13 DAYS KENYA & TANZANIA (PLATINUM SAFARI)

13 DAYS KENYA & TANZANIA (PLATINUM SAFARI)

This 13-day safari lets you experience majestic locations in both countries including Mount Kenya, Ngorongoro Crater, and plenty of time in both the Maasai Mara and Serengeti – always with your own driver and outstanding accommodations. Add in an early morning hot air balloon ride over the vast grass plains for an unique perspective on this magical and primodial landscape.

Welcome to Kenya! Upon arrival into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be greeted and escorted to your hotel, a serene escape in Kenya’s bustling modern capital city. 

OVERNIGHT:  Mid-range Accommodation

Your first day on safari! This morning, we drive to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a private game sanctuary situated on the Laikipia Plains near Mount Kenya, arriving in time for lunch at the Sweetwaters Tented Camp. Built on the grounds of a colonial-era farm inside the conservancy itself, Sweetwaters is the perfect base for exploring Ol Pejeta. After settling into your accommodations, set out into the bush for your first game-viewing drive. Later this afternoon, you will tour Sweetwater’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only facility of its kind in Kenya. Upon your return to camp, you can relax on your private verandah overlooking the camp’s water hole, take a dip in the pool, or catalog the day’s haul of wildlife photographs. After dinner, relax by the fire or retire to the wonderful ambiance of your tent. The camp’s luxurious tents all feature comfortable beds, electricity, hot/cold running water, and a full in-suite bathroom with shower. 

OVERNIGHT: Mid-range Accommodation in full board.

Enjoy the entire day at leisure at Sweetwaters with morning and afternoon game drives through the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Boasting an incredible density of wildlife within its borders, the conservancy is home to a host of endangered species and especially known for its populations of black rhinoceros. We return to camp for dinner and another pleasant evening. 

OVERNIGHT: Mid-range Accommodation: B/L/D

After a morning game drive, we head north through coffee and pineapple plantations to the Aberdares region and the unique Serena Mountain Lodge inside Mount Kenya National Park. An ancient and long-extinct volcano, the legendary Mount Kenya is Africa’s second tallest mountain. Its jagged central peaks are a stunning sight as we approach from the south. Situated nearly 7,000 feet above sea level on the lower slopes of the mountain, the timbered Serena Mountain Lodge is nestled deep within the primordial rainforest. Perched on stilts high above its own water hole and salt lick, the lodge affords guests a treetop view of wildlife from their rooms, several decks, and even from a secret viewing hide by the water’s edge. After our arrival in the late afternoon, spend the rest of the evening enjoying a leisurely dinner and taking in the excellent game viewing just below the lodge. Tonight, fall asleep to the symphony of the African forest or simply sit in stillness watching as the animals arrive to drink, bathe, spar, and forage around the water hole. It is an experience you will never forget.

 OVERNIGHT: SERENA MOUNTAIN LODGE MEALS: B/L/D

This morning, you may find yourself awakened by the trumpeting of elephants who have come for their morning visit to the water hole. We drive to Lake Nakuru National Park arriving in time for lunch at Lake Nakuru Lodge. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park, famous for its vast flocks of flamingoes. In some months, these birds are so abundant that they seem to form a pink band along the lakeshore. Among a wide variety of other animals, notable inhabitants of the park include giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, lion, and rhinoceros. 

OVERNIGHT: Luxury Accommodation MEALS: B/L/D

Setting out across the Great Rift Valley, we arrive in the Maasai Mara in time for lunch at the Lodge. Set high on a hilltop above the Mara, the lodge is blessed with sweeping views of the savannah below. In the distance you can see the meandering coils of the hippo-filled Mara river. The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is widely considered to be one of Africa’s greatest reserves, where the Maasai community co-exists in harmony with the local fauna. The co-existence of man and wildlife makes this one of the world’s most unique wilderness regions. The Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in this natural paradise, returning to the lodge for dinner and relaxation around the fire pit.

OVERNIGHT: B/L/D

Enjoy a full day of game viewing in the Maasai Mara. The vast grasslands teem with herds of zebra, giraffe, gazelle, and topi. The acacia forests abound with monkeys and bird life. Elephants and buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp while the Mara and Talek rivers brim with hippos and crocodiles. From July through October, the Mara plays host to one of the greatest spectacles on the planet as millions of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and topi head north from Tanzania into Kenya. Those fortunate enough to witness The Great Migration are treated to spectacular viewing and photographic opportunities. 

Accommodation: Luxury LODGE

After an early breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the border town of Isebania where we make our way into Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park. Your driver will assist you with customs and immigration formalities. After a picnic lunch, you rejoin your vehicle and continue on to the Serengeti. Enjoy game viewing en-route and arrive in time for dinner at the Tented lodge. After, unwind on your private verandah as you look out across the plains of the world-famous Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park, at 5,700 mi2, is larger than the state of Connecticut. Protected since the 19140s, the area was made a national park in 1951 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fantastic in its natural beauty and unequalled in its scientific value, this vast expanse of land is home to more than four million different types of animals. Large herds of antelope of every description can be found here: Patterson’s eland, klipspringer, dikdik, impala, zebra, gazelle, water buck, topi, kongoni, Cotton’s oribi, grey bush duiker, roan antelope, buffalo, and wildebeest. Storks, flamingoes, vultures, fish eagles, and ostrich are among the nearly five hundred species of birds that also call the Serengeti home. Include cheetah, lion, leopard, giraffe, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros, and there are precious few animals that cannot be seen in this ecological wonderland. From open grass plains in the south, savannah and scattered acacia in the center, hilly wooded grasslands in the north, and black clay plains in the west, the landscape is as varied as the wildlife that lives upon it. The Serengeti’s low vegetation means that game viewing is relatively easy. Small rivers, lakes, and swamps dot this magnificent landscape where animals roam in complete freedom. Vast herds of ungulates arrive from the Maasai Mara and begin to congregate in December, culminating in the calving of half a million wildebeest in early February. This southern portion of The Great Migration lasts from December until May, when the herds head out of the Serengeti and into the Mara once more. 

OVERNIGHT: Luxury Tented Lodge in Serengeti

MEALS: B/L/D (Include local beers free)

We set out after an early breakfast amongst the splendor of an African sunrise for a full day of game viewing. Negotiating the roads and tracks down from the lodge, you are transported into a world of timeless natural wonder; one where the sights, sounds, and pageantry of life continue on just as they have for thousands of years. As the day progresses, your driver’s deep knowledge of the land becomes apparent as he leads you to one spot of outstanding beauty after the next, allowing you to observe the wildlife quietly and at your leisure. As the animals take refuge from the hot mid-day sun, we find a secluded spot to stop and enjoy a picnic lunch before pressing on. You arrive back at the lodge at dusk, pleasantly tired after an exhilarating day. After a well-deserved hot shower, you head to the main lodge for dinner. Take your after-dinner drink on your verandah if you wish, watching the wildlife grazing nearby. The atmosphere is remarkably peaceful as night falls, leaving you with dreams of this diverse and wonderful country. 

OVERNIGHT: Luxury Tented Lodge in Serengeti

MEALS: B/L/D (Include local beers free)

After breakfast at Gran Melia Serengeti Lodge, we drive to Olduvai Gorge, the “cradle of mankind” where the Leakey family uncovered fossils of Homo Habilis that have been dated to over 1.75 million years old. After a picnic lunch, we continue on to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and its famous wildlife-filled crater. We arrive at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge in time for a dinner with a panoramic view of the crater. Perched on the rim of the crater, this luxurious lodge is constructed in the rustic style and offers sweeping views from each of its rooms – each with its own private balcony. 

OVERNIGHT: Luxury Tented Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater

MEALS: B/L/D

After breakfast, the driver guides your vehicle nearly 2,000 feet down into Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of exploration. In addition to viewing larger game, we will drive across the dense forest on the rim to the soda lake to view the outstanding bird life. Today, we enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater itself and ascend back to the lodge for dinner and relaxation. Ngorongoro Crater was an active volcano some eight million years ago whose cone collapsed, leaving a deep crater. It is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, the second largest extinct crater, and today shelters arguably the most beautiful wildlife haven left on earth with a spectacular concentration of animals and stunning views. This is undoubtedly the best place in Tanzania to see black rhinos as well as prides of lions with magnificent black-maned males. Elephant, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, zebra, warthog, a dozen antelope species, and nearly one hundred species of birds not found even in the Serengeti also live within its walls. The crater rim is wooded with mountain forest vegetation and is abloom in acres of pink, blue, and white lupines, candle white lilies, and blue hyacinth. The short grasses on the crater’s floor make game easy to spot and photograph. 

OVERNIGHT: Luxury Tented Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater

MEALS: B/L/D

This morning, you wake one last time to the expansive view of Ngorongoro Crater from your room. After breakfast, we drive to Lake Manyara National Park, viewing game en-route to our lodge and arriving in time for lunch. After getting settled in, set out for an afternoon game drive and hope to see the park’s famous tree- climbing lions. A wealth of bird life and large game roam the park and its lake, with the cliffs of the Great Rift Valley forming a stunning backdrop to it all. The lodge is perched high above the lake with magnificent views from your room and the grounds. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge. The beautiful Lake Manyara covers two thirds of this national park; the rest consists of steep mountainside, swamps, dense woodlands, open grassy areas and hot springs. One of the many alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley, it was formed three million years ago and is quite shallow – perfect for the 350 species of birds including pelicans, ibises, storks, Egyptian geese, and flamingoes. Baboons and black monkeys can be heard chattering in the woodlands near the park’s entrance and a multitude of large game can be found traversing the low, grassy areas near the lake’s shore. 

OVERNIGHT: LUXURY LODGE

MEALS: B/L/D

We hit the road once again after breakfast for the final leg of our journey. Arrive in Arusha for your last night at Gran Melia Hotel.  Airport for your scheduled flight back home will be arranged and the driver will come to pick you up at the reception. Sadly, the adventure comes to an end, but the memories are forever. 

OVERNIGHT: 5 STAR HOTEL IN ARUSHA 

MEALS: B/L/D

 

Inclusions:

  1. Accommodation:

    • Luxurious lodging in premium hotels, lodges, and tented camps throughout the safari.
  2. Transportation:

    • All ground transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles.
    • Internal flights or bush flights between destinations for seamless travel.
  3. Meals:

    • Full board meal plan including breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the safari.
  4. Park Fees:

    • Entry fees to national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas in both Kenya and Tanzania.
  5. Game Drives:

    • Daily game drives in open-top safari vehicles with experienced guides.
  6. Activities:

    • Guided safari activities such as game drives, nature walks, and cultural visits.
    • Optional activities like hot air balloon safaris (subject to availability).
  7. Guides:

    • Professional safari guides with extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and ecosystems.
  8. Airport Transfers:

    • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Kenya and Tanzania.
  9. Internal Flights:

    • Internal flights between major destinations within Kenya and Tanzania.
  10. Conservation Contributions:

    • Contributions towards conservation and community development initiatives.

Exclusions:

    1. International Flights:

      • Airfare to and from Kenya and Tanzania.
    2. Visa Fees:

      • Visa fees for entry into Kenya and Tanzania (if applicable).
    3. Travel Insurance:

      • Personal travel and medical insurance.
    4. Personal Expenses:

      • Souvenirs, laundry, telephone calls, and other personal expenses.
    5. Alcoholic Beverages:

      • Alcoholic drinks and beverages outside of the provided meals.
    6. Tips and Gratuities:

      • Gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff (at your discretion).
    7. Optional Activities:

      • Additional excursions or activities not included in the standard itinerary.
    8. Medical Expenses:

      • Any medical expenses or medications required during the safari.
    9. Additional Meals:

      • Meals not specified in the itinerary, such as lunches during travel days.
    10. Single Supplement:

      • Supplement charges for solo travelers requesting single room accommodation.
    1. FAQs

      1. What is included in a typical Tanzania safari package?

      • Inclusions: Accommodation, meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle, experienced driver-guide, park entry fees, and bottled water during game drives.

      • Exclusions: International flights, visa fees, travel insurance, optional activities (e.g., hot air balloon rides), personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry), tips, and beverages other than bottled water.

      2. What should I pack for a safari in Tanzania?

      • Clothing: Lightweight, neutral-colored clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and a warm jacket for early morning and evening game drives.

      • Other Essentials: Insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, camera, personal toiletries, any necessary medications, and a reusable water bottle.

      3. When is the best time to go on a safari in Tanzania?

      • Best Time: June to October, which is the dry season and ideal for wildlife viewing.

      • Considerations: The wildebeest migration in Serengeti, typically from June to July (Grumeti River crossing) and July to September (Mara River crossing).

      4. What types of accommodation are available on a safari?

      • Options: Lodges, tented camps, and hotels. Options range from budget to luxury.

      • Facilities: Generally include en-suite bathrooms, dining areas, and sometimes amenities like swimming pools and Wi-Fi.

      5. How safe is a safari in Tanzania?

      • Safety: Safaris are generally safe, especially with reputable operators. Always follow your guide’s instructions and remain inside the vehicle during game drives.

      • Health Precautions: Ensure vaccinations are up to date and take malaria prophylaxis if recommended.

      6. Do I need a visa to travel to Tanzania?

      • Visa Requirements: Yes, most travelers need a visa. You can obtain it online prior to travel or on arrival.

      • Tip: Check the latest requirements and apply in advance to avoid delays.

      7. What kind of wildlife can I expect to see?

      • Wildlife: The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo), giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, cheetahs, and a variety of birds.

      • Highlights: The Serengeti is famous for the Great Migration, and Ngorongoro Crater offers dense wildlife viewing.

      8. How much should I tip on a safari?

      • Guidelines: Around $10-20 per day for your driver-guide and $5-10 per day for lodge staff. However, tipping is at your discretion.

      9. What is the typical daily schedule on safari?

      • Morning: Early game drive at dawn.

      • Midday: Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

      • Afternoon: Another game drive or activity.

      • Evening: Dinner and leisure time at the lodge.

      10. What are the weather conditions like in Tanzania?

      • Dry Season (June-October): Warm days and cool nights; layers are recommended.

      • Wet Season (November-May): Warm and humid with occasional rain; bring a light rain jacket.

      11. Is Wi-Fi available during the safari?

      • Availability: Many lodges and camps provide Wi-Fi, but connections may be slow and intermittent. Some remote areas may have limited or no Wi-Fi.

      12. Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

      • Dietary Needs: Yes, most lodges and camps can accommodate special dietary requirements if informed in advance.

      13. How can I ensure my safari is eco-friendly?

      • Eco-friendly Practices: Choose operators committed to sustainable tourism, follow park rules, minimize plastic use, and respect wildlife and local communities.

      14. What health precautions should I take?

      • Health Advice: Consult a travel doctor for vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis. Bring a basic first aid kit and any personal medications.

      15. Are children allowed on safaris?

      • Family Safaris: Many operators offer family-friendly safaris, but age restrictions may apply for certain activities. Check with your tour provider.

Per Person $5,440

GROUP $5,040

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