Itinerary Expand all Nairobi to Arusha Day 1 Join the tour Arrive from your home city on independent flights in Nairobi, where you'll be met and transferred to Eka Hotel, your home while in Nairobi. Accommodaion: Eka Hotel or Similar Day 2 Fly to the Masai Mara Reserve Fly to the Masai Mara Reserve, a rich savannah famous for its concentration of plains game and predators, including leopard, cheetah and hyena. After checking into the Mara Serena Safari Lodge, enjoy the first game drive of your safari in Kenya and Tanzania. From our lodge, enjoy expansive views of the plains below. Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 A full day of game drives in the famed Masai Mara Reserve Our safari in Kenya and Tanzania itinerary includes a full day of game drives in the famed Masai Mara Reserve. Here in this northern extension of the Serengeti Plains, the land is teeming with elephant, large prides of lion, buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, giraffe and even topi — the only place in Kenya where they are common. You may rise early today for an optional hot air balloon safari. Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Enjoy one last game drive (time permitting) in the Mara before flying to Nairobi Enjoy one last game drive (time permitting) in the Mara before flying to Nairobi. From Nairobi, fly to Amboseli National Park, tucked on the Kenya/Tanzania border. On a clear day, every vista of this scenic park is dominated by views of Mt. Kilimanjaro — making a superb backdrop for your wildlife photography. Savor an afternoon game drive, watching the sun set across the park, before continuing to Amboseli Serena Lodge, where we spend two nights. Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Amboseli National Park Amboseli is one of the largest of Kenya’s parks. Although this is dry country, Amboseli’s location in the rain shadow of Kilimanjaro means that the park enjoys year-round water. Two permanent swamps are ideal for game viewing, drawing the park’s signature elephants, as well as giraffes and a variety of bird life, which we’ll look for during our game drives. Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Cross into Tanzania at Namanga and continue to Tarangire Cross into Tanzania at Namanga and continue to Tarangire, Tanzania’s third largest national park. Before checking into our comfortable accommodations at the Tarangire River Camp, we journey through the rolling countryside searching for the park’s populations of black rhino, antelope, leopard, lion and cheetah. Accommodation: Tarangire River Camp or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Sunrise sweeps across the savannah on our morning Tanzanian safari Sunrise will just be sweeping across the savannah on our morning Tanzanian safari, where our naturalist travel guides will point out elephants and some of the park’s 260 recorded bird species. Tarangire also hosts migrating herds of wildebeest, zebra and Grant’s gazelle, which we’ll look for during our escorted afternoon game drive. Accommodation: Tarangire River Camp or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Set out across the Great Rift Valley toward Lake Manyara National Park After breakfast, set out across the Great Rift Valley toward Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its herds of elephant and tree-climbing lions. Game drives here are an opportunity to see buffalo, baboon, waterbuck, flamingo and prides of lion. After a lovely picnic lunch, continue toward Ngorongoro, where we spend the next two nights at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, which features a wonderful view of the crater. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Descend 2,000 feet into the crater for thrilling game drives among Africa’s "Big Five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard) We’ll descend 2,000 feet into the crater for thrilling game drives among Africa’s "Big Five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard). This is your greatest chance to observe the black rhino in East Africa. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Head for the Serengeti, en route visiting Olduvai Gorge,where evidence of early man Head for the Serengeti, en route visiting Olduvai Gorge,where evidence of early man was found by the Leakey family in the late 1950s. The Serengeti Plains are home to the greatest concentration of large mammals on Earth, and our frequent game drives are a chance to see immense herds. We spend the next three nights under canvas at Serengeti Explorer Camp. Accommodation: Serengeti Explorer Camp or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 11-12 Game drives through the acacia savannahs and grasslands of the Serengeti Our itinerary features daily game drives through the acacia savannahs and grasslands of the Serengeti offering opportunities to spot wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, topi, impala and hartebeest along with predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog. Along the network of rivers and lakes, we may find hippos and crocodiles. You’ll have ample opportunity in camp to learn more about our expert driver/guides and staff, personable locals who strive to bring Africa to life during your safari. Accommodation: Serengeti Explorer Camp or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Travel to the airstrip and fly to Arusha After the final game drive (time permitting) of your safari in Kenya and Tanzania, travel to the airstrip and fly to Arusha. Dayrooms are available at the Lake Duluti Serena Hotel before transferring to the airport for your flight home. The tour ends here for those on independent flights back home. Accommodation: Lake Duluti Serena Hotel or Similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
Kenya Most nationalities do now require a visa for Kenya, including Britons, most EU nationals, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians. At present single entry and transit visas are available online (see below) and soon all visas will have to be obtained online. Alternatively visas are available in advance or on arrival. The Kenyan government are planning for all visas to be obtained online and may stop delivering visas on arrival on short notice. For the latest information please contact your local Kenyan High Commission or Consulate. For information about the online application process please visit http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html.The cost of the visa is US$50 for a single entry visa and US$100 for an East Africa visa (valid to travel in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda – if the website still says coming soon please check with the Kenyan High Commission) (https://immigration.ecitizen.go.ke/index.php?id=7) You will need to first register to the ecitizens website (including needing a photo 500px x 500px) before you can start applying. For the application process itself you will need details of the accommodation used (which we will send you) and itinerary as well as a photo 5.5cm x 5.5cm and a scanned or photographed copy of your passport’s bio/photo page. If after visiting Kenya you will also travel to Uganda and Rwanda, you may apply for East African Visa that will cover all three countries. This visa is currently available upon arrival in Nairobi. Please contact the Kenyan High Commission to obtain more information about the combined visa from Kenya.
Tanzania Most nationalities require a tourist visa for Tanzania, including British nationals, most EC nationals, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians. The visa is available at the border and the cost for British and most other European Nationals is USD50 cash, whilst for US citizens it is USD100 cash. It is possible to get the visa online, this can take at least ten days and up to 3 weeks. For more information and to apply for the visa please visit - https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/ If you are flying into Kilimanjaro Airport then we recommend arranging the visa in advance as the visa on arrival process has become more complicated and can now take longer.
Kenya There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Tanzania Please note that although Tanzania does not officially require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination, at most airports and other points of entry you may be required to show a certificate of vaccination or an exemption certificate. This includes coming from Europe via, or transiting through an endemic country including the airports of Nairobi (Kenya) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). If visiting Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania border officials have been known to demand proof of Yellow Fever vaccination or an exemption certificate. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
14 Nights Hotels, Lodges, & Camping Eka HotelRooms at Eka Hotel offer the very best in comfort and convenience. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite connection, mini-bar, electronic personal safety deposit box and complimentary tea and coffee-making facilities. While here, International Expeditions Kenya & Tanzania safari guests enjoy free high speed internet access. Mara Serena LodgeDeep within the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate safari destination. Drawing inspiration from the Maasai culture, the Mara Serena offers a blend of raw African splendor and sumptuous sophistication — perfect for Kenya and Tanzania travel. The ethnic décor draws on a vibrant color-palette of sunburst colors, embellished by Maasai art to create the look and feel of a traditional bush encampment. The lodge features individual rooms, each with their own balcony, a swimming pool and a spectacular restaurant overlooking a watering hole, where a fantasia of creatures collects to drink. While here, you may enjoy an optional balloon safari. Amboseli Serena LodgeFramed against Mount Kilimanjaro and surrounded by rolling grasslands, the Amboseli Serena Lodge draws on a subtle Maasai cultural motif, featuring natural woodcarvings, traditional artifacts and a glowing selection of local art. Sensitively located and built from ecologically sympathetic materials, its architectural shapes, style, textures and colors reflect the true essence of the African bush. To help you further enjoy your Kenya and Tanzania travel accommodations, each room offers an uninterrupted view over the ever-changing vistas of the African plains. Guests can enjoy an acacia-shaded swimming pool fed daily by the melt-waters of Kilimanjaro, a selection of natural timber game viewing decks and a water hole for the animals. Tarangire River CampTarangire River Camp set within 25,000 hectares of concession area. The camp accommodates guests in 20 safari tents, with en-suite hot and cold running water. The tents are tastefully furnished with all the comforts you will need and open out onto stunning views of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. Meals are a delicious affair, dinners are served by candlelight in the thatch and timber elevated dining area, with dramatic views across the Masai plains, where a friendly and attentive staff are always on hand to cater to your every need. The camp provides close access to premier wildlife viewing areas of the park. Special arrangements have been made with the native residents to share their land and the income brought into the area from the camp. Ngorongoro Sopa LodgePerched on the rim of the collapsed volcano, Ngorongoro Crater, the lodge has the most magnificent views over the crater floor, which is home to vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, the rare and endangered black rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, lion and herds of gazelle and wildebeest. All 91 double bedrooms feature two queen sized beds and a separate dressing area. Each room has a glass-fronted verandah, where you may enjoy a private view of the Crater. The lodge features a gift shop, internet café (for a fee), laundry service, and a swimming pool. Serengeti Explorer CampMobile tented camps ensure that you are as close to the action as possible and give you a sense of being in the wilds of the Serengeti. Impeccable service and fine dining provide a level of luxury and comfort in the middle of the African bush…where every meal is a “bush” meal. The tents are spacious with a veranda, easy chairs, proper beds and an en suite bathroom with flush toilets and hot water showers. Hot water is provided by camp staff in buckets. The lounge tent has a well–stocked bar as well as books on the Serengeti. The dining tent is well-appointed and the food is delicious. Each tent has a butler to attend to your every need. A full crew will accompany your expedition to take care of all the work and details involved in setting up and moving the mobile camps, as well as the housekeeping and catering services. Lake Duluti Serena HotelNestled at the foot of the wooded slopes of Mount Meru, this unique hotel stands amid coffee plantations on the shores of tranquil Lake Duluti. Designed to echo the traditional style of the colonial coffee farm, which originally stood on this site, Lake Duluti Serena offers a range of tastefully presented cottage-styled rooms set amid extensive landscaped grounds. Standing at the gateway to the famous Tanzanian ‘Northern Safari Circuit', the hotel offers a broad range of attractions, which include: walking, mountain biking, canoeing on the lake, and trips to the nearby Arusha and Mount Meru national parks. The hotel features a stone-built reception with adjoining lounge, library, restaurant, boutique and business center. Imposing in stature and spacious in concept, the design of the new building echoes the hotel's original incarnation as a working coffee farm dating back to colonial times. The lodge features a gift shop, business center, and Wi-Fi (for a fee). Ololo Safari LodgeOffering a tranquil garden setting, Ololo Safri Lodge is nestled at the Mbagathi River bordering the famous Nairobi National Park. The lodge features an outdoor pool and is within 45 minute's drive from Nairobi’s airports. Rooms are individually decorated, featuring earth tones and modern Colonial-style furnishings. All beds are draped with a mosquito net and a hair dryer and free toiletries are provided. Guests can enjoy the on site bar and open air restaurant located by the pool and overlooking the national park. The restaurant focuses on simple home-style cuisine, using seasonal ingredients and vegetables from their own garden. The guest lounge is located in the old original thatched farmhouse and has an open fireplace, wine cellar and small library for guests enjoyment.
December 31, 2019 Your Guide to Wildlife Adventures There are few experiences as enriching as seeing animals in the wild. One glance and you'll be hooked.