The Great Migration is a natural event with herds typically in the Serengeti from late November to July. Movements and river crossings of migrating herds can be challenging to predict year to year. When possible, we’ll modify game viewing when advised of reported sightings. All game viewing is done at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver prior to travel. Due to rough driving on/off road and in/between game parks, this vacation is not recommended for guests with serious back problems or mobility issues.
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Welcome to Kenya! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.NAIROBI-CITY-CENTER.jpg
Day 2 NAIROBI
•Start your private sightseeing with a visit to the elephant orphanage at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, founded by Dame Daphne Sheldrick. Learn about elephant conservation and meet elephant calves, orphaned by poachers, before they are re-introduced to the wild. •Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, an educational museum sharing the Out of Africa author’s extraordinary experiences in Africa while operating a local coffee farm. Enjoy lunch at the museum restaurant. •Lastly, stop at the Giraffe Center, a nonprofit organization focused on saving the Rothschild’s giraffe, where you will learn about this sub-species and can feed them. NAIROBI-ROTHCHILD-GIRAFFE.jpg
Breakfast
Lunch
Day 3 NAIROBI–MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE AREA
•Fly to Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous game area. •After lunch, embark on your first game drive this afternoon in search of the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, Elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. •Your visit contributes to Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund, aimed at recovering the lion population in Africa after more than half have been lost over the past 25 years. MAASAI-MARA-GIRAFFE.jpg
Day 4 MAASAI MARA
•The “Mara,” as it is called by the locals, is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong permanent population of game. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrives, the population grows by almost 2 million. This provides a great food source for lions, leopards, and hyenas. You’ll have ample opportunity to spot these predators and many other animals on morning and afternoon game drives with your expert Driver/Guide. INSIDER PICKS Between game drives, relax by the pool or take a safari siesta! MAASAI-MARA-WILDEBEESTS.jpg
Day 5 MAASAI MARA AREA–NAIROBI–AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK AREA
•A short flight brings you back to Nairobi for a drive to Amboseli National Park. •Upon arrival, embark on a game drive and take in the spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at some 19,341 feet. Arrive at your lodge or camp in time to freshen up for dinner. AMBOSELI-MOUNT-KILLIMANJARO.jpg
Day 6 AMBOSELI AREA
•Morning and afternoon game drives offer you a great opportunity to get close to the mighty elephant. You might also spot Cape buffalo, zebra, wild dog, and more.INSIDER PICKSBetween game drives, dive into a good book on your private patio or take a dip in the pool. AMBOSELI-MOUNT-KILIMANJARO-ELEPHANTS.jpg
Day 7 AMBOSELI AREA–ARUSHA, TANZANIA–LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK AREA
•This morning, enter Tanzania at the Namanga border. •After lunch in Arusha, proceed to the Lake Manyara National Park area. MANYARA-LAKE-FLAMINGOS.jpg
Day 8 LAKE MANYARA AREA–NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
•Lake Manyara National Park is a small, ecologically diverse park with groundwater forests, grassy plains, and alkaline Lake Manyara itself. The park is also home to the world’s largest concentration of baboon. Watch for these mischievous primates, giraffe, hippo, and more on your morning game drive. •Drive to your lodge on the slopes of Ngorongoro Crater. INSIDER PICKSVisit a local primary school to meet the children and learn about the educational system in rural Tanzania.LAKE-MANYARA-BABOONS.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 9 NGORONGORO AREA
•Today, enjoy a full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is the world’s largest unflooded caldera—at more than 2,000 feet deep with a floor covering over 102 square miles. Game viewing here is fantastic, as most of the animals stay in this area year-round. You can see lions, elephants, flamingos, and a variety of other animals. This is also your best chance to see the rare black rhinoceros. A picnic lunch will be served in the crater. NGORONGORO-CRATER.jpg
Day 10 NGORONGORO AREA–SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
•Today, drive to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s largest and most famous park. Home to the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, it attracts visitors from around the world and is great for game viewing year round. •Enjoy lunch prior to your afternoon game drive.SERENGETI-ZEBRA.jpg
Day 11 SERENGETI
•Covering an area of roughly 5,700 square miles, the name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word siringit (endless plains.) •Join your expert Driver/Guide for morning and afternoon game drives to further explore this vast park. Search for leopard, rhino, and an abundance of other animals, including cheetah, giraffe, gazelle, and eland. INSIDER PICKSBetween game drives, relax by the pool or take a safari siesta! SERENGETI-CHEETAH.jpg
Day 12 SERENGETI–STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR–ZANZIBAR BEACH
• Embark on one final game drive before flying to Stone Town (via Arusha), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Transfer to your oceanfront resort for a 3-night stay. Enjoy the deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean from your ocean-view room.SERENGETI-SUNRISE.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 13 ZANZIBAR BEACH. EXCURSION TO STONE TOWN
•Travel back to Stone Town for a guided walking tour to see the Old Fort, the National Palace, and the House of Wonders. •After lunch at a local restaurant, embark on an immersive Spice Tour at a nearby plantation to learn about Zanzibar’s rich spice heritage through seeing, smelling, and tasting fresh spices. •Return to your resort for a leisurely evening. Enjoy dinner at the resort and unwind after a day of cultural exploration, staying overnight in comfort to prepare for more island adventures. STONE-TOWN.jpg
Day 14 ZANZIBAR BEACH
•Today is a full day at leisure to enjoy the resort. Enjoy the 30-acres of tropical gardens, swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, dine at one of the many restaurants onsite, or sign up for an included watersport such as paddleboarding or kayaking. Note: some watersports are included with your stay while others, such as diving or snorkeling, can be arranged for a cost through the Recreation & Water Sports Center. ZANZIBAR-BEACH.jpg
Day 15 ZANZIBAR BEACH–STONE TOWN–DAR ES SALAAM
• Transfer back to Stone Town for a flight to Dar es Salaam, where a day room has been reserved at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel for your convenience. Schedule departing homebound flights after 4 pm. DAR-ES-SALAAM.jpg
Breakfast