nairobi, great rift valley, lake nakuru national park, meserani reptile park, buffal, giraffe, hippo overland volunteer programme wildlife flamingo

BEST OF EAST AFRICA - 10 DAYS
KENYA AND TANZANIA

This trip, which begins and ends in Nairobi, Kenya, visits two beautiful countries and will give the traveller a wonderful wildlife and cultural adventure. The trip departs from Nairobi early on Sunday morning and any visitors wishing to explore Nairobi should plan their arrival accordingly. Accommodation in Nairobi can be arranged through Amanzi Travel.

Location:

KENYA AND TANZANIA

Dates:

Regular departure dates throughout the year

Fees:

£695 - 10 days
USD - 585 Local Payment

Payment:

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure

Reference:

AT038

Special Offer:

Join the 3 day Masai Mara Safari with this trip - 160 USD local payment only (terms apply)

General Information

Start and finish point: Nairobi
Countries visited: Kenya and Tanzania
Departure Point: Hotel Boulevard, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi
Check-in time: 8.45am
Departure time: 9.30am
Pre-Departure Meeting: Held at the Departure Point at 1700 hours the day before departure
Please note: This trip requires a minimum of 4 people - please contact Amanzi Travel for available dates.

Itinerary

DAY 1: Nairobi to Nakuru (L / D)

The tour will leave the busy town of Nairobi and travel north to the market town of Nakuru. During the afternoon the tour will head into Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to this soda lake's edge. The numbers vary depending on the water level and when it's low, the lake almost turns pink. A really spectacular sight!

DAY 2: Nakuru to Lake Naivasha (B / L / D)

Lake Nakuru National Park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen. The morning will see the group will heading off early on a game drive in search of these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way. In the afternoon Lake Naivasha is reached where camp will be made in peaceful surroundings beside the lake. Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake, home to many pods of hippopotami and a multitude of bird life, the most magnificent being the African Fish Eagle with his regal cry. At 1880 m this is the highest of the Rift Valley lakes.

DAY 3: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara (B / L / D)

This morning the group will leave Lake Naivasha and enter Masai land where these habitual pastoralists are often seen tending their cattle from the side of the road. The town of Narok is passed before arriving at the campsite for the night. Acacia Camp looks onto the Meguarra hills and the stream that meanders by on the bottom end forms a natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserv

DAY 4: Masai Mara Game Reserve (B / L / D)

The whole day will be spent driving through nature as it was intended to be - huge plains, rolling hills and an abundance of wildlife matched nowhere else on earth. Hopefully the Big 5 will be seen - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard and if travelling between July and October it may be possible to see the impressive herds of more than one million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle in their Annual Migration. The end of the day will be spent sitting around the camp fire, watching the sun set - a perfect way to finish a day’s game viewing in this “Garden of Eden”.

DAY 5: Masai Mara to Nairobi (B / L)

After breakfast, the group will leave camp to head back through the Masai Mara arriving in Nairobi for the night. Due to the lack of infrastructure in this region, the drive through the bordering Masai Land is somewhat slow, but offers a great opportunity to take in the surrounding scenery and villages. The tour heads up the Rift Valley Escarpement which offers one of the rare opportunities to see this geographical phenomenon, before reaching Nairobi in the later afternoon.

DAY 6: Nairobi to Arusha (Tanzania) (L / D)

To-day the tour will head out of Kenya and after the border crossing, head via the Tanzanian town of Arusha to the Meserani Snake Park and campsite. Situated approximately 40 km outside of Arusha, the Snake Park offers the opportunity to learn about the local Masai culture in the adjoining Masai Cultural Museum, as well as gaining knowledge of the many species of reptiles housed in the actual Snake Park. This evening the group will prepare for the trip into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.

DAY 7: Arusha to the Karatu (B / L / D)

This morning is spent at leisure to enjoy some of the local sights and experiences. Stroll through the Meserani Reptile Park to learn more about these misunderstood creatures, and take a guided tour through the adjacent Masai Cultural Museum and see why this magnificent tribe has survived. Alternatively explore the nearby market and haggle over curiosities!

This afternoon we head via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher lying village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the surrounding hills and has many well established wheat farms that add to the picturesque panoramas. We spend the evening at a pleasant campsite in Karatu.

DAY 8: Karutu to Serengeti National Park (B / L / D)

This morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature "Garden of Eden‟ and boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.

After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the "Cradle of Mankind‟ on our way to the Serengeti National Park. This National Park is made famous by the annual migration, which consists of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle constantly migrating over the range of the Park, following the greener pastures that sprout after the rains. The unique climate in this region ensures the continuous movement of migrating animals remains unchanged. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we camp in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

DAY 9: Serengeti National Park to Arusha (B / L / D)

In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. After our morning drive, we head back across the plains and the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha, where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience.

DAY 10: Arusha to Nairobi (B)

This morning we head into Arusha before heading north past Mount Meru (2nd highest mountain in Tanzania) to the border between Tanzania and Kenya. We arrive back in Nairobi in the late afternoon and part ways after having experienced a trip of a lifetime.

This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day to day depending on road and weather conditions, political situations and group decision. Local payments are subject to change with prior notice. Due to the tourism laws in some of the countries visited there may be a truck and crew change during the trip.

Optional Excursions

Kenya

Masai Mara Balloon Safari (when available) - 425 US$
Masai Village Visit - 20 US$
Masai Warrior Dancing - 4 US$
High Tea at Elsamere - 10 US$ plus transfer fee
Naivasha Boat Hire (Maximum 7) - 45 US$ per hour
Naivasha Horse Riding - 15 US$ per hour

Tanzania

Masai Village Visit - 10 US$
Olduvai Gorge - 5 US$

All prices are in US dollars. For a more comprehensive list of things to do before, during or after the trip, please email or call Amanzi Travel on 0117 904 1924. Please note - these prices are approximate and are subject to change, and where activities occur away from base, there may be an additional transfer cost.

Support

Support and advice is available from the Trip Guides whilst on the expedition and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support.

Orientation

An information pack will be sent upon booking this expedition and our staff are always on hand to offer further advice and information via telephone and email before departure.

Accommodation and Meals

The trips are camping trips, and spacious 2-person tents with sewn in ground sheets and a separate fly sheet are provided. Most nights will be spent in organised campsites which usually have hot water showers and extra facilities such as a bar or swimming pool. Increasingly these places have simple roomed accommodation, so on occasion there will be the choice at extra cost to upgrade to a bed if desired. Occasionally, when it is not possible to drive any further or when there is no local campsite available, it may be necessary to bush camp. The vehicles are completely self-sufficient for this and camping out in the middle of the African bush can be a memorable experience.

The safari cook does all the cooking on the trip, although it may be necessary to participate in the preparation of the meals on a rota basis. Meals and menus vary depending on what is available locally, but three healthy square meals a day on the road will be provided. Fresh fruit and vegetables will be purchased from market stalls, supported by a bulk buy of goods bought prior to departure. In the towns and cities there is the optional alternative of sampling the local restaurants.

Getting There

International flights can be arranged into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. There may be a number of ways to reach this airport – for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel.
Let Amanzi Travel make your travel arrangements for you