Kenya & Tanzania | The Great East Africa Expedition
 Safari in the wild |
|
12 days / 11 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Nairobi | 1 |
| Amboseli National Park | 2 |
| Lake Manyara National Park | 1 |
| Ngorongoro Crater | 2 |
| Serengeti National Park | 2 |
| Masai Mara Game Reserve | 3 |
Day 01 Arrive Nairobi
Habari (welcome) to East Africa! On arrival you will be met by an A&K representative and enjoy a private transfer to your choice of hotel.
Nairobi (Choice of category)
Day 02 Nairobi – Amboseli National Park
Today your safari adventure begins. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind as your Kenyan safari guide takes you by private A&K Landcruiser south to Amboseli National Park. With an exclusive private LandCruiser you can tailor the game viewing to your interests in consultation with your guide (B,L,D).
Amboseli (Choice of category)
Day 03 Amboseli National Park
Today you will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli. Amboseli is situated on the border of Tanzania, north-west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5895m. On a clear day, you can view the mountain and its snow-capped peak. During one of your game drives, visit the Cynthia Moss research facility where elephants have been studied for over 25 years (B,L,D).
Amboseli (Choice of category)
Day 04 Amboseli National Park – Lake Manyara
A long day on the road as your guide takes you to the Kenya/Tanzania border where you farewell Kenya and say ‘Jambo’ to Tanzania. Your Tanzanian guide awaits you and the journey continues to Lake Manyara (B,L,D).
Lake Manyara (Choice of category)
Day 05 Lake Manyara – Gibb’s Farm – Ngorongoro Crater
A small but picturesque park, Manyara is set against the Great Rift Valley Escarpment which together with the lake provide a natural boundary for wildlife. Spend the morning exploring the long corridor of grassy open plains and tamarind and mahogany forests in search of the famed tree climbing lions. Lunch at Gibb’s Farm, a working coffee plantation in the highlands, with time to stretch your legs on a forest walk. A short drive takes you up onto the rim of Ngorongoro Crater with spectacular views over this spectacular natural caldera, one of the natural wonders of the world (B,L,D).
Ngorongoro Crater (Choice of category)
Day 06 Design Your Day Ngorongoro Crater
Today you descend into the sunken cone of this vast extinct volcano whose 600m high towering walls serve as a natural enclosure for a dazzling abundance of wildlife. On the open grasslands see thousands of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo and Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle. In the forest, there is waterbuck, bushbuck and eland, whilst the neighbouring swamp is the main haunt of Ngorongoro’s elephant population. Black rhino, lion and leopard complete the big five with hippo and flamingo also present. Decide how you would like to explore the area. Choose from one of the following. Spend half a day on the Crater floor game viewing in your private LandCruiser with a picnic lunch; spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge; or visit a Maasai village where you will be introduced to this unique and colourful culture (B,L,D).
Ngorongoro Crater (Choice of category)
Day 07 Ngorongoro – Olduvai Gorge – Serengeti National Park
Continue further north-west to the Serengeti National Park stopping en route at Olduvai Gorge, commonly referred to as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. It was here in 1959 that Mary and Louis Leakey uncovered a 1.8 million year old hominid skull. Descend with your guide into the gorge to observe the dig sites and witness current works. From the gorge drive to the shifting sands, a mound of black volcanic ash that has been pushed by the prevailing winds. Your game adventure resumes as you leave behind the volcanic plains and drive into the vast wilderness of the world famous Serengeti National Park (B,L,D).
Serengeti (Choice of category)
Day 08 Serengeti National Park
Here on the never-ending savannah roam more animals than anywhere else in the world - over a million wildebeest alone! Depending on the time of the year your A&K safari driver/guide will take you out either on an early morning and late afternoon game drive or on a full day drive. The Serengeti plays host to a wonderful spectacle each year - the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra who follow the rains in their continual search for grass and water (seasonal) - an unforgettable experience for even the most seasoned African traveller! (B,L,D).
Serengeti (Choice of category)
Day 09 Serengeti National Park – Masai Mara
Your Tanzanian safari finishes with a flight back via Arusha to Kilimanjaro International airport. It’s then good-bye to Tanzania as you return to Kenya and fly on to the Masai Mara Game Reserve (B,L,D).
Masai Mara (Choice of category)
Days 10 – 11 Masai Mara
The next two days are spent exploring the Masai Mara. Game viewing is never dull in ‘the Mara’, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings - a pride of lion stalking their prey; a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an acacia tree; male impala sparring to attract females into their harem or even a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators. Over the next two days your camp safari guide will take you exploring the vast rolling plains on early morning and late afternoon game drives. Night drives also provide opportunities to see nature at its wildest. For those choosing to stay at Olonana, participate in the AKP Tree Planting Project and leave a permanent eco-friendly mark in the Masai Mara or maybe visit the neighbouring Maasai village (B,L,D).
Masai Mara (Choice of category)
Day 12 Masai Mara – Nairobi
Today your East African safari comes to an end as you fly back to Nairobi and transfer to the international airport for your onward flight (B,L).
Optional Extensions
As well as exploring the accommodation options outlined in this itinerary, you can combine your journey with one of A&K’s fantastic Africa extensions: Chyulu Hills Extension in Kenya, Alfajiri Beach Extension or Hemingways Beach Extensions in Kenya or the Gorillas of Bwindi in Uganda or Gorillas of Rwanda.
Cynthia Moss Elephant Research Facility
During your stay in Amboseli visit the Cynthia Moss Elephant Research Facility. Cynthia Moss fell in love with Africa while traveling there in 1967 and moved a year later to Kenya, where she worked on other elephant projects before setting up her own in 1972. Since then, without formal scientific training, she has learned more about the family structure, life cycle and behavior of elephants than perhaps anyone else in the world. In books like Elephant Memories and films such as Echo of the Elephants, Moss has told the world what she knows about her favorite animals„and helped ensure their survival. This excursion is a must for Elephant lovers.
AKP supports Nyumbani Children’s Home for HIV orphans. Nyumbani was founded in 1992, the first hospice established in Kenya for HIV/AIDS orphans. When first established Nyumbani was home to just three orphans, now more than 100 children reside with their ‘house mother’ in the small village. A&K guests visiting Nairobi are able to include a visit to this inspiring home on their itinerary.
Choice of Accommodation
| City | Platinum | Gold |
| Nairobi | Norfolk Hotel (Studio Suite) | Nairobi Serena |
| Amboseli | Tortillis Camp | Amboseli Serena Lodge |
| Lake Manyara | Lake Manyara Tree Lodge | Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge |
| Ngorongoro Crater | Ngorongoro Crater Lodge | Ngorongoro Serena Lodge |
| Serengeti | Kusini | Serengeti Serena Lodge |
| Masai Mara | Olonana | Mara Serena Salari Lodge |
