternoon. The game reserve is famous for its very high animal population. Together with the southern located Serengeti the region is well known for one of the world´s biggest migrations. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra join in this long trek. But you will also have the chance to see other animals such as lions, elephants, buffalos and giraffes.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 6:MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE

The whole day will be spent on game drives in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Mara is home to interesting animals such as Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, elands and Coke’s hartebeests. Not often seen outside Kenya are the Masai giraffe, roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox. You will take a trip to the Mara River, the greatest hurdle for the wildebeests and zebras on their yearly trek. At the end of October and the beginning of November, an incredible scene is set when the river has swollen to almost bursting levels and tens of thousands of animals must cross it, knowing that certain death awaits them – crocodiles hiding just below the surface. It can be a gruesome sight. At other times of the year, hippos, hungry crocodiles and other animals can also be seen at the river. The reserve has over 470 bird species including about 60 raptor species.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 7:MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE TO LAKE VICTORIA

Today an early start is indispensable regards to the long journey to Lake Victoria. What appears to be a short distance on the map is in reality many hours drive. On the way to the boarder you will first travel further through the Masai Mara Game Reserve towards Lake Victoria. On route, you will have more time to see some animals that you may not have already seen over the last view days. After crossing the border to Tanzania, the safari travels on to Lake Victoria; the largest lake in Africa and the second largest in the world. The area around Lake Victoria is the most fertile and densely populated region in Tanzania. Stopping at the lake, you will have the chance to see another side of Tanzania; away from the tourists and the masses, you can discover the land and the lives of the local people. You can watch the fishermen earn their living and visit a rural community school. This experience is not available on the usual tourist routes.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 8:LAKE VICTORIA – CANOE TRIP – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast you will join the local fishermen and a guide on a canoe trip on Lake Victoria. You will see how the locals catch fish and admire the previous night’s catch. From here on the safari continues to Serengeti National Park. You will reach the park gate before noon and on the way to your lodge for you will do the first game drives in one of the most famous park in Tanzania. The Serengeti is the location of the biggest animal migration in the world. The herds often cross the border on their migration without problems and offer plenty of opportunities for spectacular wildlife watching.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 9:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Rise and shine! Up at the crack of dawn, you will be able to see the sunrise over the Serengeti before you join an early morning game drive. Upon your return to the camp, a hearty breakfast awaits. Adventurous guests may choose to experience the Serengeti from the sky and join a hot-air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. This activity is not included in the tour price and needs to be booked in advance. Guests interested in visiting the visitor centre, are also able to do so. In the afternoon you will enjoy another game drive before returning to the Camp for dinner and overnight.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 10:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA AND KARATU

After breakfast you will start a new game drive in the Serengeti National Park. In the Seronera Valley you will find wildebeest and zebras and often lions and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs. After lunch at a picnic site, you will drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you have reached the edge of the crater the caldera opens up before you and is a sight to behold. Overnight at Ngorongoro.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 11:KARATU – NGORONGORO CRATER – KARATU

Rise and shine! After breakfast at daybreak you travel back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before you drive down into the crater. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard to spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch, you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and return to the Ngorongoro Farm House to spend another night.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 12:KARATU TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK AND TARANGIRE AREA

Today you will visit the Lake Manyara National Park which is known for its ‘tree climbing lions’. A large area of the park covers the alkaline Manyara Lake which seasonally is visited by large colonies of flamingo and other water birds. On the lakeshore you can see elephants, hippopotami, guenon, buffalo, banded mongoose, various antelopes and gazelles. After plenty of wildlife watching you will be driven to your accommodation for the night.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 13:TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA

Today you will visit the last national park on your safari, Tarangire National Park, which is also known as ‘the elephant park’. The landscape of the park is made up of seasonal marshes and a seemingly endless tree savannah with its mighty Baobab trees. The dry season runs from July till October and this is perhaps the best time to visit. The reason for this is that the Tarangire River is the only permanent source of water during this time and therefore the wildlife tends to concentrate in its vicinity. You will be able to observe the herds of buffalo and wildebeests as they come to drink. Other animals of the park that also assemble in this area and include lions, leopards, zebras, antilope and gazelles. After a full morning of wildlife watching you will stop for a midday break and lunch at a picnic spot. Your comprehensive tour will then continue and later in the afternoon you will drive back to Arusha where you will overnight.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 14:ARUSHA – KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – ZANZIBAR

After breakfast you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport from where you will fly to Zanzibar (flight at own arrangement). Arriving on Zanzibar you will be greeted by your transfer driver and taken to the south east coast of the island.

Included: B, L, D and Accommodation

Day 15 -18:ZANZIBAR

The following days are for you to enjoy at leisure. Different activities can be booked at hotel reception.

Included: B,D and Accommodation

Day 19:SOUTH EAST COAST – ZANZIBAR AIRPORT

After breakfast you will check out. During the course of the day you will be taken to Zanzibar Airport from where you can continue your journey.