best of kenya and tanzania

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival: Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, Giraffe Manor. Enjoy an afternoon tea experience with the resident endangered Rothschild Giraffes.

Giraffe Manor is an exclusive boutique hotel in Nairobi. One of the most “gram-worthy” properties in the world, the property is set on 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. The most fascinating thing about Giraffe Manor is its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes who may visit morning and evening, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. Giraffe Manor is consistently named one of the best hotels in Africa.

Day 2: Nairobi/Masai Mara: After a quintessential breakfast experience at Giraffe Manor, you will be transferred to Wilson Airport for your flight to the Masai Mara. Upon arrival at the local airstrip, you will be met and transferred to andBeyond Bateleur Camp. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive in Masai Mara National Park.

andBeyond Bateleur Camp comprises just two intimate camps of nine luxury tents each, set among the forests on the edge of the Masai Mara. The tents boast an easy, classical elegance, with polished wooden floors and ensuite bathrooms with his and hers basins, indoor and outdoor stone-walled showers and a copper bathtub. Each has its own deck overlooking the vast game-filled plains of the Masai Mara, and a personal butler ensures that every need is catered for. It was named as one of the top 10 safari lodges in the world on Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best list.

Days 3 & 4 – Masai Mara: Enjoy two days of shared safari activities in the Masai Mara, including day and night game drives, bush breakfast and/or bush dinner, guided walks, balloon safari, Maasai village visit and spa services (some at an additional cost). The area is known for abundant herds of wildlife, as well as predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah. Overnights at Bateleur Camp.

Day 5 – Masai Mara/Karatu: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your flight to Manyara Airstrip in Tanzania. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Gibb’s Farm in nearby Karatu in time for dinner. Karatu is the perfect base to explore nearby Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight at Gibb’s Farm.

Gibb’s Farm is located in the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater surrounded by lush vegetation and coffee farms. The lodge captures the essence of Tanzania’s rich history deeply rooted in East African culture and the community. Established in the 1920’s and since refurbished, 21 uniquely-decorated cottages overlook magnificent gardens. Organic Arabica coffee is grown and roasted on the farm. A 10-acre organic fruit, vegetable and herb garden; on-site dairy and bakery provide the wonderful ingredients for the farm-to-table cuisine. Gibb’s Farm was named one of the top 10 best safari lodges in Africa by Travel + Leisure in 2023.

Day 6 – Lake Manyara: Set out this morning on a full day excursion to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions, as well as the thousands of flamingos that make their annual pilgrimage to the shores of the Lake. Overnight at Gibb’s Farm.

Day 7 – Ngorongoro Crater: Get up early to make the most out of your day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongoro Crater is a deep, volcanic crater, the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world, measuring about 12 miles across, 1968 feet deep and 115 square miles in area. The high walls of the crater itself serve as a natural enclosure for an abundance of wildlife. There is a large resident population of ground game with a very real chance of you being able to see the “big five’. After an exciting day on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, return to Gibb’s Farm for the night.

Day 8 – Ngorongoro Crater/Serengeti: After breakfast, transfer to Manyara Airstrip for your flight to the Serengeti. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp for your overnight.

Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp is located next to the famous Grumeti River which is home to resident hippos that bark and wallow their days away. Hidden among the rocky outcrops, the camp is located at the starting point of the migration. Twenty luxurious elevated tents, each with spacious and richly furnished bedrooms, blend seamlessly into the environment. Each of the tents is surrounded by its own 360-degree veranda deck, which in turn creates your very own private sanctuary to enjoy the constant game sightings and the ever-present sounds of the bush. Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp was named as one of the top 10 safari lodges in Africa by Travel + Leisure in 2023.

Days 9 & 10 – Serengeti: Enjoy two full days of shared safari activities. Activities include morning and afternoon game drives and hot air balloon rides (extra cost). Overnights at Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp.

Day 11 – Depart: After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Arusha where you’ll have lunch and the use of a day room at Rivertrees Country Inn.

Rivertrees Country Inn is nestled between Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in natural gardens along the Usa River. This small Country Inn accommodates up to 24 guests, guaranteeing privacy, personal attention and service. Amenities include self-contained bathrooms with shower or bathtub, mosquito netting, hot water, bottled water, complimentary WiFi in public areas, a laptop available for guest use, laundry services and private dining upon request.