Today, drive to Amboseli National Park at the base of soaring, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, which, at 5,895 metres, is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Set out in search of the region’s spectacular wildlife. Amboseli’s huge draw is the elephants. Watch as big herds roam the dusty plains, including “tuskers,” large, older bulls who have grown impressive tusks. This evening, gather with fellow guests for a welcome dinner.
Explore wildlife-rich Amboseli National Park. In addition to watching elephants up close from a safari vehicle that seats just six, view other game such as giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, hyena and, occasionally, lions. After savouring a morning on safari, break for lunch. This afternoon, head out again for another game drive that reveals even more of East Africa’s natural wonders.
After crossing the border into Tanzania, stop for lunch in Arusha. Then, board a flight to Tarangire National Park and settle into your luxurious accommodation, Sanctuary Swala, a boho-chic glamping stay. Set in a secluded area of the park for a more exclusive safari experience, eco-friendly Sanctuary Swala’s large tents are built on raised decks under umbrella acacia trees overlooking a popular watering hole. The layout is open, with resident impala often grazing in camp. Wide panoramas of wooded savanna stretch in every direction, which is nurtured by the permanent Tarangire River and populated by abundant big game. Its dusty red landscape also hosts a large bird population. Tonight, dine at camp.
Embark on morning and afternoon game drives to explore Tarangire National Park and its stunning collection of animals — herds of elephant, impala and zebra. Look, too, for python and the twitching tail of a leopard hiding in high branches. Activities available at an additional cost include a walking safari and exploring Lake Gursi by canoe. Once back at Swala, partake in a Chef’s Table experience, including a cooking demonstration of local dishes such as ugali, makande and kachumbari.
Learn how Tanzanians live today, exploring a local village, as you Ride Like a Local by tuk-tuk, a major form of transport here. See rice fields and a banana plantation. In the village, walk the local market to see the colourful produce on display. Afterwards, head to your restful luxury lodge, set near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
- Walk with a Maasai healer, discovering the uses of over 20 different indigenous plants in the Ngorongoro forest.
- Bicycle village streets and back roads, getting a feel for life as the locals live it.
- Enjoy a traditional high tea on the veranda overlooking the gardens at Gibb’s Farm; meet the artist-in-residence.
Settle in for a tranquil evening and overnight stay.
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater to explore the panoramic, game-rich prairies of this ancient volcanic caldera. With its crater walls nearly 600 metres high, Ngorongoro offers the safari experience of a lifetime. Observe profuse and diverse wildlife roaming freely in an authentic “Lost World,” where it’s possible to encounter every member of the Big Five in a single day. Enjoy lunch al fresco in this UNESCO World Heritage Site before returning to your lodge. Tonight, gather for dinner with your fellow guests.
Fly to Serengeti National Park, a vast Tanzanian landscape that during part of the year hosts one of earth’s greatest wildlife spectacles: the annual Great Migration, when millions of herbivores trek across the Serengeti plains in search of water and fresh grass. Experience it all in complete tranquillity in your world-class accommodation.
Today’s adventure continues in the park, your adventures may reveal giraffe, wildebeest, elephant and far more on morning and afternoon game drives.
Immerse yourself once more in this incredible setting, with camera at the ready for flash encounters as you track cheetah, buffalo or lion on the vast, golden grasslands of the Serengeti.
Today you will fly to the Masai Mara, the northern extension of the Serengeti. After settling into your accommodation on a private stretch of the Mara River, immerse yourself in the wild during an afternoon game drive. Follow the Mara River to see crocodiles basking in the sun, hippos as they wallow in muddy water and monkeys busy sparking mischief overhead. Here, too, you may see any of more than 400 species of birds. During your time in the Mara, enjoy the peace of mind that comes with staying at Sanctuary Olonana, one of the finest safari lodges in all of Africa. Tonight, join fellow guests for scenic sundowner drinks, followed by an elegant dinner.
Rise early if you wish for an optional hot air balloon ride, at an additional cost, floating peacefully above the game-dotted plains of the Mara. Explore the open savanna, woodlands and tree-fringed rivers of the Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives, where patience is rewarded with unique sightings such as a leopard retrieving a kill from an acacia or an elephant protecting its young from a lion. Amid the stunning scenery, watch as Maasai tribesmen traverse the plains or herd goat and cattle.
Continue roaming the Mara, keeping your eyes trained for elephant, zebra and lion as well as a variety of gazelle species. Connect with residents when you visit a village and primary school supported by your tour operator’s philanthropy. Learn firsthand how A&K Philanthropy’s LifeStraw partnership is changing lives by providing locals access to safe, clean drinking water, on an inspiring A&K-exclusive experience. This evening, gather with your fellow guests for a farewell dinner and share the amazing experiences you had on safari.
Fly back to Nairobi and enjoy the afternoon at leisure in a comfortable dayroom. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure flight back home.