Safari Quick Facts

See day 3 for Itinerary

Leaving Naivasha we have an early start for our drive to the Masai Mara. The last one and half hours of the journey find us on bumpy, dusty, dirt road as we drive across the Loita Plains. The scenery is spectacular and makes up for long journey. Before entering into the game reserve there is the opportunity to visit a Masai village. Not only can you see inside a traditional Masai hut, but also try your hand at the age-old tradition of bartering for souvenirs. The village is slightly commercialised but still gives a good idea of how the Masai people live.
The Masai Mara is the most famous and prolific wildlife area in Kenya. It covers an area of 1672 square kilometers and is classified as a Reserve as opposed to a National Park since the Masai people are also able to use the area to graze their cattle. A highlight of the Mara is no doubt the annual wildebeest migration around 1.5 million of these beasts meander north from the Serengeti in search of good grass for grazing.
In most National Parks area, including the Masai Mara, it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a wildlife area is not always easy. However one of the advantages of travelling by overland truck is that its superior height makes it easier to see over the long grass. Hopefully we should be able to spot prides of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebra and hippo as well as other more common animals such as wart hog, giraffe and baboon. Almost every conceivable species of East African wildlife can be spotted here. The Mara is one of those places where the enthusiastic use a lot of camera film so it’s advisable to have some extra and plenty of charged batteries!
We will camp on the edge of the reserve where there are some optional activities to enjoy. In the evening there is the opportunity to learn more about the Masai and their way of life with a talk about their rich culture and a chance to join them in traditional dancing. Early the next morning hot air ballooning is also offer - subject to availability/weather conditions. This truly an amazing experience, as you float above the plains, viewing wildlife for approximately an hour before enjoying a full breakfast with champagne under the shade of a tree.

See day 4 for Itinerary

See day 4 for Itinerary

After a final morning watching wildlife we will return to Nairobi for the night. In Nairobi there is the opportunity to visit Karen Blixons House, the giraffe centre or the animal orphanage. This is also a good time to persuade your tour leader to take you to the famous Carnivores restaurant (optional).......

In Nairobi, we will have met up with new travellers who will be joining us for the next two weeks. With the truck restocked with food and fuel we will travel south towards Tanzania.

Our destination today is Amboseli National Park. On a clear day the park gives stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro which make a wonderful backdrop for photographs. Kili measures 5895m and is Africa's highest mountain.

Amboseli is very much elephant country and huge herds, many still with relatively large tusks, can be seen at most times of year. Also present in the park are small numbers of lions, hyenas and jackal as well as abundant populations of zebra, giraffe and many species of plains antelope.

The following day we cross over the border into Tanzania. When we arrive at the border be ready to be swamped by Masai ladies selling jewellery, you can pick up some great bargains from them whilst we clear customs and immigration formalities.

Our route to Arusha takes us through the Masai tribe lands and along the western slope of Mt Meru. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. Today safaris have taken over as the town's primary industry and it is now the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. In town you will find an excellent market and bakery, along with a post office, banks and e-mail facilities and we will have an opportunity to indulge in some curio shopping here.

See day 8 for Itinerary

It is not possible to take large trucks into the Ngorongoro Crater, so for the next few days we will be using a local operator with four wheel drive vehicles.
Starting early we begin our journey to the Serengeti, en route stopping at the village of Mto Wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek), where there is a good curio market for more purchases. Prices here are quite expensive so be prepared to haggle for a good deal. Further along the road we pass Lake Manyara, the largest soda lake in East Africa, where we will stop briefly to enjoy the magnificent views from the escarpment. Driving through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area we skirt our way around the rim of the crater itself, before heading down onto the short grass plains, arriving at the gate to the Serengeti National Park mid-afternoon. The Serengeti is the oldest and largest National Park in Tanzania, its name coming from the Masai word meaning “endless plains”. The landscape here varies from the long and short grass plains in the south, to the central savannah, the hilly wooded areas in the north, and extensive wooded areas in the west. This park is world renowned for its immense concentration of game, in particular its lion and zebra populations and the annual wildebeest migration which commences in July. July is generally the beginning of the dry season and the time when the wildebeest herds and some Zebra move north towards the Masai Mara in search of better pasture. The migration is a time when you will see the full circle of life for these animals sometimes called “the clowns of the plains”. The migration journey is hazardous and many of the older and weaker animals will lose their lives to predators such as lions and crocodiles. The migration also coincides with the annual rutting season, the calves being born at the beginning of the rains when there is plenty of fresh grass for feeding.
After crossing into the park, we game drive through the long grass plains to our campsite in the Seronera Valley at the very heart of the national park. Campsite facilities here are very basic.
The following morning an early start finds us game driving in search of big game. There is also an opportunity to experience a hot air balloon ride over the fabled Serengeti plains. After approximately an hour ballooning, smartly dressed waiters serve a full English breakfast, together with continental pastries, accompanied by champagne and fruit juice on long white clothed tables in the middle of the plains.
We return to camp for lunch before making our way back across the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater. Tonight we camp right on the rim of the Crater, where, weather permitting, we enjoy a spectacular view into this ‘Garden of Eden’. Camping facilities are again basic.
Early the next day we descend onto the crater floor for a morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. Measuring 19kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a World Heritage site and boasts a unique eco system. The crater itself reflects a mini Rift Valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater, before heading back to camp for lunch. Watch out for the black kites - renowned for stealing many a Kumuka passenger's lunch! In the afternoon we journey back to Arusha.

See day 10 for Itinerary

See day 10 for Itinerary

Departing Arusha we transfer back to Kenya via shuttle, arriving into Nairobi approximately mid-afternoon where your tour ends. If you wish to depart on this day it is recommended flights are booked only departing after 1900hrs to allow for any delays.NO accommodation is included on Day 13.