Highlights of Kenya and Tanzania; Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro

An early morning drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve. It holds on as one of the few places left on earth where wildlife still lives comparatively undisturbed, in the numbers that once roamed the plains and forests of Africa. As the northern tip of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, the Mara hosts the spectacular seasonal migration of many thousands of Wildebeest, Zebras and attendant predators. Arrive in time for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

Our recommendations are: Extra tour recommended: The wonderful balloon flight over the Maasai Mara plains. After breakfast, we have a full day game drive with packed lunch provided. The reserve is well known for its black-manned lion as well as its abundant resident wildlife and its one of the few places where it's possible to see the big five during a morning's game drive. Many of the cheetahs are so tame they seek shelter from the hot sun under one's vehicle and several even climb onto the roof to get better view of prospective prey. For the bird enthusiast, almost 500 species have been recorded: among these 16 species of eagle, plus many hawks and falcons, 6 species of vultures, 8 species of storks, 4 of bustard (including the Kori bustard, the world's heaviest flying bird), and 9 species of sun birds. Dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

We will initiate the day with an early morning game drive in Maasai Mara while driving out of the National reserve. After border formalities, drive to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It will be a long day of driving but the game drives in and out of the parks can be surprisingly incredible. Dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

Our recommendations are: Serengeti means "endless plains" in Kiswahili, and this 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) park is inhabited by more than 2 million large animals, including more than a million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson's gazelles. One full day in the Serengeti with flexible schedule and unlimited mileage. As you crest the hillside, spread out before you, as far as the eyes can see, is the vast Serengeti. Serengeti mean "endless plains" in Kiswahili and this 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) park is inhabited by more than 2 million large animals including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson's gazelles. Large predators including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are drawn to the area by this abundance of prey which migrate throughout the park. Many smaller animals like rock hyrax, bat eared foxes, mongoose, honey badger, jackals, monkeys, baboons and African hares also inhabit the area along with nearly 500 species of birds. Afternoon game drive en-route to campsite. Dinner and overnight at public campsite or private tented camp / lodge

Today you will wake up very early to do an early morning safari before breakfast, to spot the animals when they are more active and also to have a fantastic sunrise in front of you. The sunrise in the african Savannah is one of the most beautiful experiences one can have. After the game drive, return to the camp for brunch. In the afternoon, transfer to Ngorongoro, the 8th natural wonder of the world. With walls 2,000 ft high and a crater floor that spreads for 102 sq. miles, the crater is a virtual Noah's Ark, inhabited by almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa including the rare black rhino. In fact, the crater has the greatest concentration of wild life in the planet. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake that, from the top, looks like steam, full of flamingoes, a forest and open plains. The large bull elephants that reside here have extremely large tusk, due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses. They are the most incredible elephants you'll ever see in your life. Dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

We will start the day very early and descend into the crater floor for an incredible morning of wildlife in one of the most stunning places on Earth. After the game drive, there will be time for a picnic lunch near the beautiful hippo Lake. After lunch, we will have time for a short game drive and then ascend the crater and exit Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Arusha. We expect to be back in Arusha around 5pm although we are flexible in case there is a flight to catch or another situation.