East Africa Private Safari with Nairobi (IQHC)

Welcome to Africa! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Start your PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING with a visit to the SHELDRICK ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE, founded and managed by Daphne Sheldrick. Here, you will learn about elephant conservation and meet elephant calves, orphaned by poachers, before they are re-introduced to the wild. Next, visit the KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM, dedicated to the author of Out of Africa. Lastly, stop at the GIRAFFE CENTER, a non-profit organization focused on saving the Rothschild’s giraffe, where you will learn about this sub-species and have the opportunity to feed them. (B,L)

Today, drive to MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, Kenya’s most famous game area. Stop for lunch en route before embarking on your first GAME DRIVE in search of the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. (B,L,D)

Today, your Driver/Guide pilots you on MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES in the “Mara,” as it is called by the locals. Part of the Serengeti ecosystem, it boasts a strong permanent population of game. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrives, generally between August and early November, the population enlarges by almost 2 million. This provides a great food source for predators such as lion, leopard, and hyena. Between game drives, take advantage of leisure time to relax. (B,L,D)

NOTE:
The Great Migration is a natural event, and the arrival/departure of the migrating herds varies slightly year to year.

After breakfast, board a plane for the quick flight to Nairobi. After a short break, drive to AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, best known for spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at some 19,341 feet. Embark on an AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE before settling in at your lodge or camp. (B,L,D)

Today features MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. Amboseli offers you a great opportunity to get close to the mighty elephant. You might also spot Cape buffalo, zebra, wild dog, and more. Relax between game drives. (B,L,D)

This morning, cross the border into Tanzania. After lunch in Arusha, proceed to your lodge along the rim of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Check-in and enjoy some leisure time prior to dinner. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, embark on a MORNING GAME DRIVE in LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK. This small park is ecologically diverse, with groundwater forests, grassy plains, and alkaline Lake Manyara itself. Watch for elephant, Cape buffalo, giraffe, and more. The park is also home to the world’s largest concentration of baboon. Then, drive to beautiful Gibb’s Farm for a relaxing lunch featuring sumptuous farm-to-table cuisine. Afterward, continue to the NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA for the night. (B,L,D)

Today, enjoy a FULL-DAY GAME DRIVE in Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is technically the world’s largest unflooded caldera—at more than 2,000 feet deep with a floor covering over 102 square miles. Game viewing here is fantastic, as most of the animals stay in this area year round. You can see lion, Cape buffalo, hippo, elephant, and flamingo. This is also your best chance to see the rare black rhinoceros. A picnic lunch will be served in the crater. (B,L,D)

Today, drive to SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, Tanzania’s largest and most famous park. Home to the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, generally between late November and July, it attracts visitors from around the world and is great for game viewing year round. Enjoy lunch and some down time prior to your AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. (B,L,D)

NOTE:
The Great Migration is a natural event, and the arrival/departure of the migrating herds varies slightly year to year.

The Serengeti covers an area of roughly 5,700 square miles, so it is no surprise that the name comes from the Maasai word siringit, meaning “endless plains.” Continue exploring this vast park during MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. Search for leopard, rhino, and an abundance of other animals, including cheetah, giraffe, gazelle, and eland. (B,L,D)

This morning, fly back to Arusha, where your vacation ends. We have reserved a day room at the Mount Meru Hotel for you to use prior to your homebound flight. Book homebound flights after 5 pm. (B)