Overview
An African safari is a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience where we become immersed in the rich history and culture of the local people as well as the spectacular wildlife of the region. After many years of very successful tours, we are delighted to again offer this tour to the regions of Kenya and Tanzania. With perhaps the most amazing and famous game reserves and national parks of anywhere on earth, this region offers an astonishing amount of game in the midst of ravishingly beautiful and dramatic panoramas that will simply take your breath away.Discover and experience the landscapes, the wildlife and the culture in the ultimate Big Safari areas of Kenya and Tanzania, from the open plains of the Masai Mara, to the snowy peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro. This adventurous safari (in absolute comfort) showcases the ultimate in East Africa’s national parks and diverse scenery and provides the perfect opportunity to spot the “Big Five” as well as the myriad of other wildlife that populate the region.
Highlights include:The tour is full of daily highlights but some of the more prominent highlights include:
- Diverse modern Dubai
- Nairobi, the Kenyan capital – including visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage
- Mt Kenya & Mt Kilimanjaro
- The Great Rift Valley
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Visit a Masai Village
- Serengeti National Park
- Amboseli, & Lake Nakuru National Parks
- Outstanding hotel, lodge and tented camp accommodation
Accommodation:For this tour, we have chosen some of the very best of luxury lodges and wildlife camps available. These include:
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Luxury Camp
- Mara Intrepid Tented Camp
- Mara Elatia Camp
- Kirawira Serena Tented Camp, Serengeti
- Serena Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Amboseli Serena Lodge in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro
Some of the camps offer tented accommodation but these tents are something else. All of the accommodation tents include ensuite bathrooms, wooden floors, electricity and heating and the finest of bed linen. The “mess” and lounge tents are furnished with your comfort in mind even to the point of chandelier lighting, grand sofas and bookcases. Enjoy sundowner drinks around the campfire in the evening before retiring to the “mess” tent for “silver service” dinner. “Out of Africa” safari camp luxury!
Itinerary
Thursday 11 September Auckland – DubaiLate this afternoon, we report to the airport and join the flight to Dubai. Friday 12 September Dubai (B.D)We arrive in Dubai early this morning and after clearing Customs and Immigration formalities, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a two-night stay. There is time to rest up after the flight until mid-afternoon when we visit the Palm Jumeirah – one of the world’s most daring developments. Jutting out into the Arabian Gulf, this man-made archipelago was built in the shape of a palm tree, with a 3-mile-long trunk and a fan of fronds lined with luxury villas and five-star hotels. From water parks and wildlife encounters to beach clubs and restaurants, there is an array of different activities on offer. One of the first things that strike you when visiting the Palm Jumeirah is its size. This giant archipelago is visible from space and the outer crescent is more than 10 miles long. Afterward, we visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 160 stories high. We travel to the observation deck which will provide you with a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. We return to the hotel where we have dinner this evening. Saturday 13 September Dubai (B.D)This morning we take a sightseeing tour of the city – a fascinating historical excursion which takes you to the magnificent Jumeirah mosque and past modern palaces sprawled along the coast. In Bastakiya, see the old wind-towered houses built by wealthy merchants and the 150-year old Al Fahidi Fort. We continue our journey coach to the gold and spice souks, where we see bustling alleys with the aromas of the numerous spices and dazzling jewellery. Next up, we visit the area of La Mer – a new area nestled between Pearl Jumeira and the upcoming Jumeira Bay. There is time to explore this artsy community and to get some lunch at one of the trendy cafes before we return to the hotel to relax & freshen up prior to dinner this evening.NB: For those who may have been to Dubai previously, there is the opportunity to join a tour to Abu Dhabi today, in place of the arrangements above. Price is available on request. Sunday 14 September Dubai – Nairobi (B.D)A morning transfer to the airport where we join the 5 hour flight to Nairobi. We are met on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport and transferred to the Nairobi Serena Hotel, Nairobi’s finest hotel, for our overnight night stay. Monday 15 September Nairobi – Mt. Kenya (B.L.D)After a leisurely morning, we visit the nursery at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage. Working across Kenya, their projects include anti-poaching, safe-guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescuing and hand rearing elephant and rhino orphans, along with other species that can ultimately enjoy a quality of life in wild terms when grown. We then depart Nairobi and travel to our accommodation at Sweet Waters Tented Camp, with magnificent views across the plains to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. The luxury tents overlook the waterhole, floodlit at night, providing excellent and rarely seen game viewing. We stay here for two nights. Tuesday 16 September Mt. Kenya (B.L.D)This morning, we enjoy our first game drive before returning to our lodge for breakfast. There is the opportunity for another game drive in the afternoon, or you can opt to relax and enjoy the facilities. Wednesday 17 September Mt. Kenya – Great Rift Valley (B.L.D)After breakfast, our drive takes us to the floor of the Great Rift Valley up the Mau Escarpment, destination Lake Nakuru National Park where the waters of the lake are often coloured shimmering Flamingo pink from thousands of birds lining the shore. We enjoy a hot lunch before proceeding on an afternoon game-viewing drive. We end the day at Soysambu Conservancy, where we can relax for 2 nights at our stunning accommodation, Lake Elmenteita Serena Luxury Camp. Thursday 18 September Lake Nakuru Game Reserve (B.L.D)After breakfast, the drive will take us to Lake Nakuru game reserve. This is another famous lake that has a plentiful population of aquatic birds who enjoy the alkaline lake environment. Friday 19 September Great Rift Valley – Masai Mara (B.L.D)We drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super abundance as existed a century ago. We arrive at our camp in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. Our overnight accommodation is Mara Intrepid Tented Camp. It is on this very terrain where the great annual migration takes place, when millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle traverse the landscape to feed on rich new grass and give birth to their young calves. The Masai Mara National Reserve is home to gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, the legendary black-maned lion and many more. Our lodge is ideally located to enjoy this unique phenomenon. Saturday 20 September Masai Mara (B.L.D)Today we travel to our next lodge, Mara Elatia Camp – nestled in the peaceful Northwestern plains, gracefully perched along the Oloololo escarpment of the Masai Mara. The camp overlooks the Mara River which is famous for the annual wildbeest migration between the months of July and September and faces one of the three “Kalema Hills” where the epic movie “Out of Africa” was filmed.The game viewing is excellent with a large population of the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, together with prolific wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, cheetah and hyena. Sunday 21 September Masai Mara (B.L.D)Today, we can take some time out to relax and enjoy our surroundings. The early risers may wish to enjoy an optional balloon ride offering spectacular views over the region or you may wish to have another morning game drive. For some, just sitting by the wonderful pool enjoying the view will suit just fine. Monday 22 September Masai Mara – Serengeti (B.L.D)Today, we cross the border into Tanzania as we drive to the Serengeti National Park, undoubtedly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and the greatest concentration of game anywhere. The exquisite Kirawira Tented Camp stands high on the bluff of a bush-cloaked ridge, commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the Serengeti National Park. The tented camp is the epitome of colonially-styled safari luxury. Tuesday 23 September Serengeti (B.L.D)A full day in the Serengeti with game drives and the opportunity to relax. (Look out for the surprise breakfast today!). It was 1913 and great stretches of Africa were still unknown to the white man when Stewart Edward White, an American hunter, set out from Nairobi. Pushing south, he recorded: “We walked for miles over burnt out country… Then I saw the green trees of the river, walked two miles more and found myself in paradise.” He had found Serengeti which has come to symbolize paradise to many, especially the Masai, who have grazed their cattle on the vast grassy plains for millennia. To them it was Siringitu – “the place where the land goes on forever.” Wednesday 24 September Serengeti (B.L.D)We spend another full day in the Serengeti, enjoying the surroundings and viewing wildlife. The wildlife is plentiful, the landscape is fascinating and our lodge is filled with all the comforts one could need. We stay at Mbuzi Mawe this evening. Thursday 25 September Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (B.L.D)We drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world. Its endearing charm stems from its overwhelming physical beauty and the abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. En route, we visit Olduvai Gorge, site of archeological findings where traces of pre-historic man dating back 3.5 million years have been discovered. We arrive at our lodge in time for lunch with the remainder of the day at leisure. We spend 2 nights at Serena Ngorongoro Lodge. Friday 26 September Ngorongoro Conservation Area (B.L.D)The jewel in Ngorongoro’s crown is the deep volcanic crater, the largest un-flooded and unbroken caldera in the world. About 20kms across, 600 meters deep and 300 square kms in area, the crater is a breath-taking natural wonder. It contains a huge number and variety of wildlife and fauna. We have the full day to explore the crater. Saturday 27 September Ngorongoro – Amboseli (B.L.D)Today we drive back across the border into Kenya and Amboseli National Park set below the most famous symbol in Africa – Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our home for the next 2 nights is Amboseli Serena Lodge in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro set beside acacia trees and a natural spring amidst more big game than perhaps anywhere else in Africa. The Lodge is in harmony with its environment offering unique guest services and exceptional amenities. Sunday 28 September Amboseli (B.L.D)We will have plenty of time for morning and afternoon game drives, enjoying the view of “The Roof of Africa”, Mt Kilimanjaro. Here the major attraction is the large herds of elephants. Monday 29 September Amboseli – Nairobi – Dubai (B.L)We depart Amboseli and travel back to Nairobi Airport. Late afternoon, we join our flight to Dubai. Arrival time is late evening and overnight accommodation is reserved at the airport. Tuesday 30 September Dubai – Auckland (B)Time for the last leg of our journey on our flight home. Wednesday 01 October AucklandArrive Auckland early afternoon.
