12 DAYS KENYA & TANZANIA SAFARI.

Overview.

Discover the wildlife in these two countries in only 12 days of adventure where you will visit the main national parks filled with not only wildlife but also birdlife and magnificent scenery. The safari takes you to spot the big five animals, the big cats, unique cultures like the Masai people. Game drives in the parks are worth it as you traverse through the plains of these national parks.

Enjoy the wildebeest migration which is among the seven wonders of Africa as they move to search for pastures and water crossing the Serengeti plans to Masai Mara and vice versa. Birdlife is also sighted such as vultures, flamingos and Abyssinian ibis among others.

Detailed itinerary.

Day 1: Pick up from Nairobi to Masai Mara

A pick up from a hotel or airport in Nairobi and start the drive to Masai Mara national park, with the first stopover at the rift valley viewpoint. Proceed to the park which is full of wildlife such as giraffes, warthogs, elephants, lions, cheetahs, topi, bush duikers, hyena, jackal, dik-dik, zebras, and buffaloes among others.

Birds like Pelicans, cormorants & darter, Herons, egrets and bitterns. Hammerkop and shoebill can be found here. On arrival, you will head to the lodge for your dinner.

Day 2: Masai Mara adventure.

Breakfast served which will be followed by a full-day exploration of Masai Mara. Spot over 1.5 million wildebeest should be preparing for their southward migration to the Serengeti national reserve. The safari takes you to the Mara River where you will see and photograph hippos and large crocodiles lying in wait.

Birds like Masai ostrich, crowned crane, helmeted guinea-fowl, Kori bu stard and the secretary bird among others are spotted during a game drive. Enjoy the sunrise and sunset in the wilderness of Mara.

Day 3: Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha.

Enjoy an early morning game drive at around 06:00hours to watch early raisers such as lions, cheetah, leopards, and hyenas among others and then proceed to the lodge for the mid-morning breakfast followed by a transfer to Lake Naivasha. Embark on a boat ride after lunch where you will have a chance to spot hippos and other animals.

Day4: Naivasha-Lake Nakuru

Head for a game drive to spot wildlife in this conservation area and then after breakfast proceeds with a transfer to lake Nakuru which is about an hour drive. On the arrival, proceed with a game drive which will take you to the home of flamingos which turn the ground reddish pink.  Also, spot pelicans, the rhinos that were recently introduced here.

Other attractions include the African fish eagle, sacred ibis, hammerkop, and bee-eaters. Baboons, waterbucks among others.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Amboseli National Park.

Wake up early at around 6:00 am and head for a game drive to catch up with early killers like lions and the leopards. Then after the drive which takes about 3hours, head back to the lodge for breakfast followed by checking out of the safari lodge and head to Amboseli national park.

Amboseli national park is famous for large elephant herds and views of immense Mount Kilimanjaro but also good for wildlife viewing such as eland, buffalo, hartebeest, hippo, giraffe, wild dog, waterbuck, jackal, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, impala among others.

Day 6: Full day in Amboseli National Park.

Here you have a variety of options like epic game drives, cultural encounter and nature photography among others. These will reward you with the best of Amboseli national park. Encounter different animals like eland, buffalo, hartebeest, hippo, giraffe, wild dog, waterbuck, jackal, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle and impala among others.

Day 7: Amboseli to Arusha.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a sunrise view and then transfer to Arusha, Tanzania crossing the Kenya-Tanzania border. In case you don’t have the visa, the process takes about 30minutes and then proceed with the journey. A night will be at a preferred hotel in Arusha and an option of nightlife after dinner is possible.

Day 8: Arusha to Tarangire N/Park.

Start the journey to Tarangire national park as you pass through the endless plains. The park consists of natural vegetation, composed of mainly of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during long dry season.

Tarangire National Park is reputed for sheltering some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. Tarangire is a river that crosses the park supplying water for the wildlife hence the name of the park originates. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive where you will be able to spot gems like a lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey badger, and African wild dog, waterbuck, giraffe, dik-dik, impala, eland, Grant's gazelles and Vervet monkeys.

Day 9: Tarangire NP to Serengeti NP.

Head to the central park area after breakfast, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species.

Day 10: Full day in Serengeti national park.

With your packed lunch, embark on a game drive in the endless plain of the park which is a home for lion, leopard, elephants, cheetah, buffalo, wildebeest migration, eland, wild dog, gazelle, crocodiles and many more. Also, you will enjoy a variety of birds that decorate the park with different sounds. A picnic lunch as you gaze at different wild animals.

Day 11: Serengeti NP to Ngorongoro crater.

Breakfast served and then head to Ngorongoro crater rim. This is a home to the big five (lion, elephant, leopard buffalo and the rhino), one of the largest calderas in the world and large herds of wildebeests passing through the Ngorongoro plains as they migrate to Kenya.

Live stocks graze along with wild animals in the park such as cattle with antelopes. Take an evening game drive on your arrival to sight more of this conservation area.

Day 12: Ngorongoro craters to Arusha.

Take a morning game drive around Ngorongoro’s grasslands, forest, swamps, salt pans, and Lake Magadi provide for an assortment of wildlife viewing opportunities. You are likely to see black rhinos, hippos, jackals, spotted hyena, lions, and their prey of wildebeest, water buffalo, and various gazelle species. Birding is excellent as well. Then, head to Arusha which will be followed by a drop-off at the airport.