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East Africa Highlights


Uncover the very best of East Africa on this 10-day journey from Nairobi, Kenya. Travel to some of the country’s most famous areas including the Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, where you'll take multiple game drives in search of the Big Five animals and more. Keep your eyes peeled for lions, impalas, wildebeest, leopards, giraffes, antelope and varied birdlife. Take in the enormity of Africa's largest lake and spend time with the local Maasai warriors and Hadzabe people to learn about their ancient traditions and modern way of life from an elder in the communities. With camping experiences in the middle of the national parks, stargazing opportunities and local connections – this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

10 days, from

$4,058

per person

GROUP SIZE

16 people max

ACTIVITY LEVEL

 
2
Trip code: YGSA
Style: Original
Theme: Overland

Details

Countries Visited:  Kenya Tanzania, United Republic Of
Accommodation: Hotel (3 nights), Lodge (2 nights), Permanent Tented Basic Lodge (2 nights), Camping with basic facilities (2 nights)
Transportation: Overland vehicle , 4x4 Safari Vehicle
Included Meals:

  • 9 breakfasts
  • 8 lunches
  • 7 dinners

Group size: Minimum 1, Max 16
Minimum Age: 15

  • Meet Kenyan Maasai warriors and visit a Maasai village that champions women’s health, and spend time with a Hadzabe community in Tanzania to see how their ancient culture exists today.

  • Venture into the incredible Masai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive in 4WDs.

  • Explore the Serengeti National Park in depth, with two early morning and two late afternoon game drives through this spectacular wildlife arena.

  • Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in an open-roof 4WD for a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.

  • Accompanied by a local crew — a leader, driver and cook – you'll be in excellent hands for the duration of your adventure.

Itinerary

Show Full Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi

Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya’s buzzing capital city. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm where you’ll meet your local leader and the other travellers joining you on your journey. If you arrive early, perhaps head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya, where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village. Once you've met your new travel buds, join them for an optional group dinner or alternatively strike out on your own.

Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve

Transfer from Nairobi to the famous Masai Mara, one of the best game reserves in all of Africa. On the way you'll stop in Loita Hills, a remote region that's home to the traditional Maasai people. This is one of the key places where the Maasai people still practice their traditional way of life, with little influence from the western world. Make a stop at Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. You’ll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors by way of traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts and enjoy a fascinating talk, full of insights into this remarkable and ancient culture. Take a walk to the community village which was founded for widows who had lost their cows due to drought, and can never remarry. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project’. Here the women are engaged in making handicrafts and sewing eco-friendly handbags, washable sanitary pads, and backpacks to sell to visiting travellers and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home, and their cattle enclosures. Continue to the outskirts of the Masai Mara, where your permanent tented camp can be found.

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve

Explore the Masai Mara in 4WD safari vehicles with game drives in both the morning and the afternoon. This is the quintessential African experience and with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world's most impressive animals, one you won't soon forget. Keep your eyes peeled for wildebeest, lions, leopards, antelope and giraffes, to name but a few.

Day 4: Lake Victoria

Prepare for a long travel day as you head towards the border separating Kenya and Tanzania, then on to the small town of Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria. Not only is this the largest lake in Africa, it's also the largest tropical lake in the entire world and shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The next three days will be spent in the wilderness, so make the most of your afternoon and evening by stocking up at the local market, grabbing cash from the town's ATM and kicking back with a beach side cold drink as the sun goes down.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Travel on from Lake Victoria to Serengeti National Park and enjoy a picnic lunch at the entrance to the famous expanse. Continue to your campsite on your first Serengeti game drive, keeping an eye out for the hoofed animals and predators that call this place home. Tonight you'll have a true African safari experience, camping in an unfenced site within the national park, right in the heart of the animal action. Your leader will give you a full safety briefing once you arrive.   

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Wake to another glorious day in the Serengeti. Start the day with an early morning game drive to search for animals when they're at their most active, then return to the campsite for a relaxed brunch. Spend the hottest part of the day relaxing in camp – don't stress, the animals will be doing the same – then head off again in the afternoon for another drive through the park. Return to the campsite for dinner and another night under the Serengeti's stars.

Note: there's also an option of an early hot air balloon ride here. Please ask your leader at the start of your trip if you're interested.   

Day 7: Karatu

Enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti as you exit the park this morning. After lunch, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation area en route to Karatu, a small town on its outskirts and your base for the next two nights.

Day 8: Karatu

After breakfast this morning, you’ll make your way to Lake Eyasi, a huge seasonal soda lake. Lake Eyasi has been home to the Hadzabe people for more than 10,000 years and is one of the few places in Africa where traditional tribal life continues without modern influence. Today’s visit to the Hadzabe lands offers incredible insight into this ancient culture and a chance to learn about their way of life today. You’ll have the opportunity to meet members of the community and join in on daily activities like hunting, gathering and traditional dance. You’ll also learn about their unique ‘click’ language, which is thought to be one of the oldest languages still in use today. Return to your lodge in Karatu later in the day for a chance to put your feet up and relax.

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater / Arusha

This morning you'll descend to the Ngorongoro's crater floor for a 4WD excursion. If all goes to plan, you'll see some or maybe even all of the Big Five animals that reside here and better yet, the vehicle has an open roof so you can really feel like a part of the action. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles and as a result it's easier to watch them from up close. Take in the spectacular views from the rim of the crater as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lion, zebra, cheetah, buffalo, gazelle and the endangered black rhino, as well as the colourfully dressed Maasai people who often water their cattle at the lake here. In the afternoon, you'll drive to Arusha and maybe enjoy an optional group dinner to celebrate this trip and say farewell to your new friends.

Day 10: Arusha / Nairobi

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Alternatively, you can continue on with our crew to finish in Nairobi. Please see 'Special Information' below for more details.