DAY 1: FAIRMONT THE NORFOLK, NAIROBI      

Nairobi

Situated in along the Nairobi River in beautiful Kenya, the capital of Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place, and although it has developed a reputation which keeps tourist visits brief, there are some fascinating attractions: its cafe culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre and most notably just 20 minutes from the city centre wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve. Make sure you pay a visit to the Elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Day Itinerary

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will clear with customs and immigration procedures. You will then be met by a AMA Safaris Representative outside the arrivals hall for transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Fairmont The Norfolk – BB

Overnight: Fairmont The Norfolk  

Situated in the heart of Kenya, the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel offers a sophisticated retreat that is within easy reach of world-renowned wildlife centres, golf courses, and museums. The luxurious rooms and suites are tastefully furnished and include en-suite bathrooms, armchairs, work desks, and plasma screen TVs. The hotel offers four dining establishments featuring a variety of cuisines, as well as an all-day dining restaurant. Guests can enjoy leisurely walks through the tropical gardens, have a splash in the pool, work out at the fitness centre, or enjoy relaxing massages and treatments at the spa.

Basis

Bed and Breakfast

DAY 2:  ASHNIL SAMBURU CAMP, SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE   

Samburu National Reserve

Resting on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River and neighbouring the Buffalo Springs Game Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve is remote, hot and arid. The reserve spans over 165 square kilometres of spectacularly scenic landscape featuring rugged hills, undulating plains and riverine forests. The park is home to abundant wildlife including a variety of rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, the long necked gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s Zebra and Beisa Oryx. Samburu was one of the homes of ‘Elsa the Lioness’, star of the bestselling book and award-winning movie ‘Born Free’. Visitors can enjoy viewing over 900 elephants, a variety of predators, and over 450 bird species.

Day Itinerary

0800hrs: Pick up from your hotel in Nairobi. Met and assisted by our representatives. Immediately drive to Samburu National Reserve. Lunch enroute at Trout Tree restaurant. Game drive enroute to Ashnil Samburu Camp for check in, dinner and overnight stay. LDBB

Overnight: Ashnil Samburu Camp

Ashnil Samburu Camp sits in Buffalo Springs National Reserve which takes its name from an oasis of crystal clear water at the western end of the reserve. It is separated from Samburu National Reserve by Ewaso Nyiro River and is less hilly and dense yet equally very attractive.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 3: ASHNIL SAMBURU CAMP, SAMBURU NATIONAL  RESERVE   

Day Itinerary

Full day spent in the reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. All

Meals and overnight stay at the Ashnil Samburu Camp – LDBB

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 4:  TREETOPS LODGE, ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK      

Aberdare National Park

Located northeast of Nairobi, Kenya, the Aberdare National Park was created to protect the Aberdare Mountain Range, the peaks of which soar to 4000 metres. The landscape is characterised by steep forested slopes, expansive moors, and deep ravines scattered with cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear streams and rushing rivers. The park is inhabited by a variety of African wildlife such as: elephant, lion, spotted hyena, rhino, black leopard and the very elusive bongo antelope that lives in the high altitude bamboo forests. The park offers the perfect environment for picnics, camping in the moorlands, trout fishing in the rivers, and excellent bird watching with over 250 species of birds including hawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers.

Day Itinerary

Breakfast at the camp. Drive to Mount Kenya region arriving at Outspan Hotel for lunch and check in followed by an afternoon transfer to Treetops Lodge with the rest of the day game viewing from the balcony, floodlit by night. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. LDBB

Overnight: Treetops Lodge

Nestled deep in the forest of Aberdare National Park, the world-renowned rustic Treetops is dedicated to game viewing. This lodge-on-stilts is as space-efficient on the inside as it is unassuming on the outside. Trees grow right through the building, which has four decks and a rooftop viewing platform. There are 48 cozy rooms and two suites, a lounge overlooking the waterhole and two bars. There is also a restaurant where dinner is served on charming old world refectory tables with bench seating. Treetop lies in the path of an ancient elephant migratory route between the Aberdare Mountains and Mt Kenya National park, and is strategically set right in front of a watering hole and salt lick. Die-hard animal lovers needn’t worry about missed sightings, even into the early hours of the morning. An optional buzzer in the rooms alerts the guests when a spectacle is unfolding at the waterhole. Game drives and a lecture about Treetops are also available to the guests.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 5: ENASHIPAI RESORT & SPA, LAKE NAIVASHA     

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Great Rift Valley Lakes and despite having no outlet; it is one of only two Rift Valley freshwater lakes. This beautiful lake is fringed by papyrus and acacia trees, a unique geologic landscape and supports a vast array of over 450 bird species. It serves as the main drinking hole for wildlife in the area such as zebra, eland, hippo, waterbuck, buffalo and much more. Visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing, intriguing night safaris, and boating excursions around the lake as well as to Crescent Island for spectacular bird watching opportunities. Other popular activities include: guided nature walks, horse riding, village visits and tours to neighbouring national parks.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the resort, drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive. Lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. Afternoon game drive as you exit the park and onwards to Lake Naivasha. Check in, dinner and overnight stay at the Enashipai Resort. LDBB

Overnight: Enashipai Resort & Spa            

Enashipai is a Masaai word meaning “a place of happiness”. Located within the splendour of the Great Rift Valley by the shores of Lake Naivasha, Enashipai is an award winning resort providing both leisure and conference facilities. The resort offers 135 lavish rooms adorned with afro-chic décor, state of the art Entumo Conference Centre with a capacity for 500 people, the Siyara Spa, a privately registered Maa Museum and a night club. Other conveniences include a fully equipped gym, business centre, in and outdoor playgrounds, an outdoor swimming pool and a gift shop.

The resort is located only an hour away from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, and is strategically located close to key attractions such as Mt. Longonot, Hell’s Gate and the Lake Nakuru National Park. Excursions to the Maasai Mara and other destinations can be arranged.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 6: SAROVA MARA GAME CAMP, MASAI MARA     

Masai Mara

The Masai Mara together with Tanzania’s Serengeti form Africa’s most famous wildlife park, the Masai Mara National Reserve. The image of acacia trees dotting endless grass plains epitomizes Africa for many, then add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The undeniable highlight of the Masai Mara is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration traversing the vast plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It is known as the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. Large prides of lions, elephants, giraffes, gazelles and eland can also be spotted in the reserve. Aside from horse riding safaris and traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Mara plains has become almost essential.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge. Depart for Masai Mara. Check in and at the Sarova Mara Game Camp. Afternoon game drives in the reserve. Dinner and overnight stay at the Camp – LDBB

Overnight: Sarova Mara Game Camp        

Nothing quite captures the true spirit of East Africa like a safari in Kenya’s richest game reserve, the Maasai Mara. Sarova Mara Game Camp offers front seats to nature’s most breathtaking show – the wildebeest migration. The endless plains of East Africa are the setting for the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle where, from the vast Serengeti plains to the champagne coloured hills of Kenya’s Maasai Mara, over 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened grass.

Sarova Mara Game Camp is well positioned to enjoy this unique phenomenon. The rolling plains around the Camp are teeming with wildebeest, gazelles and zebras during the migration months, and the Camp is situated right in the center of their migration path. A wildlife safari puts you right in the middle of all this action. Get a first-hand account of this epic phenomenon and live to tell the tale. A safari also helps you acquaint yourself with the landscapes of this beautiful African setting.

Sarova Mara Game Camp is also the ideal choice for those seeking a richer experience of the Maasai Mara that goes much beyond just game drives. By virtue of its location and layout, the Camp offers an unparalleled plethora of activities and experiences from luxury tented living to bird-watching, mini golf, sport fishing and a unique insight into the Maasai culture at the adjoining Maasai village.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 7: SAROVA MARA GAME CAMP, MASAI MARA     

Day Itinerary

Optional balloon excursion – extra cost of US$450 Per person. Full day spent in the reserve with morning and afternoon game drives.

Meals and overnight stay at the Sarova Mara Game Camp. LDBB

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 8: LAKE NAIVASHA SOPA RESORT, LAKE NAIVASHA      

Day Itinerary

After breakfast. Depart for Lake Naivasha to arrive in time for lunch at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge. Late afternoon at leisure enjoying facilities of the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge.

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Great Rift Valley Lakes and despite having no outlet; it is one of only two Rift Valley freshwater lakes. This beautiful lake is fringed by papyrus and acacia trees, a unique geologic landscape and supports a vast array of over 450 bird species. It serves as the main drinking hole for wildlife in the area such as zebra, eland, hippo, waterbuck, buffalo and much more. Visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing, intriguing night safaris, and boating excursions around the lake as well as to Crescent Island for spectacular bird watching opportunities. Other popular activities include: guided nature walks, horse riding, village visits and tours to neighbouring national parks.

Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

Naivasha is a Masai name given to the area, denoting the characteristics of the lake. 21 cottages are built in a crescent shape, and each has four rooms, totalling 80 standard rooms and two suites.  Two of these rooms are suitable for the physically challenged.  Six of the 21 cottages have interconnecting rooms on the ground floor. Rock gardens feature vibrantly coloured flowers, which give a beautiful contrast to the greenery of the well-manicured lawns.  Monkeys play on the lawns and different species of birds chip in the trees.  Pathways wind between the open lawns and frangipanis, with aloes and protease growing in abundance.  The acacia trees are plentiful in this area and provide welcome shade.  The stone exterior walls of the cottages are carried into the rooms.  Ground-floor rooms have two queen-size beds and a sunken living room at the front, which opens out on to the beautifully manicured lawns.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 9: OL TUKAI LODGE, AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Amboseli National Park

Located in the southern reaches of Kenya, the Amboseli National Park is renowned for its excellent variety of wildlife such as Masaai giraffe, elephant, lion and cheetah and not surprisingly it is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The landscape of Amboseli is dominated by the majestic snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as open plains, acacia woodland, swamps and the massif of Ol Doinyo Orok. The birding is excellent, especially closer to the lakes and swamps. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to large herds of elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and soak up spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge, Drive to Amboseli National Park. Lunch enroute at the Eka Hotel. Proceed to your lodge with a game drive enroute. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. L-DBB

Overnight: Ol Tukai Lodge  

Ol Tukai Lodge is one of the best spots in the world to watch elephants with the backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Writers have described Ol Tukai and the surrounding Amboseli National Park as ‘a home for the gods’. A place of rugged beauty, abundant water, lush green grass and forest, set like an oasis in the surrounding savannah shrubland. To crown it all, this is where you get one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights – dawn breaks and the sunsets over the 19,000-foot snow-capped dome of Africa’s highest mountain!

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 10: OL TUKAI LODGE, AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK       

Day Itinerary

Full day spent in the park with morning and afternoon game drives.

Meals and overnight stay at the Ol Tukai Lodge. – LDBB.

Basis:

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 11: ACACIA FARM LODGE, KARATU     

Karatu

Travellers heading for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will inevitably pass through the town of Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania’s northern highlands. Presided over by the towering Ol Deani Volcano, this small, colourful town serves as a popular overnight stop for visitors exploring the area’s many game parks. The town offers a variety of activities including browsing the bustling marketplace, sampling beer at a local brewery, visiting a traditional Iraqw homestead, or taking a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Forest in search of waterfalls and elephants caves. Whether you are looking for cultural tours, hiking and biking opportunities, and a chance to enjoy an authentic rural Tanzania experience, or simply a break between safari game drives, this underrated town has plenty to offer.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge. Depart for Namanga border, customs and immigration, hand over to your Tanzania driver-guide and drive to Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Arusha for lunch. Afternoon drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive, transfer to Acacia Farm lodge for check in, dinner and overnight stay – LDBB.

Overnight: Acacia Farm Lodge      

Acacia Farm Lodge is a romantic Country Lodge nestled in an active mixed farm located high on the spectacular Great Rift’s escarpment area with commanding panoramic views of the amazing Karatu farmlands and the nearby Ngorongoro forest area. Unrivalled area’s natural beauty is finely complemented by the elegant lodge. A timeless tranquility emanates from the exuberance of birdsong, mature trees, and the lovely coffee plants.

Acacia Farm Lodge is strategically located between the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks on one side and Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park on the other, this is a perfect base from which to explore these world-famous reserves as well as enjoy many other adventurous activities and impressive cultural experiences found in the local area.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 12:  EMBALAKAI CAMP, SERONERA CENTRAL SERENGETI

Seronera

The Seronera region, in the central Serengeti, is set directly on the Great Migration route, and offers excellent viewing of this incredible annual phenomenon, when countless wildebeest flood across the plains. While migratory game populations fluctuate seasonally, Seronera is still a wildlife hotspot at other times of the year, sheltering the Big Five, among many other species. A number of small campsites provide accommodation and visitors can enjoy hot air balloon trips and walking safaris as well as guided game drives

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge. At 0800hrs: Depart for Serengeti National Park. Check in and lunch at Embalakai Camp. Afternoon game drives in the park. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp – LDBB

Overnight: Embalakai Camp           

Embalakai is intimately set in the heart of the Serengeti, allowing guests to take a break from the crazy busy, fast-paced world out there. The greatest Luxury comes from being able to truly connect with nature, the heart of our very existence. Embalakai Camp offers the opportunity to hit the pause button on the regular daily grind giving guests the priceless gift of time, taking a moment to relax on the deck or by the campfire under the Serengeti dark velvet night sky, looking up at the millions of stars overhead in the pure unfiltered wilderness. There is no greater feeling than ‘letting go’ and embracing the beauty of present moment life, living on natures clock where time is determined by the sunrise and sunset, allowing the day’s events in between to unfold in their own magical and furtive ways.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 13: EMBALAKAI CAMP, SERONERA CENTRAL SERENGETI

Day Itinerary

Full day spent in the park with morning and afternoon game drives.

Meals and overnight stay at Embalakai Camp – LDBB

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 14: NGORONGORO OLDEANI MOUNTAIN LODGE, KARATU  

Karatu

As previously described

Activities

Ngorongoro Crater

Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife; which makes it one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO-listed crater is said to be the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Visitors can look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five and a host of other wildlife species including large herds of zebra and wildebeest. It is famed as one of Tanzania’s best tourist attractions offering visitors an array of wonderful activities including excellent bird watching, trekking, wildlife viewing, and mountain biking and visiting a local Maasai village. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on an excursion to the magnificent Olduvai Gorge.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge. Depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area; descend into the crater for a game drive with lunch boxes. Drive to Ngorongoro Oldeani Lodge for check in, dinner and overnight stay. LDBB

Overnight: Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge          

O’ldeani Ngorongoro Mountain Lodge is a colonial lodge situated on a picturesque hill with spectacular views of Oldeani Mountain and the Ngorongoro Crater Rim. The lodge is elevated, featuring spectacular views that extend all the way to Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara.

The property is set on 40 acres of lush green gardens and local vegetation, with over 130 species of birds. The lodge is accessed over a pond and one’s first impression is the grand central hallway with wooden trusses looking out over the fireplace, infinity pool and out to Mount O’ldeani, which is part of the caldera of the Ngorongoro crater, only 12 km away.

DAY 15: NGORONGORO OLDEANI MOUNTAIN LODGE, KARATU  

Day Itinerary

After Breakfast, descend 2,000 feet to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, where volcanic slopes shelter almost 30,000 animals. Observe the interactions between predator and prey; spot colourful birdlife, from superb starlings to crowned cranes; and track elephants, rare black rhinos, cheetahs, and more.

Dinner and overnight O’ldeani Ngorongoro Mountain Lodge

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 16 – 17:  ZANZIBAR SERENA HOTEL, STONE TOWN       

Stone Town

Situated on the beautiful island of Zanzibar, Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of the island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is famous for its winding alleys fringed by grand architecture, bustling bazaars, sultan’s palace, mosques, the House of Wonders, gardens and the extravagant merchants’ houses with their remarkably ornate doors. Stone Town is home to over fifty mosques, six Hindu Temples, a Catholic and an Anglican Cathedral. Visitors can also look forward to visiting the Old Fort along the water front, pay a visit to the Palace Museum, and sampling local cuisine at Forodhani Gardens a local seaside market. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a sunset dhow cruise.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge. Pick up from your hotel and transferred to Arusha Airport for your Coastal Aviation flight to Zanzibar. The flight departs at 1245hrs and arrives in Zanzibar at approximately 1420hrs.

Up on arrival at Zanzibar Airport, you will be met by a AMA Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Zanzibar Serena Hotel – BB

Overnight: Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Idyllically situated on the seafront of ancient Stone Town and flanked by an exotic mix of sultan’s palaces, Portuguese forts, ancient dhow harbours and bright bazaars, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel is a haven of tranquillity and opulence among the bustle of one of Africa’s ancient and enchanting towns. The hotel has been styled to represent the epitome of Swahili style, ethnic elegance and Arabic opulence.

After the heat and dust of Stone Town, the accommodation in the Zanzibar Serena Hotel is a haven of cool and shade. With high ceilings, shuttered windows and cool white walls, the rooms are constructed in the traditional Swahili manner. Adorned with arched niches, antique plates and brass lamps, and featuring traditionally carved furniture with basket weave and ceramic inlay, the rooms are predominantly royal blue and white. Four posters, net draped beds dominate, offset by delicate side tables, vanity units and louver doors with access to balconies, some of which feature massive free standing hammocks.

Basis: Bed and Breakfast

DAY 18 – 20:  ELEWANA KILINDI ZANZIBAR, KENDWA  

Kendwa

Situated on the tropical island of Unguja, just off the Tanzanian coast, Kendwa is a village along the northwest coast of this beautiful island. It is renowned for its powder-fine white-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters boasting an untouched underwater wonderland and fringed by an array of tourist resorts. Visitors can enjoy snorkelling excursions to explore the abundant marine life living in these azure waters or jumping on a local wooden dhow boat for a picturesque sunset trip. For those looking for some evening entertainment, the full moon party is a definite must. Don’t miss the opportunity to give back to the community and learn about local Zanzibari culture on a fascinating village tour, great for those looking to go beyond the usual resort activities. Other popular activities include: parasailing, banana boating, scuba diving, and jet skiing.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the hotel. 0900hrs: You will be picked by our representative and proceed on a stone town tour and thereafter transferred to Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar where you will spend the next 3 nights.

Meals and overnight at Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar – Full board basis

Overnight: Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar          

Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar is the ultimate romantic destination, the perfect place to enjoy the harmony of the ocean and spend time with the one you love. Set in a picturesque tropical garden with its secluded beachfront, the luxurious Pavilion suites embrace wide-arched glassless windows affording spectacular views over the Indian Ocean.

Each villa has its own private plunge pool and is tended to by its own Guest Ambassador. Kilindi’s ‘open-to-nature’ approach provides the true essence to any stay and crafts a private, intimate and ‘barefoot’ appeal that so many crave. Explore the hidden secrets of the island or relax in the infinity pool watching the dhows head out to sea, with a gentle breeze in their sail. There is a delightful spa offering an extensive array of treatments to satisfy you from head to toe, the spa combines African natural ingredients with both modern and traditional methods in the art of beauty, offering the ultimate in pampering.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 21: END OF ITINERARY      

Day Itinerary

Early breakfast at the hotel then check out. You will be collected from the beach resort and transferred to Zanzibar International Airport for your flight back home. End of our services

Basis: Bed and Breakfast