The Utimate Safari Experience

Private Kenya and Tanzania Safari

Route: Nairobi - Maji Moto - Masai Mara - Speke bay - Serengeti - Ngorongoro - Zanzibar - (see map)

A unique itinerary which includes visits to all the must-see's in Kenya and Tanzania; we consider this the ultimate safari experience. You'll travel south from Nairobi towards the Masai Mara. You'll sleep beneath the stars in our mobile 'tented camp'. Everything you'll need will travel with you, from pots to pans and from toilet to private chef. Before you set out to spot roaring lions and bellowing elephants, you'll get to sneak a peak at the life of the Masai before continuing on to Tanzania.

You'll then continue on by safari vehicle straight through the world famous Serengeti and you'll descend into the Ngorongoro crater in search of grazing wildebeest and hunting cheetahs. After a night in the Kilimanjaro Airport Safari Lodge you'll continue on to tropical Zanzibar, where your Tanzania and Kenya safari will end with a stay at one of the world's most beautiful beaches.

Your safari is totally private, so you'll travel only with your companions and your english-speaking driver/guide.

Duration	15 days, 14 nights	Accommodation	Nairobi hotel - private camping - lodge/tented camp at Lake Victoria - Kilimanjaro Airport Safari Lodge - an authentic hotel in Stone Town and a charming beach resort on the East Coast on Zanzibar Private camp in Kenya and lodges/tented camps in Tanzania during the safari.
Price	From £2643 per person - based on 2 people sharing From £2142 per person - based on 4 people sharing	Includes	Accommodation for 15 nights (of which 1 during international flight) - all meals (half board basis at Zanzibar beach accommodation) - transport - park entrance fees - game drives - English speaking driver/ guide - domestic flight to Zanzibar - airport transfers
Transport	Safari vehicle with convertible roof in Kenya and 4WD land cruiser in Tanzania	Excludes	International flight and if return flight originates on Zanzibar, departure tax is US$30 per person

Day 1 – Nairobi

Travel time approximately 20 minutes

Once your flight has landed and you've picked up your luggage you'll be greeted by our driver in the arrival hall. You may want to find an ATM and make a withdrawal for small amounts you may need along the way. The drive to your quiet, small-scale hotel should take approximately 20 minutes. The hotel for this Kenya and Tanzania safari is located just outside of the hectic city centre. It has recently been renovated and you can expect to be welcomed with a bit African smile by the friendly staff. The rooms each have a bathroom with shower, toilet and warm running water (a luxury in Kenya). There is fun bar and restaurant at the hotel that takes orders all day long. If you feel a bit peckish after arrival, you're sure to find something you like on the menu; from ostrich steak and tiger shrimp to vegetarian meals. Later on you can sit back and relax with an, perhaps your very first, African beer on the veranda before you call it a night and fall into a deep sleep.

Kenya Tanzania safari - Maji Moto herders

Day 2 – Nairobi - Maji Moto

Travel time approximately 4 hours

If you enjoy taking a refreshing dip in the morning, you can splash around in the hotel swimming pool before or after breakfast. In Nairobi you'll be picked up by our driver and then you'll continue south towards the Masai Mara, one of the most famous natural parks for those on safari through Kenya. The first part of the road isn't too bad; however you'll notice that the road conditions will deteriorate as you continue on and pretty soon potholes and bumps will replace asphalt. From this point on you'll be driving straight through the vast open land of the Masai.

Along the way, you'll see herders as you pass by. The red clothes they wear stand out against the barren backdrop of the land and the deep blue sky. Our local representative actually lived with the Masai for several months. That is why we can offer this unique experience on your Kenya/Tanzania safari which allows you to be a part of a Masai tribe if only for a little while.

We'll set up your 'private camp' near a natural spring. Everything you need will be available; (chemical) toilet, a shower, lightweight tents, mattresses and safari chairs. A chef will travel with you and prepare dinner while the Masai gather kindling for the campfire. After lunch you'll be able to go for a walk with the friendly, good-natured Masai who will tell you all about their culture.

They will stop and show you trees and plants and tell you all about their secrets regarding their medicinal value and you'll also learn how to use a spear. You may even get to see zebras and other small wild animals during your walk. The Masai love to tell hunting stories about their ancestors and they will take you to the most beautiful places where you'll have an incredible view of the immense savannah stretching out before you. Once you return to camp you'll be able to take a refreshing plunge into the fresh-water spring. In the evening by campfire, you'll have a bite to eat and the Masai will dance and tell you even more stories.

Kenya Tanzania safari - View of the endless plains

Kenya Tanzania safari - Elephant spotting

Day 3 – Maji Moto - Masai Mara

Travel time approximately 2 hours

Like on most mornings on this Kenya and Tanzania safari, you'll probably wake up to sound of birds chirping. Sleep in, relax for a while or perhaps take a nice, cool refreshing plunge in the springs. Your personal chef will prepare breakfast, while you enjoy a nice cup of coffee by the smouldering coals of last night's campfire. After breakfast camp will be taken down and you'll be driven to Masai Mara (2 hour drive). This is one of the most well known wild parks in the world, bordering on the Serengeti in Tanzania. This is truly the highlight of a Kenyan safari. At the edge of the park the private camp will be set up and after lunch you'll be driven to the park gate for the game drive. The roof of the safari vehicle rolls back, giving you a 360 degree view of all there is to see around you. Your driver will take his time driving you over the sandy roads through the park. He will probably see wild animals before you do; he has the trained eyes of someone who has lived and worked in this area for quite some time and he'll be able to tell you all about the animals of the Masai Mara.

On the Kenya and Tanzania safari your driver will take you over plains and through forested areas, past rivers filled with crocodiles and hippos and past herds of zebras and wildebeest. From the tops of the trees birds of prey can be seen hunting smaller animals and with a little luck you may even see cheetahs and leopards. You'll very likely see lions and elephants in any case during your drive through rugged, untouched natural surroundings.

Once the sun sets, you'll return to the tented camp where a cold beer and a tasty meal will be waiting for you. You'll be surprised what our 'bush chef' can put together in the middle of nowhere. While sitting by campfire, beneath a clear starry sky, you'll be able to reminisce on your adventurous day while hearing hyenas laugh and lions roar in the distance. Their day is just beginning.

Day 4 – Game drives in the Masai Mara

Even before the sun creeps up above the horizon, you'll be awakened by your driver. After a cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast you'll hop into the safari vehicle and drive towards the Masai Mara park gate where the roof will be rolled back. Be sure to bring along a warm sweater and a cap since it can be quite chilly in the early morning. Once you drive into the national park, the sun will slowly start to rise into the heavens and the vast savannah will start to turn orange. In the distance you may see one or two lonely acacia braving the elements. You may feel as if you've walked onto a National Geographic documentary.

Starting out over the plains, you'll see a wide variety of different types of wild animals: zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, ostriches and elephants for instance. All of these animals will pass you by. In the afternoon you'll be driven back to the private tented camp for lunch. At the hottest time of day you can either take a nap or perhaps you may prefer reading a book in the shade of the trees. Once the temperature has dropped somewhat in the late afternoon, you'll go on another game drive and at the end of the day you'll spend your last night in Kenya.

Day 5 – Masai Mara - Isebania border crossing

Travel time approximately 7.5 hours

Today on the Kenya and Tanzania safari is mostly a day of travel. In the morning camp will be broken down and a lunch pack will be prepared for you for during the drive. It is about a five hour drive to the Tanzania border. Along the way you'll drive through the countries interior, through villages and past colourful markets. If you like you can ask the driver to stop the car so that you can buy some fruit or simply stroll past the market stands. After the standard border practices you'll say goodbye to your Kenyan driver and chef. It isn't required; however it is greatly appreciated if you decide to give them tips. We usually suggest approximately USD $20 per day. This tip can be given as a group. Once you cross the border you'll be picked up by a land cruiser and our professional Tanzanian guide. It's about a 2.5 hour drive to Speke Bay on the banks of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Here we've arranged a cosy lodge for you run by a Dutch couple. In the late afternoon you can relax on the lakeshore with a good book until the sun sinks under the horizon. The view out over Lake Victoria is magical. In the evening you'll have dinner by candle light in the lodge and with a little luck fresh fish caught in Victoria Lake will be on the menu.

Day 6 – Speke Bay Lake Victoria - Serengeti gate

Travel time approximately 30 minutes

This morning on the Kenya and Tanzania safari you can take your time and wake up at your own pace. Early birds can join Gert and go bird spotting at the nearby natural reserve. After breakfast you'll be picked up by a local fishing boat run by young men from a nearby village. They'll proudly show you their village where fishermen repair nets and women lay out large and small fish to dry in the sun. After lunch at the lodge you'll drive towards the world famous Serengeti National Park. While on the look-out for wild animals you'll drive to your tented camp with an incredible view of the savannah, in the shadows of acacia trees. You'll drive along one of the best game drive routes in the area, near the Kirawira and the Grumeti River. This is where wildebeest cross the river and where crocodiles lay in waiting to pounce on their prey. There is no better place to experience one of the world's largest wildlife extravaganzas from close by. You'll reach the tented camp at the edge of the park around sunset.

Comfort is the key to a laid-back and enjoyable Serengeti safari; that is why our tented camp is built based on comfort. Each tent has permanent beds and a private bathroom, is nicely decorated and has its own veranda. The central restaurant and the bar surround a large fireplace; a great place for a drink and conversation at the end of a long exiciting day of spotting wild animals. This is Africa as it should be; a warm, crackling campfire in front of you and the setting sun making way for an endless starry sky. Relax and unwind to the sound of lions roaring in the background and the fire blazing before you. This is what safari is all about.

Day 7 – Game drives in the Serengeti

Even before the sun creeps up above the horizon, you'll be awakened by your driver. After a cup of coffee and some biscuits in the land cruiser, you'll set out for an early morning game drive. The Serengeti is located at an altitude of approximately 1200m and can be quite chilly in the morning. Be sure to bring along a warm sweater and a cap. You'll travel straight through the vast plains towards the Masai heads, hunter territory.

After driving for a few hours, straight through rugged terrain and endless plains, your stomach may start to growl. Gradually you'll drive back to your private camp for breakfast and a nap. During the afternoon temperatures can soar and most animals will search for shelter in the shadows. Once the temperatures drop somewhat you'll head out for the afternoon game drive in search of wild animals. You're sure to see lions and, with a little luck, even cheetahs. During the great migration you'll see millions of wildebeest and zebras rushing through the plains in search of fresh grass and water.

Kenya Tanzania safari - A pride of lions

Kenya Tanzania safari - Ngorongoro Crater

Day 8 – Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater

Travel time approximately 4 hours

Today you'll have to wake up early and while you keep a look out for wild animals you'll drive southwards. As you drive along on the Kenya and Tanzania safari, trees and bushes will become scarce. You'll travel through the endless grasslands which the Serengeti is named after (endless plains). Gradually the road will begin to climb, leaving you with a view of the immense Serengeti plains behind you. Along the way you may see a giraffe or two on the road before reaching the Ngorongoro crater at the end of the afternoon.

The Ngorongoro crater is also known as the Eighth Wonder of the World and referred to as the Ark of Noah. With a diameter of 18km it is the largest, completely intact crater in the world and it is teeming with wild animals. After you've had a good look at the crater, you'll travel on to our charming lodge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You'll have a well maintained room with all necessary amenities with a view of the rolling plains. This is the perfect place to start off on a hike through the crater the following morning.

Day 9 - Karatu - Kilimanjaro Airport

Travel time approximately 3 hours

Today on your Tanzania safari tour you'll take your time driving back to civilisation. Your driver will take you to the Kilimanjaro Airport Safari Lodge and this is where you'll say goodbye to him. It's customary to give him a tip; generally US$ 20 per day is given per group. The Kilimanjaro Airport Safari Lodge is a very nice lodge located near the small airport, in the middle of the African plains. From the swimming pool you'll have a wide view of the savannah and if the skies are clear you may even see the Kilimanjaro. The lodge is made up of separate cabins with spacious air-conditioned rooms. Breakfast is included during your stay and dinner is available at affordable prices at the lodge's restaurant.

Day 10 – Kilimanjaro Airport - Zanzibar Beach

Travel time approximately 3 hours

After breakfast you'll be picked up from Kilimanjaro Airport Safari Lodge and taken to the airport, without any additional cost. This will be the end of the safari part of your Kenya/Tanzania trip as a domestic flight (included in the price) will take you to the tropical island of Zanzibar. You'll arrive early in the afternoon and a driver will be waiting to take you to the East Coast. The East Coast of Zanzibar is, without exaggerating, one of the most beautiful tropical coasts of the world. You'll walk straight into a tropical bounty commercial: pearly white beaches, swaying palms and an azure blue sea. But before you can dive into one of the hammocks at the beach, you'll have another hour and a half drive straight through the green interior of the island, past villages with thatched roofs and waving children ahead of you. During our search for the most beautiful locations in the area, we sort of stumbled on a number of small scale beach resorts on the East Coast. You'll not only find fishing villages here, but also the most beautiful beaches. We've selected the three most enjoyable and charming resorts for you to stay at. The staff at these resorts is extremely friendly and helpful. You'll stay at one of the resorts; each of the resorts are located straight on the beach (see pictures at the bottom of the page). They each also have a swimming pool, where you won't mind splashing around from time to time. We believe that these are the most extraordinary places to end your Kenya and Tanzania safari.

Days 11 to 13 – Zanzibar Beach - East Coast

The next three days can be spent entirely as you wish. For instance you can choose to spend your days lounging in a hammock with a few good books and a dip or two in the sea. However, there's much more to do here. The reception area can tell you all about it and make any necessary arrangements for you. If you like you can even rent a jeep for the day (if available, approximately US$50 per day) and go out and explore the island on your own or go on a spicy tour with a guide (approximately US$90 per day). You certainly won't want to miss a snorkelling trip.... and there are plenty of options to do so. For approximately US$15 a boat will take you to a nearby reef or for approximately US$80 a boat will take you to the tropical islands of Memba or Fumba where you can go on fantastic dives. One thing is certain, there's no need to be bored during your stay..... unless complete tranquillity is what you're looking for.

Kenya Tanzania safari - Shopping for souvenirs

Day 14 – Zanzibar Beach East Coast - Stone Town

Travel time approximately 1.5 hour

After breakfast you'll be picked up by our driver and you'll say goodbye to this very special place. You'll drive back through the green interior of the island, towards our verycharming hotel in Stone Town. Today you'll have time to adjust to being back in the civilised world. However, this is far from 'civilisation' you're accustomed to. Zanzibar and Stone Town are simply magical. Hundreds of years ago, Stone Town was a booming centre of trade between Asia, the middle East and Africa. There's a bit of a mystical Arabian atmosphere and the locals are very friendly and hospitable. Even today, you'll get a taste of what it was like to live here all those years ago and the scents, sounds and tastes of those times are still very much alive. We have quite a beautiful and authentic hotel for you to stay at here in the historic part of town. You'll be able to spend hours strolling through the small winding alleyways and there are so many souvenirs you could buy you won't know where to look. Feel like having a cup of fresh coffee? Ask around until you find the Zanzibar Coffee House, where you'll also delight in their delicious brownies. Chances are you may get a bit lost in one of the many alleyways; however the friendly locals will gladly help you find your way. You can also choose to take a guided tour along all of the historic attractions the area has to offer and tip the veil shrouding the mystical past of this place. The hotel's reception area can make the necessary arrangements for you. In the evening you can choose to either have a bite to eat at the hotel or at one of the restaurants by the waterfront. We recommend visiting the Monsoon Restaurant, where you can dine on fingerlicking good local delicacies either inside or out on the terrace.

Day 15 - Zanzibar - Nairobi

During the morning you'll have some time to look around Stone Town for one last time and to buy souvenirs. Then it's time to say goodbye to exotic Zanzibar; your driver will be waiting to take you on the 10 minute drive to the airport near Stone Town.

Sometime in the afternoon you'll board the international flight back to London and your incredible journey on this Kenya and Tanzania safari holiday will come to an end.