16 Days Best of Kenya & Tanzania Combined


This is one of our most popular safaris that covers all the major and most popular game parks and reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania. Starting from Jan 2005, the safari will run for 16-days (was previously 15-days), because we have added an extra day/night at Amboseli. The previous itinerary stayed only 1 night in Amboseli, and most of our past clients said they would have stayed longer.

The safari starts by traversing Kenya's central and northern sector across the equator line to Samburu National Reserve, a park that is home to rarely found species. From Samburu the safari goes to Mt. Kenya National Park before proceeding to the floor of the Rift Valley visiting Lake Nakuru National Park and then heading to the country's most popular game sanctuary, Maasai Mara Game Reserve. With a break in Nairobi, the safari proceeds to Amboseli and across Namanga border to all three mostly visited Tanzania's northern parks namely Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti Nat. Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

Daily departures subject to a minimum 2 persons booking.

Day 1. Nairobi/Samburu
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive through central Kenya and north across the equator to Samburu National Reserve arriving Samburu Serena Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs
Meal plan: {L, D}

Day 2. Samburu
Full day in Samburu, with an early morning and late afternoon game drive. Samburu is a beautiful and and game abundant park, home to rarely found species such as the Beisa Oryx, Grevy's zebra, blue-necked Somali ostrich and reticulated giraffe. Optional activites include a visit to a local Samburu village, camel riding and guided nature and bird walks. All meals and overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge.
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 3. Mountain Lodge
Depart Samburu after breakfast and drive to the lower slopes of Mt. Kenya arriving Serena Mountain Lodge (tree hotel) in time for lunch. Relax in the afternoon as you watch game from the balcony of the lodge, with an optional guided nature walk. Overnight floodlit game viewing. Dinner and overnight at the tree hotel.
Approx Transit time: 3 hrs
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 4. Lake Nakuru
Depart Mountain Lodge after breakfast and drive to the floor of The Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park making a brief stop at Nyahururu Thomson Falls and arriving Sarova Lion Hill Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive in the park. Besides the flamingos that the lake is famous for, there are approx 400 other species of birds visiting the lake. Also, many species of game can be found in the park including the introduced Rothschild's giraffe, black and white rhino, waterbuck, reedbuck, lion, buffalo, leopard, baboon and many species of plains game.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 3 hrs
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 5. Maasai Mara
Depart Lake Nakuru in the morning and drive further along the floor of the Rift Valley to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, arriving Mara Serena Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 6 & 7. Maasai Mara
Two full days in Maasai Mara, Kenya's most popular game sanctuary where you will have the best opportunity of spotting the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant). Morning and afternoon game drives with an optional visit to a local Maasai village. All meals and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge.
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 8. Nairobi
Depart Maasai Mara in the morning and drive back to Nairobi arriving approx 13:00hrs. Drop at Nairobi Safari Club. Lunch on own account/afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis. Optional dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs
Meal plan: {B}

Day 9. Amboseli
Depart Nairobi in the morning for Amboseli National Park arriving Amboseli Serena Lodge in time for lunch. The park is famous for its big game and great scenic beauty whose entire landscape is dominated by Mt Kilimanjaro. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 4˝ hrs
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 10. Amboseli
Early morning pre-breakfast game drive at 6.30am, when you have the best chance to see the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. Return to the lodge for late breakfast. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Afternoon game drive. All meals and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge.
Meal Plan: {B, L, D}

Day 11. Lake Manyara
Depart Amboseli after breakfast and driving to Namanga (Kenya/Tanzania border) where you will change vehicle and driver/guide and proceed to Arusha for lunch at Impala Hotel. Then drive on to Lake Manyara National Park for dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs
Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 12. Serengeti
Morning game drive in Manyara Park, a park dotted with exotic trees such as the giant fig, baobab and mahogany and famour for lions that sprawl on trees (though rare these days). Depart after lunch for Serengeti Nat. Park arriving Serengeti Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Approx transit time: 4 hrs
Meal Plan: {B, L, D}

Day 13. Serengeti
Full day in Serengeti. Morning and afternoon game drives in the rolling grasslands studded with wildlife for as far as the eye can see. All meals and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: {B, L, D}

Day 14. Ngorongoro
Another morning game drive in Serengeti, departing after lunch for Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge for a brief visit of the museum. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.
Approx transit time: 3 hrs Meal Plan: {B, L, D}

Day 15. Ngorongoro
After breakfast descend down to the crater floor for ˝ day crater tour, returning to Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for lunch. Afternoon at leisure with optional visit to a local Maasai village. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Meal Plan: {B, L, D}
Pls note: Only ˝ day tours may be allowed at the crater.

Day 16. Back to Arusha/Nairobi/Out
Depart Ngorongoro after breakfast and drive to Arusha. Lunch at Impala Hotel then to be assisted to board afternoon shuttle bus back to Nairobi arriving approx 18:30hrs (a flying option is available). Drop at your hotel or at the airport for onward flight.
End of our services.
Approx transit time: 8 hrs
Meal Plan: {B, L}

Prices include:
- Transportation in a custom safari vehicle with pop-up roof ideal for game viewing and sightseeing.
- Services of a trained and experienced English speaking driver/guide for each sector
- Fullboard accommodation in the lodges as mentioned
- One night BB accommodation in Nairobi (Day 8)
- Bottled water for use during the safari
- Game drives and all park entry fees
- Oneway shuttle bus transfer Arusha/Nairobi

Not included:
- International air transportation to and from Nairobi
- Expenses of personal nature such as visas, travel/baggage insurance, laundry, beverages, tips etc.
- Christmas, New Year and Easter Supplements

 

 

Lake Nakuru National Park:
Lake Nakuru National Park (168 km˛), created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru, near Nakuru Town. It is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon Cliff. Also of interest is an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffes and black rhinos.

The park has recently been enlarged partly to provide the sanctuary for the black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence - to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Waterbuck are very common and both the Kenyan species are found here. Among the predators are lion and leopard, the latter being seen much more frequently in recent times. The park also has large sized pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees. 4 Days Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara Lodge Safari, Kenya Safari, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, Sarova Mara Camp, Luxury Lodge Safaris, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Kenya Lodge Safaris, migration tours, wildlife lodge trips, Mara Nakuru safari.

Masai Mara Game Reserve:
Masai Mara Game Reserve is perhaps most famous for its lions. All other members of the "Big Five" are to be found in the Maasai Mara, although the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotami are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek Rivers. Cheetah are also to be found, although their numbers are also threatened, chiefly due to tourist disruption of their day-time hunting. As mentioned above, the plains between the Mara river and the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment are probably the best area for game viewing, in particular regarding lion and cheetah.

Like in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitant of the Masai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores: some 1,300,000 Wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson's Gazelle, and 191,000 Zebra. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.

Numerous other antelope can be found, including Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, impala, topi and Coke's hartebeest. Large herds of zebra are found through the reserve. The plains are also home to the distinctive Masai giraffe as well as the common giraffe. The large Roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely present elsewhere in Kenya, can be seen within the reserve borders. The Maasai Mara is a major research centre for the spotted hyena. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identified in the park, including vulture, marabou, secretary bird, hornbill, crowned crane, ostrich, long-crested eagle, and pygmy falcon.

 

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