Greatest Wildlife & Cultural Experience

The “Greatest Wildlife & Cultural Experience” package is a safari jackpot. To be able to experience Kenya and Tanzania’s natural abundance in one sitting is undoubtedly as authentic as a safari experience gets. Between the two countries Africa’s story is told to perfection.  The tour departs every Saturday with a minimum of 2 persons.

Day 1: Nairobi Sarova Stanley Hotel

It is ‘touch down’ at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Representatives of Twiga Tours, your hosts in Kenya eagerly await your arrival in traditional African style – wet towels and champagne. It is a tradition in Africa to present a gift as an expression of our joy and happiness – what better gift than an authentic safari hat and other safari souvenirs! Thereafter transfer to your city hotel for overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Lake Nakuru National Park

After a sumptuous breakfast depart on a pleasant drive to the floor of the Great Rift Valley with its spectacular views of the valley below. Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, famous as home to thousands of lesser and greater flamingo. This park also provides sanctuary for Rothschild giraffe, black and white rhino and the elusive leopard. Arrive in time for lunch at your preferred choice of accommodation and some leisure time, later in the afternoon head out for a game viewing drive in search of both the black and white rhino, the endangered Rothschild Giraffe (Twiga), the elusive leopard as well as a host of other plains game and with a chance to visit the shores of the lake where you may walk with millions of flamingos. Return for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Masai Mara Game Reserve

Enjoy an early breakfast depart for the Masai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where you may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago. Arrive in time for lunch at your preferred choice of accommodation and some leisure time, later in the afternoon head out for an exciting game-viewing drive in this vast and expansive reserve teeming with game. Thereafter return for diner and overnight.

Day 4: Masai Mara Game Reserve

Full day in Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game viewing drives in search of the ‘big five’. Masai Mara is the northern most extension of the Serengeti Plains and one of the richest wildlife Game Reserves. It is home to the awesome black-manned lion, the elusive leopard, stately giraffes, vast bulk of elephants, rhino, thundering herds of zebra, migrating wildebeest and numerous other plains game. Return to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Today’s adventure begins just before dawn. Flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crew inflates their craft. The first, pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies and the hot air balloon fills then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a game-viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, a lion’s roar, elephants crashing through the bush, baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see something above them, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush, complete with flowers. China and crystal are set out on the table that is placed under a convenient acacia tree. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon safari. Back at Camp enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a well deserved rest.

And/or enjoy a visit to a traditional Masai Manyatta. Experience the culture of this world famous community – the Maasai still lives as they did for centuries; interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions. Continue with your afternoon game viewing drive before returning to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Awake early to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before heading south towards Isebania and Sirari, the border towns of Kenya and Tanzania. We’ll continue with our journey passing the Mara River as it drains into Lake Victoria and stop at a private scenic site to enjoy picnic lunch. Continue with a game-viewing drive en-route to the lodge to check-in in the early evening. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Full day in the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game-viewing drives. The word ‘serenget’ means endless plains, where millions of plains game – wildebeest, zebra, impala feed and breed in the thousands in readiness for the annual migration north to the Mara ecosystem. The predators are easy to spot as they hunt. All meals and overnight at your proffered choice of accommodation.

 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Today’s adventure begins just before dawn. Flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crew inflates their craft. The first, pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies and the hot air balloon fills then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a game-viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, a lion’s roar, elephants crashing through the bush, baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see something above them, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush, complete with flowers. China and crystal are set out on the table that is placed under a convenient acacia tree. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon safari. Back at Camp enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a well deserved rest.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, depart for the Oldupai Gorge where hominid footprints believed to be 3.6million years old were found. We will enjoy an on-site talk on the interpretation of the gorge by the resident guide. Proceed towards the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater stopping occasionally to admire the breath-taking vista unfolding before you to arrive at the lodge for lunch. This afternoon just relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the crater. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

NOTE: Warm jacket/cardigan is highly recommended.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast descends some 600metres into the crater, which is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise, for a full day game-viewing drive. We will enjoy picnic lunch at a private scenic site. Thereafter return at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Tarangire National Park

After breakfast depart to Tarangire National Park retains a real air of undiscovered Africa, particularly in the south of the park. Arrive in time for lunch at your preferred choice of accommodation and some leisure time, later in the afternoon head out for game viewing drive in search of elephants, the park is most renounced for it highest population of elephants than anywhere in Tanzania, its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and special location. Thereafter return for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Amboseli National Park

After an early sumptuous breakfast depart towards Namanga (the border town between Kenya and Tanzania). After clearing immigration formalities, continue our journey to Amboseli National Park, which provides the classic Hollywood image of Africa. Set in rolling savannah scenery, it is dwarfed by the presence of the pink-tinged, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing volcanic mountain in the world and topped by one fifth of all the ice in Africa. Against this magnificent backdrop roam vast herds of ‘giant’ elephant accompanied by a kaleidoscope of other fabulous beasts – lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, baboon, gazelle hippo and wildebeest. Amboseli National Park is also an ornithological paradise with over 400 species of birds, all manner of reptilian, flora and fauna and some of the most soul-searing views in Africa. Arrive at your preferred choice of accommodation for check in and some delicious lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive in search of the ‘big five’ among other animals. Her breath-taking scenery – one of the best places for a photogenic view of Mount Kilimanjaro; weather permitting is next to none. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Amboseli National Park

Enjoy a full day in Amboseli with an early morning game drive return for breakfast, thereafter the rest of the morning is at leisure. Enjoy lunch and some leisure time, before later in the afternoon heading out for yet another game viewing drive on this majestic backdrop to one of Kenya’s most spectacular displays of wildlife – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo and hosts of plains’ game. Thereafter return for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Nairobi & Depart

Amka! Wake up early to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before heading off on your last trail of the African Savannah – hopefully you may spot some of the animal that may have eluded you. Return for lunch. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and sadly you must say ‘Kwaheri’ to your wonderful lodge manager and his team as you drive back to Kenya’s colourful capital city, Nairobi. Tonight you will be guest of the Manji Family at their residence for drinks and dinner before being transferred to the JKIA Airport for your homebound flight.