11-Day East Africa Safari Tour from Nairobi to Arusha: Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

What you'll experience

Highlights

11 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Nairobi - Maasai Mara

   Nairobi
   Today your adventure begins. You’ll meet your guides and your fellow travellers, and then we’ll load up the safari vehicles and be on our way.
   
   Maasai Mara National Reserve
   Passing through the Great Rift Valley, we’ll get to our Maasai Mara lodge just in time for lunch – and then head out for our first game drive. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife large and small as we make our way across those magnificent rolling hills.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take an Evening Game Drive in the Maasai Mara MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——How to make the most of our time in Maasai Mara? This afternoon/evening, you’ll have the chance to set off in search of whatever wildlife you missed in the morning – binocs at the ready!

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Sentrim Mara
2. 2

   Day 2 — Maasai Mara

   Maasai Mara National Reserve
   After an early breakfast, you'll get the chance to head out on a hot air balloon ride to check out the African Savannah as the sun rises. Then, after a champagne breakfast to top it all off, you'll rejoin the morning's game drive. At midday, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a swim, and then embark on our second game drive this afternoon – in search of Africa's elusive big cats. The Maasai Mara is the setting for one of nature’s greatest phenomena: The Great Migration. If you’re here at the right time of year, you’ll have the chance to witness millions of wildebeest and zebras en route to greener pastures.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take a morning Game Drive in the Maasai Mara MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience(INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Known for its grassy plains and rolling hills, home to lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos, the Maasai Mara is a jewel in Africa’s wildlife crown – don’t miss your chance to explore it at sunrise.
   *Take another afternoon Game Drive in the Maasai Mara MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——It’s your last evening in the Mara to see the epic wildlife on this vast savannah. 
   *Maasai Mara Balloon Safari (Free-time add on)——Rise with the sun as this excursion takes-off at sunrise for a spectacular start to the morning. Wildlife spotting commences immediately as you drift along the Maasai Mara savannah from just a few feet above to ground to high in the sky for glorious views. The flight lasts about 50mins and is followed by a bush breakfast complete with bubbly.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Sentrim Mara
3. 3

   Day 3 — Maasai Mara - Nairobi

   Maasai Mara National Reserve
   Rise and shine, Kenyan explorers! With the Maasai Mara lodged firmly in our memories (and our hearts), we'll make our way back to Nairobi this morning - where plenty more magic awaits.
   
   Nairobi
   This afternoon we head back to Nairobi, where something truly special awaits us. We'll visit the Kibera Slum to see the incredible work being done by the Mirror of Hope Foundation - working to break the cycle of poverty through education, helping the women and children to improve their quality of life. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to relax and choose from a variety of hotel restaurants with views of the Nairobi National Park.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Support Mirror of Hope MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Meet the dedicated team and see for yourself the work being done to help the women and children who live here in the Kibera slum.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 2.5.4. Ole Sereni
4. 4

   Day 4 — Nairobi - Amboseli

   Nairobi
   Back in Nairobi, we'll have the chance to take a unique game drive in Nairobi National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for waterholes, cityscapes and the elusive white rhino too. We'll also visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant rehabilitation centre to watch baby elephants play and bathe in the water (the most beautiful chaotic mess you'll ever encounter), and hear the fascinating story of their road to recovery too.
   
   Amboseli
   After a picnic lunch and a visit to a local Curio shop, we’ll head for our lodge (right on the edge of the Amboseli National Park, might we add, with views of Mt Kilimanjaro too!) to enjoy a delicious included dinner.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Encounter Wild Rhinos & Rescued Elephants at Nairobi National Park (Free-time add on)——Sprawling grassland with a cityscape in the background? A troop of ostriches gazing up at a plane that flies overhead? This is Nairobi National Park - made special because it's the only major national park located on the outskirts of a capital city. And because it's one of the best spots for viewing the black rhino - plus lions and cheetahs too! A shining example of how nature and humanity can coexist? You ain't seen nothing yet. As part of the tour, we'll also visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant rehabilitation centre. We'll hear stories of how the elephants were orphaned and how they will be reintroduced back into the wild whilst we watch on as more than 20 young elephants play together in the water. 
   Please Note: Only US$ in cash can be paid for this excursion.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: IncludedStay: Sentrim Amboseli
5. 5

   Day 5 — Amboseli

   Amboseli
   After our morning's buffet breakfast, we will do a short safari walk to a Maasai village, guided by Masaai warriors as they teach us about their culture and everyday lives co-existing with wild animals. After lunch we will head out to Amboseli National Park, famous for its iconic shots of elephants and wildlife feeding in the foreground while the peak of Africa rises in the background: Mt Kilimanjaro. It's a photographer's dream, and it's all yours. Our final dinner in Kenya will be included back at the lodge.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take a Game Drive in Amboseli National Park MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Get that iconic wildlife shot with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. 
   *Tour a Maasai Village MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (Free-time add on)——This is your unique chance to take an inside look at these nomadic tribes and see what everyday life is like for the Maasai people of East Africa. You’ll be welcomed into their village, and even shown around by a Maasai warrior too. Please Note: Only US$ in cash can be paid for this excursion.
   Please Note: Only US$ in cash can be paid for this excursion.

   

   Amboseli National Park

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Sentrim Amboseli
6. 6

   Day 6 — Amboseli - Tarangire

   Amboseli
   This morning we will have one final game drive in Amboseli before we head across to the Tanzanian border. We say goodbye to our Kenyan guides as we are welcomed by our Tanzanian guides and drive to the town of Arusha. 
   
   Arusha
   Here we will visit the Shanga Community Project, offering employment opportunities to disabled community members through arts and crafts.
   
   Tarangire National Park
   After lunch we will head off to our first lodge and national park in Tanzania - Tarangire. Famed for its two African giants; the elephant and baobab trees.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Visit Shanga Community Project MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Support this social enterprise that employs local disabled people with artisanal skills. Watch weaving, glass blowing, beading, paper making and metal work. 
   *Take a morning Game Drive in Amboseli MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES )——Get up early in search of the famous elephants in this iconic Kenyan National Park. 

   

   Tarangire National Park

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: IncludedStay: Roika Tented Camp
7. 7

   Day 7 — Tarangire

   Tarangire National Park
   An early start this morning will take us into the Tarangire National Park for a full day, in the hopes for a glimpse of some of its elusive predators and changing landscapes. We'll stay here for most of the day with a packed lunch provided to give us the most opportunity of exploring this wildlife wilderness. Afterwards, we'll visit a Maasai village, meeting some of the locals to learn all about their customs and way of life. There'll be a buffet dinner tonight too, so be sure to save some room!
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take a Game Drive in Tarangire MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Take a drive through the ‘land of giants’. This national park is known for its elephants and sprawling Baobab trees. 
   *Maasai Village Tour, Tarangire MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (Free-time add on)——Take an inside look at these nomadic tribes and see what life is like for the Maasai people of East Africa. You will be welcomed into their village while a Maasai warrior takes you on a tour of their everyday life as well as customs and traditions. 
   Please Note: Only US$ in cash can be paid for this excursion.

   

   Tarangire National Park

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Roika Tented Camp
8. 8

   Day 8 — Tarangire - Serengeti

   Tarangire National Park
   After breakfast we'll set out in our safari vehicles to our next destination: the Serengeti.
   
   Serengeti
   We take in views of the Rift valley and the rim of Ngorogoro Crater as we make our way to the main gate of the Serengeti, stopping off to visit Mto Wa Mbu Village and a local market. We'll drive through the endless plains of this vast reserve to reach our accommodation for the night. Tonights accommodation will be a safari-style lodge in the middle of the Serengeti. A buffet meal will be served for dinner, and you're free to sit outside and listen to the sounds of nocturnal animals waking up to forage or hunt, all while sitting under the bright canopy of stars in the African sky.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take an afternoon Game Drive in the Serengeti MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Watch out for local wildlife as we head to our camp, which is bang in the middle of these endless plains. Could the location be any more epic? 
   *Explore Mto Wa Mbu Market (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Stroll through the Maasai Market with vibrant stalls of fruit, handmade shukas and beaded jewellery. And even sample traditional dishes (washed down with banana beer!). You'll also learn about the art of Makonde carving in this little town that's home to around 120 Maasai tribes - all with their own unique language and customs.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Kon tiki Serengeti Camp
9. 9

   Day 9 — Serengeti

   Serengeti
   We'll spend a full day seeking out the game of Africa's plains, with predators in hot pursuit of their prey. If the wildebeest migration is around, then you are in for a wildlife treat: millions of wildebeest and zebra grazing for as far as the eye can see really is one of Africas' greatest spectacles to observe. If you want to make today even more unforgettable, you can opt in for a once-in-a-lifetime Balloon safari. A buffet dinner awaits us back at our safari camp.
   
   Day Highlight:
   *Take a morning Game Drive in the Serengeti MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Was that lion we heard last night? Let’s go find out. Take an incredible morning drive in search of the wildlife we heard throughout the night. 
   *Take another afternoon Game Drive in the Serengeti MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Cruise around the plains at sunset to explore new areas and spot a few more animals before they head off to bed. 
   *Serengeti Balloon Safari (Free-time add on)——Rise with the sun as this excursion takes-off at sunrise for a spectacular start to the morning. Wildlife spotting commences immediately as you drift along the Serengeti savannah from just a few feet above to ground to high in the sky for glorious views. The flight lasts about 50mins and is followed by a bush breakfast complete with bubbly.

   

   Serengeti National Park

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Kon tiki Serengeti Camp
10. 10

    Day 10 — Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater

    Serengeti
    Enjoy some breakfast before we depart the Serengeti with a morning game drive on our way to our next destination, the Ngorongoro Crater.
    
    Ngorongoro Crater
    In the late morning we reach the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcano, boasting one of the highest densities of predators stalking the abundant wildlife enclosed inside the volcano's centre. We'll stop here for a picnic lunch before we ascend the plateau. A true natural wonder, only found in Africa
    
    Day Highlight:
    *Take another morning Game Drive in the Serengeti MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Another day, another game drive, giving us the most amount of opportunities to see the wildlife that roams these plains.
    *Take a Game Drive through Ngorongoro Crater MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience (INCLUDED EXPERIENCES)——Experience a one-of-a-kind drive inside an ancient volcano that’s packed with incredible wildlife and right in the heart of the action. 

    

    Ngorongoro Crater

    Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Eileen's Tree Inn
11. 11

    Day 11 — Ngorongoro Crater - Lake Manyara - Arusha

    Ngorongoro Crater
    Its our last day on safari and our last chance for some wildlife viewing. Opt to jump on one last game drive to Lake Manyara National Park.
    
    Lake Manyara
    Renowned for its famed tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara is a completely different ecosystem to the other parks we have visited with grassy floodplains and massive forests to spot unique wildlife and bird-life to this region.
    
    Arusha
    With full hearts and memories made, it's time to say fond farewells to your new lifelong friends, and to our African adventure.
    
    Day Highlight:
    *Take a Game Drive on Lake Manyara (Free-time add on)——Don’t miss your chance to discover Lake Manyara, its spectacular forests and savanna's as well as its colossal wildlife – including pink flamingos and tree-climbing lions. (Nope, that’s not a typo.) Please Note: Only US$ in cash can be paid for this excursion.

    

    Lake Manyara

    Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: Excluded

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