Highlights
- Visit wildlife conservation centers in Nairobi
- Go on a camping trip with Maasai warriors
- Embark on game drives in the Masai Mara and Serengeti
- Spot thousands of wild animals in Ngorongoro Crater
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Nairobi (Kenya), Optional Activities | Nairobi |
| Day 2 | Conservation & Culture Tour of Nairobi | Nairobi |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp | Maji Moto |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Masai Mara Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive | Masai Mara |
| Day 5 | Masai Mara Game Drives, Optional Balloon Safari | Masai Mara |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Lake Victoria (Tanzania), Optional Activities | Lake Victoria |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Serengeti National Park, Afternoon Game Drive | Serengeti National Park |
| Day 8 | Game Drives in Serengeti National Park | Serengeti National Park |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Afternoon Game Drive | Ngorongoro |
| Day 10 | Morning Game Drive, Transfer to Nairobi, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi (Kenya), Optional Activities
Welcome to Kenya! This country is home to all the exotic wildlife and natural beauty people associate with Africa, from herds of zebras galloping across the savanna to maned lions prowling in search of their prey. You'll arrive in the capital of Nairobi, a dynamic metropolis at the edge of Nairobi National Park. In this protected area, exotic wildlife roam free on grass plains against the backdrop of the city.
Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will transfer you to the Wildebeest Eco Camp, a tranquil haven just outside the city limits that's perfectly placed to explore the national park. After unpacking and settling in, you can unwind at the camp or venture into the city for dinner. There's a restaurant here to suit most tastes, be it Thai, Indian, Japanese, Italian, and, of course, traditional Kenyan seafood. And if you want to enjoy a nightcap in style, head to the trendy Westlands neighborhood, where popular and chic bars are abundant.
Day 2: Conservation & Culture Tour of Nairobi
Start the day with a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Here, you'll see young elephants that have been rescued and cared for until they're ready to be released back into the wild. On top of viewing the elephants, visitors have the option to sponsor an orphan. If you do, you can return later in the day to help feed and tuck your newly adopted elephant into bed.
Afterward, stop at the Giraffe Centre. Operated by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), this sanctuary conserves Rothschild's giraffes. At the time of AFEW's foundation in 1979, a mere 130 wild Rothschild giraffes survived in Kenya; today, thanks to this organization, that number stands at around 300. You can snap photos of the current residents from a viewing platform and even hand-feed them. Nearby, you'll also find a bird sanctuary and a self-guided nature trail.
Next, spend an hour at the Utamaduni Craft Center. Located in an old colonial mansion, this emporium specializes in a wide range of handcrafted items, from clothing to housewares to antiques and more. There's also a collection of items made by Nairobi street kids. Then, head to the Kazuri Bead Factory, another community economic project aimed at providing employment and trade skills to disadvantaged members of Kenyan society. The result is a factory that produces artisanal ceramic jewelry and pottery made by hand with local clay.
Day 3: Transfer to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp
In the morning, your driver will pick you up for a trip outside Nairobi to the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp. This isn't a commercial experience but a real immersion in an authentic Maasai community where tribespeople still live according to ancient traditions. It's a wonderful opportunity to interact with authentic African culture that has changed little over the centuries.
Activities include walking in the hills with Maasai warriors, witnessing warrior training, and stopping at a natural hot spring. You'll also visit a Maasai widow village. Because Maasai women traditionally marry older men, many are often widowed with young children. To offset these hardships, initiatives were created to help teach Maasai widows skills to earn a living, like crafting and beadwork. Besides visiting the village, you'll tour community projects like a school, tree nursery, and beekeeping operation.
In the afternoon, trek across the plains to a bush campsite. With the help of tribespeople, you'll construct a traditional Maasai camp and sleep out under the stars. If you have the constitution for it, you can participate in slaughtering a goat in the traditional Olpul style. This celebration for returning warriors and elders includes much singing and merrymaking. Then, everyone will join in the feast as they share stories and blessings around the campfire. You'll also share the local ceremonial brew made from aloe root, honey, and herbs.
Day 4: Transfer to Masai Mara Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, leave Maji Moto and transfer west to the Masai Mara National Reserve. This 580-square-mile (1,510 sq km) game reserve is one of Africa's most famous safari destinations, and it borders the equally renowned Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Together, these two contiguous protected areas host the Great Migration, an annual occurrence that spans July to November. Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles migrate across the grassy plains.
The reserve on the Kenyan side was named in honor of the regional Maasai people. The unspoiled savanna, woodlands, and natural springs make this a haven for massive and diverse populations of animals. Besides wildebeests, zebras, and other plains game, there are also great numbers of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and African bush elephants.
You'll arrive at Basecamp Adventure just in time for lunch. This small tented camp sits on a bend of the Talek River just outside the reserve. Then, hop in an open-topped 4WD vehicle and embark on your first safari adventure in Africa. This afternoon game drive will take you across the golden savanna plains in search of the famous Big Five game animals: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. You're also sure to spot plenty of zebras, giraffes, antelope, wildebeests, and more. After the sun sets, you'll return to the camp in time for dinner.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Masai Mara Game Drives, Optional Balloon Safari
Leave at first light on a game drive as you travel around the Masai Mara in a 4WD. Dawn is the best time to go wildlife spotting because the animals are at their most active as they search for food. You can see the wildebeests grazing on the savanna as the big cats hunt for prey. After lunch, you'll enjoy another game drive and track the animals as they search for shade and water.
One optional activity is a sunrise safari in a hot-air balloon. Hop in a balloon basket and enjoy a one-hour ride above the great savanna for bird's-eye views of the Masai Mara. Capping the experience will be a sumptuous champagne breakfast on the plains. You can then spend the remainder of the morning in camp, have lunch, and embark on the afternoon game drive. Afterward, enjoy another meal on the plains before returning to camp for a sundowner cocktail and an evening of relaxation.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Victoria (Tanzania), Optional Activities
Embark on one last morning game drive on the Masai Mara before transferring a little ways south to the Tanzania border. After passing through immigration, you'll meet your new Tanzania guide and safari vehicle. Then, continue to the eastern side of Lake Victoria, where you'll overnight at the water's edge in the comfortable bungalows of Speke Bay Lodge.
Though you won't have much time here, Lake Victoria is impressive. This body of water is notable for being Africa's largest lake and the second-largest freshwater lake globally. It spans 210 miles (337 km) from north to south and 150 miles (240 km) across, with a coastline of more than 2,000 miles (3,220 km). One popular activity is to grab a fishing pole and see if you can catch some tilapia. Go for a stroll to find plentiful and diverse birdlife along the lake's shores, or opt for a canoeing or biking excursion to explore farther afield.
Days 7: Transfer to Serengeti National Park, Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, you'll transfer southeast to Serengeti National Park. This legendary wildlife reserve is the archetypal safari destination. In the Maasai language, the name Serengeti means "endless plains," and this protected area's 5,700 square miles (14,763 sq km) deliver on that promise. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve that supports the world's largest concentration of plains game. This includes the famous Big Five animals.
You'll spend your two nights within the park at Serengeti Halisi, a simple tented bush camp that moves seasonally to follow the migration of wildlife. Upon arrival, you won't waste any time as you hop in a 4WD vehicle and set off on an afternoon game drive. Return to camp in time for a drink around the campfire and a hearty dinner, then fall asleep to the sounds of hyenas in the surrounding bush.
Day 8: Game Drives in Serengeti National Park
Day 9: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Afternoon Game Drive
It's another early start as you say goodbye to the Serengeti on a 4.5-hour scenic transfer south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Named after the Ngorongoro Crater, this is the world's largest volcanic caldera, measuring 1,968 feet (600 m) in depth and covering 100 square miles (260 sq km). Upon arrival, you'll check into Rhino Lodge, which is located just a few hundred feet from the crater's rim and offers jaw-dropping views.
Then, head out on another safari adventure to spot the thousands of exotic animals that reside in this biodiverse ecosystem. On the crater floor, you can spot buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, jackals, lions, ostriches, servals, warthogs, bushbucks, elands, hartebeests, reedbucks, waterbucks, and vast herds of both Thomson's and Grant's gazelles. After enjoying lunch and wildlife spotting, you'll return to your lodge and can watch the sunset over the caldera.
Day 10: Morning Game Drive, Transfer to Nairobi, Depart
Spend your last day in Africa on a six-hour game drive around the Ngorongoro Crater. Thanks to anti-poaching patrols, the crater is one of the few places in East Africa where you're sure to see black rhinos. Other familiar sights are leopards and cheetahs lounging under trees, plus countless flamingoes loitering in the crater's alkaline lakes. The only animals you won't see here are giraffes because they can't make it over the crater's rim.
Afterward, a driver will transfer you to the airport for the flight to Nairobi and your connection home. Safe travels!
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