Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

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Day 2

After the arrival of the group flights in the early morning, we travel west
into the Great African Rift Valley to Kembu, stopping in Nakuru en route to
do some shopping and look around this typical African town. We stay on a farm
tonight and have an opportunity to do a farm walk this afternoon.
Accommodation: Kembu Farm or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 3

This morning we drive to Lake Nakuru National Park where we enjoy a superb
game drive. Although this is a small park it is home to an amazing variety of
animals and birdlife. The park contains a soda lake, which is sometimes home
to thousands of flamingos. We hope to see the endangered White and Black
rhinos, lion and if we are very lucky the elusive leopard. There is a
stunning view from baboon cliffs above the lake, and here we may see the
small furry Rock hyrax, which is related to the elephant! Tonight we camp
just outside the park in a campsite with good showers and flush toilets.
Accommodation: Nderit Campsite or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 4

Today we travel into the Masai Mara, one of the most famous ecosystems in the
world. This vast grassland is teeming with life; plains game including
wildebeest, gazelle, topi, zebra and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah,
and never far away lay the predators: cheetah, lion and hyena. Between
mid-August to late October one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes
place in the Mara - the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, gazelle
and zebra trampling their way across the long grass. Nothing is guaranteed on
safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides you should see and learn a
huge amount about the Masai Mara's resident wildlife as we game drive through
the park this afternoon. Stay in a campsite just outside the reserve for the
next two nights.
Accommodation: Mara Springs Camp or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 5

A full day game drive in the Masai Mara to increase our chances of
encountering many of the wildlife species found in the reserve. We'll find a
quiet spot inside the park to enjoy lunch by our vehicle, looking out across
the plains. There are also several optional excursions that you can enjoy
today in addition to the game drive. Get up early for a sunrise Hot Air
Balloon Safari (including champagne and breakfast) or visit a traditional
Masaai village to meet the locals.
Accommodation: Mara Springs Camp or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 6

Our long drive today is up through the Western highlands and allows plenty of
time to appreciate the superb scenery. The road begins to descend and we
leave behind the neatly ordered rows of tea bushes as we cross the border
into Tanzania at Isebania. We camp in a pleasant spot at Musoma on the shore
of Lake Victoria.
Accommodation: Tembo Beach or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 7-8

Today, we turn east and enter the vast Serengeti Plain, one of the largest
parks in Africa. There is a choice of routes into the Serengeti, depending on
the weather: if it is dry, the 130km of the Western Corridor, usually full of
plains game, is open. If it is wet, however, this road, which is built on
black cotton soil, is impassible, and we have to enter the park from the
north, at Ikoma gate. We spend two nights in the park so we plenty of time to
enjoy the vast open spaces and the variety of game. We camp at Seronera where
there are various camping areas, all of them in open bush, with no fences to
prevent the animals from visiting during the night. A real taste of wild
Africa!
Accommodation: Serengeti Public Campsite or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 9

We leave early and it is often possible to watch elephants and other animals
browsing close to the campsite. The morning is spent game driving in the
eastern part of the park, where it is unusual not to spot a pride of lions,
in their favourite place - under a big, shady tree. After crossing the vast
grasslands we come to the Ngorongoro entry gate at Naabi Hill. We travel up
towards the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the wide-open plains below
stretching as far as the eye can see. Finally reaching the top, the crater
opens up in front of us, a huge, natural caldera, one of the great sights of
Africa.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken caldera, formed when
its volcano top erupted leaving fertile plains in its place. Before this
happened, it was actually the highest mountain in Africa, towering over
nearby Kilimanjaro. The crater is essentially made up of grassy plains, lush
forest and a soda lake which houses flamingos and an array of birdlife. From
the rim, at an altitude of 2400m, the cliff plunges down some 600m to the
crater floor with a whole host of extinct volcanoes ringing the valley. Our
campsite here is very basic indeed and can be very cold at night so please
come prepared.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Ngiri Campsite or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 10

We descend to the crater floor in 4WD vehicles and spend the morning watching
large numbers of plains game, and the ever-present predators around them.
We'll search for hippos in the murky pools, and try to protect our food at
lunchtime from the fearless Brown kites, as they swoop and snatch anything
that appears to be edible!
After a fantastic morning we continue our journey to the edge of the Rift
Valley, where there is a great view over Lake Manyara (often tinted pink
around the edges from large numbers of flamingos) and on to Arusha.
Accommodation: Meserani Snake Park or similar
*Full-service Camping*

Day 11

Take a morning flight over to the island of Zanzibar, 35km from the mainland.
First visited by Arab traders in the 8th century, and countless travellers in
the following centuries, the island is most famous for its spices, and
infamous for being the centre of the East African slave trade. We spend our
first night in Stone Town and then three nights by the beach. Stone Town is a
myriad of small alleys and markets. We recommend a spice tour, around the
island's plantations, with chances to taste and buy.
Accommodation: Abuso Inn or similar
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 12-13

After a free morning in Stone Town we transfer to our hotel by the beach.
There is plenty to occupy your days here. You can visit Prison Island, where
difficult slaves were kept, or relax on the eastern and northern beaches,
with excellent snorkelling, sailing in a dhow and plenty of fresh seafood.
The local buses are efficient and enable you to travel all over the island,
although hiring a jeep for a day or two is a more exciting way of getting
about and not expensive. It's a fascinating mixture of culture, history and
wonderful beaches.
Accommodation: Cristal Resort or similar
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 14

Our adventure ends after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be
transferred back to Stone Town for their flight to London.

Day 15

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