Kenya & Tanzania Special Fly-in Safari Tour

with Martin Charlton

TOURCODE: MCKT

Day 1 ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Welcome to Nairobi, gateway to some of the most beautiful stretches of wilderness in the world. Founded by the British in 1899, the city began as a dusty railway depot beside a Masai water hole known as Enkare Nyrobi (meaning "cool water"), from which it drew its current name.

Our Nairobi hotel (Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence) is located near the city center but also nestled just beside the Nairobi Arboretum, a sprawling forest reserve. This reserve is home to over 300 exotic tree species and over 100 bird species.

Dinner if required.
Included Meal(s): Dinner

Day 2 NAIROBI - Fly to AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE
After an early breakfast and a safari briefing we will transfer to Wilson Airport for early-morning flight south to Amboseli National Park.

Amboseli is situated at the foot of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro and belongs in the elite of Kenya’s national parks, and it’s easy to see why. A scenic park in its own right, Amboseli is synonymous with two particular things – majestic herds of elephant and glorious views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania - with its impressive Uhuru Peak soaring to 19,341 feet. Amboseli was declared a UNESCO-Mab Biosphere Reserve in 1991.

Upon arrival we will be met by the camp jeeps and transferred to Tortilis Camp in time for lunch.

This afternoon we will enjoy our first game drive as we roll out through the acacia woodlands, freshwater marshes and open plains in search of elephants, zebra and wildebeest.

The Tortilis Camp guides are based at camp in Amboseli and know their backyard intimately. They know the individual elephants and their family histories. More than half of the guides at Tortilis are Masai, and have between them 80 years of guiding at Tortilis! Tortilis Camp has open game drive vehicles, the first camp to use open vehicles in a National Park. The current fleet are specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers - open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets.

With only 10% of Amboseli National Park utilized by most safari vehicles, combined with Tortilis Camp’s unique location on the western edge of the park (most lodges are outside of the eastern gate of the park), we will enjoy an almost private Amboseli. We can also enjoy private gamedriving within the Tortilis Camps own 30,000 acre Kitirua Conservancy, which is the western part of the Amboseli ecosystem.

The makuti-covered luxury tents here are all spacious, with elegant en-suite bathrooms and a spacious verandah. There is a main lounge, bar and dining area, all exquisitely built with natural materials and thatched roofs. The Private House and Family Tent are located slightly separate to the main camp, upon the hill where they share a pool. Tortilis Camp was one of the first eco-lodges of its size, and is very proudly 100% solar. Guests here can rest assured that they are leaving a minimal footprint during their stay.

Included in our stay at Tortilis are non-premium drinks, laundry, scheduled and shared game drives, guided walking safari, bush breakfast, sundowners.

Overnight in Amboseli.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Imagine waking up in an exquisite tent in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This morning we will enjoy an early morning game drive followed by a ‘bush breakfast’. We set out in the early morning crisscrossing the landscape in search of the park’s large herds of elephants, as well as zebras and wildebeests, along the salt pan trails. Prepare for predator sightings as opportunistic animals begin roaming the plains in search of prey.

We will enjoy lunch today at the camp and this afternoon we will enjoy a walking safari.

Walking safaris with local Maasai guides are encouraged at Tortilis so that guests have the opportunity to find out, first hand, about the intricacies of Maasai culture, stimulating a pride and desire among the community to preserve their traditions. Tortilis Camp’s walking guides are Masai from the local community, who have been walking over these plains since childhood. Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems. The guides are happy to share their knowledge of the terrain, traditional uses of wild herbs and barks, and the Masai way of life. Those not wishing to join on the walking safari will have the option of a 4x4 safari instead.

We will complete our day with scenic sundowners in the bush and a private dinner back at camp .

Overnight in Amboseli.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 Fly to LOISABA TENTED CAMP
After breakfast this morning we will transfer to the airstrip for our early morning flight that will take us north to Loisaba.

Loisaba is a 57,000 acre wildlife conservancy located in Laikipia, Northern Kenya and is known for its abundant wildlife. Two permanent rivers and abundant permanent springs make Loisaba attractive to wildlife throughout the year. The conservancy is a haven for more than 260 bird and 50 mammal species. Alongside the more common wildlife, Loisaba provides critical habitat and a migration corridor 800 elephants, large herds of buffalo, dozens of the endangered Grevy’s zebra, towers of endangered reticulated giraffes and the beautiful greater kudu. The cat population here is thriving, with several lion prides on Loisaba at one time and numerous leopards and cheetahs. To top it off the African wild dog, thought for many years to be extinct in the region, are once again being sighted regularly and often denning on Loisaba.

We will be met upon arrival and enjoy a game drive as we are transfered by camp jeeps to the escarpment-top Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp in time for lunch. Perched on the edge of an escarpment, Loisaba Tented Camp is designed to capitalize on unhindered views across Laikipia's mottled landscape all the way to Mt Kenya. All accommodations and main areas enjoy a breathtaking vantage point over an expansive panorama.

This afternoon we will head out for a game drive, one of the best ways to view the wildlife at Loisaba. Our informative guide will take us in an open vehicle across the open plains, through the bush or along the river banks viewing the wide variety of game, birds, plants and trees.

Perched on the edge of an escarpment, with unhindered views over the rolling valleys and open plains to Mt Kenya, intimate Loisaba Tented Camp is a delight: stylish tents with floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloped by this remarkable wilderness.

Included in our stay at Loisaba are non-premium drinks, laundry, scheduled and shared game drives, guided walking safari, sundowners.

Overnight at Loisaba.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 LOISABA CONSERVANCY
We will start our day with a walking safari with traditional Samburu guides before returning to the camp for breakfast. A great way to view the stunning diversity of Loisaba is on foot. You will be accompanied by traditional Samburu guides whose knowledge of local flora, fauna, cultural and history is unmatched.

Lunch today will be at the camp.

Loisaba is immense: bigger than ten of the world's fully-fledged nations. You could spend months exploring this land and never encounter the same view twice. Not only will you not bump into anyone else, but you will see the most extraordinary natural wonders - spectacular animal life that is wild, free and exhilarating to observe and a kaleidoscopic variety of birds, both endemic and migratory.

Guests at Loisaba are offered myriad activities to experience the wildlife and landscape on many different levels. Aside from a game drive in a brand new custom-designed Land Rover safari vehicles one may opt for horse-riding, camel-trekking, guided bush walks, fishing, or a cultural visit to a Samburu villages.

Tonight we will enjoy sundowners in the bush before dinner under the stars at camp.

Overnight at Loisaba.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 Fly to MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
After breakfast this morning we will transfer to the airstrip for our mid-morning flight to the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Situated in the southwest of Kenya, covering an area of 1510 square km (583 square miles), the Masai Mara National Reserve is a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains. The quintessential Masai Mara safari delivers many attractions, as the reserve is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game. The reserve is home to over 450 bird species and 95 animal species, including all of the great predators.

The ‘Mara’ is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra. Leopards are frequently encountered, endangered black rhino hide in the dense thickets and large rafts of hippo and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River.

We will arrive for lunch at Governors’ Camp followed by an afternoon game drive.

Our Mara camp combines it’s superb location in the Masai Mara with custom designed vehicles and exceptionally highly trained and experienced guides... resulting in un-matched game-viewing and photographic opportunities in one of Kenya’s most prolific wildlife areas. The driver-guides are highly trained individuals who undergo a continuous guide training scheme mentored by experts in the field. Having operated in the Masai Mara for 50 years now, the driver-guides here have an un-paralleled knowledge of the reserve combined with a deep understanding and respect for this precious wilderness area, its flora and its fauna.

Governors’ Camp occupies the best wildlife viewing location in the Masai Mara Reserve, nestled in the riverine forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, its waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile. It is perfect for those wanting to experience the best of what a safari in the Masai Mara has to offer.

The entire camp is under canvas with all of the comforts of a luxury hotel. Some of the 25 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara. The tents here are big, bright and allow in lots of natural light. All tents are classic safari style each with en-suite bathrooms and a private verandah. There is a bar tent with a deck overlooking the Mara River and a dining tent with amazing views over the plains. Governors’ Camp has been awarded a Silver Eco Rating from Eco – Tourism Kenya due to the sustainable tourism practices in place in camp.

Your stay here includes laundry and non-premium drinks.

Overnight at Maasai Mara.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
Tea and coffee is served in your tent with your morning wakeup call before our morning safari.

Today we may opt to stay out on our game drive for a longer stretch and so the camp team may organize a delicious packed breakfast or lunch to take with us.

Masai Mara National Park is located in Kenya along the border of Tanzania and is contiguous with the neighboring Serengeti National Park. The park region is named in honor of the Masai people group. Masai Mara represents the northernmost portion of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. The Sand River, Talek River, and the Mara River are the primary rivers draining waters of the reserve, and the park is divided into two main areas - the inner portion which features pristine wilderness and the outer portion which allows for cattle of the Masai people to graze.

From Governor's Camp the views across the rolling golden grasslands studded with acacia trees, rivers and forests are dazzling, the sense of space overwhelming. Throughout the year the Masai Mara is a place of natural drama, a kaleidoscope of colour and life. Staying here puts you right in the heart of the action, closer than anyone else to its incredible sights and sounds.

Overnight at Maassai Mara.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 Fly to SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA
After an early breakfast we will transfer to the airstrip for our morning scheduled flight to the Serengeti National Park. This route is actually accomplished in 2 legs, separated by a 1-hour shuttle bus transfer from just north of the Isebania/Sirare border crossing, across the border (to clear passport/visa control) and continuing just south for our connecting flight into the Serengeti.

The boundless Serengeti -- one of the oldest and least-changed ecosystems on earth, is where the circle of life plays out every day. The Serengeti is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of wildlife, with lions, hyenas and leopards all roaming free. For a portion of each year, dictated by weather patterns and the unpredictable nature of wild animals, vast herds of wildebeests and zebras move through the Serengeti in search of grass and water as part of the year-round Great Migration cycle.

We will be met on arrival by the camp jeeps and transfered to Ole Serai Luxury Camp – Turner Springs in time for lunch.

This particular camp is located 17kms from Seronera HQ / Airstrip, and lies right in the heart of central Serengeti. The spectacular and secluded location of this camp boasts all year round game which choose to graze around the camp due to its lagoon type contoured landscape, where the camps is surrounded on three sides by water catchments. There are also large acacia trees spread sparingly across the camp which adds on to create a tranquil feel of the camp and also helps provide natural shading.

This afternoon we will enjoy a game drive before returning to camp to enjoy a relaxing sundowner before dinner.

The Ole Serai Luxury Camp – Turner Springs consists of 20 Luxury Guest Tents that are set out and specially designed with maximum guest privacy in mind. It’s unique tent designs 180 degrees of clear views from ones bed, creating a feeling of the tent room being out in the open, whilst still providing a sense of privacy, security and comfort. The camp boasts fine dining experiences and luxurious and comfortable beddings and furnishings.

Your stay here includes non-premium drinks and laundry services.

Overnight in the Serengeti.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9 SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Today we will venture out on both morning and afternoon game drives in the protected Serengeti refuge, where flowing rivers support a plethora of species. We may opt for a full-day game drive carrying a picnic lunch.

The Serengeti is home to some incredibly large prides of lions and they are fairly easy to spot. Seeing a pride of lions in their own habitat will leave you with an indelible memory. The leopard, also known as ‘The Prince of Darkness’, is the most shy and elusive one of the ‘Big Five’. These amazing animals are excellent at playing hide and seek, and so if they don’t want to be seen, they can be perfectly camouflaged. In the Serengeti you are most likely to spot a leopard resting on a tree branch. The large branches of the sausage tree are their favourite spot, so don’t forget to look up! In the Serengeti, buffalo come in very healthy numbers: there’s a good chance you’ll see herds with several hundred or more of these thrilling animals. Seeing an elephant in its natural habitat is simply thrilling, and in the Serengeti these grey giants roam the plains and disappear into the woodlands. Over the past several decades, the rhino population in the Serengeti ecosystem has suffered greatly due to poaching, and the female rhino only gives birth every five years, making the rhino one of the most challenging animals to spot!

Overnight in the Serengeti.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10 SERENGETI - SOUTHEASTERN PLAINS & NDUTU
As we head out on our game drive this morning we will transition to the southeastern plains of the Serengeti and the Ndutu region. The southeastern plains represent the image of the classic Serengeti.

These short-grass plains stretch from the southeast Serengeti National Park to the western side of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is a vast open expanse and hosts all familiar Serengeti animals. The main reason for travelling to Serengeti National Park is to see wildlife in a vast unspoiled natural environment, and you won’t be disappointed!

In addition to the Big Five (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino), a game drive on the Serengeti plains may yield sightings of wildebeest, zebra, hyena, cheetah, elephant, hippo, jackals, and gazelles. The Serengeti is home to a great variety of wildlife because it’s a unique transition area. The distinct changeover from the poor hilly soils in the north to the rich flat soils in the south, leads to a great diversity of vegetation and habitats across the park. A unique habitat is the riverine forests: a favourite spot for hippos and crocodiles. Other common animals are giraffe, many other ungulates (hooved animals) such as the eland, zebra, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant's gazelle are resident at any time of the year. Cheetahs and hyenas are very common on the southeastern plains.

If you’re not a birdwatcher at heart, there’s a good chance you’ll become one after visiting the Serengeti. With more than 450 bird species recorded, this is a birdlife paradise. The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of Africa’s Endemic Bird Areas (land important for habitat-based bird conservation), and also hosts bird species found nowhere else.

We will arrive at the Masek Tented Lodge in time for lunch.

Our accommodation at the camp is designed to provide an immersive experience in the heart of the wilderness without compromising on luxury. Each spacious tent is meticulously furnished with comfortable beds, cozy seating, and ensuite bathrooms with hot showers. The elegant decor incorporates local materials and traditional African designs. From the private terrace of your tent you can observe the wildlife of the area.

Our stay here includes non-premium drinks.

Overnight in the Serengeti - Ndutu region.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11 SERENGETI - SOUTHEASTERN PLAINS & NDUTU
Today we will venture out on both morning and afternoon game drives, or perhaps we will opt for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

The southeastern portion of Serengeti is teeming with wildlife year round, but the peak in terms of wildlife density is between December and April. Giant herds of wildebeest and zebra are attracted by the seasonal weather patterns. In this period one of the best areas to see wildlife is around Lake Ndutu, in the heart of the wildebeest gathering. This is where female wildebeest give birth to countless calves and therefore makes up one of the highlight of the Great Migration. All these young herbivores serve as a magnet to predators with the result of southeastern Serengeti becoming the dramatic scene of new life, and death. The vachellia woodlands surrounding the lakes provide shelter to a range of birds not to be found elsewhere in the Serengeti. Stay alert and you may spot a fantastically coloured Fischer's lovebird.

The southeastern plains are dotted with several clusters of koppies (or kopjes). Kopjes form a microhabitat inhabited by non-plains wildlife such as rock hyrax, klipspringer, leopard and various cliff-nesting raptors. Lions use kopjes as shelter or as vantage point enabling to survey the surrounding plains.

Overnight in the Serengeti - Ndutu region.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 NGORONGORO CRATER EXPLORATION
After an early breakfast we will head up towards the rim of the natural amphitheater of Ngorongoro Crater, a 2,000 ft (600m) deep caldera. Ngorongoro is a fascinating microcosm of East African wildlife - including buffalo, flamingos, lions and leopards – all residing inside the caldera. Once a gigantic volcano, 'the Crater' is the largest intact caldera in the world. Some maintain that before it erupted it would have been higher than Mt Kilimanjaro - the highest peak in Africa.

We will descend down from the lush forest to the floor of Ngorongoro Crater (carrying picnic lunches). Often described as the “Eighth Wonder Of The World,” the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals and a conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe. Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth.

As we descend from the lush highland forest keep on watch for the magnificent birdlife that can be spotted among the different tree species. Once we reach the grassy crater floor you may discover a large variety of grazing herbivores, as well as the predators that are attracted by this abundant supply of prey. The crater has formed its own ecosystem due to its enclosed nature. For those hoping for one last chance to spot the ‘Big Five’, the this is it. Black rhino, elephants, lion, leopard and hyena along with healthy herds of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra can be spotted. Other wildlife includes cheetah, jackal, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelle, flamingo and bat-eared foxes, as well as approximately 400 species of colourful birds

The crater’s very own distinctive Lerai Forest is comprised of yellow fever trees, and the swamps that surround Lake Magadi (a shallow soda lake) are a great spot for seeing hippo. To the east one finds Gorigor Swamp and the Ngoitokitok Springs where more pods of hippo can be found. The north of the Crater is where the bulk of the resident game often resides thanks to the drier, open grasslands.

In the late afternoon we will climb out of the crater and head to our lodge for dinner and overnight. Nestled into the crater’s jagged rim and cloaked in river stone and indigenous vines is the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge - barely visible to the naked eye. Framed by arched stone passages and timbered decks, its torch-lit walls are adorned with stylized cave paintings. At the stone heart of the lodge burns a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight. Rooms here are looped around the crater rim, and each has its own rock-enclosed balcony allowing one to enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheatre far below.

Overnight at Ngorongoro.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13 NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS - ARUSHA VIA GIBBS FARM
After breakfast this morning we drive to Gibb’s Farm where we stop for a lunch made with organic, just-picked ingredients. This historic organic farm and family coffee plantation covers over 80 acres on the forested outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater.

At Gibbs Farm generations of local families have helped to create a truly authentic, serene and memorable experience embracing traditional East African hospitality. Established in the early 1900s by a German Duke as a coffee plantation, founders James Gibb and his wife, Margaret bought the farm after World War II and established the current farm in the 1970s, the oldest guesthouse in northern Tanzania.

We will have the chance to enjoy the grounds and take in a leisurely lunch before we continue our drive to Arusha.

From Gibbs Farms we cross the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and through dramatic rolling green fields and past tiny traditional villages. We then descent to the floor of the Great Rift Valley and travel via Lake Manyara. We may stop to mingle with villagers at the local market in Mto Wa Mbo. A melting pot of cultures, Mto Wa Mbu is thought to be one of the only places in Tanzania where there are representatives from almost all 120 tribal groups. The name translates to ‘Mosquito River’, due to the permanent water source in the village.

We then continue to Arusha for a night at the Arusha Coffee Lodge. Arusha, nestled in the shadow of Mt. Meru, is the starting or ending point for the northern safari routes of Tanzania, and one of the country's most attractive towns. The surrounding area is primarily a highland forest park, and travellers always hope to catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

The Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge is a sweet-scented sanctuary. Its plantation-style houses are scattered across a working coffee farm and lush, tranquil gardens, and provide the perfect bookend to our safari. On the edge of Arusha, in the foothills of Mount Meru, elegant Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge is a leafy sanctuary of serenity. Here, you can relax in your room’s decadent four-poster, by your real log fire or on your private veranda overlooking the aromatic Arabica bushes.

Overnight near Arusha.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14 DEPARTURE
Departure from Arusha.

Breakfast then transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure flight.

We wish you SAFARI NJEMA!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast