Spend 11 days discovering some of Kenya and Tanzania’s most famous and rewarding reserves on an unforgettable East African big game safari. Search for the Big 5 and any number of other savannah animals as you visit the must-see Masai Mara National Reserve, the vast plains of Serengeti National Park and the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, we will meet you in style- for assistance and transfer to your hotel of stay where you are booked on bed and breakfast basis. Overnight at Hemingways Nairobi. The beautiful Hemingways Nairobi is situated a mere 40 minutes from Nairobi’s international airport, where it is spread across flourishing grounds in the exclusive suburb of Karen. This elegant boutique hotel is enchanting in its decor and flooded with natural light. Its well-appointed, ensuite rooms each have a private balcony overlooking the iconic silhouette of the Ngong Hills. Guests are treated to the services of a discreet, highly trained butler whose role is to ensure a hassle-free stay. Tuck into delicious European-inspired fare at the Brasserie and enjoy refreshing beverages at the convivial bar. Guests seeking to unwind can make use of the first-class spa facilities or simply enjoy the sense of blissful seclusion, luxury on the edge of wilderness.
Enjoy breakfast and a briefing at Hemingways before you transfer to Wilson Airport for your flight to the Maasai Mara. After a short flight to the Maasai Mara, transfer to Mara Plains camp situated in a glade of trees and in the heart of predator country. Custom-designed tents of flowing canvas and canopied ceilings, ensuite flush loo, bucket showers – what we like to call ‘glamping’. Enjoy your first-afternoon game drive and sundowners to toast the African sun. Spend your days out exploring the 70,000 acre private Mara North Conservancy, shared with just a handful of other small camps or go into the famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve to catch the river crossings during the great Migration season.
The enchanting Mara Plains Camp is situated on a bend of the Ntiakitiak River in a secluded private conservancy on the border of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Access to this elegant and secluded camp is via a wooden footbridge over a river, underlining its sense of seclusion and intimacy. Elegant yet understated, seven guest tents pay homage to the rich heritage of Africa, from chunky wooden doors from the Swahili enclave of Lamu to the deep red and purple shades that honour the spirit of the Maasai, while rich leather, copper and brass harks back to the colonial explorers.
Today you will fly to Kogatende Airstrip, from where you will head to Olakira Migration Camp to begin your thrilling Serengeti experience. Olakira offers comfortable under-canvas accommodation, and relocates periodically, following the Great Wildebeest Migration as it moves across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Depending on the time of year you will be able to witness the incredible river crossings, calving or rutting stages of the annual cycle. Excellent year-round game viewing allows you to see large numbers of elephant, hippo, zebra and giraffe as well as apex predators including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena on one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.
Your Tanzanian journey continues onto one of Africa’s most fascinating landmarks – the game-dense Ngorongoro Crater – en route to Gibb’s Farm, your last accommodation stop. This cosy, homey working farm is on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, making it the perfect place to launch your forays into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the top places in the world to see the Big 5. The Crater is an extremely popular safari destination because the huge number of animals makes it easy to spot them, especially since the crater walls keep them contained in a landscape of fertile grazing, springs and wetlands. After a full-day in the Crater, return to Gibb’s Farm to take advantage of the spa for a soothing massage – sometimes essential after the bumpy roads of a game drive! – or to simply unwind and birdwatch in their exquisite gardens.
Your migration safari experience comes to an end. Enjoy an early morning game drive and a tantalising breakfast before being driven back to the airstrip, where we wave a fond farewell to you both as you board your scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight onward.
A selection of sample itineraries that showcase the very best of East Africa Wildlife. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania are top wildlife & BIG 5 destinations. The wildebeest migration is a huge attraction in East Africa. Come experience close wildlife encounters. These sampl itineraries can be customized to fit your preferences.
Nairobi | Aberdares | Samburu | Ol Pejeta | Maasai Mara | Depart
Explore
Kampala | Murchison Falls | Queen Elizabeth N.Park | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Depart
Explore
Nairobi | Maasai Mara | Serengeti N.Park | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Depart
Explore
Arusha | Tarangire | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Serengeti N.Park | Depart
Explore
Nairobi | Samburu | Sweetwaters | Lake Nakuru | Maasai Mara | Depart
Explore
