Seek the rare Black Rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater, get a glimpse of Masai culture in the Masai Mara and see the famous flamingoes of Lake Nakuru and Lake Manyara – a taste of the best East Africa has to offer.
Day-by-day itinerary
Sun Day 1 Depart on British Airways from your gateway city.
Mon Day 2 Nairobi: The Mayfair Court Holiday Inn
Arrive into London in the morning and connect with your British Airways flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be met by an AfricaTours representative and escorted to your hotel. The evening will be free to sample some of the fine restaurants Nairobi has to offer. The Mayfair Court Hotel is a seven-minute drive from the center of Nairobi, in a leafy suburb of Parklands. Close to the Westlands Shopping Center, it hosts the largest variety of fine shopping and dining. The hotel retains the ambiance and charm of the original 1930’s construction and it has recently been restored to excellent standards. The hotel has two restaurants, two outdoor swimming pools, and health club, beauty salon, boutique and a complimentary shuttle bus service between the hotel and the city center.
Tue Day 3 Masai Mara National Reserve: Mara Serena Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Masai Mara National Reserve at the northern end of the Serengeti. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a game drive, where you may spot all of the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as plains game such as giraffe, antelope and zebra. No other lodge has such a spectacular view of the wildlife around it, especially on the famous annual wildebeest migration. Built on a high ridge, this lodge is styled like a modern Masai village. Each of the 76 bedrooms has its own bathroom and shower as well as a panoramic view over the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Even the swimming pool, a blessing on a hot African day, offers an uninterrupted vista of the rolling Savannah. Here the plains teem with game — gazelles, Wildebeests, zebra, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, leopard and the famous black manned lion.
Wed Day 4 Masai Mara National Reserve: Mara Serena Lodge (BLD)
Wake up to a full day of Mara magic! Experience two game drives in Kenya's premier reserve, famed for its abundance of all types of wildlife, its black-manned lions, and its bi-annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra.
Thu Day 5 Lake Nakuru: Lake Nakuru Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its thousands of flamingoes and other birds. After lunch, enjoy a game drive through the park and a visit to the lake. A taste of paradise, Lake Nakuru Lodge is situated in a wonderland which lies in the heart of one of Kenya’s most densely populated National Parks, only two hours leisurely drive from Nairobi, through some of the most exciting scenery to be seen. Situated in the south east niche of the park is Lake Nakuru Lodge, an oasis of comfort and excellent service, with commanding views of the flamingo for which Lake Nakuru is famous. It is another world for the visitor, where one can easily forget the hustle and bustle of the city. The lodge blends in with its surroundings and the animals often graze peacefully close to the lodge. There are accommodations for 120 people, either in family rooms or cottages with en suite bathrooms.
Fri Day 6 Aberdares National Park: Mountain Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be driven north towards Mt. Kenya, up the forested slopes of the Aberdare Range to the "tree hotel" which overlooks a flood-lit water hole, frequented by wildlife all night long. Located at 7,200 ft on the slopes of the snow-capped Mount Kenya, Mountain Lodge is the most luxurious tree lodge in Kenya with private en suite bathroom facilities. At dusk the dense tropical rain forest comes alive with myriad sounds of creatures of various descriptions. The Lordly elephant, aloof buffalo, stumbling rhino, several species of antelopes including the rare bongo and occasionally, both melanistic leopard and the kingly lion are frequent visitors at the illuminated water hole that is connected to the lodge by a short tunnel to a specially constructed bunker, affording a close-up view of the game. The most rewarding experience in a clear early morning or the late afternoon is the view of the rocky peaks of Mount Kenya with it’s over half dozen glaciers.
Sat Day 7 Amboseli National Park: Amboseli Serena Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Nairobi for lunch before continuing to Amboseli. Enjoy a game drive en-route to the camp. At dusk return to your camp at the doorstep of the most beautiful mountains in Africa. Set in the heart of Amboseli National Park the lodge is almost camouflaged in the surrounding bush as it is built to resemble a Masai “manyatta” or homestead. All 96 bedrooms, with en suite bathrooms, view either the Majestic Mountain or the expansive Amboseli Plains, which are home to herds of elephant who feed on the large, delicate, feathery acacia trees. Early morning game drives where one hopes to see the “big five” are followed by hearty breakfasts in the lodge or on the sun terraces near the swimming pool.
Sun Day 8 Amboseli National Park: Amboseli Serena Lodge (BLD)
Every game drive is different, and you never know what unexpected sightings or surprises you’ll encounter. Wake early and enjoy a full day of game viewing with two game drives in the park.
Mon Day 9 Lake Manyara National Park: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be driven to the border town of Namanga for custom formalities before continuing onto Tanzania via shuttle bus. Afterwards, you’ll stop at the town of Arusha for lunch. Arusha is nestled at the base of Mount Meru, Africa's fourth largest mountain (14,979 ft). After lunch, you will continue on to Lake Manyara. The Lake Manyara Serena Lodge is dramatically located overlooking the Great Rift Valley, the beautiful Soda Lake of Manyara and the Manyara National Park with its lavish supply of birdlife and famous tree-climbing lions. The bird life that has provided one of the main inspirations for this lodge. Due to its unique location, it allows observation of the many large colorful birds making lazy circles and spirals in flight. Lake Manyara Serena’s facilities include 63 luxury rooms, a swimming pool and bar, spacious and comfortable public areas and restaurants that all takes advantage of the breath-taking view. The soft geometric designs in the bedrooms and overall décor reflect the surroundings and local area, resembling bird migration paths.
Tue Day 10 Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (BLD)
Enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Though it covers a relatively small area, it contains five distinct vegetation zones ranging from an area of ground water forest to characteristic scrubland on the precipitous face of the Rift Valley wall. A variety of wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, leopard, lions (sometimes seen in trees), giraffe and pink flamingoes on the lake shore, are abundant. After the morning game drive; drive to the Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's hallowed places - a giant amphitheater ten miles across; "stamped like a hoofprint deep into the green hills of Africa" says one writer. The floor of this ancient volcanic crater encompasses a self-contained ecosystem that sustains the greatest concentration of wildlife on earth! The Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is constructed of local stone and is molded onto the contours of its site. The Ngorongoro Serena affords to its guests breathtaking views of the 102 square mile crater below and a wealth of the surroundings animal and bird life. All 75 rooms are equipped with environmentally friendly heat exchange units and the roof - scape has been constructed in such a fashion that it collects significant amounts of fresh water from rainwater thus conserving this precious local commodity.
Wed Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (BLD)
Enjoy a tour of this mystical crater. As you descend into the 100 square mile crater, the inert dots viewed from the top come to life and animals appear in small groups, like actors on a sunken stage of staggering and relentless beauty. Soon you are eye-to-eye with the animals, the beloved little "Tommie" with ever-flagging black tail, buffalo, rhino, lion, zebra and elephant — acting out a drama of life and death on an epic scale. There are birds too, in abundance – vultures, hideous pink-necked marabou storks and thousands upon thousands of greater and lesser flamingos wading carefully through the shallow waters of the crater's small soda lake.
Thu Day 12 Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Arusha for lunch. Afterwards, you’ll continue on to Nairobi via shuttle bus. Proceed directly to the airport for an early dinner before departing on your British Airways flight to London.
Fri Day 13 Arrive into London in the morning and connect with your flight to the USA.
Rates for the East African Highlights - Scheduled Safari
Land, per person double occupancy
| 16 Dec ’07 – 31 Jan ’08 | $3,815 |
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| 01 Feb '08 - 29 Feb '08 | $4,150 |
| 01 Mar '08 - 31 May '08 | $3,710 |
| 01 Jun '08 - 30 Jun '08 | $4,090 |
| 01 Jul '08 - 31 Oct '08 | $4,335 |
| 01 Nov '08 - 19 Dec '08 | $3,785 |
| Single Supplement | $395 - $520 |
Land and Air from New York, per person double occupancy
| 16 Dec ’07 – 29 Dec ’07 | $4,840 |
|---|---|
| 30 Dec ’07 – 02 Feb '08 | $4,600 |
| 03 Feb '08 - 01 Mar '08 | $4,935 |
| 02 Mar '08 - 22 Mar '08 | $4,495 |
| 23 Mar '08 - 31 May '08 | $4,775 |
| 01 Jun '08 - 29 Jun '08 | $5,875 |
| 30 Jun '08 - 06 Sep '08 | $6,120 |
| 07 Sep '08 - 01 Nov '08 | Awaiting Rates |
| 02 Nov '08 - 20 Dec '08 | Awaiting Rates |
Christmas Supplement, per person double occupancy
| 24, 25, 26 Dec; 31 Dec & 01 Jan '08 | $45 |
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Easter Supplement, per person double occupancy
| 21, 22, 23 & 24 Mar '08 | $45 |
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Price Includes:
- Accommodation for 10 nights
- Meals (except Nairobi - breakfast only)
- Transport & Transfers
- Game drives with a guaranteed window seat & Game park fees
- Professional driver/guides
- Flying Doctors Service
- Travel Protection Plan ($20,000 Emergency Assistance, $20,000 Accidental death & dismemberment; $500 Medical Expenses; $1,000 Baggage & travel documents; $400 Baggage delay; $500 Travel delay - $100 per day maximum; TRAVEL GUARD Assistance)
Price Excludes:
- Beverages
- Gratuities
- Laundry
- Items of a personal nature
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance
- Airline Taxes
- Kenya & Tanzania Visa
- Kenya departure taxes (approximately $40 per person, to be paid locally in US$)
- Tanzania departure taxes (approximately $30 per person, to be paid locally in US$)