“On safari”…it’s one of the most alluring phrases in all of travel. And Kenya and Tanzania count among the most alluring places to be “on safari.” As our small group travels from grasslands to highlands and reserves to national parks, we enjoy intimate game drives, see stupendous landscapes, stay in excellent accommodations, and meet gracious local people.
From $9,996
“On safari”…it’s one of the most alluring phrases in all of travel. And Kenya and Tanzania count among the most alluring places to be “on safari.” As our small group travels from grasslands to highlands and reserves to national parks, we enjoy intimate game drives, see stupendous landscapes, stay in excellent accommodations, and meet gracious local people.
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Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference
Day Day Itinerary Hotel Rating |
1 1 Depart U.S. for Nairobi |
2-3 |
4-5 |
6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
11-13 |
14 |
15 15 Nairobi/Depart for U.S. (overnight flight) |
16 16 Arrive U.S. |
When To Go On Safari …
• January to February: Summer – dry and warm; cooler at Ngorongoro because of elevation. Migration picks up, with plenty of game throughout central/southern Serengeti.
• March: Rains become possible, bringing plains animals in search of fresh grass and food. Significant movement of antelope and other game to the plains for calving season; predators follow.
• June to October: Dry season; can be cold on the rim of Ngorongoro. Wildebeest and plains game begin migrating in search of water. By late July, wildebeest migration is in full swing, with opportunities for excellent game viewing and predator kills, especially in the Masai Mara.
• November to December: Season of the “short” rains (brief daily thunderstorms); comfortable temperatures at Ngorongoro; warm in the Serengeti, with plentiful game.
| 1 | Depart U.S. for Nairobi, Kenya Depart U.S. for Nairobi, Kenya |
| 2 | Arrive Nairobi Arrive Nairobi Read More After arriving in Nairobi, we transfer to our hotel. As arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned. After arriving in Nairobi, we transfer to our hotel. As arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned. |
| 3 | Nairobi B D B D Nairobi Read More We see highlights of Kenya’s cosmopolitan capital city today, stopping for a tour of the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the Danish writer who, under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen, wrote Out of Africa. We also visit the Giraffe Centre, where we see several of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes here up close. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel. We see highlights of Kenya’s cosmopolitan capital city today, stopping for a tour of the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the Danish writer who, under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen, wrote Out of Africa. We also visit the Giraffe Centre, where we see several of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes here up close. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel. |
| 4 | Nairobi/Amboseli B L D B L D Nairobi/Amboseli Read More We transfer this morning to Amboseli National Park in the shadow of snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Masai’s “white mountain” and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain at 19,336 feet. Known for its many elephants, Amboseli boasts wide, dry plains also teeming with herds of wildebeest, zebra, impala, and giraffe, as we may see on this afternoon’s game drive. We transfer this morning to Amboseli National Park in the shadow of snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Masai’s “white mountain” and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain at 19,336 feet. Known for its many elephants, Amboseli boasts wide, dry plains also teeming with herds of wildebeest, zebra, impala, and giraffe, as we may see on this afternoon’s game drive. |
| 5 | Amboseli B L D B L D Amboseli Read More Early this morning we visit a nearby Masai village. Later: game drive and time for relaxing at our lodge in the foothills of Kilimanjaro beneath a copse of feathered acacia trees. Early this morning we visit a nearby Masai village. Later: game drive and time for relaxing at our lodge in the foothills of Kilimanjaro beneath a copse of feathered acacia trees. |
| 6 | Amboseli/Lake Manyara B L D B L D Amboseli/Lake Manyara Read More We travel today to peaceful Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s smallest and most diverse parks. Bordered by the dramatic Western Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara is notable for its abundant birdlife, diverse vegetation, tree-climbing lions, plains animals, and hippos. We travel today to peaceful Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s smallest and most diverse parks. Bordered by the dramatic Western Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara is notable for its abundant birdlife, diverse vegetation, tree-climbing lions, plains animals, and hippos. |
| 7 | Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Conservation Area B L D B L D Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Conservation Area Read More This morning we enjoy a second game drive at Lake Manyara and then set out for Ngorongoro, a UNESCO Conservation Area, International Biosphere Reserve, and site of Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. On the crater’s floor is Africa in microcosm: grassland, swampland, lakes, forest, mountains, and unparalleled wildlife. This morning we enjoy a second game drive at Lake Manyara and then set out for Ngorongoro, a UNESCO Conservation Area, International Biosphere Reserve, and site of Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. On the crater’s floor is Africa in microcosm: grassland, swampland, lakes, forest, mountains, and unparalleled wildlife. |
| 8 | Ngorongoro Crater B L D B L D Ngorongoro Crater Read More On our morning tour of the 100-square-mile crater, we have our only chance to see all of Africa’s “Big Five” – elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and leopard – in one place. On our morning tour of the 100-square-mile crater, we have our only chance to see all of Africa’s “Big Five” – elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and leopard – in one place. |
| 9 | Ngorongoro/Serengeti National Park B L D B L D Ngorongoro/Serengeti National Park Read More We’re bound this morning for the Serengeti, the Masai’s 5,700-square-mile “endless plain” considered Africa’s finest park and one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. En route, we visit 31-mile Olduvai Gorge, where anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8-million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei in 1959 and revolutionized the study of human evolution. Reaching our lodge, we embark on an afternoon game drive. We’re bound this morning for the Serengeti, the Masai’s 5,700-square-mile “endless plain” considered Africa’s finest park and one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. En route, we visit 31-mile Olduvai Gorge, where anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8-million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei in 1959 and revolutionized the study of human evolution. Reaching our lodge, we embark on an afternoon game drive. |
| 10 | Serengeti B L D B L D Serengeti Read More Twice a year, some two million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle migrate to new grazing lands between Masai Mara and the Serengeti, sparking one of nature’s most spectacular sights. But the Serengeti’s vast treeless plains teem with animal life year-round, and this is the best place to see lion and cheetah up close. Perhaps we will on today’s two game drives. Twice a year, some two million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle migrate to new grazing lands between Masai Mara and the Serengeti, sparking one of nature’s most spectacular sights. But the Serengeti’s vast treeless plains teem with animal life year-round, and this is the best place to see lion and cheetah up close. Perhaps we will on today’s two game drives. |
| 11 | Serengeti/Masai Mara B L D B L D Serengeti/Masai Mara Read More We leave Tanzania today, crossing into Kenya and continuing on to Masai Mara by air. Kenya’s premier game reserve rich with animal life, the Mara is the traditional homeland of the Indigenous Maasai people. Known especially for the annual migration that sees some two million wildebeest, plus hundreds of thousands of other plains game migrate here from the Serengeti (Masai Mara being the continuation of the Serengeti in Kenya), the Mara sits in the Great Rift Valley and comprises 583 square miles of vast plains, acacia forests, grass-covered hills, and slow-flowing rivers. We arrive at our tented camp late this morning then have our first game drive here later this afternoon. We leave Tanzania today, crossing into Kenya and continuing on to Masai Mara by air. Kenya’s premier game reserve rich with animal life, the Mara is the traditional homeland of the Indigenous Maasai people. Known especially for the annual migration that sees some two million wildebeest, plus hundreds of thousands of other plains game migrate here from the Serengeti (Masai Mara being the continuation of the Serengeti in Kenya), the Mara sits in the Great Rift Valley and comprises 583 square miles of vast plains, acacia forests, grass-covered hills, and slow-flowing rivers. We arrive at our tented camp late this morning then have our first game drive here later this afternoon. |
| 12 | Masai Mara B L D B L D Masai Mara Read More We spend today “on safari,” venturing out on early morning and late afternoon game drives during prime viewing hours. We spend today “on safari,” venturing out on early morning and late afternoon game drives during prime viewing hours. |
| 13 | Masai Mara B L D B L D Masai Mara Read More Again, today we’re “on safari,” with morning and afternoon game drives in this reserve that is just slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. Again, today we’re “on safari,” with morning and afternoon game drives in this reserve that is just slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. |
| 14 | Masai Mara/Nairobi B L D B L D Masai Mara/Nairobi Read More Today we reenter the urban world as we fly from the Mara back to Nairobi. Tonight we toast our safari adventure at a farewell dinner. Today we reenter the urban world as we fly from the Mara back to Nairobi. Tonight we toast our safari adventure at a farewell dinner. |
| 15 | Nairobi/Depart for U.S. B B Nairobi/Depart for U.S. Read More After a morning at leisure, we transfer to the Nairobi airport and board our connecting flight to the U.S. After a morning at leisure, we transfer to the Nairobi airport and board our connecting flight to the U.S. |
| 16 | Arrive U.S. Arrive U.S. Read More We reach the U.S. today and connect with our flights home. We reach the U.S. today and connect with our flights home. |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | |
| Masai Mara | 90 | 88 | 90 | 81 | 79 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 86 |
| Serengeti | 81 | 81 | 81 | 83 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 81 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | |
| Masai Mara | 90 | 88 | 90 | 81 | 79 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 86 |
| Serengeti | 81 | 81 | 81 | 83 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 81 |
Encounter more wildlife during a stay at the Mount Kenya Safari Club, which houses the conservancy founded by actor William Holden.
Guests on the extension will leave Nairobi on Day 15.
"Edwin was an outstanding tour director. He was very knowledgeable about the areas visited and animals seen. He was always friendly and outgoing with stories to tell about Africa."
Jerry Cutrer
Hilton Head Island, SC
“One of the best tour directors we’ve had. David was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable of the safari area and animals. We thoroughly enjoyed his company.”-
Tim Hedahl
Erie, CO
“Maurice helped with every detail of the trip. He has an amazing wealth of knowledge about the land, people, and history of both Kenya and Tanzania.”
Kenneth & Carol Bromberg
Santa Monica, CA
“George was the best Tour Director I’ve ever had. He managed our group with such skill and knew what to do to make each of our experiences the best. He went 'the extra mile' at all times.”
Sue Matlof
St. Louis, MO
“Philip was wonderful and handled everything efficiently and with good humor. We learned about animals, birds, and plants but also about Kenya and Africa.”
Merrilee Anderson
North Augusta, SC
“Maurice helped with every detail of the trip. He has an amazing wealth of knowledge about the land, people, and history of both Kenya and Tanzania.”
Kenneth & Carol Bromberg
Santa Monica, CA
"Edwin was an outstanding tour director. He was very knowledgeable about the areas visited and animals seen. He was always friendly and outgoing with stories to tell about Africa."
Jerry Cutrer
Hilton Head Island, SC
“George was the best Tour Director I’ve ever had. He managed our group with such skill and knew what to do to make each of our experiences the best. He went 'the extra mile' at all times.”
Sue Matlof
St. Louis, MO
“Philip was wonderful and handled everything efficiently and with good humor. We learned about animals, birds, and plants but also about Kenya and Africa.”
Merrilee Anderson
North Augusta, SC
“One of the best tour directors we’ve had. David was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable of the safari area and animals. We thoroughly enjoyed his company.”-
Tim Hedahl
Erie, CO
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