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12 days Best of Kenya & Tanzania Safari

This 12 days private safari covers the highlights of the East African National Parks – Kenya and Tanzania. Depending of the time of the year you can see the big annual migration in either Masai Mara or in the Serengeti! The tour starts in Nairobi and ends in Arusha.

This itinerary starts at Nairobi – Jomo Kenyatta international airport, and ends at Kilimanjaro airport.

ITINERARY | Places to visit

This 12 days private safari covers the highlights of the East African National Parks – Kenya and Tanzania. Depending of the time of the year you can see the big annual migration in either Masai Mara or in the Serengeti! The tour starts in Nairobi and ends in Arusha.

This itinerary starts at Nairobi international airport, and ends at Kilimanjaro airport.

Day 1: ARRIVAL Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
You will be met at the International Airport of Nairobi by your driver/guide and our representative and be taken to your hotel, the traditional Stanley Hotel. You can spend the duration of the day at your leisure (depending on your arrival time into Nairobi).

Overnight at Stanley Hotel. Dinner is included.

NB: Arrival day Friday or Saturday. If you arrive any other day of the week, there is a supplement of 150 USD pp.

Day 2: Nairobi – Aberdare Mountains
Departure from your Nairobi Hotel at 08:00hrs, drive to Nyeri via local villages with arrival to the Aberdares around noon. After lunch you will go on some game drives in the rich Aberdares mountain forest before returning to your lodge.

Accommodation will be at the unique The Ark, a tree-top style stilted lodge is set in thick woodland in the heart of the Aberdare National Park overlooking a floodlit waterhole and a saltlick which attracts a host of wildlife. Elephants, rhinos, leopards and bushbucks are frequently seen. Numerous Balconies and lounges provide superb game viewing and excellent photographic opportunities.

Overnight at The Ark. All meals included.

Day 3: Aberdare Mountains-Lake Nakuru
After breakfast you proceed to Lake Nakuru. After arrival you check in at your lodge. After lunch and some rest game drive at Lake Nakuru, one of the Rift Valley soda lakes and best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingoes 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 Rocks.

Also of interest, an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothchild giraffe and black rhinos.

Overnight at the Lion Hill Lodge at Lake Nakuru, beautifully located close to the entrance with a view towards Lake Nakuru and its flamingo flocks. All meals included.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru- Lake Naivasha – Masai Mara
After breakfast you proceed to Lake Naivasha where you enjoy a beautiful boat trip on Lake Naivasha, a true bird sanctuary. On your way along the lakeshores you will see hippos socializing lazily in the shallow waters or hiding in dense papyrus forest.

Lunch will be taken at Elsamere, a haven for lovers of nature, set in Acacia forest on the banks of Lake Naivasha. It is the former home of the late Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George, became world famous for their pioneering conservation work and relationship with lioness Elsa, as told in her bestselling book ‘Born Free’.

After lunch you make your way to Masai Mara with viewing various games on the way, birds, herds of Antelopes, Zebra, giraffe, Elephants, gazelle, etc. While on the way, you have chances to visit Maasai local village (Manyata) and take some photos of really Maasai with their culture attires. At Masai Mara you go for an afternoon game drive with high chances of seeing the’ Big five’ and many other wild animals set to retire for the day.

Overnight at the luxurious Keekorok Lodge. All meals included.

Day 5: Masai Mara game Reserve

Full day of game drive at Maasai Mara. Depending on the game drive nature you will have a great moment to visit the famous Mara River whereby different types of animals mingle to drink water, Picnic lunch in the bush. You will have either at Masai Mara or Serengeti the chance to experience the ‘Great Migration’ and some 1.5 million of wildebeest and zebras on the move.

Overnight at the luxurious Mara Serena Lodge. All meals included.

Day 6: Masai Mara – Isebania – Lake Victoria
Early morning game drive at Masai Mara and return to the Camp for breakfast. Proceed to Isebania for Border crossing into Tanzania. After visa and border procedures we drive along the lakeshore to Musoma one of the major towns at Lake Victoria in Musoma we embark a speedboat which will take us to an Island in Lake Victoria and to a private Island retreat, the Lukuba Island Lodge. You can spend the rest of the day at leisure and possibility swim in the warm waters of Lake Victoria.

Overnight at Lukuba Island Lodge. All meals included.

If you wish to rest a bit ‘in between’ the national park visits and safari activities, we advise to extend your stay at the beautiful Lukuba Island Lodge. You can rest at the snow-white sandy beach, sunbath and read, take a stroll over the rocky island, go by a traditional dhow around the neighboring islands for bird and Nile monitor watching, fishing etc.

An additional day at Lukuba Island (at extra cost)

Day 7: Lake Victoria – Serengeti National Park
In the morning we go out for a boat trip to Lake Victoria by local fishermen. Afterwards you proceed towards Ndabaka Gate and enter the Serengeti through the Western Corridor. You pass through green Savannah with Elephants and Giraffes roaming around through a stretch of land which is rarely visited by travellers to reach Central Serengeti.

The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word “Siringet” referring to an endless plain which you will experience on your way to your lodge located at the Niaroboro Hills where you have spectacular views through huge panorama windows.

Overnight at Serengeti Kati Kati Camp. All meals included.

Day 8: Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives around Serengeti. You can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species.

We are very flexible with choosing our route will be on the track with the migration on its way to Masai Mara.

Overnight at Mapito Camp Serengeti at Serengeti. All meals included.

Day 9: Serengeti – Olduvai Gorge – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
One Early morning game drive after tea/coffee which is the best time to see the animals as they get out from their hide for the morning preys or return from their night hunt.

After lunch breakfast you leave for Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you will stop at the Olduvai Gorge where anthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey made many significant discoveries, contributing to the theory that human life originated in Africa.

Arrival to Ngorongoro for lunch. In the afternoon you go for a Walking safari at the Northern Crater Rim inhabited by buffaloes, elephants and different species of monkeys escorted by an armed ranger.

Overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge at Ngorongoro providing a wonderful view towards the crater. All meals included.

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast you will descend into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater on World Heritage Site holding a permanent population of more than 30 000 animals.

As only very few of those migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. The Crater is also home to the rare black rhino almost extinct in Tanzania. With a bit of luck, you will see the ‘Big Five’ during one game drive!

Overnight at Ngorongoro Farmhouse at Ngorongoro. All meals included.

Day 11: Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara National Park
In the morning you drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty with lush vegetation and tropical forests of giant fig and mahogany trees.

Lots of elephants, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and a variety of antelope inhabit the park as well as a variety of monkeys and a large population of hippos. If you are lucky you may see the Manyara lions, well known for their tree climbing habits, lazily resting on the branches of an “Acacia tortilis” tree. The birdlife is also abundant, with flamingoes, pelicans, hornbills and plenty of forest species.

Overnight at Losirwa Camp at Lake Manyara. All meals included.

Day 12: Ngorongoro-Arusha Town
Time at leisure in the morning until your departure transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for departure or to Arusha Airport for your flight to Zanzibar for beach extension. Breakfast included.

This trip can be easily extended with a visit to Zanzibar.

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Cost / Group Price  – Important Information

 > Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.

>Maximum Number of people per car is 6

>This tour accepts children who are 5 years and older.

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged
with extra cost

1 person travelling alone	USD$
2 persons travelling together	USD$
3 persons travelling together	USD$
4 persons travelling together	USD$
5 persons travelling together	USD$
6 persons travelling together	USD$

LODGE SAFARIS INCLUDES:	LODGE SAFARIS EXCLUDES:
All airport transfers and game drives in private Safari Vehicle Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4WD Land Cruiser or Land Rover with photographic roof hatch Services of a professional safari guide All wildlife reserve entry fees and camping fees Meals and accommodation as per itinerary Night game drive Masai Mara Walking Safari Ngorongoro	International airfare & flights All items of a personal nature Gratuities for safari guide and camp staff Airport departure tax Travel insurance Visa and Passport fees Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages in lodges