16 Days Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife & Hiking Safari (Kilimanjaro)

Pick up from your hotel or airport in the morning and drive to Amboseli National Park, famous for its scenery, with a backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro dominating the landscape and open plains. Arrive with a game drive as you proceed to your reserved lodge. Lunch will be served as soon as you check in.

After settling in, take an afternoon game drive in search of its popular residents like zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, and a view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• Accommodation & meals: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/AA Lodge Amboseli/ Amboseli Eco Camp.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Amboseli is one of Kenya’s popular parks. The name “Amboseli” is derived from a Masai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa with excellent up-close views of large herds of elephants. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here, ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli to wetlands with sulfur springs, the savannah, and woodlands. They can also visit the local Masai community that lives around the park and experience their authentic culture.

After an early breakfast, pack your lunch and spend the whole day exploring Amboseli National Park. Later in the evening, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast, check out and continue south to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on the Rongai route, which is the easiest route up the mountain, in some respects easier than Marangu, and approaches from the drier north with high success rates.

The climb begins from the attractive wooden village of Nale Moru (1,950 m.) on a small path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering the pine forest. The track then starts to climb consistently but gently through an attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife, including the beautiful Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. The forest begins to thin out, and Rongai One Camp is at the edge of the moorland zone (2,600 m.) with extensive views over the Kenyan plains [3–4 hours walk].

The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the ‘Third Cave’ (3,450 m) with superb views of Kibo and the eastern icefields on the crater rim. After lunch, continue up to the Third Cave (3,900 m) [5–6 hours walk].

The steady ascent continues, soon reaching the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi Tarns and Kibo Huts. You should reach School Hut Campsite (4,750 m.) at the bottom of the Kibo Crater wall by midday. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night! [4-5 hours walk].

On this day, start the final and, by far, steepest and most demanding part of the climb by torchlight around 1 a.m. You will plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point (5,685 m).
You will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to School (4,700 m.) is surprisingly fast, and, after some refreshment, you continue the descent to reach your final campsite at Horombo (3,720 m.) [11–15 hours of walking].

A steady descent takes you down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700 m), the first stopping place on the Marangu route. You then continue descending through lovely, lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m.) [5–6 hours walk]. Later, drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight at Venus Premier.

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Lake Manyara, arriving in time for mid-morning game viewing. Take views of the tree-climbing lions and various other wildlife species that teem in the park, like elephants, vervet monkeys, and baboons, among others.

Later, drive to the camp for lunch before proceeding for an afternoon game viewing.

Accommodation & meals: Manyara Wildlife Safari

After breakfast at the lodge, check out and drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will arrive in time for lunch at your reserved lodge.

After lunch, proceed for game viewing at the Ngorongoro Crater, which encompasses a spectacular mosaic of landscape and an immense concentration of wildlife that portrays the true meaning of an African safari. With all-year-round game viewing, this huge and perfect crater is home to a small relict population of black rhinoceros and some 25,000 other large animals, largely hoofed mammals (ungulates), as well as the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals. After this unforgettable encounter, retire to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation & meals: Highview Coffee.

After an early breakfast, check out and drive to Serengeti National Park, which hosts the second largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and helps secure it as one of the seven Natural Wonders of Africa and one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. Check in at your reserved lodge before joining in for lunch.

After settling in, proceed for an afternoon game drive in its endless plains.

Accommodation & meals: Serengeti Wildebeest.

The best time to visit the Serengeti is in the dry season (from late June to October). This period offers the best wildlife viewing in general, with the wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight. Wildlife viewing is good throughout the year, but certain areas are better at specific times.

After an early breakfast, proceed for a full-day game drive with a packed lunch.

After an early breakfast, check out of the accommodation and drive to Masai Mara National Reserve through the Isebania border (with a packed lunch). Arrive at the border at lunchtime. At this point, you have 30 minutes to process/clear your travel documents. Hand over to our Kenyan driver and thereafter proceed to Masai Mara National Reserve. You will check in at your reserved lodge on arrival.

After settling in, take a 2-hour game drive in the Mara Reserve up to 6 p.m. Return to the lodge for a sumptuous buffet dinner, ending with good resting time.

Accommodation & meals: Olmoran Tented Camp/Simba Oryx Nature Camp/AA Lodge Mara.

After a quick breakfast, pack your lunch and embark on a full-day game drive in the Mara plains in search of its popular residents: the lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, monstrous crocodiles, and their prey: zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, and other gazelles. There are high chances of spotting the big 5. You will have a picnic lunch under a tree overlooking the vast landscapes. Although you can visit Masai Mara throughout the year for excellent wildlife viewing, many travelers plan their trip around the Great Migration.

Optional: The evening activity is a cultural experience with one of Kenya’s most famous indigenous tribes in the local Masai village for $20. Learn about the Masai community and interact with the locals. A balloon safari can be organized after your early morning game drive for $380.

After an early breakfast, check out of your Masai Mara lodge and head to Lake Nakuru. On arrival, immediately check in at your reserved lodge and enjoy a sumptuous lunch.

After settling in, you will embark on an afternoon game drive to see one of the largest ornithological spots, the Flamingo haven. Seasonal change and rising water levels may influence their presence at the lake sometimes, but you will definitely have the opportunity to spot them. After your activities, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

The ride takes about 5hrs.

• Accommodation & meals:  Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge/Sarova Lion Hill Lodge/Flamingo Hill Tented Camp.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Wake up for a morning game drive and then return to the lodge for breakfast. Park up and leave Nakuru with a short game drive en route to Lake Naivasha.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake on the Great Rift Valley floor. It consists of the Crescent Island and is home to over 100 bird species, such as vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, Augur Buzzards, and Swifts, among others, and an incredible variety of wildlife, like African Buffalo, Zebra, Eland, Hartebeest, Thomson’s Gazelle, Baboons, Klipspringer Antelope, Zebra, Waterbuck, Impala, and Chanler’s Mountain Reedbuck. Check in at your reserved lodge on arrival and join in for lunch.

In the afternoon, take a nature walk around the lodge and visit Hells Gate National Park, which has a number of activities such as walking safaris, hiking, bicycle riding, rock climbing, or you can choose to have a boat ride around the lake. Cross over to Crescent Island and view abundant wildlife and bird species. You may also opt to walk through the gorges and pass by the hot springs.

Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge.

After breakfast, you may lazily pack up your bags as you prepare to return to your starting point with a drop-off at your hotel or airport for departure.

• No accommodation
• Meals: Breakfast.

End of Safari