The Best of Kenya & Tanzania: A Safari & Cultural Experience

Depart on overnight flights from the USA.

Arrivals in Nairobi in the late evening. Meet your Group Leader on arrival and check in to the hotel.

At the hotel.

After breakfast, your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We will then depart by bus for the Nairobi National Museum. As described, this Museum presents all different aspects of culture, history, arts and nature. The museum has different permanent galleries from the cradle of human kind, story of mammals, snake park and the Kenyan history.

At a local restaurant.

During a special presentation, learn about the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya efforts to increase the numbers of endangered Rothschild Giraffe at the Giraffe Center, where you will have the rare treat of hand-feeding these gentle giants and face them eye-to-eye from an elevated viewing platform. Return to the hotel in early afternoon.

On your own to explore local fare.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will check-out of our hotel and depart in the morning by jeep for Amboseli National Park. Check-in to the lodge and the first stop in your safari journey. Settle into your rooms and enjoy the gorgeous view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance from the lodge grounds.

At the lodge.

Join your Group Leader for an orientation to game viewing and the wildlife of East Africa. Then put your new knowledge to work as you set out on your first game drive in the park.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge after the morning game drive.

As the sun rises, head out to continue the search through the varied wildlife habitats of the park. Later after a brief rest and before lunch join your Group Leader for a presentation: "Understanding the Tribes of Kenya and Tanzania" with a focus on the culture and customs of the Maasai.

At the lodge.

After lunch, head back out in search of big game. Before dinner, meet with an expert from the Amboseli Elephant Trust to learn about the majestic East African Elephant.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

This morning we leave early, enjoying a scenic game drive through the western part of Amboseli to the Tanzanian border. Late in the morning we stop at the border for formalities and to change vehicles. We continue our drive from the border to the city of Arusha. The drive offers an excellent look into rural life in Kenya and Tanzania.

At the lodge.

Located in the northern highlands of Tanzania, beneath the twin peaks of Mt. Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is the safari capital of the country. Guests embarking on the popular northern safari circuit all stop in the ‘Geneva of Africa’ to prepare for their journeys into the African bush. From its two-lane streets, the dramatic crater of Mt. Meru stands over the town like a majestic sentinel, its crater strewn with thick clouds, its slopes dark with verdant forest. Arusha’s ideal location near the major national parks and its highland setting make it a peaceful idyll of relaxation before the start of an exciting journey. Built by the Germans as a center of colonial administration in the early 20th century, Arusha was a sleepy town with a garrison stationed at the old boma and a few shops around a grassy roundabout. From its backwater status amidst the farmlands and plantations of northern Tanzania, today Arusha is one of the country’s most prosperous towns. The site for the United Nations Criminal Tribunal on the Rwandan genocide and the headquarters for the Tripartite commission for East African Co-operation, Arusha is a major center of Tanzanian diplomacy and international relations.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

After breakfast we will head towards Ngorongoro Crater and stop at a small Tanzanian village to learn about local everyday life. Mto wa Mbu is a bustling village at the base of the Rift Valley wall, near the shore of Lake Manyara, who has evolved over the years into a trading post for many local tribes. Because of this, the village is often surrounded by local farmers, skilled artisans and craftsmen, as well as traditional and contemporary artists. During our visit, we meet a local guide for an excursion through banana plantations, rice fields, local craft and fresh fruit markets. During the walk we will learn about dual farming and the innovative ways local farmers water, care for and pick their crops. There are several types of bananas grown here, but pay special attention to the red bananas popular in East Africa. We will pass through areas with villagers going about their daily activities, including the local school and artisan workshops, and we encourage you to give a polite “jambo” in greeting as we walk by.

At a local village.

After our visit we will continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where agriculture, wildlife conservation and tourism co-exist in one of Africa’s first experiments of multiple-land use. Upon arriving at the park gates learn more about the larger conservation area from your Group Leader. Prior to dinner take the time to enjoy the view of the crater floor from your rooms or from the terrace. The crater rim is a perfect viewpoint to observe the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

Descend the slope into the Ngorongoro Crater in 4-wheel-drive vehicles to spend the morning observing wildlife on the floor of the crater. The 102 square miles of the Ngorongoro Crater are home to 25,000 mammals, many of which are resident due to the geographically enclosed nature of the crater. The crater is also home to the last population of black rhino in northern Tanzania.

Stop for an adventurous picnic lunch in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Continue your time in the unique Ngorongoro crater on a game drive before returning to the lodge. The sun makes a dramatic exit as it sinks below the crater rim. Later enjoy an early evening Presentation: "The Crater Ecosystem and Conservation."

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

Depart early, with luggage, leaving the Crater Rim and make your way to the Serengeti. En route, visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum and learn about the Leakey’s research and discovery of the earliest known species of humanoids. Apart from the museum visit we will enjoy a stunning view of the gorge that shows fantastic layers of geological history of our planet.

Lunch box at Olduvai or Naabi gate before entering Serengeti park.

As you continue driving to the lodge enjoy a game drive though the plains of the Serengeti. Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site. The name of the plain is often said to be derived from the Maasai language, meaning "endless plains". This area can get very crowded with Zebras, Wildebeest and Gazelles often with young newborns, be on the lookout for wildlife, as this unfenced land is all part of the Serengeti ecosystem.

At the lodge.

Weather permitting, you will enjoy a late evening presentation titled "Stargazing: A Unique Night Under the African Sky" led by your Group Leader.

At the lodge after the morning game drive.

Get out early to search for game and perhaps a fresh kill just as the sun rises over the Serengeti. Look for fresh tracks and see the Park come to life.

Boxed lunch en route.

In the afternoon before going back out on safari, stop at the Serengeti Visitor Center to experience an illustrated presentation about the "Circle of Life". After the presentation, return to the plains to follow the watering holes along the Seronera creek in search of antelope, and other creatures gathering to re-hydrate.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

In the early morning depart the lodge to enjoy a scenic drive through the Western Corridor to the shores of Lake Victoria. As we drive west watch for the abundant resident wildlife stopping along the way to observe new sightings. Keep a lookout for animals as you finish the drive to Lake Victoria. Arrive at your lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria.

At the lodge.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to relax in your rooms, perhaps take a relaxing walk around the lodge grounds. Later in the afternoon we will meet once again for a presentation by our Group Leader.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

We will be picked up in the morning by local fishermen and taken via canoe to their village of Mwaburugu, on the shores of Lake Victoria. Get an opportunity to explore the village on foot and learn about local fishing techniques as well as get an insight into everyday village life. Return to the lodge again via canoe.

At the lodge.

Enjoy an afternoon bird spotting walk around the grounds of the lodge led by an expert guide. Over 240 species of bush, swamp and water birds have been spotted on the lodge’s 100 hectares of savanna. Many of these birds are indigenous to this area, and are rarely if ever seen in the Serengeti. During sunset, both the sky and lake glow together in a magnificent explosion of light.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

After breakfast continue north to Kenya. As you drive on the main road, you will notice completely different local architecture passing through local villages. After crossing the border, continue to the local air strip in Kenya where a charter flight awaits to bring you to the Maasai Mara. When you arrive in the Maasai Mara, the trip to the lodge is a game drive. Search for the creatures of the Mara before arriving at your lodge.

At the lodge.

In the afternoon set out on a game drive from your lodge keeping a watch for many resident lion prides or the fastest of all cheetah.

At the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge after the morning game drive.

As the light brightens over the Mara, head toward the river to observe hippo, crocodile and birdlife. Depending on the migration, you may see wildebeest attempting the dangerous crossing. Later in the morning before lunch join a local Masai Moran on a nature walk through the edges of the Maasai Mara Park. Learn about local plant life and maybe observe some insects and lizards.

At the lodge.

There is a possibility that you will visit a Maasai Village en route today. It is truly a journey into timelessness, back to the way things have been for thousands of years. Some Road Scholars remain forever touched by the experience, the apparent purity, hopefulness, discipline, and pride of the Maasai people they share this time with. However, we would like to prepare you for the reality of this visit. We hope you will understand that there is a chance you will be asked to buy their wares, trinkets, wood carvings, etc. at an improvised village market. The goods offered do not have prices on them. The offered prices could be much higher for similar items found elsewhere. We have asked the Maasai elders to price the goods several times, however, they have not done so yet and do not understand why we are asking them to - to the extent where they think we are trying to westernize them. At this time, we want to preserve the experience, however, we ask that you resist the selling pressure and stand firm and refuse purchase of any goods if you feel uncomfortable at any time. In the afternoon set out on your final game drive. Enjoy the sounds and sights as you say farewell to the Maasai Mara. Later join your Group Leader for a final wrap-up session and presentation.

Final dinner in the Maasai Mara at the lodge.

At leisure.

At the lodge after the morning game drive.

At dawn, embark on a drive toward the river to observe hippo, crocodile and birdlife. Depending on the migration, you may see wildebeest attempting the dangerous crossing. In the late morning, we will drive to a local air strip and board a small plane back to Nairobi.

At the hotel restaurant.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to rest and pack prior to your flight. You have the use of your day room until 6:30 PM. We will be leaving the airport shortly after this time.

On your own.

Coach departs to the airport with luggage.