Day notes
Your host will be on hand when you arrive at the airport and will take you to the EKA Hotel. This lovely property is ideally located along Mombasa Road in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya literally minutes away from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Take a minute to enjoy a few drinks at the poolside bar whilst you relax and unwind after your flight. If you’re ready for sleep, you’ll immediately relax in your luxurious room, with its fine linens. In the morning you’ll be refreshed and ready to begin your safari.
Check-in to Eka Hotel
Day notes
After breakfast this morning, it will be time to head out to Lake Nakuru National Park. This park is world-renowned for its millions of flamingos. Watch them from Baboon Cliff and be mesmerized by the sea of pink. The park also serves as Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary and is home to both white and black species. Protection is also offered to rare Rothschild giraffes – a 188-km area around the lake is fenced off to protect them. You’ll also be able to explore the beautiful Malaika Waterfall and, of course, Lake Nakuru. In the evening, you will enjoy splendid views from the Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, designed to blend in with the terrain. The rustic African décor perfectly blends comfort with adventure, and the restaurant offers the finest in local and international cuisines in a relaxed setting.
Check-out from Eka Hotel
Transfer from Eka Hotel to Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Transfer
Eka Hotel
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Check-in to Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Day notes
When those of us in the west hear the term “African Safari” the picture that comes to mind is the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is where you are going today. Here is where you’ll find the grasslands, the lions, the jackals, the wildebeests and more. This will also be your opportunity to get to know the Maasai, the semi-nomadic natives of Kenya. These cattle-herding people have managed to preserve their way of life through the centuries; visiting them is an enriching experience. Tonight you’ll stay at the Mara Sopa Lodge, one of the first lodges built in the Maasai Mara, set in expansive and mature wooded gardens. The lodge has an ethnic design that incorporates traditional round buildings with thatched roofs for its guest rooms and public areas.
Check-out from Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Transfer from Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge to Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Transfer
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Check-in to Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Day notes
You will be glad to have a second day to explore the Maasai Mara National Reserve and to stay at Mara Sopa Lodge. Today you’ll have both a morning and an afternoon game drive and you’ll marvel at how completely different they are. You’ll have the chance to see the continent’s largest prides of lions as well as many herds of antelopes, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeests and zebras. If you’re able to visit between July and October, you may be able to witness the Great Migration, when huge herds of Thomson’s gazelles, wildebeests and zebras travel in mass from the Serengeti. It is an unforgettable experience that is not to be missed. No matter when you visit, you will also have a chance to take a “walking safari”, or visit a local tribal village if you wish. You will learn about the Maasai way of life and how they have managed to retain their semi-nomadic customs even in today’s modern world, when so much of their world is at risk. After all these adventures, you will be more than ready for a mid-day nap or laze on the veranda to escape the heat of the day.
Day notes
After breakfast enjoy a morning game drive as we head toward the Kenya Tanzania border and onwards to the shores of Lake Victoria. Upon arrival we check into the Serenity on The Lake Retreat, a wonderful new property situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria, the largest fresh water lake in Africa and the second largest in the world! Here we rest and relax. We have the option to take a boat trip on the lake, enjoy a nature or bird walk if we choose.
Check-out from Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Transfer from Masai Mara Sopa Lodge to Missing Point
Transfer
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Missing Point
Check-in to Missing Point
Day notes
After a hearty safari breakfast, you leave Lake Victoria and drive to the Serengeti, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. All of the various animal and plant species are dependent on the sparse rainfall, as well as on each other. A variety of different vegetation zones make up the park. Grasslands with both short and tall grasses are in the dry south, which receives an average of 19 inches of rain per year. A savannah abounding with acacia trees is in the center, and the western area has more heavily wooded highland areas, complete with what is known as 'black cotton' soil.
Check-out from Missing Point
Transfer from Missing Point to Missing Point
Transfer
Missing Point
Missing Point
Check-in to Missing Point
Day notes
On this day we set out in search of cheetahs, lions and leopards in pursuit of prey. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti plains (at an additional cost), viewing wildlife — hippos, wildebeests and Thompson’s gazelle — from above. The Serengeti houses abundant life beyond its mammal population, including over 500 species of birds. Watch, too, for eagles, known to glide effortlessly over the Lobo Hills and sun-scorched landscape; lightning-fast cheetahs, who prowl the southeastern plains; and untold plains-grazers, who become unwitting prey. During down time, relax at the pool, pore over a good book in your room or absorb the warm, golden glow of African sunset.
Day notes
After breakfast we drive to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservancy Area. After breakfast we take a morning drive en route Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcano and bucolic sanctuary supporting a wide array of wildlife, including the elusive black rhino. For the next two nights we take up residence at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. The property sits on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, only 8km from the descent road. There are stunning views from all of the bedrooms and many of the public areas. On a clear day, looking through the lodge telescope it is even possible to see the wildlife roaming around! Due to this spectacular location, the Ngorongoro Serena is a very popular lodge. The Ngorongoro Crater itself is all that remains of a long-extinct volcano. The 2000-foot high crater rim encloses a depression measuring 100 square miles, which provides water and vegetation for wildlife, as well as the cattle of the Maasai people. You are very likely to witness Maasai herders and their cattle passing through the area.
Check-out from Missing Point
Transfer from Missing Point to Missing Point
Transfer
Missing Point
Missing Point
Check-in to Missing Point
Day notes
Today we shall pack a picnic lunch and spend the day within the crater. There are around 30,000 large animals within the crater, so you are bound to see lots of wildlife: large herds of wildebeest, antelope and zebras roam the landscape, often being pursued by hyenas, cheetahs or lions. The lake inside the crater is home to numerous colorful bird species, and you can see hippos lounging in the water. Every so often, visitors see impressive bull elephants passing through the crater area in search of water, though herds with cows and calves are rare. You can also visit a Maasai village to learn more about what living in this unique area is like, as well as getting acquainted with the Maasai culture. This is a key part of a safari in Tanzania.
Day notes
Our destination today is the world famous Amboseli National Park. This amazing park, located on the Tanzanian border, is considered the best place to see free-ranging elephants in all of Africa. You will also see plenty of giraffes, lions, and cheetahs in a variety of habitats including marshes, plains, woodlands and more. Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain, watches over this national treasure. The afternoon game drive will show all these wonders to you and more. It will be hard to tear yourself away from the park, but it will be well worth it to stay in the Amboseli Sopa Lodge, a truly authentic African lodge which features incredible views. After a relaxing dinner, you will sleep well in huts that offer the ultimate in comfort. Because the lodge is off the beaten track, you will be able to see a considerable amount of wildlife right outside your door.
Check-out from Missing Point
Transfer from Missing Point to Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Transfer
Missing Point
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Check-in to Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Day notes
You will be glad to have a second day at Amboseli National Park as the morning and afternoon game drives offer completely different experiences. The park is home to more than 400 bird species as well as wildebeests, zebras, white rhinos and other wildlife – there is no telling what you will see. Every hour of the day is different, and every season of the year is different, which means that every game drive is different, so be sure to have your cameras prepped and ready for some stunning photos and videos in both the morning and afternoon. At mid-day, when the heat drives all of East Africa into the shade, you can lounge in the Amboseli Sopa Lodge’s pool, take a siesta in your comfortable room or meet fellow travelers for a refreshing drink at the bar. An optional visit to a tribal village or a walking safari is available.
Day notes
One last game drive takes place just before dawn, if time allows. After this, you'll enjoy a leisurely final safari breakfast. Time will be allowed for you to get ready to say goodbye to the African wildlife. Transportation will be available for the transfer to Nairobi when you are ready to leave. You'll be transferred to the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight home.
Check-out from Amboseli Sopa Lodge
