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12 Day Best of East Africa

(Trip Code:  NTN12)

Nairobi to Nairobi

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This trip begins and ends in Nairobi, Kenya. Five superb game parks and two beautiful countries ensure this trip will be a wildlife and cultural adventure.

This trip departs from Nairobi early on Sunday morning. Should you wish to explore Nairobi, an earlier arrival should be planned and accommodation booked.

Pre Departure Meeting:            Held at the Departure Point at 17h00 the day before your departure.

Departure Point:                       Hotel Boulevard, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi.

Check-In Time:                        08h45

Departure Time:                       09h30

Please Note:

This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day to day depending on road & weather conditions, political situations and group decisions.

All prices & Local Payments are subject to change with prior notice.

This trip is formed of the 2 modules NKN7 & NTN5

Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countries we visit, there may be a truck and crew change during the trip.

DAY 1:  Nairobi to Nanyuki (L / D)

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Nairobi we head north, crossing the equator, before reaching the market town of Nanyuki.  Founded in 1907 by English settlers, Nanyuki is home to the main base of Kenya’s Air Force.  It’s popular amongst tourists because of it’s proximity to impressive Mount Kenya, Kenya’s highest peak at 5199 m.  It’s also home to the Mount Kenya Safari Club, now a hotel, but in the 60’s an exclusive club whose members included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

DAY 2:  Nanyuki to Samburu National Reserve (B / L / D)

Leaving this old frontier town, we head north-west through the Kikuyu area around Mt Kenya to the Samburu National Reserve.  We’ll encounter the Masai’s distant relatives, the semi-nomadic proud Samburu, tending their cattle along the way.  The Samburu National Reserve is a relatively small reserve at just 104 km2.  It is a remote, hence unspoilt, reserve and attracts a wide range of animals because of the Ewaso Ng’iro River (brown water) that runs through it. This afternoon we take a game drive in the reserve.

DAY 3:  Samburu National Reserve to Nakuru (B / L / D)

The Samburu National Reserve is made up of a mixture of scrub, desert and open Savannah plains interspersed with small rugged hills.  It is home to most of the Big 5 (except the rhino, which has been decimated by poachers).  What makes this reserve unique is its populations of Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe and Somali Ostrich.

Leaving the unique Samburu National Reserve, we head west towards the Great Rift Valley and the 4th largest town in Kenya and the capital of the Rift Valley Province, Nakuru.  We overnight here before entering Lake Nakuru National Park tomorrow.

DAY 4:  Lake Nakuru National Park (B / L / D)

Today we head into Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to this soda lake’s edge.  The numbers vary depending on the water level, and when it’s low, the lake almost turns pink.  A truly spectacular sight!  The park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen.  We spend the day searching for these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way. 

DAY 5: Nakuru to Masai Mara (B / L /D)

We depart from Nakuru and enter Masai land where these habitual pastoralists are often seen tending their cattle from the side of the road. We pass through the town of Narok, before arriving at our campsite, Acacia Camp. Acacia Camp looks on to the Meguarra hills and the stream that meanders by on the bottom end forms a natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

DAY 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve (B / L /D)

We spend the day driving through nature as it was intended to be - huge plains, rolling hills and an

abundance of game matched nowhere else on earth. We keep an eye open for the Big 5 - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard. If travelling between July and October, we may get to witness the impressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle in their Annual Migration. Sitting around the camp fire, watching the sun set is the perfect way to finish a day’s game viewing in this “Garden of Eden.”

DAY 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi (B)

We travel north through the Masai Mara looking for the game that has eluded us. After our game drive, we leave the Mara to reach Nairobi in the late afternoon. On arrival, we head to the Hotel Boulevard, where we deliver the passengers who’ll be ending their trip here, before heading to our campsite for the night.

DAY 8: Nairobi to Arusha (Tanzania) (L / D)

This morning we leave the hustle and bustle of Nairobi, travelling south and crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga. Tonight we stay in a lovely campsite in Meserani on the outskirts of Arusha, before heading out on our Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion tomorrow.

DAY 9: Arusha to Karatu (B / L / D)

This morning we visit the Meserani Reptile Park and Masai Cultural Museum. A few minutes’ walk from the campsite is a gallery selling the bright and iconic Tinga Tinga paintings. After enjoying lunch at our camp against the backdrop of Mount Meru we meet our Tanzanian guides and transfer into locally operated 4WD vehicles. These vehicles have been adapted for safari use and allow excellent viewing and photographic opportunities through the opening roof hatches.

Leaving our camp we travel via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and then up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher lying village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the surrounding hills and has many well established wheat farms that add to the picturesque panoramas. Tonight we spend the evening at a very pleasant campsite in Karatu.

DAY 10: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park (B / L / D)

This morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature ‘Garden of Eden’. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.

After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we camp in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. Without any fences surrounding our campsite we are truly in the midst of nature!

DAY 11: Serengeti National Park to Arusha (B / L / D)

In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’! Following our morning drive, we retrace our journey back across the plains and along the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha, where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience.

DAY 12: Arusha to Nairobi (B)

This morning we have some time to spend in Arusha before joining our shuttle bus for the drive back into Kenya, and onto Nairobi, where our trip comes to an end on arrival in the city centre.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

Below is a selection of Optional Excursions available on this trip. 

Please Note - these prices are approximate and are subject to change. Where activities occur away from your base, there may be an additional transfer cost.

Kenya, Nairobi – Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant & Rhino Nursery                                                                  US$ 10

Kenya, Nairobi – Giraffe Centre                                                                                                                      US$ 20

Kenya, Nairobi – Half day Giraffe Centre, Elephant & Rhino Nursery & Karen Blixen Museum                              US$ 40

Kenya, Nairobi – Nairobi National Park half day tour (min 2 people)                                                                   US$ 65

Kenya, Masai Mara - Masai Village Cultural Visit                                                                                             US$ 5

Tanzania, Serengeti – Hot Air Balloon Flight                                                                                                    US$479

FREE TRIP

When you book this trip, you are entitled to receive a FREE 3 Day Masai Mara Safari the Thursday before your trip begins. The Local Payment is still applicable for the trip. This fantastic offer must be taken up at the same time you book this trip. Ask your agent or the Africa Travel Co office for more details. Conditions apply.

The staff and management look forward to welcoming you aboard and trust that you will enjoy your trip with us.

“Safari Njema”

Important: Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you upon receipt of final payment.

All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.