| The mystique of East Africa has lured adventurers for many years, and the spectacular wilderness of Kenya and Tanzania is largely responsible for this. Both countries are endowed with some of the finest wildlife reserves in the world, and the quality of the game viewing is matched only by the quality of the lodges in the respective parks. Wildspace, together with our experienced local operator, has developed a trip that encompasses the very best wilderness areas of both countries. From the arid savannah of the Samburu in the north, to the vast plains and grasslands of the Serengeti in the south - this trip allows you to briefly experience the mystique! |
Day One
Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be met and transferred from the airport to the Nairobi Serena Hotel (a member of the `Leading Hotels of the World") where you will stay for one night.
| Nairobi is a city of many contrasts. It has many varied neighborhoods and suburbs, some bearing European names and others African names, some exceedingly rich and others mere shantytowns. However its diversity makes it one of Africa's most interesting cities both in terms of its people and visually, with small open-air markets cheek-by-jowl with large modern high rises. |
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Days Two and Three
After breakfast, you will drive north from Nairobi, cross the equator, and pass close to the slopes of spectacular Mount Kenya, before dropping 4000 feet to the plains of Samburu National Reserve located in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya. There is a lot of wildlife in this park, and you will go on a few game drives in during your time here. You will stay at Samburu Serena Lodge on both nights.
| Samburu National Park is located in the spectacular arid lowlands north of the equator. The park is relatively small but is home to an extraordinarily varied collection of animals, including the Reticulated giraffe, the blue-shanked Somali Ostrich, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, and the graceful gerenuk, which has learned to stand on its hind legs to browse off leaves that other antelope cannot reach. There are numerous elephants, and the predators are often seen, making the park a photographer's paradise. The Ewaso Nyiro river, which runs in front of the lodge, is home to some of the largest Nile crocodiles in the area. |
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Day Four
After breakfast, depart for the densely forested Aberdare region of the country, located on the Kinangop Plateau. You will stop en route for lunch at the Aberdare Country Club and afterwards, continue to The Ark where you will overnight. From the safety and comfort of the famous forest lodge, you will enjoy night viewing of animals gathering to drink at the floodlit waterhole.
Day Five
After breakfast descend from the lush highlands into the Rift Valley with its stunning landscapes. Spend part of the afternoon bird watching around Lake Nakuru, seasonal home to millions of pink flamingos as well as to a multitude of other bird life. In the late afternoon, continue to the Lake Naivasha Country Club where you will stay the night.
Days Six and Seven
After breakfast drive further down the Rift Valley to the Masai Mara and arrive in time for lunch. You will stay for two nights at the Mara Serena Lodge, located within the Masai Mara National Reserve.
| Located in the west of Kenya, the Masai Mara is the northern extension of the Serengeti park in Tanzania, and is Kenya's best known wildlife reserve. The park comprises some 1500 square kilometres of grassland, savannah, and riverine forest, and is home to numerous animal species, including the "Big Five". The predators tend to follow the plains animals around, and one has a good chance of witnessing them on a kill. The Masai people are resident on the outskirts of the park, but can often be seen grazing their herds within the park's boundaries, ever watchful for predators. |
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Day Eight
Today, you will drive back to Nairobi, leaving the Rift Valley momentarily. Overnight again at Nairobi Serena Hotel.
Day Nine
In the morning, you will be transferred to Nairobi airport in time for the flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, you will be collected and taken for lunch at the Mount Meru Hotel. In the early afternoon, continue to Lake Manyara, where you will check into the Manyara Serena Lodge. Here you can enjoy panoramic views over the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley.
Days Ten and Eleven
Embark on an early morning game drive in the Lake Manyara National Park with its variety of habitats ranging from dense forest, to groundwater swamp and open savannah. Have lunch at the lodge, after which you will continue to the Serengeti plains. You will check into the Serengeti Serena Lodge where you will spend the next two nights. While here, you will take morning and afternoon game viewing drives around the Serengeti, observing the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and other plain ungulates, while keeping an eye out for the ever-present predators.
| In the language of the Masai, 'serengeti' means 'endless plains'. The Serengeti covers an area of almost 15,000 square kilometres, and lies on a high plateau between the Ngorongoro Highlands and the border with Kenya. The expansive grasslands are interspersed with kopjes, which are rocky outcrops that resemble islands in a sea of grass. These kopjes are used as vantage points by predators looking for prey. Numerous rivers flow through the region, providing habitat for a large variety of birds, mammals and reptiles, and the sight of the vast wildebeest herds braving the crocodiles of the Mara river is one of the most enduring images most people have of the Serengeti. |
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Days Twelve and Thirteen
After breakfast, you will retrace your steps to Ngorongoro Crater, stopping en route to visit the small archaeological museum at Olduvai Gorge where Louis and Mary Leakey found the fossilized remains of man's oldest ancestors. Arrive at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge in time for lunch, and spend the remainder of the afternoon enjoying the awesome view across the Ngorongoro crater, 600 meters below. The following day, after an early breakfast, descend to the crater floor for a full day's game viewing with a picnic lunch en route.
| The Ngorongoro Crater, situated to the east of the Serengeti, is surrounded by a crater wall up to 550 metres in height and 13 kilometres across. The view from the lodge on the crater rim is spectacular. One descends into the crater on a narrow track, and the profusion of game is evident upon reaching the crater floor. On the grasslands, old fever tree forests, and lakes that constitute the topography of the crater, you are likely to see elephant, hippos, rhino, numerous large antelope herds and a selection of predators. The crater walls serve to restrict the migration of numerous species, and the result is a veritable Garden of Eden for wildlife fundis! |
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Day Fourteen
After breakfast return to Arusha for lunch and afternoon flight to Nairobi for departure out of Kenya.
Important Notes
- Wildspace offers this trip in conjunction with our Nairobi-based operator, who has numerous years of experience in East Africa.
- This is a fixed departure trip, and departs Nairobi every Saturday.
- The trip will depart providing the party consists of a minimum of two people (and a maximum of 7 people). Private departures can be arranged provided the group consists of a minimum of 4 people.
- Kenya and Tanzania entry visas are required.
- Please consult your doctor about taking anti-malaria prophylactics for this area!
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Inclusions |
