14-Day / 13 Nights Best of East Africa Safari

Depart on Safari after breakfast. Leave Nairobi, heading north, towards Mount Kenya and the Highlands while enjoying scenic views of coffee plantations and small farms. Gaining altitude, the scenery becomes lusher, the air cooler, and the roadside adorned by a fascinating ribbon of small shops and stalls. While en route, stop at Karatina Market. Continue over the shoulder of Mount Kenya before descending into the spectacular plains of Samburu Game Reserve. Arrive in time for lunch at the Lodge. There will be time to relax by the pool before a late afternoon game drive at the reserve. Spend two nights at Samburu Intrepids Club.

Morning and afternoon game viewing in Samburu, a game reserve unlike any other in Kenya with its dramatic scenery and unusual animal species. The Uaso Nyiro River forms the life blood of this arid area and is home to both crocodiles and hippos while elephants, lions and leopards can be found along the shady river banks. Meanwhile, the rare and often more handsome species of well-known plains game such as reticulated giraffe, grevy's zebra and long necked gerenuk, graze in the more open bush land.

A morning drive back to the Kenya Highlands and on to the Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy. Lunch and afternoon game drive at Sweetwaters Private Game Reserve including a visit to the Chimpanzee Conservation Project. Sweetwaters is a small reserve and contains a very high concentration of wildlife. Virtually guaranteed sightings of black rhinos, elephants and buffalos, with high chances also of spotting lions. Overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Lodge. Optional night game drive, camel ride or guided walks can be booked at the camp reception.

Leaving the green and fertile highlands, visit Thomson’s Waterfalls before descending into the Rift Valley. Continue to Lake Elementaita. Lunch and afternoon game drive at Soysambu Private Game Sanctuary. OPTIONAL excursion to Lake Nakuru, seasonal home to over 450 bird species including great flocks of flamingo lining the shore (due to the unpredictable presence of flamingos we offer this as an option with park entry fees payable).

A morning drive to Masai Mara Game Reserve, passing by the dormant Longonot volcano and arriving in time for lunch at a lodge. Continue through the reserve, game viewing en route. The next two nights are spent at Mara Ashnil Tented Camp or Mara Serena Lodge.

A full day of game viewing at the Mara, Kenya’s finest wildlife reserve. Elephants and buffalos abound in the riverine forests, while out on the grasslands impalas and Thompson's gazelles can be seen together with their attendant predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals. The Mara is, in fact, the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem and plays host to vast herds of wildebeest and zebra during the months of July to October. Lesser known species such as topi, hartebeest, waterbuck eland and many small mammals create a kaleidoscopic picture of wildlife. An optional balloon safari, guided nature walk or breakfast in the bush may also be booked in advance.

A scenic drive back to Nairobi for lunch at a hotel. Afternoon free to relax or go shopping in town. We recommend dinner at one of Nairobi's many excellent restaurants (pay locally). Stay overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Arusha (lunch can be taken at the airport terminal - pay locally). Continue on safari, crossing the Great Rift Valley and ascending the escarpment for an overnight stay at Manyara Kirurumu Tented Lodge, with panoramic views of Lake Manyara far below.

A morning game drive at Lake Manyara National park. This park is unique for its diverse and distinct Ecological zones ranging from the rocky rift wall and ground water forest to woodland, open grassland, thermal springs and swamp. This diversity of habitat allows the visitor to see a wide variety of wildlife in a relatively small area. Look out for the rare tree-climbing lions, monkeys galore in the tropical rain forest, hippos and flamingos around the lake and plenty of plains game grazing on the savannah. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon drive to Ndutu Conservation area or the Serengeti Plains. Spend the next two nights at Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented lodge (November - March) or Serengeti Serena Lodge (April - October).

Morning and afternoon game viewing at the Serengeti, perhaps the greatest symbol of African wildlife heritage. Being centrally located, Serengeti Serena Lodge is an ideal base for exploring this hugely diverse Park. The short grass plains dotted with rock outcrops "kopjes" dominate the south and supports a combined population of more than 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle during the wet season December to April. As drier weather approaches in May, the wildebeest migrate to the center and Western corridor of the park where acacia savannah dominates and giraffe are more likely to be found. Don't forget to look out for leopards and hippos along the riverine forest. By July, the herds arrive in the north where the plains give way to densely wooded hills and elephant country. Here they remain until the coming of the short rains in November signaling the start of the Great Trek south again.

Morning drive to Ngorongoro. Lunch and remainder of the afternoon feel free to relax by the pool or take an optional walk to the Elephant caves, visit an Iraqw Village or visit a coffee estate (supplementary costs payable locally). Spend the next 2 nights at Acacia farm lodge, situated in the coffee growing areas of the Ngorongoro Highlands.

A half day game viewing in the crater with picnic lunch. A first glimpse of Ngorongoro leaves one literally breathless. Once a huge volcano, probably larger than Kilimanjaro, it is now a vast circular amphitheater, spectacularly beautiful and a Garden of Eden for huge numbers of wildlife. The animals are resident throughout the year and it is not difficult to find the "Big Five", elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The center-piece of the extensive floor is Crater Lake with its pink mantle of flamingo and other birdlife.

Drive to Arusha for lunch and an afternoon transfer to Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK) airport for departure.