Kenya & Tanzania

This morning you will be met at the hotel and transferred to the Elewana Tortilis Camp in Amboseli National Park which lies on the border of Tanzania (approx. 4hrs 15mins). On the way you will pass by several small towns with multiple fruit and vegetable vendors selling their wares. As you turn off the main road keep an eye out for your first glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro which can be seen from several miles away on a clear day.

Located in the southern reaches of Kenya, the Amboseli National Park is renowned for its excellent variety of wildlife such as Maasai giraffe, elephant, lion and cheetah and not surprisingly it is one of Kenya's most popular parks. The landscape of Amboseli is dominated by the majestic snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as open plains, acacia woodland, swamps and the massif of Ol Doinyo Orok. The birding is excellent, especially closer to the lakes and swamps. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to large herds of elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and soak up spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Set out on morning and/or afternoon game drives in Amboseli National Park - one of Kenya's smaller, but perhaps most stunning, parks. The snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above a saucer of clouds dominates every aspect of the park which covers 392 sq. kms (151 square miles). The Tanzania border runs along its base and also forms the boundary of the park. Years ago, this was the locale around which such famous writers as Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark spun their stories of big-game hunting in the African wilds.

Also on offer at Elewana Tortilis Camp are guided walks. Tortilis Camp’s walking guides are from the local community, who have been walking over these plains since childhood. Take the time to leave the vehicle behind and experience the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems. The guides are happy to share their knowledge of the terrain, traditional uses of wild herbs and barks, and the Masai way of life.

This morning, you'll cross into Tanzania at the Namanga Border Post. Upon arrival, our Tanzania representative will greet you and assist with customs and immigration procedures. From there, you'll journey to Ngorongoro Lion’s Paw Camp, passing by Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge (total travel time approximately 8-9 hours).

Situated in the Crater Highlands in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is best known for its archaeological and geological significance, rich wildlife, and beautiful scenery. The conservation area encompasses the famous Crater, the renowned Olduvai Gorge and vast plains of grasslands, forests and mountains extending to the Serengeti. This 8000-square-kilometre protected area is recognised for its natural beauty and has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors flock here to soak up the spectacular views of the Ngorongoro Crater, voted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, it is famed for its natural beauty and abundant wildlife.

Your game drive today will be like no other as you visit one of the most dramatic safari destinations in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater. Descend to the crater floor in search of the Big 5 with the steeply sloped forest covered crater walls surrounding you, creating stunning back drops for your wildlife photographs. Travel through the Lerai Forest looking for leopard and onto the plains where the wildebeest and zebra graze whilst cheetah and lion lay and watch. Old elephants pass your vehicle whilst further afield rhino wander and hippos hide in the pools. A picnic lunch is provided so you can maximize your day in the crater.

This morning you will be transferred to Lake Manyara Airstrip for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti National Park, one of the wonders of the world. As you cruise through the air keep an eye out of the window and take in the incredible, ever changing, landscape below you. On arrival at Seronera Airstrip you will be transferred to the Serengeti Acacia Bliss, your base for the next three nights.

The Seronera region, in the central Serengeti, is set directly on the Great Migration route and offers excellent viewing of this incredible annual phenomenon, when countless wildebeest flood the area and move across the plains. While migratory game populations fluctuate seasonally, Seronera is still a wildlife hotspot at other times of the year, sheltering the Big Five, among many other species.

Two days to explore the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is not only famous for the great wildebeest migration that passes through the park every year from October to July, but also for the large number of animal species that reside in the park throughout the year. The concentration of predators in the Serengeti is high, with large prides of lions, numerous hyena clans and regular sightings of cheetahs and leopards. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe and antelope can also be found on the fertile plains as well as some lesser-known species such as aardwolves, mongooses, caracals, servals and hyraxes. To maximise your game viewing time, you can arrange to take a picnic into the park and experience a meal in the vast savannah before returning to your lodge later in the day.

This morning you will be transferred to Seronera Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Tarime Airfield. On arrival at Tarime Airfield you will be transferred to Migori Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Ol Seki Airstrip. On arrival you will be transferred to the Ol Seki Hemingways Mara Camp for a two-night stay.

Two days to explore the vast expanses of the Masai Mara. Days are as action packed or as relaxed as you want and being in a conservancy means there is the freedom to head out on game drives whenever suits; that might be at first light to capture the sunrise and an early morning cheetah hunt or that might be after dark to experience some of the alternative wildlife that you wouldn’t see during the day. Especially during the months of the migration, many guests stay out for a full day in the Mara Reserve itself, along the main rivers in the hopes of spotting a wildebeest crossing.
Other activities on offer at Hemingways Ol Seki Mara include guided walks, community visits and balloon safaris (additional cost).

Today you will be transferred to Ol Seki Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Wilson Airport, Nairobi. On arrival at Wilson Airport you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.

• Meet and assist at all airports/airstrips
• Transfers with English-speaking driver/guide
• 11-nghts' accommodation as specified (or similar)
• Meals as specified
• Game drives in Amboseli, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Masai Mara
• Park entrance fees
• Internal scheduled shared flights: Lake Manyara Airstrip/Seronera Airstrip (SEU); Seronera Airstrip (SE)/Tarime Airfield; Migori Airstrip/Ol Seki Airstrip (OSJ); Ol Seki Airstrip (OSJ)/Wilson Airport (WIL)
  Baggage allowance of 15kg/33lb in soft bags inclusive of hand luggage and camera equipment. The flying times are approximate as the service could land at additional airstrips en-route, depending on passenger demand
• Government taxes and levies
• 24/7 service and full local backup throughout Kenya and Tanzania
• Africa Travel Notes - issued by Innovative Travel

• International flights
• Meals not specified in itinerary
• Drinks unless specified in itinerary
• Touring and excursions not specified
• Park fees, entrance fees, porterage, tours/excursions and transfers not specified in itinerary
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Departure taxes
• All items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls, curio shop purchases
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Travel and Medical Insurance
• Visas (clients are responsible for obtaining their own visa where appropriate and should check entry requirements)
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above