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An African safari touches something deep within all of us; for it is an experience that will never be forgotten. The following safari combines intriguing cultures, beautiful landscapes and an excellent opportunity for spotting the Big-5. The driver-guides are all very experienced and will certainly make this safari feel special.
Day 1 Nairobi
Upon arrival into Nairobi, you will be met and transferred to the Safari Park Hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Safari Park Hotel
Basis: bed and breakfast.
Day 2 Nairobi - Masai Mara National ReserveLeaving Nairobi after breakfast, you'll travel towards Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the Rift Escarpment on a road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. Look for the charming chapel they built at the foot of the escarpment. You'll pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the Valley to Narok, and then travel across acres of wheat and barley, before you reach the Masai Mara in time for lunch. Following lunch and a siesta, there is an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
Accommodation: Mara Sopa Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 3 Masai Mara National ReserveEarly morning and afternoon game drives.
Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.
Day 4 Masai Mara – Lake NakuruLeaving the Masai Mara after breakfast, you'll travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley litter the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. Now travel across the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle as you head up the Mau Escarpment, before arriving at Lake Nakuru lodge for lunch. The waters here are often coloured shimmering flamingo pink, from thousands of the beautiful birds lining its shores. After lunch you will take an afternoon game drive in Nakuru National park before returning to the lodge,
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 5 Lake Nakuru - Amboseli National ParkAfter an early breakfast you will depart with a picnic lunch, leaving the Rift Valley behind, you continue towards Nairobi and then head south towards Amboseli. Then proceed with afternoon game drive in the park enroute to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge arriving in the evening.
Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 6 Amboseli National ParkMorning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli, returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
Day 7 Amboseli – Lake ManyaraAfter breakfast, you continue the journey to the Tanzania border post and then on to Arusha for lunch. After lunch, drive across the Masai Steppe to the Great Rift Valley. Here, your hotel is perched high on the rim overlooking the park below.
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena LodgeBasis: Full Board
Day 8 Lake Manyara - Serengeti After breakfast there is a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park that returns to the lodge for lunch. Leaving Lake Manyara behind, the journey continues North West across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands which is filled with wheat and coffee plantations, and then into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here lie the vast plains of the Serengeti, where you’ll hopefully start spotting game well before you get into the park.
Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa LodgeBasis: Full Board
Day 9 Serengeti National Park Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park exploring this famous park and all that it has to offer.
Day 10 Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater After breakfast you depart for Ngorongoro viewing game across the vast Serengeti plains, stopping off at Olduvai Gorge en route. The Gorge acquired its name from the Sansevieria bush that grows profusely in the area, named Olduvai by the Maasai. The Gorge is about 50km long and in some places around 90m deep and is found between the Crater and the Serengeti. It was first discovered by a German entomologist named Professor Kattwinkel, who instigated an expedition just before the First World War. Later, the exploration was continued by Dr Louis Leakey and his wife, who in 1959 found humanoid remains of Zinjanthropus, later renamed Australapithicus Boisei, an early form of man. You will have time to walk through the simple small museum at the gorge, where you can view copy displays of some of the finds as well as pictures of what life was like for the gorge’s earliest inhabitants. After a picnic lunch you continue to your lodge, set high on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 11 Ngorongoro CraterA highlight awaits you this morning as you depart to explore what is commonly referred to as the World’s largest wildlife zoo. After breakfast, you’ll descend through the early morning mists and 2,000 feet into the crater. Ngorongoro Crater is the World’s largest intact volcanic caldera and is also one of the World’s seven natural wonders. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct areas, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes and springs, to open grassland and some sandy dunes. It’s an awesome wildlife experience. You return to the lodge for lunch followed by an afternoon excursion of a Masaai Village and return back to the lodge in the late afternoon.
Day 12 Ngorongoro Crater - Tarangire National Park Departing Ngorongoro Crater after breakfast and head south east en route to Lake Manyara, Mto wa Mbu village and Tarangire beyond. Through the highlands and the Karatu district, you’ll view the scenic wheat plains and coffee plantations here before journeying down the spectacular escarpment where you turn south on to the main Arusha – Dodoma road and into the park. From here to the lodge, you’ll enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge. After lunch and perhaps a swim, the remainder of the afternoon will be spent on a game drive.
Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa LodgeBasis: Full Board
Day 13 Tarangire National Park - NairobiDepart Tarangire after breakfast and drive back to Arusha arriving in time for lunch. After lunch you continue the journey by road to Nairobi arriving in Nairobi late afternoon and proceed for dinner in Nairobi city centre before drop off at JKIA airport or City centre Hotel.
