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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Volcanoes National Park
Tour Highlights
What makes this trip special
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your trip, day by day
Nairobi Arrival & Safari Preparation
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be met by your professional driver-guide and transferred to your luxury Nairobi hotel or lodge. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax by the pool, visit the Nairobi National Museum, or explore the Giraffe Centre. Your guide will provide a comprehensive safari briefing over a welcome dinner. Morning: Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), the main gateway to East Africa. Clear immigration and collect your luggage. Your professional driver-guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. Nairobi, Kenya's vibrant capital, sits at 1,795 metres above sea level, offering a pleasant climate year-round. The drive to your hotel takes approximately 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Afternoon: Check in at your luxury Nairobi hotel or lodge. If time permits, enjoy optional visits to the Nairobi National Museum, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (elephant orphanage), or the Giraffe Centre where you can feed endangered Rothschild giraffes. Alternatively, relax by the pool at your lodge and enjoy the warm Kenyan hospitality. Your guide will be available to answer any questions about the days ahead. Evening: Enjoy a welcome dinner at your lodge with a comprehensive safari briefing from your guide. Review game drive strategies, park information, and wildlife photography tips. Recommended meal: Nyama Choma (Kenyan roasted meat) served with ugali and kachumbari (tomato and onion salad). Your guide will check your safari gear and ensure everything is ready for the adventure.
Masai Mara National Reserve - Wildlife Exploration
After an early breakfast, depart Nairobi for the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve. The scenic drive takes you through the Great Rift Valley with stops at viewpoints for spectacular photography. Arrive in the Mara by mid-day, check in at your luxury lodge, and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, embark on your first game drive across the vast savannah plains in search of lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and more. Morning: Early breakfast at 6:30 AM. Depart Nairobi for the 5-hour drive to Masai Mara National Reserve (approximately 260 km). The journey takes you through the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment with a stop at the viewpoint for breathtaking panoramic photography. Continue through the Maasai towns of Narok and beyond, passing traditional Maasai manyattas (homesteads) and herds of livestock along the roadside. The landscape gradually transforms from cultivated highlands to the open savannah that defines the Mara. Afternoon: Arrive at Masai Mara and check in at your luxury lodge or tented camp. Enjoy a gourmet lunch overlooking the savannah. At approximately 3:30 PM, depart for your first afternoon game drive. Your expert guide will navigate the most productive wildlife areas based on recent sightings and seasonal patterns. The Masai Mara covers 1,510 sq km of pristine savannah, riverine forest, and rolling hills. Expect sightings of lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles, and abundant birdlife. Evening: Return to your lodge as the sun sets over the African savannah. Enjoy sundowner drinks on the lodge terrace with panoramic views. Dinner and overnight at your luxury Masai Mara lodge. Many lodges offer stargazing opportunities after dinner - the Mara has exceptionally dark skies perfect for observing the Southern Cross and Milky Way.
Masai Mara Full-Day Wildlife Safari
A full day dedicated to exploring the Masai Mara. An early morning game drive captures the best wildlife activity at dawn. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast, then set out again for a full-day exploration with a picnic lunch in the bush. Visit the Mara River to search for hippos, crocodiles, and dramatic river crossings during migration season (July-October). Return to your lodge for a sundowner and dinner. Morning: Rise early for a 6:00 AM departure on a morning game drive. The early morning hours offer the best wildlife viewing as predators are most active after a night of hunting and the golden light is perfect for photography. Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas on the hunt. Listen for the distinctive calls of African fish eagles and the grunts of hippos returning to the river after a night of grazing. Photography tip: use a fast shutter speed (1/500 or higher) for action shots of predators. Afternoon: Return to the lodge for a full breakfast (approximately 9:30 AM). After a brief rest, depart again with a picnic lunch for a full-day game drive. Visit the Mara River to observe hippos wallowing in pools and enormous Nile crocodiles basking on sandbanks. During the Great Migration season (July-October), witness dramatic river crossings as thousands of wildebeest and zebras brave crocodile-infested waters. The afternoon game drive continues across the rolling plains, searching for the reserve's incredible diversity of wildlife. Evening: Find a scenic spot to enjoy sundowner drinks on the savannah as the sun sets, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange, red, and purple. Return to your lodge under the stars, with night drives offering the chance to spot nocturnal wildlife using spotlights. Dinner and overnight at your luxury Masai Mara lodge.
Masai Mara Wildlife Exploration
Another day of extraordinary game viewing in the Masai Mara. Choose between a morning game drive followed by afternoon relaxation at the lodge, or a hot air balloon safari for a breathtaking aerial perspective (optional, at extra cost). The balloon safari ends with a champagne bush breakfast in the savannah. Alternatively, enjoy a cultural visit to a Maasai village to learn about their traditions and way of life. Morning: Option 1: Early morning game drive at 6:00 AM exploring different areas of the reserve. Each day in the Mara brings unique sightings as animals move across the vast landscape. Your guide will use their knowledge of recent predator activity and animal movements to maximise your wildlife encounters. Option 2 (recommended): Hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara at sunrise. Float silently over the savannah as the sun rises, witnessing the vast herds from above. This is an unparalleled perspective of the Mara ecosystem. Afternoon: If you chose the balloon safari, celebrate with a champagne bush breakfast in the middle of the savannah, surrounded by wildlife. Return to the lodge mid-morning for rest. In the afternoon, visit a traditional Maasai village for a cultural experience. Learn about Maasai traditions, witness traditional jumping dances, visit a manyatta (homestead), and shop for authentic Maasai crafts and beadwork. Alternatively, enjoy the lodge's facilities including swimming pools, spa treatments, or simply relax on your veranda overlooking the plains. Evening: Late afternoon game drive (4:00 PM to sunset) to complete your day. The evening light provides exceptional photography conditions. Search for leopards in riverine trees and lions beginning their nightly hunt. Sundowners at a scenic viewpoint before returning to the lodge for a farewell dinner. Many lodges offer special bush dinners under the stars on your final night.
Final Game Drive & Return to Nairobi
Rise early for one last spectacular game drive across the Mara plains, capturing the magnificent morning light and wildlife activity. Enjoy a farewell bush breakfast surrounded by the sounds of the savannah. Pack up and make the scenic drive back to Nairobi, with a stop for lunch en route. Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the late afternoon for your onward flight. Morning: Final early morning game drive at 6:00 AM. Experience the magic of the Mara at sunrise one last time. Your guide will take you to areas where you may have had memorable sightings earlier in the safari for a farewell encounter. Enjoy a bush breakfast at a scenic spot overlooking the savannah, with freshly brewed Kenyan coffee and the sounds of birds and wildlife around you. Photography tip: this is your last chance for sunrise silhouette shots - capture acacia trees against the golden sky. Afternoon: Check out of your lodge and depart for the return drive to Nairobi (approximately 5 hours). The journey retraces the route through the Great Rift Valley, offering final views of Kenya's stunning landscapes. Stop for lunch at a scenic restaurant en route. Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by late afternoon for your departure flight (recommended departure after 6:00 PM) or transfer to your Nairobi hotel for onward connections. Evening: Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight. End of tour. We recommend booking flights departing after 7:00 PM to allow ample time for the drive and any unexpected delays. Alternatively, extend your Kenya holiday with an add-on to Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo, or a beach extension to Mombasa or Diani on the Kenyan coast.
What's Included & Excluded
Know exactly what your package covers
Included
- All national park entrance fees
- 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full board accommodation at camps/lodges
- Game drives per the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for driver-guide and camp/lodge staff
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional activities (hot air balloon, cultural visits) unless stated
- Personal expenses
Best Time to Travel
Wildlife viewing is good year-round. The dry season (June-October) concentrates animals around water sources for easier sightings, and the Great Migration's river crossings peak July-October. Calving season in the southern Serengeti runs December-March.
Tented camps and lodges
Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at camps/lodges
What to Pack
Suggested gear for this trip
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