Welcome to Africa! Arrive this evening, check in to your hotel, and prepare for your safari adventure!

This morning, visit the KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM, dedicated to the author of Out of Africa. Next, stop at the GIRAFFE CENTER, a non-profit organization focused on saving the Rothschild’s giraffe. Here you will learn a bit more about this sub-species and have the opportunity to feed them. Then, head north to OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY to begin your search for the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Situated on the plains near Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in all of East Africa. After lunch, enjoy a GAME DRIVE in the conservancy. During your game drive, stop at the CHIMP SANCTUARY. In partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Jane Goodall Institute, the sanctuary was established to provide a long-term home for orphaned and abused chimpanzees. Here, see the chimps and learn more about their plight. This evening, enjoy dinner at your camp. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, travel to SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE, known for its arid landscape and unique wildlife. Due to the dry climate, grasses are sparse, making animals easier to spot. Meanwhile, the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which borders the reserve, provides a year-round water supply. These two factors make for a great game-viewing experience. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon GAME DRIVE, where you have the chance to see rare animals you will not see in other parts of the country. Commonly referred to as the Samburu “Special 5,” this includes Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and the gerenuk, a long-necked antelope that feeds while standing on its hind feet. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. In addition to the Samburu “Special 5,” the reserve is home to an abundance of other species. Large numbers of elephant and Nile crocodile can be seen, as well as waterbuck, Kirk’s dik-dik, and Grant’s gazelle. Where there is prey, predators can be found, so lion, cheetah, and leopard are often spotted. The reserve is also a great place for bird watching, with over 300 species. During your afternoon game drive you will also visit a LOCAL SAMBURU VILLAGE. Here you will learn a bit more about their culture and day-to-day life. Between game drives you will have time to relax at your lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Leave Samburu and make a stop at NYAHURURU FALLS, also known as Thompson’s Falls. Continue on to LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK, famous for its population of pink flamingos that feeds in the alkaline water of the lake. Other animals you may see on your GAME DRIVE include waterbuck, giraffe, impala, and striped hyena. This is also your best chance to see a white rhinoceros, commonly spotted here. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The Rift Valley lakes make up some of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world. Lake Naivasha is the highest of all the lakes and features pristine fresh water. Here you will take a CRUISE around the lake to view the resident hippos. If you are lucky, you might even spot a fish eagle. Continue on to the MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE and take a GAME DRIVE before settling in at your lodge for the evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES in Kenya’s most famous game area. The Maasai Mara is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong permanent population of game. During the months of July and August the great migration of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest enlarges the population by almost 2 million. This provides a great food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. Keep your eyes out for elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo, too. During your afternoon game drive you will also visit a LOCAL MAASAI VILLAGE. Here you will learn more about this semi-nomadic tribe, famous for herding cattle and their distinctive red clothing. During the heat of the day, enjoy time at your lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Take a short GAME DRIVE on the way to the airstrip, where you will board a plane for the quick flight to Nairobi. After a short break, grab your picnic lunch and drive to AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK for an AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE en route to your lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning, take one last GAME DRIVE in Kenya before crossing the border into Tanzania. After lunch in Arusha, proceed to TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, where the savannah grasslands are dotted with baobab and acacia trees. Enjoy a GAME DRIVE en route to your lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

One last GAME DRIVE in Tarangire before heading to the village of Mto wa Mbu. Here, a local guide who grew up in the village will take you on a WALKING TOUR for an up-close view of daily life. Along the way you will visit a LOCAL HOME, FARM, and a SCHOOL. You will also walk through the COLORFUL LOCAL MARKET. After lunch at your lodge, continue on to LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK, located at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. This small park is ecologically diverse, with groundwater forests, grassy plains, and the alkaline Lake Manyara itself. Here you will enjoy a GAME DRIVE and have the chance to see elephant, giraffe, zebra, and Cape buffalo. The park is also home to world’s largest concentration of baboons. Continue on to your lodge for the evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, drive to SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, Tanzania’s largest and most famous park. Home to the annual wildebeest migration, it attracts visitors from around the world and is great for game viewing year round. Enjoy lunch at your lodge before an afternoon GAME DRIVE. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. The Serengeti is home to all of the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and rhino. The park is also home to myriad other animals, including cheetah, giraffe, gazelle, and eland. On your morning game drive a BUSH BREAKFAST has been arranged for you. Sip on a mimosa as you savor every moment of this memorable experience. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning, say goodbye to the Serengeti with a GAME DRIVE. Then, visit OLDUVAI GORGE, commonly referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind.” Part of the Great Rift Valley, this 30-mile-long, steep-sided ravine is where the Leakeys made some of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries, including the remains of several early hominids and fossilized hominid footprints estimated to be around 3.7 million years old. Continue on to the rim of NGORONGORO CRATER, which is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Descend into the crater for a full-day GAME DRIVE, including a picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is technically a caldera—the world’s largest unflooded, in fact, at over 2,000 feet deep with a floor covering over 102 square miles. Game viewing here is fantastic, as most of the animals stay in this area year round. You can see lion, Cape buffalo, hippo, elephant, and flamingo. This is also your best chance to see the rare black rhinoceros. Views from the rim are stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset! (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

This morning, travel back to Arusha, where your tour ends with lunch. We have secured a day room for you at the Mount Meru Hotel, before a transfer to the airport for your late-evening flight. (Breakfast, Lunch)