Day 1: Arrive Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel. A
microcosm of the African continent, this capital city is your gateway
to a dramatic procession of natural spectacles and wildlife in Kenya and
Tanzania, among the most thrilling, exotic destinations in the world.
Nairobi Serena Hotel
Day 2: Amboseli National Park | Game and Mountain Vistas
Drive to Amboseli National Park, known for its thriving big
game population. In the distance, take in views of the highest
mountain in Africa, the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro,
with its impressive Uhuru Peak soaring to 19,341 feet. Arrive
at your luxury lodge set beneath acacia trees in the shadow
of Kilimanjaro. After lunch, explore the acacia woodland,
freshwater swamps, scrub brush and open plains in search of
wildlife. Part of the park is composed of a dried-up lakebed,
where mirages rise from the shimmering heat. This evening,
share in a special welcome dinner with your fellow guests.
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 3: Amboseli National Park | Mountainside Sightings
Spend the day on early morning and afternoon game drives,
crisscrossing the landscape in search of elephants, zebras and wildebeests along the saltpan trails. Prepare for predator
sightings, as opportunistic animals begin roaming the plains in
search of prey.
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park | Great Rift Valley
Travel by road to Arusha, crossing the border of Tanzania and
stopping for a Market Visit among the colorful market stalls
of Mto wa Mbu. Continue to your next lodge, located in a
picturesque region of the rusty-gold Great Rift Valley. Spend the
remainder of the day at leisure. Overlooking shallow, freshwater
Lake Manyara — one of a chain of lakes — you stay at the top
of a spectacular 2,000-foot escarpment. Your lodge is a gateway
to high-adventure sports, such as mountain biking, as well as
a tranquil respite for guests who want nothing more than to
unwind.
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater | Spot the Tree-Climbing Lions
Set out this morning on a game drive in Lake Manyara in search
of nonchalant baboons; dik-dik, which forage for food beneath
acacia trees; and large herds of buffalo, wildebeests and zebras,
who gather on the grassy, sun-drenched plains. Along a narrow
belt of acacia woodland, you may even spot the region’s storied
tree-climbing lions, who ascend branches for a cool breeze. After
a farm-fresh lunch, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater, ascending
its outer wall through dense vegetation. Ngorongoro is the
largest unbroken ancient caldera in the world, and a likely place
to view lions, elephants, hyenas and gazelles. This afternoon,
participate in a Chef’s Table demonstration in the hotel kitchen,
at which you prepare and sample local dishes.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater | Explore a Natural Wildlife Haven
Wake to explore this “Lost World” of animals; its prairies are
an ideal spot to see buffalo and elephants. Bird lovers can view
flamingos and countless other species on the crater’s 100-squaremile
floor. You may even see the rare black rhino. Following a
picnic near a pool where hippos gather, visit a Maasai village
to gain a better understanding of the nomadic cattle-herders’
daily life and culture. You also experience an Artisan Visit at
the village with a demonstration in traditional beadwork and
crafts.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 7: Serengeti National Park | In Ancient Footsteps
Drive to vast, wildlife-rich Serengeti National Park, stopping
en route for a privately guided tour of Olduvai Gorge, where
ancient fossils offer insight into humankind. Pass through a
spectacular mix of savanna grassland and volcanic hills, before
dropping steeply downward into the gorge. Visit the small
museum, absorb views from the lookout point and examine the
excavations, which revealed 3.7 million-year-old footsteps and
the skull of a 1.8 million-year-old man. Get settled at your lodge,
which is framed by commanding views of this land of lions,
leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes and topi. The park is also
the setting of the Great Migration. Enjoy your rondavel room
with private balcony and unique decor styled to showcase
cultural heritage and traditional art.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 8: Serengeti National Park | Iconic Safari Quary
Serengeti National Park | Iconic Safari Quarry
Spend your day in true safari country, searching for the “Big
Five” (lions, leopards, Cape buffalo, elephants and rhinos), along with giraffes, gazelles and zebras. You may also spot some
of the Serengeti’s more diminutive denizens, such as leopard
tortoises and rhino beetles, along the rivers, plains and rocky
outcroppings.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
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Meals: B L D
Day 9: Masai Mara Game Reserve | Wildlife Revealed
Fly to the vast Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya’s finest
wildlife spectacle. The unending landscape hosts some 400-500
bird species, 95 animal species and all of the great predators,
including the country’s largest lion population. The Mara lies
within the territory of the Maasai, who help administer the park
and protect it from poachers. After familiarizing yourself with
your luxurious tented accommodations, ideally situated at the
confluence of the Mara’s four game-viewing regions, take a
drive through the famed reserve.
Mara Intrepids
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Meals: B L D
Days 10-11: Masai Mara Game Reserve | Days of Discovery
Spend the next two days exploring a region bestowed with over
500 square miles of savannas, woodlands and tree-fringed rivers.
Watch as the resident wildlife amble out with wide, purposeful
eyes as the sun begins to set. You may observe crocodiles as they
bask in the sun; see ever-alert hippos wallow in muddy, cooling
water; and catch the antics of mischievous monkeys overhead.
Watch, too, as massive African elephants rustle along the forest
edge and lanky, graceful giraffes snatch leaves from branches high above. During one of your mornings in the Mara you may
choose to go on a hot air balloon ride, for an additional cost,
floating peacefully above the game-dotted plains. One evening,
enjoy a Scenic Sundowner experience, sipping traditional
cocktails while marveling at the incredible atmosphere just
before dusk. On
your final evening, attend a memorable farewell dinner, during
which you may reflect on your wildlife adventure, swap stories
of animal sightings and toast your unforgettable stay with
fellow guests.
You may also pay a meaningful visit to a local primary school, which is supported by A&K Philanthropy.
Mara Intrepids
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Meals: B L D
Day 12: Depart Nairobi
Return to Nairobi. Spend the afternoon at leisure in a reserved
dayroom before your international departure flight hom
