Africa At Your Fingertips: Mara, Tanzania and Zanzibar

Upon arrival at Nairobi Airport, our guide will be waiting for you in the arrival hall carrying a branded sign board. Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Nairobi for 1 night

Breakfast. Departure by 4×4 vehicle from Nairobi and drive to the Masai Mara. Skirting around Mount Suswa the road first heads north to Maai Mahiu, south of Lake Naivasha, before turning west to Narok and continuing west and south to the Masai Mara. A highlight of the journey is the first glimpse of the huge Rift Valley emptiness just past Limuru, at the top of the escarpments of the valley. Down below, the Kedong Valley dotted with acacias conveys a clean and archetypal image of the African landscape. Beyond Mount Longonot, the Hell’s Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha can be seen, while the plains seem to sweep forever to the south. Approximate journey time 4-5 hours. (Details of the itinerary and travel times are subject to road conditions). Picnic lunch on route. Check in and dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Masai Mara for 2 nights

Sunrise morning safari in the Masai Mara national park. Breakfast then continuation for a second morning safari. Lunch au Sentrim Mara and continuation of your safari in the afternoon until sunset. Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Drive from the Masai Mara to the Lake area. The road first heads north and east to Narok before turning east to Maai Mahiu, south of Lake Naivasha. Naivasha is the most southerly lake. Heading north is
Elementaita Lake, then Lake Nakuru, followed by Bogoria Lake and Baringo Lake. Approximately 4 to 9 hours, depending on the point of departure and the exact destination (details of the itinerary and travel time are subject to road conditions). Picnic lunch. Guided walk to the Crescent Island Bird Sanctuary. You will be transferred by boat to the peninsula that does not have the status of national park but it nevertheless has a very rich avifauna, sheltering a large number of pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. While the island is secure and private it is connected to the mainland and this allows animals to roam freely. See hippos grazing in the cool afternoon air or resting under acacia trees in the heat of day, while giraffe who were born on the island come back to birth their own young. The scenic beauty and sense of freedom in this peninsula has seen many film makers alight on its shores to film enjoying the magical light of the place to immortalize scenes of wildlife.
Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Elementaita for 1 night

Breakfast. Depart from the region of the lakes and en route to Nairobi. The road linking the lakes leads south from Baringo and Bogoria to Nakuru before turning southeast to Elementaita and Naivasha. From Naivasha (1900m altitude), the road climbs the Rift Valley escarpment to Limuru (2500m), known for its tea plantations, and then descends to Nairobi (1661m). Travel time between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the starting point (details of the itinerary and travel time are subject to road conditions). Visit the Langata Giraffe Center. The orphanage for giraffes, which was to be only temporary, has become a real institution. You will be able, from the top of a platform, to feed the Rotschild giraffes of the place. This extremely endangered species was saved from extinction by Lady Leslie Melville, whose mansion can be seen nearby. Lunch at the Carnivore restaurant Drive from Nairobi to Amboseli. Approximate journey time 4,5 hours. (Details of the itinerary and journey times may vary depending on road conditions). Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Amboseli for 2 nights

Breakfast. Take a seat in your vehicle and discover the Amboseli National Park. Located about 250 km from Nairobi and along the Tanzanian border, the park derives its name from the Masai word “Empusel”, meaning salty, dusty place. The ecosystem of this low rainfall region depends on water from Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m). A particular feature of Amboseli is the possibility to take picture postcard photos of elephants against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro. Lunch at Sentrim Amboseli. Afternoon safari to Amboseli and return to the lodge for dinner. (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Morning safari in Amboseli Park. Lunch in a lodge en route. Transfer to the Kenya-Tanzania border crossing. Customs formalities. Change of vehicle and driver/guide, then drive to Arusha. Gateway to North Tanzania, Arusha is a small quiet and green city where it is nice to walk around. Located at the foot of Mount Meru, which rises to 4,556 m, it enjoys a temperate climate in the midst of coffee, wheat and maize plantations. Its geographical location makes it the almost obligatory crossing point for the plains of Serengeti and the ascent of Kilimanjaro. Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Arusha for 1 night

Breakfast. Departure in 4X4 vehicle from Arusha and en route to Tarangire. At the beginning the road leads to the west, turning progressively towards the south. Passing south of the Monduli Mountains and east of Lake Manyara, in the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley. Approximately 3 hours’ journey based on exact departure and arrival points (itinerary details and travel times are subject to road conditions). Discovery of the Tarangire National Park. Former hunting ground declared National Park in 1970, Tarangire is the sixth largest park in the country. His name comes from the Tarangire River which, from south to north, crosses it. With an area of 2,600 square kilometers, it has an astonishing plant diversity (sausage trees, acacia tortellis …) but is especially famous for the huge baobabs that dot its rocky slopes. The park also offers a very diverse fauna. Numerous birds have been found here: black-winged lapwings, African crested, kingfishers, ostriches, Kori bustards, serpentines, marabou storks and vultures. The savannah of Tarangire Park is also home to many animals. Thus, while the park is mainly known for hosting one of the largest concentrations of African elephants, it is also home to many other residents. Impalas, waterbucks, buffaloes, hartebeests, cape elands, kudus or even damans live there. Lions, leopards and cheetahs are also present but are more difficult to see because of the tall grass. Safari in the morning to Tarangire in your vehicle. Picnic lunch in the park. Afternoon safari. Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Tarangire for 1 night

Breakfast. Departure from Tarangire and en route to Manyara. The road leads to the northeast, then turning to the northwest, rising slightly from an altitude of 1050m at Tarangire to 1265 m at Manyara. Approximately 1- hour trip depending on exact departure and arrival points (details of the itinerary and travel time are subject to road conditions). Visit the village of Mto Wa Mbu, which borders Manyara National Park. The village is known for its famous rice plantations and “red bananas”. The local population lives on agriculture and tourism. Lunch locally. Enjoy lunch at the heart of a banana plantation. Made from sweet potatoes, meat in sauce, vegetables and local specialties such as ugali (a corn-based dish that can be assimilated to polenta) and sukuma wiki (spinach), this meal will be for you the opportunity to share a convivial moment in the simplicity and the African authenticity. Afternoon safari to Manyara in your vehicle. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Manyara for 2 nights

Breakfast. Departure from Manyara and en route to Ngorongoro. The road leads to the northwest, the changing landscape of a semi-arid savannah in the Great Rift Valley with verdant forests on the southeast slopes of the Ngorongoro crater. Approximately 2 hours trip depending on exact departure and arrival points (details of the itinerary and travel time are subject to road conditions). Full day safari in the Ngorongoro Crater. Picnic lunch in the crater. Dinner at the lodge. (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Departure from Manyara and en route to Arusha. At the beginning the road leads to the southeast before turning to the northeast, passing through a semi-arid savannah landscape dotted with volcanoes, craters and calderas resulting from the tectonic movement that underlies the Great Rift Valley. Approximately 3 hours trip depending on exact departure and arrival points (details of the itinerary and travel time are subject to road conditions). Stop en route in a local craft center (according to Zanzibar flight schedule). Picnic lunch. Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar. Transfer to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Accommodation: Zanzibar for 3 nights

Days at leisure to enjoy the island. (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to Zanzibar Airport. (B/L)