On this epic journey, explore some of the finest national parks in East Africa, from Serengeti Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara to the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Keep your binoculars at hand on a trip to Lake Nakuru, a birder’s paradise; and seek out lions, leopards, and elephants in the wilds of the Serengeti.
Pick up from your accommodation in Arusha at 07:30 am and drive to Tarangire national park with packed lunch. After an approximate 2-hour drive you will arrive at the Tarangire National Park. Giant baobab trees bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle, you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the late afternoon, you will leave the park and drive to Farm of Dreams Lodge where you will overnight.
Today you will drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and down into the Ngorongoro Crater. Grass steppes and acacia forests are home to almost all the species of animals found in the East African savannah. In only a few hours, you have the chance of spotting the four of the big five – lion, Elephant, Buffalo, and Rhino. After extensive game viewing and a picnic in the crater, you will leave the Ngorongoro Crater later and drive back to your accommodation for Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti, and at midday, you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for its yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water. You will spend the night at the Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp inside the park. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner.
The entire day is dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. The areas that you visit will depend upon where the migrating herds are. Predators usually follow closely behind the trekking animals and include lions, leopards (in the acacia trees) and cheetahs. During the short rainy season in November and December the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up north. As the migration is completely dependent on the yearly rainfalls, the location of the herds may vary from year to year but your guide will know where to locate the animals and where to see them best. You will spend another night at your accommodation.
After breakfast, you will start driving towards the Isebania border where you will have the paperwork and proceed to Maasai Mara. The road towards the Kenyan border is a long and adventurous one, but it should be worth it as the “Mara” is reputed to have the highest lion population of all reserves in Africa. Other large cats also live here and can be spotted all year round, as their sightings are not dependent upon the seasons or the great migration. You will have Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge.
Today shall be spent at the Masai Mara on unlimited game-viewing drives.
(Opportunities for optional balloon ride excursion)
The Masai Mara ecosystem hosts the highest concentration of wild animals per sq km of any other game reserve in the region. Elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo, antelope, warthog, hyena, and many more animal species may be seen.
Simply stated, the Masai Mara is a one-stop for game and scenery viewing. You shall carry a picnic lunch and spend the entire day on game-viewing drives for maximum wildlife sightings. Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge.
An early morning game drive will be provided and after return back to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, leave Maasai Mara (game en route) for Lake Naivasha arriving in the evening in search of lions, leopards, buffalo, and antelopes, amongst many others not forgetting the famous white Rhino and black rhino found in this park. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.
After breakfast proceeds on a game drive in Lake Nakuru Park, known for its prolific bird life including flamingos. The park contains a sanctuary for the conservation of the white rhino while species like Cape buffalo and waterbuck can be seen near the shoreline, enjoy hot lunch and drive to Naivasha, you have the option to take a boat ride in this freshwater lake to go and see hippos and fish eagles at extra cost. Dinner and overnight at a Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge.
fter breakfast at your, leave for a morning game drive and later at around 10:30 am leave for Nairobi, and drop off at your accommodation. End of Service!
NOTE: Depending on your outbound flight, there are some other activities you can do in Nairobi if you have time, you can discuss this with your consultant upon the booking process.
