Epic Wildlife Adventure in Kenya & Tanzania - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi (Kenya), Transfer to Aberdare National Park

Welcome to Kenya! After touching down in the capital, Nairobi, meet your driver outside the airport and transfer four hours to Aberdare National Park, nestled in the central highlands. Watch the urban landscape transform into rolling hills dotted with tea plantations and lush forests. Cross the Great Rift Valley and ascend into the Aberdare mountain range, stopping in charming towns like Nyeri to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat.

When you arrive, check into your lodging for the next two nights, The Ark, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. The lodge overlooks a watering hole in the heart of the national park, so you can watch wildlife approach from one of the four observation decks. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a sundowner, a cherished safari tradition where you savor a refreshing cocktail or a cup of Kenyan tea as you watch the sunset over the surrounding landscapes. When darkness falls, head to the on-site restaurant for a delicious dinner. 

Day 2: Morning & Evening Game Drive in Aberdare National Park

Get ready for an early wake-up call and set off on a game drive at sunrise to watch the national park come alive. Traverse the meandering trails in a safari vehicle, passing through dense forests and open grasslands. Keep an eye out for the Big Five animals—elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos—before the rising sun makes it too hot. Bird lovers can also thrive here, as the park is home to over 290 avian species, including mountain buzzards, crowned eagles, and sunbirds. Stop at Karuru Falls and Magura Falls to see them plunge down the cliffs surrounded by lush greenery

In the afternoon, return to the lodge to rest and enjoy lunch. When darkness starts to fall, head out on another game drive, this time to spot the park's nocturnal residents, like the elusive hyena hunting for prey. Stop at a few floodlit water holes to look for mammals like the carnivorous genet or giant forest hog. If you're lucky, you may even see a leopard on the prowl. Don't forget to look up to admire the star full of skies uninterrupted by city lights. After two to three hours, head back to the lodge for the night.

Day 3: Transfer to Nakuru, Sunset Boat Cruise on Lake Nakuru

Say goodbye to the national park today as you set off on a 3-4 hour transfer to Nakuru, a vibrant city in the Great Rift Valley. Leave the mist-covered forests and mountains behind as you drive through the valley's open grasslands and acacia woodlands. When you arrive, relax in your hotel room or by the pool for a few hours before heading out on a sunset boat cruise across Lake Nakuru.

Cruise across the tranquil waters, looking out at the famous flock of flamingoes gathered along the shores. You may also see hippos and other birds, like white pelicans and waterfowl, so keep your eyes peeled. While you glide across the water, watch the sun slowly set, casting a warm glow over the expansive lake. As darkness falls, return to the hotel to rest and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Day 4: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve via Menengai Crater

After just one night in Nakuru, leave the city behind for a 4.5-6 hour transfer to the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, near the border of Tanzania. On the way, stop at Menengai Crater, one of the largest intact volcanic craters in the world. Enjoy a panoramic view of the expansive crater and Lake Nakuru in the distance, then continue your drive to the reserve, stopping in picturesque villages along the way to stretch your legs and get a snack.

When you arrive, check into Muthu Keekorok Lodge and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. You can unwind after the long drive with a relaxing massage at the on-site spa or lay on one of the sunbeds surrounding the pool. Then, enjoy a drink at the bar overlooking one of the reserve's many watering holes, where you can often spot hippos, giraffes, and gazelles. When you get hungry, head inside to enjoy local delights or international cuisine. 

Day 6: Transfer to Nairobi, Go on a City Tour Led by a Former Street Kid

This morning, you head back to Nairobi on a 5-6 hour transfer through traditional Maasai villages dotting the rural landscape. As you get closer to the capital, you may notice an increase in settlements and farmlands before the countryside changes to bustling urban streets. Check into your hotel and refresh, then venture out to explore the area. You could visit some of the city's landmarks on your own, like the Nairobi National Museum, or join a city tour led by former street kids employed by the Nai Nami Foundation, because who knows the area better?

Meet your guide, learn about how they survived on the streets, and discover the foundation's efforts to empower unhoused youth by providing them with shelter, education, and vocational training. Wander through the downtown area, stopping at hidden gems that you may have never visited on your own. Visit local eateries to sample dishes like nyama choma, a quintessential Kenyan dish of grilled meat served with side dishes like sukuma wiki (collard greens) and ugali (maize porridge). After three hours of exploring the city streets, thank your guide for sharing their story, then return to the hotel.

Day 7: Visit the Giraffe Centre, Transfer to Arusha (Tanzania)

Leave the city behind for a few hours to meet the gentle giants of Nairobi's Giraffe Centre. As soon as you arrive, you'll be greeted by endangered Rothschild's giraffes roaming the sanctuary. Check out the informative exhibits in the visitor's center to learn more about this species of giraffe and the sanctuary's efforts to protect them, then head to the elevated feeding platform to get up close and personal with this graceful animal. Hold the provided food pellets out to the giraffes and wait for them to come close enough to eat straight from your hand.

After interacting with these elegant creatures, you can explore more of their habitat by following one of the surrounding nature trails. As you walk along the tranquil Gogo River, look out for the birds that also call this sanctuary home. End the tour at the center's gift shop, where you can purchase gifts, with the proceeds going toward giraffe conservation and education programs. Souvenirs in hand, meet your driver for a 4.5-hour transfer to Arusha, a Tanzanian city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. When you arrive after the long drive, settle into your hotel for the night.

Day 8: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Visit a Maasai Village

After a restful night in the city, head out on an early-morning 2.5-hour transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, perched at the edge of Ngorongoro Crater, often called the "eighth wonder of the world." You'll check into Gibb's Farm, a historic luxury lodge set on a working organic farm and coffee plantation on the outer slopes of the crater. After some downtime to rest and refresh, set off on a culture and heritage tour of a traditional Maasai village. As soon as you arrive, you'll be welcomed by the villagers with spirited songs and dances.

Wander through the village and engage in activities that have defined the tribe's culture for centuries, such as listening to age-old stories from village elders, herding cattle, making jewelry, and sharing a traditional meal. After eating, watch the warriors train, then follow your guide on a nature walk to learn about indigenous flora and fauna. At the end of the tour, thank the villagers for their time and return to your lodge. Enjoy a cocktail while you watch the sunset over the crater, then end the night with dinner at the farm-to-table restaurant, where you can dine under the starlit sky and savor a fresh, organic meal.

Day 9: Full-Day Game Drive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Get ready for another early wake-up call to spend a full day exploring the conservation area, starting with a game drive at sunrise when the wildlife is most active. Look out for the Big Five game animals as you traverse the rugged terrain and descend into the crater. Once in the caldera, you have a better chance of spotting wildlife, including the endangered black rhino. Around midday, enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor, where you can relax and take in the wilderness around you.

After eating, the safari continues to different parts of the crater, stopping at tranquil lakes to spot large flocks of flamingoes, zebras, and wildebeests or groups of hippos lazing in the water. Flamingoes aren't the only birds you'll see, as the conservation area is also home to avian species like kori bustards, crowned cranes, and secretary birds. In the late afternoon, begin the journey back up the crater rim, enjoying a final panoramic view of the lush landscape before returning to the lodge. End your action-packed day with a drink while you watch the sunset.

Day 10: Transfer to Serengeti National Park via the Olduvai Gorge 

Trade the volcanic crater for the open plains of the Serengeti as you set off on a two-hour transfer to Serengeti National Park this morning. The different landscapes will become more obvious as you pass through the Malanja Depression, watching the volcanic formations change into lush green landscapes and open savannas. On the way, stop at the Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological site where some of the earliest human fossils, stone tools, and other ancient artifacts have been found. Wander through the gorge, carved by the ancient movements of the Great Rift Valley, to see the different excavation points.

Then, step inside the Olduvai Gorge Museum to admire these archaeological findings and learn more about the ancient landscape. After exploring the museum, complete the drive to Lahia Tented Lodge, where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing. Go for a refreshing swim in the pool overlooking the Serengeti or unwind with a massage at the on-site spa. In the evening, enjoy a gourmet dinner, then sit down with a drink around the campfire. Look up at the sky full of stars to end your first night in the Serengeti. 

Day 11: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Spend a full day exploring Serengeti National Park, starting with an early wake-up call to set off on a safari before sunrise. Meet your guide and jump in the 4WD vehicle to navigate the rugged landscape adorned with acacia trees. Watch the sun slowly rise above the plains while you look out for nocturnal creatures winding down from their nightly hunts or herds of zebras and wildebeest venturing out for early grazing. When it gets too hot for both you and the animals around midday, stop for a picnic lunch in the shade.

As the air begins to cool, continue deeper into the Serengeti, traversing the diverse ecosystems from the Grumeti River to Seronera Valley. Stop at watering holes across the park to spot elephants going for a drink or birds, like vultures, storks, or hornbills, soaring above. Before darkness falls, return to the lodge to enjoy dinner and a well-deserved rest. End the night around the campfire, discussing the day's adventure.

Day 12: Transfer to Arusha, Explore on Your Own

Bid farewell to the Serengeti this morning as you return to Arusha on a 4.5-hour transfer. Leave your bags at the hotel and venture back out to explore the area on your own. A good place to start is Lake Duluti, just 30 minutes out of the city, where you can rent a canoe and paddle down the tranquil waterway. Cruise down the crater lake surrounded by lush green hills, tropical trees, and vibrant flora, looking to the shores and the skies for birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, or darters. When you're ready, return to shore and head back to the city.

Depending on the time, you can visit the National Natural History Museum to dive into the country's geology, paleontology, ethnography, and archaeology. Step inside and browse the fossilized remains, taxidermy animals, botanical specimens, and geological formations. When you get hungry, wander down to Boma Road, a bustling thoroughfare in the central business district lined with an array of shops, cafés, and restaurants. Find an international restaurant or sit down for a local meal like pilau, a flavorful rice dish cooked with aromatic spices, meat, and vegetables.

Day 13: Transfer to Nairobi, Visit the Kazuri Beads Factory

Your penultimate day in East Africa takes you on a four-hour transfer back to Nairobi via the Great Rift Valley. As you cross the border into Kenya, look out at the rolling hills dotted with traditional Maasai villages. When you arrive at your hotel, leave your bags behind and refresh, then venture out to explore the area at your own pace. Head to the Kazuri Beads Factory, a women's cooperative that empowers talented artisans to pursue and showcase their crafts. Tour the space and admire the intricate process of bead-making, from the shaping of clay to the hand-painting of each bead in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Browse the finished products, ranging from necklaces and bracelets to pottery, and take a piece home to commemorate your trip. If you want to continue shopping, visit the Maasai Market, a treasure trove of handmade goods, fresh produce, and local delights. Browse the stalls full of Maasai jewelry, colorful fabrics, and traditional decor to find more souvenirs. If you get hungry, snack on mandazi, a deep-fried sweet pastry, or roasted corn on the cob seasoned with salt and chili. End your last night in Kenya in the Westlands district, known for its lively nightlife and diverse culinary scene.

Day 14: Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Depart Nairobi

Spend your last few hours in Nairobi at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned elephants. At the trust, learn about the elephants' backgrounds and rehabilitation plan, then observe a feeding session, watching them grab food with their long trunks. The following mud bath is the perfect photo opportunity as these gentle giants play and roll in the mud to cool down. When it's time, say goodbye to the elephants, return to the hotel to grab your bags, and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!

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