13 Day Explore East Africa Safari
Countries: Kenya , Tanzania
Destinations: Nairobi , Masai Mara , Serengeti National Park , Ngorongoro Crater
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 13
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
Your adventure begins in Kenya with a night in Nairobi, before quickly moving on to the private Mara Naboisho Conservancy, which embraces excellent game-viewing opportunities, walking safaris and unforgettable night safaris. Then, head to Tanzania’s Serengeti for its sweeping savannah plains and the chance to witness the annual Great Migration of wildebeest, zebra and the predators that rely on them for sustenance. Finally, top off your incredible journey with a visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to the Big Five.
There are endless possibilities to create a single itinerary that incorporates both Kenya and Tanzania. This option provides the best accommodation in the most desirable locations and a wide range of exciting activities to make your safari experience unforgettable.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi | Hemingways Nairobi |
| 2 | Masai Mara | Naboisho Camp |
| 3 | Masai Mara | Naboisho Camp |
| 4 | Masai Mara | Naboisho Camp |
| 5 | Serengeti National Park | Olakira Migration Camp |
| 6 | Serengeti National Park | Olakira Migration Camp |
| 7 | Serengeti National Park | Olakira Migration Camp |
| 8 | Serengeti National Park | Dunia Camp |
| 9 | Serengeti National Park | Dunia Camp |
| 10 | Serengeti National Park | Dunia Camp |
| 11 | Ngorongoro Crater | The Highlands |
| 12 | Ngorongoro Crater | The Highlands |
| 13 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Nairobi
An Asilia driver will be ready to meet you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer you across town, skirting the perimeter of Nairobi National Park, to the tranquil neighbourhood of Karen. Named after Karen Blixen, the famous author of Out of Africa, this is where you’ll stay tonight at the stylish Hemingways Nairobi Hotel. This luxury boutique hotel creates the perfect environment to relax and unwind after a long flight. If time allows, the spa will invigorate tired muscles and a splash in the swimming pool will be refreshing. The Brasserie serves various international dishes, ensuring the most discerning palates are pampered and pleased.
Kenya
Kenya - The grand old dame of African safaris, Kenya has been at the forefront of the industry for decades, and with iconic reserves such as Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo, it has earned its place in safari royalty.
Kenya's wildlife is legendary, as is its hospitality, friendliness, and scenic beauty. With the Great Rift Valley running through the country, Kenya is home to some stunning landscapes, with lakes, valleys and mountains adding to the beautiful plains of the Masai Mara.
To add to the spectacular wildlife, Kenya is one of the best countries to experience the local tribes and cultures, in particular the Masai and Samburu.
Kenyan roads are notoriously bad however, so the majority of safaris we recommend are fly-in options to the various parks. The small group scheduled safaris all operate by road, so you would need to be prepared for what is called "the African massage".
The diversity of areas to visit in Kenya is astounding, with each game reserve offering something truly unique. And to top it off, the country has a splendid coastline which invites some pure relaxation after spending time in the bush.
Nairobi
One of Africa’s major cities, Nairobi is the UN’s fourth “World Centre,” East Africa’s commercial, media and NGO hub, and a significant capital in its own right, with a population of approximately 3 to 4 million.
Little more than a century old, it has real claims to Western-style sophistication and displays enormous vitality and buzz. On the surface the city accepts everyone with tolerance, and, in any downtown street, you can see a complete cross section of Kenyans, every variety of tourist, and migrants and refugees from many African countries.
If you plan to stay in Nairobi for any length of time, you’ll soon get the hang of balancing reasonable caution with a fairly relaxed attitude - thousands of visitors do it every year. If you’re only here for a few days, you’re likely to find it a stimulating city.
Hemingways Nairobi
Hemingways Nairobi, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the world, is an elegant boutique hotel situated in Nairobi's Karen residential area with magnificent views of the nearby Ngong hills. Sensitively designed for the discerning business and leisure traveller, Hemingways Nairobi offers the full facilities expected in a modern day luxury boutique hotel. The hotel offers forty-five luxury suites which include the Hemingways suite, The Blixen suite, 19 Executive rooms and 24 deluxe rooms. The Hemingways Nairobi Brasserie serves classic dishes and the very best of local and international cuisine and is open everyday for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
Day 2 : Masai Mara
After breakfast, an Asilia driver will meet you for your short transfer to Wilson Airport for your flight to Ol Seki Airstrip. On arrival, a guide from Naboisho Camp will meet you at the airstrip to welcome you to the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. After a quick briefing of the area, set off on a game drive as you slowly approach the camp. After a short introduction to camp, settle in for lunch, followed by the opportunity to enjoy the swimming pool, relax, and acclimatise to your new surroundings.
In the late afternoon, gather in the lounge for a cup of tea and slice of freshly baked cake before setting out for an afternoon game drive across the plains of the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. This wildlife-rich environment offers a remarkable game-viewing experience, from significant prides of lion to families of cheetah and large herds of elephant. Enjoy a refreshing sundowner and snacks while soaking up the silence and tranquillity and watching the sun slip slowly below the endless horizon. On return to camp, there’s time to enjoy a hot shower before some convivial conversation by the crackling fire followed by a delicious three course dinner. As you lie in bed on your first night in the African bush, enjoy the sounds of the night as they gently envelop and lull you to sleep.
Masai Mara
It is no surprise that the Masai Mara ranks up near the top of most famous game reserves in the world. The land of the Mara is consistently covered with herds of antelope, interspersed with prides of lions, journeys of giraffe, dazzles of zebra, and almost every other collective animal noun you can think of.
The sightings are nothing short of fantastic, and it is definitely the park to visit to tick off your "wildlife of Africa" list. The scenery of the park is similar to the open plains of the Serengeti, although the Mara is dotted with more trees, and the game viewing is equal to, or can be better than, its southerly sister.
Within the boundaries of the reserve, there are certain areas which can seem quite crowded with travellers, although there are places to escape from the crowds, and enjoy the Mara in some exclusivity. Private concessions surround the Masai Mara, allowing more private safari experiences, and additional activities.
The Masai Mara is easily accessed from Nairobi, with a number of scheduled flights operated each morning and afternoon. It can also be reached by road, but be prepared that it can be quite a bumpy 6 hour drive, with sections being particularly broken up.
Naboisho Camp
There are nine spacious tents at Naboisho Camp. And because it’s based in a private conservancy adjacent to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Naboisho is one of the best camps for your safari in the Mara, known for its amazing guiding. A Kenyan safari at Naboisho goes beyond the usual game drives. Explore the Mara on foot, keep your eyes peeled on a night drive or spend an unforgettable night camping in the bush for a real safari adventure. With 266 species of birds to spot, there are also ample birdwatching opportunities.
Day 3 - 4 : Masai Mara
Walking safaris usually start early to take advantage of the milder morning hours before the temperature rises and when wildlife is most active. They can be customised in length to meet the group’s needs. Alternatively, an excursion to a neighbouring Maasai village offers an opportunity to learn about a different culture and traditional way of life.
Game drives are also offered in the early morning, often with a packed breakfast to enjoy in a suitable location before returning to camp in the late morning. A second game drive sets out late afternoon to explore a different area of the conservancy, stopping at sunset for a cool drink. For a different experience, enjoy a night game drive to explore the darkness and seek out some elusive, rare and shy nocturnal animals. Take the time to look up, too, as the night skies will mesmerise you.
Day 5 : Serengeti National Park
After a delicious breakfast in camp, you will be transferred to Ol Seki airstrip for your flights to Tanzania and the Serengeti. You will fly to the Kenya border and cross by road to complete immigration formalities, before a final flight hop into the heart of the Serengeti. You will be welcomed by an Olakira guide and transferred to the camp in time for lunch. Settle into your tented accommodation and enjoy some afternoon tea and cake, before joining your guide for an adventurous game drive on the stunning Serengeti savannah plains. Fireside cocktails will be served after your safari, followed by a delicious dinner in the dining tent.
Tanzania
A land full of icons, with the names Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar immediately evoking images of exotic locations and abundant wildlife. A Tanzanian safari is an experience for all of the senses, and caters for every kind of traveller.
Tanzania is a country which was seemingly designed with the word "safari" in mind. There are enough national parks and different safari activities to keep travellers coming back year on year, with the added benefit of easily combining beautiful tropical beaches with the wildlife rich plains.
A Tanzanian safari is a journey in the true sense of the word, with each itinerary feeling like an exploration out into the wilderness. Moving from park to park, either by road or air, the countryside offers something new at each stop.
The plains of the Serengeti have become synonomous with an African safari, and by visiting the right areas and camps, you will be able to see the legendary wildebeest migration as it moves across the grasslands in constant search of fresh grazing and water.
To the south of the country are the remote reserves of Selous and Ruaha, while in the west you can trek into the mountains to witness chimpanzees along the shores of the mystical Lake Tanganyika.
Serengeti National Park
The word "Siringit" means "endless plains," and this is understandably from where the Serengeti National Park takes its name. The iconic, endless, golden plains of Africa are nowhere more evident than within this national park, as they stretch off into eternity, dotted throughout with thousands of animals.
Located in the north-west corner of Tanzania, alongside Lake Victoria, the Serengeti has earned its place as one of the world's most famous wildlife areas. While best known for the enormous herds of the wildebeest migration, there is far more to the Serengeti than this, and the national park can be enjoyed even when you are not in the vicinity of this spectacle.
The national park itself is roughly 14 500 square kilometres, but it forms part of the greater Serengeti eco-system, which comprises the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the bordering Masai Mara, in Kenya, with the country boundary between Kenya and Tanzania seperating the two.
The Serengeti can be accessed on a road safari, usually in combination with the Ngorongoro Crater, or there are regular daily flights into the park from Arusha.
Olakira Migration Camp
The mobile Olakira Migration Camp follows the wildebeest migration around the Serengeti, from the epic river crossings in the north to the southern plains where they give birth to thousands of calves each year. Stay with us to witness the greatest animal migration in the world.
Between June and October, Olakira is in the north to witness the crossing of the Mara River. Here, watch thousands of wildebeest take a leap of faith into the water, facing hungry Nile crocodiles and cantankerous hippos. When the herds are on the move, the air is full of grunting, thudding hooves and billowing dust. From December until March, we move camp to the southern plains of the Serengeti, where the wildebeest go to give birth and graze on lush grass, and predators such as lions and cheetahs gather to prey on the young.
Even at night, the Olakira Migration Camp experience is special. Our mesh-covered stargazing tents allow guests to sleep under a sky of glittering stars.
Day 6 - 7 : Serengeti National Park
Game drives are the main activity offered at Olakira. They depart twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, when the wildlife is most active, returning to camp for a siesta in the heat of the day. The morning game drive usually departs with a picnic breakfast, allowing for an early start, but it is possible to have breakfast in camp and a later start if preferred. An afternoon game drive will often stop for sundowners with drinks and snacks on the open plains.
The Serengeti is famed for its abundant and diverse wildlife, from pods of hippo to prides of lion. The Great Migration adds a whole new level of excitement with dramatic river crossings in the northern Serengeti, and calving in the open plains of the south. Predators are never far from the migrating herds, taking their pick from the abundant prey.
At the end of an action-packed day, enjoy a delicious dinner and retire to your unique accommodation, offering you a chance to sleep beneath the starry sky in the comfort of your tent.
Day 8 : Serengeti National Park
Take advantage of your travel day and enjoy a leisurely morning with a chance to have breakfast at the camp before proceeding to the airstrip for your flight to Seronera. A guide from Dunia Camp will meet you and briefly introduce you to the area. You will then embark on a slow game drive towards the campsite, leaving the bustling Seronera region behind as you head to the Moru Kopjes and the sanctuary of the boutique and delightful Dunia Camp. This camp is staffed entirely by women, Africa’s first all-female safari camp, and a source of great pride and passion for the team, who offer a warm welcome to the family for all guests.
After lunch under the umbrella of acacia trees, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the beautiful views from your private veranda or the elevated lounge. As the temperature cools in the afternoon, join others for coffee, tea or your favourite beverage before setting out for an afternoon game drive across the sweeping Serengeti plains.
As the sun starts to set, find a good spot and enjoy a drink while taking in the serene surroundings. Once back in the camp, you’ll have time to freshen up before enjoying drinks by the fire beneath the sparkling canopy of stars, followed by a delicious dinner.
Dunia Camp
Dunia, in Tanzania’s central Serengeti, is well placed for wildlife spotting. During the annual Great Migration, guests can watch giant herds of wildebeest moving through the area right from camp.
Farther afield, you may spot lions using the granite boulders of Moru Kopjes to scan the plains for prey.
Eight spacious tents overlook the Serengeti National Park’s vast golden plains. Kick back on your private terrace or in the open-sided main tent with a chilled G&T and enjoy the peace and stillness. Opt to start your day soaring over the plains in a hot-air balloon and end it dining under the stars in the bush.
Our hospitable staff will do everything to ensure your comfort. Dunia is the only camp in Africa run entirely by women and the team is an inspirational example of what women can achieve in a male-dominated industry.
Day 9 - 10 : Serengeti National Park
Two full days of exciting game viewing lie before you. Game drives are Dunia’s primary activity, both morning and afternoon. We recommend enjoying a picnic breakfast for the morning adventure to maximise time discovering the wildlife. Should the prospect of heading out for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, only returning to camp in the mid-afternoon, appeal to you, this can easily be arranged.
Dunia Camp’s central location allows access to the herds of the Great Migration many times a year. With a picnic lunch, a full-day game drive can reach the southern plains, some of the western corridor, and most central regions, providing a diverse game viewing experience. For an additional cost, there is the option of enjoying a hot air balloon safari and the opportunity for an entirely different perspective on game viewing.
Whatever your choices, our warm and hospitable team at Dunia Camp will welcome you back for a relaxing and delicious dinner and the promise of a beautiful night’s sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti.
Day 11 : Ngorongoro Crater
After a delicious breakfast at camp, you will head towards Seronera Airstrip for your flight to Lake Manyara. Upon arrival, a guide from The Highlands will meet you and take you on a 3-hour scenic drive to the heights of Ngorongoro. During the drive, you will pass through the lively market town of Karatu, eventually passing through the gates of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road then steadily climbs the outer edges of the Ngorongoro Crater through a dense tropical jungle until you reach the crater rim road. Here, you can take a break, enjoy the stunning views and have a picnic lunch that you brought from Dunia Camp.
After lunch, you will continue your journey around the crater rim, into the lush green highlands of Ngorongoro. You will see goat herders and schoolchildren enthusiastically waving at you along the way. You will circumnavigate the base of Olmoti Crater, arriving on its northern slopes and the warmth of The Highlands’ welcome fireplace. After the long drive, you can relax in the camp and acclimatise to the altitude before having a dinner feast in the dining tent beside a roaring fire.
Ngorongoro Crater
A unique and fascinating game viewing destination in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on any Tanzania safari.
Being the world's largest intact caldera, and the result of a collapsed volcano thousands of years ago, the 260 square kilometres of crater floor hosts up to 25 000 animals at all times of year. This makes it one of the most dense wildlife areas in Africa, and allows for many memorable sightings.
Driving down the steep walls of the Crater early in the morning is an experience in itself, and you can always sense the excitement of heading deep into one of the world's natural wonders.
With lodges perched directly on the rim, hundreds of metres above the Crater floor, Ngorongoro accommodation provides you with some of the most incredible views, and the location will surely be a highlight of your holiday.
While being criticised at times for the number of vehicles on drives along the Crater floor, it is necessary to expect that tourist numbers here will be quite high, and be prepared to share this phenomenon with other travellers. Once your mind is not concerned with other vehicles, you can enjoy the Ngorongoro Crater for what it is; one of the world's truly remarkable wildlife areas.
The Highlands
The Highlands has redefined the Ngorongoro Crater experience, offering an array of activities afforded by the camp’s exclusive location and a combination of comfort and contemporary style.
The award-winning camp with its eight domed canvas and glass suites is situated on the edge of a forest that skirts Olmoti Volcano. The surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The camp feels remote, but is within easy reach of Ngorongoro, where guests can go on day-long game drives to spot lions, elephants and giraffes, with a midday picnic break under a shady tree. From camp, hike up to the top of Olmoti for staggering views, or take a half-day trip to the soda lake in Empakaai Crater, where thousands of pink flamingos congregate. Guests can also interact with the local community, learning about Maasai culture and walk the cattle back to the boma at the end of the day.
At night, gather around a crackling fire with a glass of wine or whiskey before sitting down to a delicious three-course dinner.
Day 12 : Ngorongoro Crater
You will have an early start to the day to ensure you are one of the first safari vehicles on the Ngorongoro Crater floor. When you leave the camp, it may be cold and dark, but you will be wrapped up in warm jackets and Maasai blankets. The cold will quickly be forgotten as you descend the inner walls of the unbroken caldera, an unforgettable setting for a safari.
Once you reach the warmer temperatures of the crater floor, you will have some time to enjoy coffee and breakfast snacks while experiencing the unique game drive. Seek out rhino in the forest, or lion prowling the grasslands, before stopping for a picnic lunch by the hippo pool, where grunting rafts of hippo will accompany you. After lunch, you will start your journey up the caldera’s walls to the rim and return to the camp for a restful afternoon. Perhaps indulge in a spa treatment or sauna, or simply unwind at your dome suite.
In the evening, you can enjoy your favourite drinks at the bar before being seated for a delicious dinner accompanied by the warm and friendly attention of The Highlands team.
Day 13 - Day of Departure
After having breakfast in the camp, you will depart from The Highlands and return along the crater rim and down the outer slopes of Ngorongoro until you reach Lake Manyara Airstrip. Should this mark the end of your itinerary, you will fly into Kilimanjaro Airport to collect your bags and connect with your onward travel.