African Safari Consultants

"Journey through Kenya and Tanzania with Serena" - (15 Days)

The ultimate way to visit East Africa’s main wilderness areas is by air. This is a superb trip on which to spot the Big-5 as well as countless other species en route. Serena Lodges offer an extremely high-quality service throughout all of their lodges, which are certainly stylish and imaginative. Their facilities are modern and they are located in some of the national parks most sought after areas.

This safari includes all their prime lodges, perfect locations that often act as viewing platforms themselves. Travel is mostly by air, thus allowing more time for game-viewing and total relaxation. Somewhere in this trip will be a few wonderful highlights, including bush meals, nature walks, tree-planting and some interaction with the Maasai and Samburu people.

Day 1     Nairobi 

You are met on arrival, and transferred to the Nairobi Serena Hotel, on the outskirts of the city center close to the university. Arrangements are for bed and breakfast.

Day 2   Nairobi - Amboseli National Park 

After an early breakfast transfer to Nairobi Wilson Airport for your scheduled service flight  to Amboseli National Park [30 minutes approximately] arriving at Amboseli Serena lodge by late morning. After lunch there will be a game drive. Amboseli is a real gem of  a park situated right at the foot of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Elephants and giraffe abound in the forest; Cheetah can be found around the salt licks, and Giraffe, Zebra and Buffalo feed on the plains. The snow capped peak of Kibo makes a wonderful background for wildlife photography.

Day 03     Amboseli National Park  

Early morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli. 

Day 4    Amboseli National Park - Samburu  Game Reserve

Early morning scheduled service flight to Nairobi [30 minutes approximately] and continue by scheduled service flight to  Samburu [One hour approximately], where you arrive at Samburu Serena by the riverside by late morning.

In actual fact  there are three adjoining reserves, Samburu, Buffalo Springs  and Shaba, situated in arid country north of Mount Kenya, and watered by the Uaso Ngiro River and natural springs. It is very scenic, with craggy hills and everywhere Doum palms following the water courses.
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Some unusual animal species can be found here; the Reticulated Giraffe, Oryx, Lesser Kudu, Grevy's Zebra, and the Gerenuk, known as the "Giraffe Gazelle". Most of the game viewing takes place around the forests along the river, and this is a good place to spot the elusive Leopard. In the afternoon there will be a game drive.

Day 5  Samburu Game Reserve

Early morning game drive is followed by breakfast, and time to relax by the lodge pool or the terrace overlooking the river. After lunch there will be another game drive. 

Day 6   Samburu Game Reserve - Masai Mara Game Reserve

After an early morning game drive you are transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled service flight back to Nairobi [ one hour approximately ] where you have lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant , and the chance to try wild game meat such as Gazelle, Giraffe, Zebra, Ostrich and crocodile, as well as more traditional meals. You then continue by scheduled service flight to Masai Mara Game Reserve [one hour approximately]. You are transferred  to the Mara Serena Lodge. This Reserve is one of Africa's best known wildlife areas, and is part of the Serengeti ecosystem. A land of undulating hills and rolling grasslands it supports a large animal population.

Even a casual visitor is treated to the sight of lions in prides sometimes numbering more than thirty beasts with a handsome black maned male in dominance; a cheetah at great speed runs down its prey ; a leopard in the lower branches with its kill. In the Mara river there are crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, and hippos  playing in the water. Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Topi, Gazelle are all in abundance, and during the months of July to September the great migration of Wildebeest and Zebras spill over from the Serengeti. 

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The sight of these beasts legging it across the Mara River, avoiding both the crocodiles in the river, and the predators harassing them from behind is amazing, and the topic of some of the most spectacular photography ever seen. In the afternoon there is a game drive followed  by dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge.

Day 7   Masai Mara Game Reserve

Early morning and  afternoon game drives.

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Day 8   Masai Mara Game Reserve- Nairobi

Morning scheduled service flight back to Nairobi [one hour approximately], and transfer from Wilson Airport to the Nairobi Serena Hotel for bed and breakfast arrangements. In the afternoon you will be collected for an " Out of Africa " tour to Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Center.

Day 9    Nairobi - Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park  

After breakfast you are collected from the Nairobi Serena and transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport for your scheduled service flight [one hour] to Arusha , Tanzania where you complete customs and immigration formalities before continuing by scheduled service flight to Lake Manyara [20 minutes approximately], and transfer to the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge on the Great Rift Valley rim, and overlooking the park. After lunch there is a game drive in the park.

From which ever direction you approach Lake Manyara, you get a spectacular view. Approaching from the east the Great Rift Valley wall forms an impressive backdrop to the Lake. From the west, with a pause at the top of the escarpment, the park lies below, a green strip beside a glistening lake.

Approaching by air is doubly spectacular. Lake Manyara National Park covers an area of 330 square kilometers, of which about two thirds is the lake itself, and the rest is forest , acacia woodland and some grasslands by the lake shore. 

 

The wildlife can be migratory between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park across the lake, but you should see Elephant, Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, several species of primate and antelope, and prolific birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge.

Day 10   Lake Manyara National Park

Morning game drive and then back to the lodge for lunch . After lunch there will be a trek around the rim of the Great Rift Valley where you will be escorted by a Masai warrior , who is also a qualified naturalist As well as pointing out significant flora and fauna , especially plants and trees from where the Masai make medicine, you will also learn about Masai customs and culture, as well as enjoying some superb views. 

Day 11   Lake Manyara National Park- Ngorongoro Crater

Leave after breakfast , and proceed by road  to Plantation Lodge for another trek , this time through some of Tanzania's rich agricultural land followed by a farm style lunch . After lunch continue by road into the Ngorongoro Conservation area, and on to the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on the Crater rim. "It is impossible to give a fair description of the size and beauty of the Crater, for there is nothing with which one can compare it. It is one of the Wonders of the World." This is how the Crater is described by Bernard Grzimek in his classic "Serengeti Shall Not Die".

The area is given over to Wildlife Conservation and comprises 8300 square kilometers of which the Crater is 260 square kilometers, and consists of grasslands, swamps, forests, rivers, and even an arid area of shifting dunes. The Crater supports a year round resident population of varied wildlife, and as the game is concentrated into a relatively small area you are likely to see Lion, Elephant, Hyaena, Jackal, Cheetah, the very rare Black Rhino, primates and many more. The area is also home to the proud and colorful Masai tribe. In the evening there will be some local entertainment before dinner and overnight at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

Day 12      Ngorongoro Crater

After an early breakfast you descend into the Crater in a 4 x 4 vehicle for a full day of game viewing with a picnic lunch taken on the Crater floor. Late afternoon you leave the Crater drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Day 13      Ngorongoro Crater - Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park

Morning departure by road from Ngorongoro back to Lake Manyara for the mid morning scheduled service flight to Seronera, Serengeti National Park [30 minutes approximately]. Transfer to Serengeti Serena Lodge for lunch, followed by a game drive. This is one of the most popular and spectacular game areas in East Africa , covering an area of 14,765 square kilometers, teaming with game.  A particular feature of the Serengeti is the annual migration of the wildebeest and zebra herds. Each year , after  the traditional "short" rains in November the migration starts when the herds amass in their thousands on the plains below the Ngorongoro highlands. During February they move north and west following the rains and the new grasslands, and they start to move into the Masai Mara in July. In October they move back to Tanzania. This annual phenomenon involves more than 1.5 million animals , including the lion and other predators who follow the herds for easy pickings. The whole process affects the lives of thousands of other species who rely on the passage of the migration for their survival , even the insects, not to mention the trees and plants which rely on the droppings for their fertilization. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Serena Lodge

Day 14   Serengeti National Park 

Morning and afternoon game drives and a visit to the Serengeti Visitor Center, which offers you a wide range of up to date information  on the Serengeti ecosystem, including natural history, ecology, management and conservation. The "trail" is along an elevated path among intriguing granite formations [kopjes], and there are many small animals on site, and wonderful views of the hills and plains. There is an auditorium showing wildlife videos, and this can also be used for specific subject lectures for groups.

Day 15 Serengeti [Seronera] - Arusha 

Morning scheduled service flight to Arusha [one hour approximately] arriving late morning, and connect for your scheduled service flight to Nairobi [one hour approximately]. On arrival at Nairobi Wilson Airport you are transferred for your onward or homeward arrangements.

   

 2008 Rates

African Safari Consultants
16475 Indian Ruins Rd.
Prescott, AZ 86305

Tel. (928) 717 - 8275     Fax (928) 717 - 9754

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