15 Day East Africa Migration Discoverer
Countries: Kenya , Tanzania
Destinations: Nairobi , Amboseli National Park , Arusha , Tarangire National Park , Karatu , Serengeti National Park , Lake Victoria Tanzania , Masai Mara
Group Size: 7
Duration (days): 15
Number of Adults: 7
Number of Children: 0
Join our East Africa Migration Discoverer lodge safari and follow the famous wildebeest migration! Travel through Tanzania and Kenya and discover all the secret highlights that East Africa holds. This East Africa accommodated safari is a small group safari where you will spend all of your nights in lodges / chalets or permanent tented camps. This safari starts and ends in Nairobi and includes all of the major highlights in Tanzania and Kenya.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi | The Boma Hotel |
| 2 | Amboseli National Park | Kibo Safari Camp |
| 3 | Amboseli National Park | Kibo Safari Camp |
| 4 | Arusha | The African Tulip |
| 5 | Tarangire National Park | Tarangire Simba Lodge |
| 6 | Karatu | Karatu Simba Lodge |
| 7 | Karatu | Karatu Simba Lodge |
| 8 | Serengeti National Park | Kisura Serengeti Camp |
| 9 | Serengeti National Park | Kisura Serengeti Camp |
| 10 | Serengeti National Park | Kisura Serengeti Camp |
| 11 | Lake Victoria Tanzania | Serenity on the Lake |
| 12 | Masai Mara | Mara Eden Safari Camp |
| 13 | Masai Mara | Mara Eden Safari Camp |
| 14 | Nairobi | The Boma Hotel |
| 15 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Nairobi
On your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for relaxation and overnight.
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.
The Boma Hotel
The Boma Hotel consists of 148 luxury guest rooms, in a variety of different categories. An executive lounge is available for guests staying in deluxe rooms and suites.
All rooms and suites come with luxury amenities including complimentary high-speed Internet access, multimedia plug and play port, LED television, direct dial up telephone, and have access to 24 hour room service.
Also provided are hairdryers, mini bars, tea and coffee making facilities, mineral water, weighing scales, in room safes, black out curtains, double glazed windows, and laundry kits.
Rooms accessible to the physically challenged are provided.
The Boma offers a choice of restaurants offering indoor as well as al fresco dining.
A variety of treatments can be enjoyed at the Zoezi Spa, and the gym is fully stocked with state of the art equipment.
On the roof top is a 15 by 7-metre solar heated pool with sun-deck and a pool bar. A children’s pool is also available.
Day 2 : Amboseli National Park
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and meet your guide and the rest of the group at reception for your pre-departure meeting at 08h00. Kindly ensure you are packed and checked out prior to your pre-departure meeting as you will depart shortly after this. The day starts with a morning game drive in Narobi National Park. We then make our way to the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage for a visit. The institution is named after the wife of the late famous Naturalist, David William Sheldrick who was the founder warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya from its inception in 1948 to 1976. The baby animals are are transported from the national park to the orphanage for a mud bath, and you'll have the opportunity to spend an hour with them. Lunch will follow before driving down to Amboseli National Reserve, arriving in the afternoon.
Amboseli National Park
The combination of masses of animals, diverse eco-systems, and the splendid views of Mount Kilimanjaro make Amboseli National Park high up on the must-see list of any Kenyan safari.
With desert landscapes to lush green swampland, the scenery changes entirely during game drives, with new photo opportunities presenting themselves all the time.
Amboseli is famous for its huge elephant herds, and is home to a remarkable concentration of species and birdlife, all the while being watched over by the highest peak in Africa.
Kibo Safari Camp
Kibo Safari Camp is a luxury tented camp in Amboseli National Park in Kenya at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
Day 3 : Amboseli National Park
Today we will head into the Amboseli National Park for a full day of game viewing in one of Kenya’s most famous parks. Amboseli is known for its huge elephant bulls with their magnificent tusks, which make for the ultimate safari picture with the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
Day 4 : Arusha
This morning after a leisurely breakfast, we make our way to the border and then onwards to Arusha. En route, we pass the Marangu waterfalls – which is a moderately strenuous walk (we do recommend sturdy shoes and a degree of walking fitness). We continue to Arusha via Moshi town – the gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park. Kindly be advised there will be a change of Guide and Vehicle at the border crossing into Tanzania.
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.
Arusha
Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is the country’s safari capital located close to some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks, which are Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) as well as Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa’s highest mountain.
The African Tulip
The African Tulip is an elegant and charming Luxury Boutique Hotel in the heart of Arusha. A warm and friendly welcome awaits guests who want to experience the best of Tanzanian hospitality. The hotel has been designed with safari travellers, business persons, families, honeymooners, elite and leisure travellers in mind. It has amenities of convenience whilst offering a high standard of luxury.
The hotel has 29 guest rooms, 7 of which are suites. The rooms are individually and stylishly decorated using warm African tones. A lot of African material and local art has been used reflecting the common thread that runs throughout the hotel which is one of consistence and quality.
Day 5 : Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will be collected from the hotel and set off towards Tarangire National Park for a full day’s game drives. The breath-taking views of the Maasai Steppe, and the mountains to the south, make a stop at Tarangire a truly memorable experience. Tarangire is as well known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees. It forms the centre of an annual migratory cycle that includes up to 3000 elephant, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra.
Tarangire National Park
In the past, Tarangire National Park was often overlooked by visitors to Tanzania, however it is now holding its own as one of the best dry season parks in the region.
During the dry months of July through to October, an enormous amount of wildlife is drawn inside Tarangire to access the water from the Tarangire River and the Silale Swamps, allowing for very rewarding game viewing experiences.
The park is home to some of the largest elephant herds of East Africa, and the scenery is particularly popular for the wide open, Serengeti-like plains, decorated with enormous and commanding Baobab trees.
Being only an hour and a half's drive from Arusha, Tarangire is easily accessible, and a great option to start or finish a road safari.
Tarangire Simba Lodge
Located near the new Sangaiwe Gate of Tarangire National Park, Tarangire Simba Lodge is situated in a wildlife-rich area with unhampered views to beautiful Lake Burunge, bordered by the park and a Wildlife Management Area. The setting is stunning; with a giant old Baobab tree anchoring one corner and a permeating feeling of real Africa. Classic tents under thatch with outdoor showers, wooden floors and glass doors & windows onto the private deck comprise accommodation. The common area is also tented with a separate bar/lounge and dining room. A large sundeck surrounds the swimming pool and there is an elevated platform for viewing wildlife or dining.
Day 6 : Karatu
After breakfast, you will be collected from the hotel and set off towards Lake Manyara National Park. The spectacular reserve is located at the north-western corner of Lake Manyara, a hallow soda lake, which lies at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. We enjoy a scenic drive in the park known not only for its large flocks of flamingos, but also for the elusive tree climbing lions.
Karatu
Karatu Simba Lodge
Karatu Simba Lodge offers a slice of life only to be found in rural Tanzania. Located about a thirty-minute drive from the gate of Lake Manyara National Park, approximately four kilometres off the main road to the entry of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the lodge is situated next to the Ngorongoro Forest. Accommodation is in individual twin, double or triple cottages or rondavels with canvas walls and solid attached bathroom and shower, tastefully and simply decorated with hand made furniture of African hardwood. Each unit has its own deck with safari chairs for relaxing and viewing the pastoral setting. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi in the common areas, an evening campfire and pool with views onto the forest. The lodge is eco-friendly with solar power and hot water and there is a well stocked bar and dining room serving food and coffee fresh from nearby plantations.
Day 7 : Karatu
After breakfast, we set out to experience the cultural diversity of Mto-wa-Mbu, starting at the market and visiting a Chagga family producing banana beer and passing by many different farms. On the way, your guide will introduce you to the various fruits and vegetables growing in the area and explain the irrigation system that sustains local crops. After having a delicious, home-
cooked meal in a local Mama’s home, we enjoy a visit to the Maasai Boma for the cultural encounter of a life time. The Maasai people are semi-nomadic herders, who choose to live a traditional lifestyle and are known for their distinctive traditional attire.
In the late afternoon we embark on a walking tour to Lake Papyrus. Here clients can view this magnificent lake filled with abundant birdlife and hippos. If time allows we can do some light trekking up to the waterfall. From here you will view the lake on top of the Rift valley wall; then onto the banana plantation and rice field, ending off the tour with a local village visit. On completion we return to the lodge for dinner & overnight.
Day 8 : Serengeti National Park
This morning we have an early departure for a game drive in the world renowned Ngorongoro Crater. For many, this wildlife spectacle is the pinnacle of their safari experience. The Ngorongoro Crater boasts all of the ‘Big 5’, including a small population of endangered black rhino. After a picnic lunch, we head towards the Serengeti through the stunning Southern Plains. This is the area that the Serengeti is best known for – the endless, undulating grass savannah with rocky outcrops that serve as isolated wildlife refuges.
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.
Kisura Serengeti Camp
Kisura luxury tented camp gives has 10 comfortable tents and is located in the central Serengeti (Seronera). The tents are fully furnished and equipped with hot showers, separate toilets, four poster beds, sitting areas, and spectacular views.
Day 9 : Serengeti National Park
Today you will be spending a full day game driving around the Seronera area of the Serengeti. The Serengeti is divided into three main areas: Seronera is the most central and accessible region and this is where the Park HQ is based, as well as most of the larger lodges and communal campsites. This part of the Serengeti is characterised by open plains of grassland, packed with animals. The Seronera River is the lifeblood of the Serengeti and this area is renowned for great game viewing all year round. It is also particularly good for lion and cheetah sightings, as well as the most elusive of all big cats, the leopard.
Day 10 : Serengeti National Park
We have another exciting day of exploring the Serengeti National Park ahead of us. With lunch boxes provided we continue with game drives throughout the afternoon, scanning the endless plains, spotting many animals and truly realizing just why this national park is so famous. In the late afternoon we drive back to the lodge for overnight.
Day 11 : Lake Victoria Tanzania
After breakfast we make our way to Lake Victoria. We pass through the villages of the Sukuma tribe, who grow ground nuts, sorghum and cassava as well as keeping livestock. Life carries on here simply as it has done for ages, but with a few poignant reminders of the 20th century. Some leisure time in the afternoon, or to possibly take a bird walk along the lake shore.
Lake Victoria Tanzania
Shared between the 3 countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Lake Victoria is surprisingly seldom visited by tourists, despite being splendidly scenic, and historically famous. As the source of the Nile River, Lake Victoria is an important body of water, and was searched for by many explorers.
Although a common sight to visitors to Uganda, due to the location of Entebbe and Kampala, travellers to Kenya and Tanzania generally do not make the journey to the lake shore, despite its proximity to both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti. And having been lucky enough to visit a fishing village on one of the lake's islands off Tanzania, we really think it is a pity that it is so overlooked.
Admittedly, there are relatively few accommodation options available within easy access to Lake Victoria, and it does add to time and costs when including a stopover in an itinerary, but if you have any inclination in seeing this majestic expanse of water, it does provide a very special experience.
Serenity on the Lake
This lodge is located 20 km outside the Serengeti National Park on shores of Lake Victoria. The lodge has lush gardens and stunning views, Serenity on the Lake provides a wonderful backdrop to the blue waters of the lake. Serenity on the Lake is a great location to start or end a safari.
Day 12 : Masai Mara
This morning you have the opportunity to take part in a boat excursion to one of the local fishing villages, before we bid Lake Victoria farewell and continue our journey northwards across the border into Kenya. Here we head to the Masai Mara, the traditional land of the Maasai people, who are permitted to graze their cattle in this area. The Masai Mara covers an area that includes the riverine forests along the banks of the Mara and Talek Rivers, acacia forests and the open plains of the savannah. Kindly be advised there will be a change of Guide and Vehicle at the border crossing into Kenya.
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.
Mara Eden Safari Camp
Mara Eden Safari Camp is a small boutique camp on the banks of the great Mara river that offers you an untamed wilderness experience.
Hidden deep in the Maasai Mara game reserve, along the great Mara River, lies a magical, untouched and untamed valley with crocodiles basking on the banks of the river and hippos fighting for dominance against a backdrop of absolute wilderness, for centuries the great wildebeest migration has thundered through this hidden valley and crossed the Mara River.
Nestled in the midst of this valley is our little boutique tented camp, sit out on the veranda and watch the magic of the African wilderness unfold before you.
Day 13 : Masai Mara
Today we spend the whole day game viewing in the world famous Masai Mara National Park. Here the various habitats are home to a great variety of game including lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest (gnu), giraffe, buffalo, jackal, topi, gazelle, impala and elephant. Hippopotamus and crocodile are also plentiful in the rivers and the bird life is very abundant.
Day 14 : Nairobi
After breakfast we head off towards Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. We visit the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum. The museum is the beautiful and historic farmhouse where Karen Blixen, author of “Out of Africa”, lived between 1917 and 1931 until she left Kenya after a series of personal tragedies. In the late afternoon arrive at your hotel. If time allows, we visit the Kazuri Beads Centre and workshop for those interested in shopping. Kazuri means "small and beautiful" in Swahili and it describes each striking ceramic bead which is shaped by hand by the women employed at the Kazuri workshop. Nairobi is a cosmopolitan, lively and interesting city. Its central business district is nicely compact and it is therefore a great place to tune into modern urban African life. Later in the afternoon, we head to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 15 - Day of Departure
The tour ends after breakfast this morning and you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flight.