9 Days East Africa Highlights

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and assisted to transfer to Double Tree by Hilton, Nairobi. Tucked away in a quiet corner on Ngong Lane, off busy Ngong Road, it's a new, architecturally modern establishment, with elegant decor, personalised service and great cuisine. The resident chef is a master in the kitchen and the restaurant is rapidly becoming popular with locals in the know. The rooms here are large and welcoming, and there's aircon throughout. Spacious suites offer locally sourced décor, a living area with sofa, and a bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.Dine any time of day at Atrium Brasserie choose from the a la carte menu or indulge in an extensive buffet of Italian, Indian and pan-Asian cuisines.

After breakfast drive to Amboseli National Park, lying below the most famous symbol of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. On arrival you will check in at the famous Ol Tukai Lodge. With spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the golden plains, Ol Tukai Lodge is a charming, contemporary retreat situated within the pristine Amboseli National Park. Imbued with a quintessential African atmosphere and set amidst beautifully manicured lawns, the lodge’s luxury chalets offer uninterrupted views of the tranquil wilderness of the park or the snow-capped mountain in the distance. Beautifully appointed and inviting, the chalets boast private terraces where guests can make the most of their spectacular surroundings.

Delicious meals are served al fresco on the main veranda, where guests have the opportunity to spot game just metres away, while the stylish Elephant Bar offers a variety of refreshing cocktails. In between game drives, guests can relax in a comfortable sitting room and play board games or browse through the wildlife library or art gallery. A range of rejuvenating treatments is available in the beauty spa.

Amboseli National Park is well known for its herds of big tusked elephants. A scenic park in its own right, Amboseli is synonymous with two particular things – majestic herds of elephant and glorious views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania. During heavy rains, the basin at the centre of the park floods, attracting hordes of wildlife. The reserve is an excellent place to view the Big Five, as well as lesser known and rarer wildlife species.

After breakfast drive to the border town of Namanga. Change of vehicles and clear customs/immigration. Continue to Arusha town for lunch. After lunch drive to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. You will check in at the Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge for your dinner and overnight. Tanzania’s towering Mto wa Mbu escarpment provides a remarkable backdrop for a one-of-a-kind visit. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge welcomes you with a peaceful location amidst the rich wildlife and unsurpassed tranquility of Lake Manyara National Park. The lake is home to over 300 migratory birds including flamingoes, long-crested eagles and grey-headed kingfisher; our lodge is designed to mimic this extraordinary birdlife, with an architectural motif featuring swooping avian curves and vibrantly coloured wall frescoes depicting the intricacy of bird migratory patterns.

Forest walks, mountain biking and canoeing will keep the more adventurous busy while a visit to the local village will intrigue those interested in culture. After walking through the village and meeting the locals, you'll stop at a clearing amongst the banana plantations for a delicious lunch. The lodge can accommodate children of all ages and offers board games, sports and educational activities, as well as game drives, to ensure the whole family is entertained. You can also request a baby sitter at any time of day if you feel like enjoying quiet time or a romantic dinner in the bush.

After breakfast drive to Serengeti National Park arriving in time for lunch at Serengeti Migration Camp. Hidden among the rocky outcrops Serengeti Migration Camp is located at the starting point of the Migration. Comprising of 20 luxurious elevated tents, each with spacious and richly furnished bedrooms, Serengeti Migration Camp blends seamlessly into the environment. Each of the tents is surrounded by its own 360-degree verandah deck, which in turn creates your very own private sanctuary to enjoy the constant game sightings and the ever-present sounds of the bush.

The Great Migration pulses and pauses, but is in more-or-less constant, million-animal movement throughout the year. Nestled amidst huge, kopje-like boulders overlooking the always lively Grumeti River, Migration Camp is designed for spectacular game-viewing, luxurious relaxation, and a full, vitalizing dose of the world-unique—solar system unique!—Serengeti. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s greatest park. Golden-maned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the southeastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous aardwolf to the beautiful serval cat.

After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving in time for lunch, check in at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. Rest of the day at leisure. Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is built on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and its natural stone and ivy-covered walls blends in with its surroundings. The lodge has taken the cave paintings of Olduvai Gorge as its main décor inspiration, with all the interiors filled with African artifacts and frescos. Enjoy game drives on the crater floor - home to an impressive wildlife and birdlife - or enjoy a guided hike with a picnic across the Serengeti plains or among the nearby volcanic mountains of the Crater Highlands.

Spanning cascading verdant hills, luxuriant wetlands, and immense golden plateaus, the Ngorongoro Crater is a dreamy safari destination boasting a wealth of opportunities to witness the wildlife during your short stay in the caldera. From spotting massive lions lounging in the shade to rhinos and their calves peacefully grazing the short grass, you will be eager to discover these momentous creatures as well as the remainder of the Big Five. You may also learn more about the origins of humankind during a visit to the intriguing Olduvai Gorge, a valuable site answering questions on the evolution of our species.

After breakfast, drive to Arusha. Drop off at Kilmanjaro Airport for your onward flight or transfer to your Arusha Hotel. Our representative will reconfirm your onward flights and assist at check-in.