Tour Code: OAT013A – EAST AFRICAN FINEST
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 18 day(s)
Destination(s):
Specialty Categories:
Season: All year round
Tour Customizable: Yes

Highlights: This tour explores wonderful Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its myriad bird life as well as a guarantee of rhino spotting, the arid North with Lake Baringo, Western Kenya into the ever green Kakamega Forest with its unique fauna and flora specialities, including the world’s slowest mammal, the Potto; the world famous Maasai Mara Reserve and ending in Tanzania’s popular and unique parks of Tarangire, the famous Serengeti and the world heritage site at Ngorongoro Crater. We welcome you to this exploration of unspoilt icon wilderness.

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Day 1: Arrive JKIA and transfer to the city
On arrival at Nairobi Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time you may have the option to visit Nairobi National Park in the afternoon or visit Karen Blixen’s House, the Giraffe Centre or Daphne Sheldrick’s famous elephant orphanage. Dinner and overnight at the New Stanley Hotel on BB

The New Stanley Hotel

Among the many hotels in Nairobi, The Sarova Stanley, a 5 star hotel, has hosted some of the world's most recognizable names of acclaimed actors, authors, world leaders on royal and state visits to Kenya.  With its enhanced old charm and historic features, the Kenya city hotel remains a significant and luxurious landmark in the center of Nairobi, including Thorn Tree Café - the famous message tree & The Thai Chi Restaurant - enjoy Thai special cuisines prepared by Thai chefs. No other Nairobi city hotel has such a convenient position amongst the busy shopping and restaurant areas.

Day 2: Full day in Nairobi
Today is at your leisure, a chance to acclimatize and adapt, with an overnight at the Stanley Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 3: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park
This morning you will be met at your hotel by your driver/guide and transferred by road to Lake Nakuru National Park for birding and wildlife viewing. In Nakuru you will have a chance to look out for the more common bird species such as Rock Thrush, Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, Rupell`s long tailed starling, Green wood hoopoes, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagles, and many non-resident winter species that migrate here. The mega mammal list includes the White Rhino, here protected from poachers. Nakuru is also the only site on your itinerary for the rare Rothschild's Giraffe. During your visit here a picnic lunch will be provided at the Cliff picnic site where you may well share it with Black kites, Cliff chats and Rock hyraxes before driving onto Lake Baringo. The rest of the evening is at your leisure with an overnight at Lake Baringo Country Club on Full board basis.

Lake Baringo Country Club

Lake Baringo Country Club is a neat, compact hotel on the lakeshore. The architecture has a Spanish air about it and the garden and grounds are unmistakably African, but laid out with English flair. There is a very welcoming atmosphere, the staff are friendly and the food is excellent it is a fabulous place to simply chill out. As with Lake Naivasha, the 170km² lake is fresh water and it has a charming campsite and luxury lodge on its shores. Its main attraction is the fabulous bird life, which abounds here and attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. The demand is such that the lodge, Lake Baringo Country Club, has a resident ornithologist who conducts bird walks and evening slide shows. The lodge and campsite have lots of trees which ring with bird songs. Rooms at Lake Baringo Club are cool and comfortable with a central overhead fan, mosquito nets around the beds and a decent shower. Above all Baringo means birds, birds and more birds. Over 460 species have been recorded here so its no surprise chat Lake Baringo is a Mecca for bird watchers and a highlight of the ornithology circuit of East Africa.

Day 4: Full day in Lake Baringo
The day will be spent bird watching with an overnight at Lake Baringo Country Club on Full board basis.

Day 5: Lake Baringo to Kakamega Forests
Today you will probably add to your birding list with yet more exciting species accompanied by one of the local expert guides. This will include: Little Weaver and D'Arnaud's Barbet, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Heuglin's Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Northern Masked, Little, Jackson's and Vitelline Masked Weavers, Bristle-crowned Starling, Hemprich's and Jackson's Hornbills, mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Verreaux's Eagle Owl, White-faced Scops Owl, the beautiful Sunbird and much more.  After a late breakfast you will head to the Kakamega Forest. On the way you can expect further birding at the spectacular Kerio Valley where you may see the Little Bee Eater and Fan Tailed Raven. Overnight at Rondo Retreat on Full board basis

Rondo Retreat, Kakamega.

The tranquil Retreat Centre in the Kakamega Rain Forest welcomes you to make it your home for a few memorable days, pursuing your hobbies as a butterfly collector, beetle specialist, frog fancier, spider hunter, tourist or bird watcher. Among the vast array of birds the Kakamega Rain Forest is home to the flamboyant Great Blue Turaco, gemlike Emerald Cuckoo and the cacophonous Black-and-white casqued Hornbill. From the monkey family we have the blue Sykes, the red tailed, the common Black and White Colobus, and the rare deBrazza’s. The Forest is also home to 40% of the total butterfly population of Kenya. Perhaps you are a “people person” and would like to catch a glimpse of the local culture. Or it is just rest and relaxation in a special spot you are looking for. Excellent food and accommodation. Wonderful walks and views. Accommodation consists of luxury wooden cottages/chalets in the heart of Kakamega Forest and is the most top class accommodation facility in Kakamega Forest. The property is run by an International Christian fellowship Mission.

DDay 6: Kakamega to Kisumu
Early morning birding in the Kakamega forest with the resident bird guide.

Bird life in Kakamega Forest is incredible, and includes the Great Blue and Black-billed Turacos, Grey Parrot, (the forest has about 18 pairs of grey Parrots) the only remaining population in Kenya, Yellow-billed, Grey-throated, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, several Woodpeckers, Scaly-throated and Thick-billed Honeyguides, Turner's Eremomela, Banded and White-chinned Prinias, Blue and Dusky Crested Flycatchers, Chapin's Flycatcher, several Greenbuls and Illadopsises, Yellowbill, Bar-tailed Trogons. Kakamega is also home to the Potto, the slowest mammal on earth as well as the endangered DeBrazza monkey.
You will return to Rondo Retreat for lunch following which you will be transferred to Kisumu on Lake Victoria arriving late afternoon. If time permits a chance to do some birding around the swamps in Kisumu where you can expect to spot a number of  Lake Victoria specialities at ‘Hippo Point’ to include; Wing-snapping Cisticola, Black-headed and Papyrus Gonoleks, Carruther's Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Papyrus and Yellow-fronted Canaries, Black-billed Barbet, White-browed and Blue-headed Coucal, Greater Swamp Warbler and many more depending on luck. Overnight at the The Imperial Hotel Kisumu on Full board basis.

The Imperial Hotel, Kisumu.

Imperial Hotel is situated in the heart of Africa and on the shores of the World's second largest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria. The hotel has a reputation of upholding traditional hospitality values despite the changing times. As the region's natural choice for quality conscious business and leisure travelers, Imperial Hotel offers personalized service with elegance and style that meet the discerning needs of every individual guest.  Imperial Hotel, being an accolade as a leader in Western Kenya's hospitality industry ensures guests wallow in the scenic and romantic sunset across Lake Victoria. The first class accommodation combined with ultra modern conference facilities and choice of top of the range bars and restaurants make any guest's business and leisure a pleasure

Day 7: Kisumu to Maasai Mara Game Reserves
After breakfast you will have the option to bird the swamps around Lake Victoria again for species you may have missed the previous evening. You will then drive to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, birding the plains en route to the lodge where species such as the Common Stone Chat, Usambiro Barbet, Yellow throated Long Claw, White Bellieb Bustards… may be spotted. Overnight at the Masai Mara Serena Lodge on Full board basis

Set in the heart of Africa's Great Plains, the Masai Mara boasts 1,672 square kilometers of un spoilt wilderness. It is home to the highest concentration of animals and birds in the world.

The Mara Serena Lodge

Perched on the saddle of a hill, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge has one of the most spectacular views imaginable across the vast plains, forests and rivers that make up the Masai Mara – one of the world’s richest wildlife sanctuaries. It is on this very terrain that the annual migration takes place when millions of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle cross the plains below, on their way to the rich new grasses of the Serengeti. This is a spectacle that should be witnessed at least once in a lifetime.  The hotel has been designed to mirror a traditional Masai village or Manyatta and all the guest rooms are located in individual domed huts grouped in a circular manner. The furnishings of each room have been inspired by traditional Masai art and each one has a private balcony with views that stretch over the vast African landscape. The lodge has a sky-blue swimming pool perched on the edge of the hill, a restaurant that overlooks a waterhole where wildlife gather and several treatment rooms where you can enjoy a range of relaxing massages. From the lodge you can organise a safari by balloon – a truly breathtaking experience. Other activities on offer include bush barbecues, game drives, evening cocktail parties at the waterhole, watching the hippos and Masai dancing.

Day 8: Masai Mara
The full day will be spent exploring the Mara Plains for birds and mammals. It is almost pointless to highlight yet again the Mara’s fauna list but here we go: endangered Black rhino, elephant, leopard, cheetah, lion, spotted hyena, topi, impala, Thompson gazelle, buffalo, kori bustard (heaviest flying bird in the world), ostrich, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest and so much more. This is one of the few remaining places in Africa where you can see the famous ‘Big Five’ together. Overnight at the Serena Lodge on full board basis.

Day 9: Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park
After a dawn game drive and breakfast we drive to Isebania / Sirari border between Kenya and Tanzania to enter Serengeti National Park, this world famous Tanzanian haven and wildlife sanctuary. We spend a night close to Lake Victoria’s shore.  Dinner and overnight stay at Speke Bay Resort or Kirejeshi Tented Camp On Full board basis

Speke Bay

Located on the south-eastern shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, East Africa. It is 15 kilometres from the Serengeti National Park, and 125 kilometres north of Mwanza. Speke Bay is part of Speke Gulf, named after the famous explorer John Hanning Speke, who, in 1858, discovered Lake Victoria to be the source of the Nile. Embraced by savannah, the Lodge looks like a small village, stretched out along the shores of the lake. The main buildings and luxury accommodation are round in form, built to perfection, painted white and thatched with a grass roof in the traditional style of the local tribe, the Sukuma. Since the Lodge is outside but close to the Serengeti National Park, it is the ideal place to start or end your safari, or relax during your travels. Excursions in boats and on mountain bikes are offered, so you can truly experience Africa; you can fish from the beach for Tilapia, enjoy the peacefulness, or wander around on the Lodge's 100 hectares of savannah, looking for birds.

Day 10: Speke Bay to Serengeti Western Corridor.
After Breakfast you will leave the lodge / Camp and drive to Serengeti National Park, enjoy a full day game drive in the Serengeti National Park’s western corridor. Dinner and overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti on Full board basis.

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Mbalageti Lodge, Serengeti

Day 11: Full day in Serengeti National Park Western Corridor
Enjoy another full day game drives inside Serengeti National park western corridor, it is after breakfast that you leave the lodge with picnics and head out to the bush for a full day game drive. Overnight stay at Mbalageti Serengeti on Full board basis

Day 12: Serengeti Western corridor to Central Serengeti
After breakfast you leave the lodge with packed lunch and drive to Serengeti Central, game viewing en route before entering Serengeti national park to experience the world’s largest gathering of fauna, home of the migration. Wildebeest, zebra, lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, hyena and a myriad of antelope as you drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Serengeti Serena Lodge on Full board basis

Serengeti National Park

This is the most famous park in Tanzania and it is also the largest concentration of wildlife migration in the world. In the park during the big haul the migration may be 1.5 million wildebeests, 750,000 gazelles and about half one million zebra 's. The park is also famous for its huge population and the lions is probably the best park in the continent with a  big chance to see pride of lions. The park has a size of 8960 square kilometers. It is bordered in the north with the Masai Mara National Game Reserve in Kenya and in the southeast to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In the west, the boundary of the park is just a few miles from Lake Victoria. The largest portion of the Serengeti is open savanna country that is interrupted by rocks, the so-called "kopjes". The vegetation consists of acacia and other trees. Along the Mara River is much forestation with large trees where sometimes the leopards can be observed.

Serengeti Serena Lodge

Set high on a hill with 360 degree views out over the Serengeti savannah, the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge combines luxury with simplicity and is Africa at its very best. Inspired by the traditional African village, the lodge is rich in local atmosphere and the bedrooms are housed in individual thatched huts. These huts are furnished with authentic African furniture and handicrafts, with balconies overlooking the awesome expanse of the Serengeti. Communal areas of the lodge are created out of thatch and indigenous wood and give guests a true ‘out of Africa’ experience. Great attention has been paid to both architectural and decorative detailing and the lodge is a photographer’s joy. Derived from the Masai word ‘siringet’ meaning endless plains, the Serengeti is one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. From the Serengeti Serena you can enjoy safari drives or balloon safaris and experience the awesome spectacle of the annual migration that is one of nature’s wonders, or simply enjoy the outstanding quality and variety of cuisine.

Day 13: Serengeti National Park
Enjoy a full day game drive inside the Serengeti National Park, you can either choose to leave the lodge with picnics for a day long game drive or go for a short drive and return to the camp for lunch before continuing your game drive in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge on FB

Day 14: Serengeti National Park  to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Today your final chance to view life’s rich animal pageant as you drive  through the Serengeti en-route to the Ngorongoro highlands to view the world famous Olduvai Gorge, where Louis Leakey found the then earliest remains of mankind’s hominid ancestry. We follow this with a visit to a local Masai Boma. Picnic lunch will be served on the way to Ngorongoro. Then proceed to the Ngorongoro crater; overnight on top of the crater rim at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on Full board basis (Warm clothes are highly recommended at Ngorongoro)

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro crater is one of the world wonders. At the bottom of the crater lives of thousands of wild animals from a wide variety, Elephants, buffaloes huge, rare rhinos, who is still best be protected because the surrounding crater wall which allows a permanent monitoring, lions, wildebeests, gazelles, in short: a photographic feast for the eye. The soda lake also houses a small colony of flamingoes. The crater is not a national park but large part of the Ngorongoro conservation area land belonging to the Masai communities, and the other covers to the Serengeti. The purpose of this arrangement is a balance between the needs of the natural inhabitants of this area and for game. Of course, there are conflicts between the Masai cattle herds that the hats and the predators in this area. The Masai formerly lived at the bottom of the crater but were forced to leave this area to make room for the game. Even the highlands surrounding the crater are certainly worth a visit. A journey leads to End with fantastic views and strange-shaped rock walls and slopes overlooking Lake Eyasi. Lake Eyasi is the area of the Hadzabe and Datoga, Tanzania’s latest strain of bushes men.

Day 15: Ngorongoro crater tour
After breakfast, you descend to the floor of the crater for a half-day crater tour inside this world heritage site; enjoy a beautiful scenic view as you descend. The crater wall surrounds a relatively small area making viewing of the huge concentration of wildlife a real spectacle. Picnic lunch will be served inside the floor of the crater before ascending back to the crater rim for a beautiful panoramic view (have your cameras ready) of the crater as the sun sets upon unique Ngorongoro. Overnight in the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge Full board.

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Often described as the ‘Eighth’ Wonder of the World, the Ngorongoro crater is so spectacular that it touches all the senses. A volcanic crater of over 259 square kilometres with surrounding walls rising 609 metres above it, the crater is a natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals, including the black rhino. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Masai tribe. The Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is built onto the rim of this amazing natural phenomenon, a stunning plant and local creeper covered stone lodge where guests co-exist in perfect harmony with the surrounding natural environment and wildlife. Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, close to some of the earliest dwellings of man in Olduvai Gorge, has taken their cave paintings as inspiration. It is built of stones and boulders and is literally hidden in the vegetation of the crater’s rim, disappearing completely from view from the crater’s floor.

Day 16: Ngorongoro Conservations Area to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast leave Ngorongoro with picnic lunch and drive to Lake Manyara National Park, enjoying a beautiful rift valley view as we approach this ‘garden of Eden’, that is Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is relatively small as a park but many visitors claim this to be one of the most beautiful of Africa’s parks. Ernest Hemingway called it “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.  It is rich in aquatic avi-fauna and birdlife generally with 400 species, of which you can expect to see 100 in any given day; but it also houses much of the mega-fauna associated with Africa:- elephant, large buffalo, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. In the narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favoured haunt of Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lion and large-tusked elephant. After game drive you ascend the Rift Valley to overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge on FB

Lake Manyara National Park

Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.  Despite the relatively small size of the park, there is a large variety of landscapes and there are many different types of wildlife. Manyara is among few destinations where the tree climbing lions can be found. The park is located next to a lake where there is a permanent hippo’s pool

Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

Standing high on the bluff of a dramatic ochre and terracotta streaked cliff above the flamingo-frosted expanse of Lake Manyara’s gleaming alkaline waters, the Lodge commands panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley.  Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara’s unique birdlife, the Lodge draws on an inspirational architectural motif that melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas’ (encampments) whilst the vibrantly coloured frescoes lining the walls are designed to depict the colourful intricacy of bird migratory patterns.The ambiance of the Lodge is a fusion of lakeside tranquillity, towering volcanic splendour and adventure-packed sporting activity.

Day 17: Lake Manyara to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast leave Lake Manyara  with picnic lunch and drive to Tarangire National Park, enjoying the  scenic views en-route, including Mto wa Mbu colourful market.  Proceed to Tarangire National Park (often referred to as Tanzania’s best kept secret) for a full day game drive. Tarangire is home to some of the biggest elephant herds anywhere in Africa with herds of 300 plus often scene. It is also home to over 550 species of bird, the highest number breeding in one habitat anywhere in the world. It is the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem and includes the rare fringe-eared Oryx and peculiar looking long-necked gerenuk. Overnight stay at Tarangire Sopa Lodge on FB

Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Hidden among the kopjes, lies Tarangire Sopa Lodge, surrounded by ancient baobab trees. It is the home of the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa, and other game including the elusive leopard. Over 400 bird species can be spotted here as well. With water constantly available in the area, the greenery is lush providing a wonderful contrast to the burnt ground.  In the Tarangire National Park which covers an area of 2800 sq km. The lodge lies 118 km south west of Arusha, approximately 2 hours drive from Arusha town and 20 mins flying time with another 20 minutes transfer time to the lodge.

Day 18: Tarangire to Arusha
After breakfast enjoy another morning game drive in Tarangire National Park, before driving back to Arusha and onto Kilimanjaro International Airport where we wish ‘Karibu Tena’ (Welcome Again) before you board your flight for home.

OR You will be transferred to Arusha arriving for an early lunch at the River House or Arusha Hotel. After lunch you will be transferred to Nairobi by a Public Tourist Shuttle Bus and onto Nairobi Airport for your evening flight home, depending on your flight arrangements This safari programme can be customized so please feel free to contact us by email.

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Access to Tanzania: KLM, Kenya Airways, Condor, in Kilimanjaro International Airport daily
Swiss Air, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Qatar Air, arrives in Dar-es-Salaam International Airport
The above, as well as other airlines arrive and depart at Jomo Kenyata International Airport, Nairobi. Please check with your agent for your best connecting international flight.