KENYA AND TANZANIA DISCOVERY SAFARI.

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – Nairobi on board flight…… at ……hrs, go through the passport control then down to the luggage collection hall. Collect your luggage from the conveyor belt and walk out to the arrival concourse. Someone shall be waiting for you holding a folder written ‘TRAVEL CONNECTIONS’.

Drive from the airport to Nairobi Serena Hotel and check in. Rest of the day at leisure.

The Nairobi Serena is a beautiful garden hotel. The hotel’s clean white silhouette rises at the edge of Nairobi’s extensive Central Park. Surrounded by its own tropical garden, the hotel’s rather stark lines are softened by cascades of plants and flowers growing on terrace areas and individual balconies. From the gardens, terraces, swimming pool, and many of the rooms, there is a striking view of modern Nairobi’s distinctive skyline, especially beautiful at night.

The Mandhari is one of Nairob’s finest a la carte restaurants. The elegance of the food, fine linens and silver is perfectly complemented by the inspired use of Kisii stone from western Kenya. The popular and more informal Café Maghreb is North African in style with arched recesses displaying pieces of brass and copper, and colourful tapestry screens separating tables. The Kisima Bar is decorated to reflect the importance of water themes in Swahili coastal life. ‘Kisima’ means watering hole in Swahili. There are low divans and stools, Swahili implements and murals on the walls.

Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel – bed and breakfast

After a sumptuous breakfast at the Thorn Tree Café drive north. Drive past the densely populated central province. Cross the equator at Nanyuki, drive by the western side of Mt. Kenya, then down to Isiolo and further to Samburu Nat. Reserve.

Arrive at Samburu Sopa Lodge for lunch.

Samburu Sopa Lodge has thirty cottages forming buffalo horn pattern converge at the public facilities area, leaving the open end to free movement of the wildlife to access the waterhole.  The architecture blends in with the area, to keep up with the style of the housing by the local Samburu people. Each cottage has two tastefully appointed bedrooms, each with two queen size beds, shower and private verandah. Local material has been used in the construction, furnishings and interior decoration. High ceilings and space ensure that the rooms are airy and comfortable.
Two rooms next to the reception and public areas are designed for the physically challenged.
The bar is located next to the lobby, it has a an uninterrupted view of the surrounding area.
The dining room has a beautiful view and once again the same theme is carried through, including the furniture which is unusually carved, and the chairs have a cow horn shape on the back rest. Local stones and materials are tastefully displayed bringing nature into the lodge.

Depart on an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight Samburu Sopa Lodge – fullboard.

This day is dedicated to game viewing in Samburu National Game Reserve.

The Samburu National Game Reserve extends for an area of 105 square kilometers north of the meandering Ewaso Ngiro or ‘Brown’ river. It is part of a lava plain that includes a varied landscape of red dirt, thorn scrub, broken volcanic rock, dried river beds, steep hills, and rocky outcroppings, some large enough to be called mesas. Following the river curves, a riverine forest of doum palms, acacia, and tamarind is a magical contrast of cool green. It is attractive to the region’s wildlife and visitors alike. There are elephants, hippos, crocodiles and leopards, as well as plains game, other small mammals and birdlife. The region is home to the rare Grevy Zebra with large furry ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with their distinctive blue legs, and the shy oryx beisa.

Lunch and dinner at the club. Overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast drive to Isiolo which is 40kms away on the rough dirt road. Head back towards Mount Kenya passing by large wheat farms before arriving at Nanyuki town. Continue to the foot of Mount Kenya arriving at Serena Mountain Lodge for lunch.

The rest of the afternoon at the lodge.

Serena Mountain Lodge is located in the indigenous forest 7200 feet up in the foot hills of the Mount Kenya National Reserve. The lodge is a four storey boxlike structure built in 1970. It overlooks a natural waterhole and salt lick surrounded by dense forest. On a clear day, you can see the jagged peaks of Mt. Kenya’s summit through the trees.  Each of the bedrooms faces directly over the waterhole. This is what makes Mountain Lodge appealing. You can view the game in the comfort and privacy of your own room – no need for a midnight dash to a public are in order to see the animals. Each room has a private bathroom and either an open balcony or a large picture window.

Game most frequently seen include: buffalo, elephant, rhino, forest hogs, suni, red duiker, spotted hyena, genet cat, and if you are lucky, a leopard or the big male lion who makes his appearance every now and then. Since the lodge was deliberately located beside a route animals travel between Mt. Kenya and the lowlands, it is not uncommon to see very large herds of animals. At night the waterhole area is lit by floodlights.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Mountain Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast drive to Isiolo which is 40kms away on the rough dirt road. Head back towards Mount Kenya passing by large wheat farms before arriving at Nanyuki town. drive along the Aberdares Ranges to Thompson’s falls at Nyahururu for a short break. Continue down the Great Rift Valley to arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for lunch inside the Lake Nakuru National Park.

Depart on an afternoon game drive.

Created as a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru National Park features more than 400 species of birds, many from Europe and East Asia. The park includes a large savanna area to the south. A shallow blue-green alkaline lake famous for its flocks of pink lesser and greater flamingoes. The tilapia grahami fish has been introduced to provide food for the pelicans who also call Lake Nakuru home. The blue-green color is because of the presence of blue-green algae called spirulinga. The level of the lake goes up and down with the amount of rainfall and the color is dependent on the conditions for the growth of algae. There have been up to two million flamingoes on the lake at one time. When disturbed the birds lift gracefully into the air in a solid moving pink carpet.

Nakuru has proven to be an excellent and safe sight for the Rothschild giraffe and black rhino. It is an excellent spot also to photograhp the hippo, reedbuck and defassa waterbuck.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge – fullboard.

After an early breakfast drive via Narok to Masai Mara Nat. Reserve to arrive in time for lunch at the Masai Mara Serena Lodge. 

This popular lodge is set high on a ridge within the reserve. It commands magnificent uninterrupted views down across the Mara plains and over two water holes. The Mara Serena’s unique architecture and décor suggest a fantasy Masai manyatta – rounded spaces, earth tones, natural furnishings and tribal touches. A swimming pool has been positioned to take advantage of the wonderful view.

Depart in the afternoon on game hunting.

Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge – fullboard.

This day is solely reserved for game viewing in the vast Masai Mara National Reserve.

The Masai Mara is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It is an extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, and offers the best game viewing in Kenya. On these wide open rollinggrasslands you can often see an incredible variety of different animals at one time. Perhaps a cheetah mother sits on a termite mound with her punky-looking cubs, while beyond, gazelle, antelope and zebra placidly graze. Giraffe might peer curiously through the trees, while elephants pass on silent feet and vultures circle above. Every year millions of wildebeests migrate north from the Serengeti to the green grass of the Mara. This exciting spectacle usually occurs sometime between July and August.

Even when animals are not highlighting the scene, the views by themselves are worth the trip. Visits to a Masai manyatta can be arranged between you and the driver. Another popular ‘excursion’ is a romantic hot air balloon trip where you view animals from above and then touch down for an extravagant breakfast in the bush. Balloon ride costs USD 450.- per person. I would recommend you book this in advance due to limited space.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast take your schedule flight back to Nairobi then connect to your schedule flight to Arusha.

NORTHERN TANZANIA.

Meet and greet at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport then drive to Tarangire National Park. Do afternoon game drive en-route to lodge. Arrive at Tarangire Sopa Lodge in the evening.

Tarangire comes from Tarangire River which rises in the Kondoa Highlands of Central Tanzania and makes its way northwards through the length of the park. Before becoming a national park, Tarangire was originally a popular hunting area. Today, it is regarded as one of the best wildlife areas remaining in Tanzania. The principal features of the park include the lake, swamps, rivers and rock outcrops. Interestingly, this area is engulfed by several hills. Oldonyo Ngahari is to the east while Kalima is to the south, Sangaiwe and Haidedonga are to the west and Kitibong a bit further inside from the two. On the other hand Tarangire hill is almost centrally located.

The major attractions in Tarangire National Park include the vegetation zones of which the Acacia Tortillis parkland is the most attractive to visitors. The park is also famous for having many species of birds. The other attraction is the tree climbing python, a rare occurrence in other parks.

Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Sopa Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast take picnic lunch and depart on a whole day game drive that will take you from Tarangire Nat. Park to Ngorongoro Crater. You will visit Olduvai Gorge en-route.

As if in a land before time, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is built into the rim of a dormant volcano, the plant and ivy-covered native stone blending masterfully with its surroundings. Close by lies the Olduvai Gorge, the ‘birthplace of man’. Today the volcano and surrounding landscape are part of a vast conservation area inhabited by the masai tribe, as well as an extra-ordinary variety of big game and birdlife. Most guest rooms have private terraces with views of the crater floor where countless animals make their home. At Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, visitors co-exist in perfect harmony with the natural environment and wildlife that inhabits it.

Arrive at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge late in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge – fullboard.

This day is solely reserved for a full day game viewing of the crater with picnic lunch.

Ngorongoro crater is without doubt one of the most outstanding natural features in the world and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1978. Stunningly beautiful, the 18 km wide and 600 meter deep caldera is teeming with wildlife and one of the best places to see black rhino. On a full day crater tour to this garden of Eden, with a picnic in a shady grove, most large mammals can be seen.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast take picnic lunch and depart for Serengeti National Park.

Serengeti Serena Lodge is set high on a hill with breathtaking vistas of a landscape teeming with game. The lodge design is simple but stunning. Inspired by a traditional African village, separate rondavel ‘huts’ house the luxury guest rooms. From the overall impression to the smallest detail, the lodge is rich in local atmosphere created by indigenous handicrafts and art.

Arrive at Serengeti Serena Lodge late in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge – fullboard

These days are solely reserved for game viewing in the park.

Serengeti is the most famous of Tanzania’s national parks and is one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. On the seemingly endless and almost treeless plains, there are an estimated three million large animals in constant search of food and water. Most take part in a seasonal migration that is unparallel in nature. Driven by the rains, over one million wildebeest and a few hundred thousand zebra and gazelles move to fresh grazing lands, in columns of several kilometers length and crossing crocodile infested rivers without regard to losses.

Lunch, dinner and overnight in Serengeti Serena Lodge – fullboard.

After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for lunch.

It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular setting for Lake Manyara Serena Lodge – on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu (mosquito river) escarpment, overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the stunning Manyara soda lake. Tree-climbing lions are but one lure. The extraordinary birdlife has made this place world renowned among ornithologists, who come to observe the masses of pink flamingoes and great birds of prey. The abundant birdlife inspired the design of Lake Manyara Serena Lodge – swooping curves are complemented by soft, geometric patterns, stylish murals depict bird migration patterns. The circular shape of the buildings is a tribute to indigenous architectural traditions. Beyond the superb standards of hospitality offered, there is a spirit of tranquility that prevails.

Depart for an afternoon game drive.

This slightly alkaline lake at the bottom of the Great Rift Valley can vary in size considerably depending on the season. Part of its western shore, squeezed between the water and the foot of the steep Rift Valley Escarpment is a National Park. Different habitats are concentrated on a small area: open water marshes, grasslands and a lush forest fed by groundwater. Hot springs and hippo pools complete the scenery allowing interesting game viewing.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge – fullboard.

Drive to Arusha for lunch, then transfer to the airport for your schedule flight to Nairobi.

Pick up a Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

Farewell dinner in Nairobi then transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.