East Africa Trails

Upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, meet your safari representative for a quick safari briefing before transferring to your hotel for the evening. Located in Nairobi's exclusive Karen Suburb, the Karen Residence offers a comfortable first-night stay in Kenya. If you have an appetite, head down to the Club Restaurant for dinner (at your own cost) before settling in to rest for the evening.

A note to prepare: A good portion of the day is spent exploring by vehicle, and the roads are likely bumpy and dusty.

After breakfast at the Residences, your driver guide will meet you for the visit to the Karen Blixen Museum: a chance to go back in time and discover the famous Karen Blixen’s house exactly as it was when she lived in Kenya. Located in an area which was once part of Karen Blixen’s vast coffee estate, ‘bogani’, the museum was Karen’s home from 1917 until 1931. The house and grounds were made famous by the film ‘Out of Africa ’and have been restored by the Danish community of Kenya. Visitors have a glimpse of typical colonial life in Kenya at the turn of the twentieth century.

Thereafter, drive to Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage, where you have an opportunity to visit the many baby elephants that have been rescued from threatening situations in Kenya’s various national parks and even get a chance to see the calves being fed and playing with the staff.

After lunch at the lovely Matteos Restaurant, you will depart on the next part of your adventure that takes you from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi city to Nakuru.

Note to prepare: The drive from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru Sopa takes about 3 1/2 hours on a good tarmac road. (Please note that the roads inside the park are not tarmac.)

Spend a full day exploring Lake Nakuru National Park, perched on a range of hills at the western edge of the Rift Valley with sweeping views over the lake. The park supports a remarkable 56 species of mammals, including both black and white rhino, buffalo, and a wealth of waterbirds. Morning and afternoon game drives give you the best chance to cover the park's diverse habitats.

Today you make your way to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The drive takes about 5 1/2 hours, including stops. Most of the road is paved, but there is a rough stretch of about 50 kilometers that takes around 30 - 45 minutes to drive through.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and arrive in time for lunch and some relaxation at camp. As the temperatures of the late afternoon drop you step back into your safari vehicles, setting out in search of the Maasai Mara's famous wildlife. The Maasai Mara is one of the continent's greatest wildlife reserves and game viewing is spectacular year-round; spot a pride of lions stalking prey, observe the intriguing social structure of an elephant herd, or watch a pod of hippos as it wallows in the watering hole.

If visiting in July, you may have the opportunity to witness one of the greatest of nature's wonders: the great wildebeest migration and dramatic river crossings of over two million animals. An optional visit to a traditional Maasai village or a hot air balloon ride can be arranged at an additional cost, please inquire with your Trip Planner. 

Enjoy dinner back at the camp.

After breakfast, explore the Mara plains in search of the big five and other plains game or engage in one of the Maasai Mara's optional activities. Animals are most active in the early morning hours before the heat of the day sets in, making this one of the finest times to observe them. Head out into the reserve for a chance to see more species on your "must-see" list after a mid-morning relaxation and lunch. Ask your tour guide to show you the regular river crossing routes when you visit the Mara River.

Enjoy the morning and afternoon game drive.

After breakfast, check out of Masai Mara Camp, and you'll be driven back to Nairobi about a 5 1/2 hour drive, mostly on the tarmac with your packed lunch, and from here board the flight to JRO. Upon arrival, you'll be met and transferred to Mount Meru Game Lodge. Tanzania awaits! (Driving distance 45 minutes - Tarmac Road)

Rise early to enjoy views of Mount Meru before heading down for a delicious breakfast. Meet your guide and set out for Tarangire National Park, a beautiful park famous for its massive herds of elephants and unique baobab trees. The drive takes about 2 hours and is paved until you reach the National Park gate, where the road becomes rough. The elephants in Tarangire are said to reach as many as 500, and during dry the season this park becomes a haven for migratory species clustering around the various watering holes.

As the afternoon light begins to fade, you make your way out of the park and to your next safari camp in the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. Upon arrival, you are assisted with check-in and shown to your tent.

After breakfast and check out, head to the Serengeti with a packed lunch. The driving distance is approximately 5 hours on paved roads up to the Ngorongoro Gate. After that, the road to the Serengeti becomes rough and bumpy. Upon arrival at the park, proceed with a game drive towards your camp. As the afternoon comes to an end, make your way towards your camp. Upon arrival, you are assisted with check-in and shown your tent.

Nestled in the heart of Tanzania, the Central Serengeti boasts the renowned Seronera Valley, offering exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities. This picturesque landscape features vast savannah plains dotted with granite outcrops and acacia woodlands, crisscrossed by rivers and streams. As part of the great wildebeest and zebra migration, the Central Serengeti provides an ideal habitat for diverse wildlife, including giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, servals, and more. Popular activities in this area include game viewing, cultural tours, horseback safaris, and hot air ballooning over the breathtaking terrain.

After breakfast, meet your guide and enjoy a full day of game drives in Serengeti National Park. Afterward, enjoy quiet evenings by the campfire and the comfort of spending a night in the African bush—an extraordinary adventure for nature enthusiasts.

Check out after breakfast this morning, setting out toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop along the way at the Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. Here you learn why this gorge is referred to as the "Cradle of Mankind", and the vital role this area played in the African origin story of humankind. After this informative lecture and tour you proceed onward to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you drive through the Crater Rim to view - weather permitting - the beautiful Crater.

Settle in at your new lodge for the evening, enjoying dinner and the lush grounds of Karatu Area. (The drive takes approximately 4 hours, with rough and bumpy roads until you reach Ngorongoro Gate. From there, it's a paved road all the way to Acacia.)

Rise early to maximize your day in the Ngorongoro Crater. This deep, volcanic crater is the largest un-flooded and unbroken calderas in the world, measuring about 12 miles across and 1,970 feet deep for a total area of 116 square miles. The crater's high walls serve as a natural enclosure for the abundance of wildlife existing and thriving within the caldera, offering an exceptional chance to view the Big Five. Return to your lodge in time to freshen up and enjoy one final dinner in Tanzania.

Check out after breakfast and drive to Lake Manyara National Park, your final stop in your exploration of East Africa. Lake Manyara is considerably smaller than Tanzania's other national parks, but this often-overlooked gem was described by Ernest Hemingway as "the loveliest place I have ever seen." Here you can view beautiful resident flamingos, search for lions roaming the park, and the troops of baboons making their way through the rainforest. The park also boasts large herds of buffalo and zebra. 

At a time convenient to your onward plans, make your way back to Arusha for lunch. (The drive is approximately 3 hours, with paved roads to Arusha.) Fly home or continue your trip to the island paradise of Zanzibar!

Depending on your onward travel plans, transfer to either Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport (additional supplement of $150 per vehicle for the transfer to JRO).