Migration Safari 13 days Nairobi to Kilimanjaro

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Migration Safari 13 days Nairobi to Kilimanjaro"

Alice Holt
5 years ago
Views:

Migration Safari 13 days Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Tour code: LL7130 Group size: 6 maximum Departs: Selected dates - July to Oct 2015 Accommodation: 4 star lodges / tented camps This safari combines

You will see a variety of game in six different locations including the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 1: Nairobi On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the rest of the day is at your leisure. Accommodation: Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi (B).

The property includes 200 rooms and suites across 10 floors as well as restaurants, bars and spa facilities.

1 Migration Safari 13 days Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Tour code: LL7130 Group size: 6 maximum Departs: Selected dates - July to Oct 2015 Accommodation: 4 star lodges / tented camps This safari combines some of the most popular adventures in Kenya and Tanzania. You will see a variety of game in six different locations including the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The focus is on game viewing, but you will also enjoy visits to a Maasai village and the spectacular scenery of the Great Rift Valley. Day 1: Nairobi On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the rest of the day is at your leisure. Accommodation: Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi (B). Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi The Villa Rosa Kempinski is located just 20 km from Nairobi s international airport. The property includes 200 rooms and suites across 10 floors as well as restaurants, bars and spa facilities. All rooms come complete with internet access, a mini bar and in-room safe to ensure your time here is as comfortable as possible. Rooms are elegantly presented in European style, and offer incredible views over Nairobi. Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve Leaving Nairobi after an early breakfast you travel to the Masai Mara via Kenya's fertile highlands. It takes around six hours to reach the Masai Mara National Reserve; look out for giraffe and zebra en route. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon in time for an afternoon game drive. Your driver-guide will give you an indepth safari briefing before you set off on your first African safari. You return to your lodge as the sun sets. Accommodation: Kandili Camp (BLD). Masai Mara Game Reserve The Masai Mara is Kenya s premier wildlife viewing reserve and is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of over one million wildebeest and thousands of zebra and gazelle. The migration takes place from July to October and watching these animals cross the Mara River from Tanzania into Kenya is truly a remarkable spectacle. Thousands die in the dramatic river crossing, with predators and crocodiles the winners. The concentration of game during the mass migration is phenomenal and this is one of the few areas in east Africa where you are likely to see all of the big five (buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard) in one place. Other animals found in the Mara include: cheetah, zebra, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, hippo, giraffe, eland and more. Kandili Camp Kandili Camp is a recently opened eco-camp overlooking the mottled plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Kandili Camp boats its own private conservancy, the Maasai owned Leopard Gorge Conservancy. The conservancy contributes to the protection of the ecosystem and empowers local communities to benefit from the tourism industry. The camp offers seven spacious tents and two suites, all of which include en suite bathrooms, hot showers, solar electricity and private verandas. The common areas, including a large dining room with a bar, are west-facing and offer views of the sun setting over the Olooloo escarpment. Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara. Big cat viewing is particularly interesting in the afternoons with one of the largest concentrations of predators in Africa inhabiting this reserve. Optional activities include a balloon flight with champagne breakfast (cost not included), a visit to a traditional Maasai village and bush sundowner drinks. Accommodation: Kandili Camp (BLD).

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park Depart the Masai Mara and head to Lake Nakuru National Park.

On arrival at Pelican Lodge you enjoy a leisurely lunch. Following lunch head off for an afternoon game drive in the national park.

The park is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding wood and grasslands next to Nakuru town.

2 Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park Depart the Masai Mara and head to Lake Nakuru National Park. The drive takes you through landscapes that change dramatically, from rocky cliffs to stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with euphorbia forests. On arrival at Pelican Lodge you enjoy a leisurely lunch. Following lunch head off for an afternoon game drive in the national park. The game drive takes you through the different ecosystems of the park and you will sight a variety of species. After a game drive you return to the lodge for dinner. Accommodation: Pelican Lodge (BLD). Lake Nakuru National Park Within the park s 188 square kilometres lies the shallow and strongly alkaline Lake Nakuru, which supports over a million lesser flamingos. The park is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding wood and grasslands next to Nakuru town. Aside from the masses of flamingo and other waterbirds which abound, other wildlife highlights include black and white rhinos, hippos, Rothschild giraffes, lions, leopards and a variety of primates, including vervet monkeys, baboons and black and white colobus. Pelican Lodge Set on private land between Nakuru and Naivasha, Pelican Lodge at Lake Elementaita is named after the numerous pelicans which abound in the area. Nestled in a pristine environment perched above Lake Elementaita this luxurious lodge has a truly African feel. The 10 cottages all have king-size beds and a private balcony. The cottages are built with natural materials and have thatched roofs. One of the most scenic places to stay in the Nakuru area, Pelican Lodge overlooks Lake Elementaita and the surrounding private conservancy. Day 5: Amboseli National Park After an early breakfast you drive towards Amboseli National Park. The journey will take you through the agricultural lands of the Rift Valley. On reaching the park you enjoy a game drive before driving to your lodge. Accommodation: Amboseli Kilima Safari Camp (BLD). Amboseli National Park Amboseli National Park covers 400 square kilometres of plains and offers the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa s highest mountain. It is one of the most popular parks in Kenya with good wildlife viewing all year round. Amboseli has always been a favourite spot for large mammals and is known for its elephant population. There are over 1000 elephants in the park eco-system, which include some of the largest bull elephants in Africa. Animals concentrate around the park s permanent swamps which host resident hippo all year and a profusion of birdlife. Amboseli Kilima Safari Camp Located next to the Kimana Gate Park entrance to Amboseli National Park, Kilima Safari Camp is set on a 360 acre site with spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Kimana area of Amboseli is famous for its large elephant population with guests able to enjoy game viewing from their tents which face the local waterholes. All social areas and guest rooms look towards Mount Kilimanjaro. The camp consists of 60 luxurious safari tented rooms with four poster beds, private en suites and balcony terraces. The camp has extensive social areas with a bar and covered dining room. There is a large free-form swimming pool and a massage centre for guests to enjoy, along with evening entertainment, lectures on Maasai culture and nature walks. Day 6: Amboseli National Park Enjoy game drives in the Amboseli National Park during your stay. Dinner is under the stars with Mount Kilimanjaro visible from your dining terrace. Accommodation: Amboseli Kilima Safari Camp (BLD).

Day 7: Lake Manyara National Park After breakfast you continue the safari to the Tanzanian border post.

Accommodation: Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp (BLD). Lake Manyara National Park Lake Manyara National Park is one of the smallest but most ecologically diverse game reserves in Tanzania.

At the far southern end of the park natural hot springs attract a variety of species of mammals.

Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp Against the dramatic backdrop of the Rift Valley Escarpment and overlooking Lake Manyara stands the Lake Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp.

3 Day 7: Lake Manyara National Park After breakfast you continue the safari to the Tanzanian border post. After completing customs and immigration procedures you meet your Tanzanian driver / guide and continue by road to Arusha for lunch. You then continue along the Great Rift Valley to your lodge. Accommodation: Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp (BLD). Lake Manyara National Park Lake Manyara National Park is one of the smallest but most ecologically diverse game reserves in Tanzania. In many ways it resembles a tropical rainforest, with its verdant foliage and variety of bird life. The lake itself harbors abundant birdlife ranging from pink flamingos to giant pelicans. At the far southern end of the park natural hot springs attract a variety of species of mammals. The park is popular for its treeclimbing lions who are known to take to the low-lying branches of the dominant umbrella acacias for relaxation. Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp Against the dramatic backdrop of the Rift Valley Escarpment and overlooking Lake Manyara stands the Lake Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp. The camp comprises of 10 luxurious canvas tent lodgings and 16 selfcontained cottages, all with private balconies overlooking the national park. The camp offers fabulous bush dinners, game drives and spectacular views. Day 8: Serengeti National Park This morning you explore Lake Manyara National Park. The game drive takes you through the different ecosystems in the park. If you are lucky you will spot the famous tree climbing lions. After the game drive, ascend the escarpment and continue to Serengeti National Park. Arrive at camp early in the evening for dinner. Accommodation: Nasikia Central Camp (BLD). Day 9: Serengeti National Park Tanzania s second largest national park, the Serengeti s flat plains offer ideal game viewing. At just under 15,000 square kilometres in size the park contains about three million animals. Today you enjoy game drives in this impressive national park. Accommodation: Nasikia Central Camp (BLD). Nasikia Central Camp Nasikia Central Camp has 12 semi-permanent tents which retain the uniqueness and intimacy of a traditional safari camp. Each spacious tent is made from heavy duty safari canvas. The tents are side facing with a patio area with chairs and a table for relaxing. All the fittings depict colours in natural tones and offer an en suite, mosquito netted windows and traditional décor. The path of lanterns between the tents and the dining tent add a traditional safari spirit to your evenings. The library and social areas in the lounge tent offer a place to recap your day with fellow safari goers prior to sundowner drinks, which are taken around the nightly wood fire. Serengeti National Park Between the Ngorongoro highlands, Lake Victoria and Tanzania s northern border stretches one of the world s last great wildlife refuges, the Serengeti. The name comes from the Maasai siringet, meaning endless plains. The park s expansive plains are covered with wildebeests, giraffes, zebras and many flattopped acacias. Many of the park s animals take part in seasonal migrations, unparalleled in nature. Twice a year, triggered by the rains, about 1.4 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson s gazelle gather to undertake the long trek to new grazing lands, displaying a spectacle like no other on earth.

Day 10: Ngorongoro Conservation Area Before breakfast you have a final game drive in the Serengeti. Following breakfast you enjoy a picnic lunch en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (BLD). Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater After an early breakfast you descend into the caldera where you spend a full day viewing game on the crater floor.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Located high on the crater s rim, Sopa Lodge stands well over 500 metres above the crater floor. It offers unparalleled views across the caldera.

Spacious communal areas make this lodge a very social place to stay.

4 Day 10: Ngorongoro Conservation Area Before breakfast you have a final game drive in the Serengeti. Following breakfast you enjoy a picnic lunch en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In the afternoon on the way to your lodge you visit a Maasai village to learn about this fascinating ancient culture and the affect that the modern world has had on its people. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (BLD). Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater After an early breakfast you descend into the caldera where you spend a full day viewing game on the crater floor. Besides the huge black-maned lions, keep your eyes peeled for rhino, lion, hyena, elephant and much more. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (BLD). Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge Located high on the crater s rim, Sopa Lodge stands well over 500 metres above the crater floor. It offers unparalleled views across the caldera. Its position allows guests to be amongst the first into the crater for game drives. Themed around traditionally circular African houses, this lodge blends perfectly with its surroundings. Spacious communal areas make this lodge a very social place to stay. Ngorongoro Crater The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 8288 square kilometres and encompasses the volcanic area around the Ngorongoro Crater, including the still active volcano of Oldonyo Lengai and the Olduvai Gorge. Its centrepiece, the Ngorongoro Crater, is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and first sight of it is breathtaking. The floor of the crater is 260 square kilometres and is home to around 30,000 animals with a high concentration of predators. The crater supports up to 25,000 large mammals. Grazers dominate with zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and warthog amongst others. Ngorongoro has carnivores in quantity, drawn by the large herds of prey animals. It has the densest population of large predators, mainly lion and spotted hyena. A day in the crater is a highlight of any safari. Day 12: Tarangire National Park Depart the lodge and drive for two hours to reach Tarangire National Park. Enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge, passing the magnificent baobab trees for which the park is famous. Mid-afternoon you depart on an afternoon game drive in Tarangire. Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Camp (BLD). Maramboi Tented Camp Maramboi Tented Camp offers permanent camp facilities and endless vistas of the grasslands and palm lined desert surrounding the camp. The 30 spacious tents, built on generous wooden decks, are spacious and comfortable. All the tents have en suite facilities and private verandas with electric lighting. Meals are served in the mess tent located in the centre of the camp. Pre-dinner appetizer snacks and dinner are served under the starlit sky in the open air restaurant. Tarangire National Park Tarangire National Park lies about 120 kilometres south of Arusha and is one of Africa s less known gems. At 2,600 square kilometres the park is relatively small for Tanzania, but its open plains dotted with thousands of baobabs make for a truly unique landscape. The park has some of the greatest concentrations of game in Tanzania, but with fewer tourists. Game viewing in Tarangire is largely affected by the presence of water. During the dry season many animals congregate at the Tarangire River, the park's only permanent source of water. Tarangire is also one of the best places in Tanzania to see large herds of elephant and buffalo. In fact, the game numbers overall are staggering, about: 30,000 zebra, 25,000 wildebeest, 5,000 buffalo, 3,000 elephant, 2,500 Masai giraffe and over 1,000 fringe-eared oryx live within the park. Predators include lion, which are prone to tree-climbing just like their Lake Manyara cousins, cheetah and leopard. Day 13: Kilimanjaro Airport This morning you drive to Kilimanjaro airport where your safari ends.

5 Includes: meet, greet and private airport transfer in Nairobi 1 night 5 star hotel in Nairobi with breakfast 8 nights at 4 star tented safari camps 3 nights at 4 star lodges full board on safari 1 lunch in Arusha private use of a 4WD on safari with your own English speaking driver /guide 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day on safari national park fees and game drives Maasai village visit Lake Naivasha boat safari drop off at Kilimanjaro airport Excludes: international flights visas medical and travel insurance personal expenses and optional activities tips Remarks: A current yellow fever certificate is required to enter Tanzania. Properties are subject to availability. Children prices are available on request.

EAST AFRICAN EXPLORER Kenya and Tanzania

EAST AFRICAN EXPLORER Kenya and Tanzania 13 day small group safari standard accommodation This small group safari combines some of the most popular adventures in Kenya and Tanzania. Wildlife abounds as