Kenya & Tanzania Lodge Safari Tour 14 Days

Kenya & Tanzania Lodge Safari Tour 14 Days Day 1 – Australia- Nairobi Depart for Nairobi, Kenya today on an overnight flight. Day 2 Nairobi Hotel: Na...
Author: Aileen Carter
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Kenya & Tanzania Lodge Safari Tour 14 Days

Day 1 – Australia- Nairobi Depart for Nairobi, Kenya today on an overnight flight. Day 2 Nairobi Hotel: Nairobi Serena Hotel On arrival and after clearing with Customs and Immigrations, you are met by your expeditions driver & guide and driven to Nairobi Serena Hotel for your overnight. Nairobi Serena Hotel is ideally located in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. Justly famed for its exceptional standards of efficiency, service and five-star hospitality, the elegantly sophisticated Nairobi Serena Hotel is a member of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ group and is consistently voted ‘Best Hotel in Nairobi’ by airlines and international travel magazines alike. Despite its pivotal central hotel location in Nairobi, Kenya; the Nairobi Serena remains true to its title and offers an oasis of serenity amidst the bustle of one of Africa’s most vibrant capital cities. This evening is yours at leisure. Day 3 Nairobi – Amboseli National Park Hotel: Amboseli Serena Lodge (B,L,D) After breakfast, depart to the Amboseli National Park. Arrive at the Amboseli Serena Lodge in time for lunch. Set against the magnificent backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, the glittering Mount Kilimanjaro, the luxury Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge enjoys a uniquely privileged position at the heart of this world-famous national park. Secluded within a grove of acacia trees, the safari lodge looks out over the golden savannah plains, with uninterrupted views of the mountain itself. Close by are a series of emerald green swamps, which are fed by the melting snows of Kilimanjaro. These, the only sources of water in this otherwise starkly beautiful but arid park, attract huge numbers of wallowing elephants, hippos, buffalos and plains game. Meanwhile, from the prehistoric site of Observation Hill, the sunset over Kilimanjaro is magnificent. At the centre of ‘Maasailand’, the lodge’s décor reflects the brilliant primary colours and iconic shapes representative of these legendary warriors. At the heart of the lodge, shaded by palm trees, is a free-form swimming pool; to either side of which stretch the rooms. Each room is

housed in a single storey building opening directly on to the grounds, each reflecting a Maasai manyatta theme: each with its own hand-painted wall frescos. The lodge features a central dining area reached by a timbered bridge over a melt-water stream. The lounge and bar feature a broad terrace and a blazing fire-pit where evening cocktails can be enjoyed. Activities include daily game drives in custom-built traditional safari vehicles, ‘sundowners’ on Observation Hill, bush breakfasts, bush dinners, Maasai dance performances, visits to Maasai villages and tree-planting program. Day 4 Amboseli National Park Hotel: Amboseli Serena Lodge (B,L,D) Today we have a full day at Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is a top destination for a Kenya Safari. Indeed, one of the classic images of East Africa, let alone Kenya, is that of a herd of elephant strolling across the plains with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro in the background. It is to catch this sight on memory - and on film - that people flood to Amboseli National Park. While Kilimanjaro is actually across the border in Tanzania, Amboseli has a perfect view of this world’s tallest freestanding mountain, rising an impressive 5 kilometres above the plains. The best time to view the majestic mountain is at dawn and sunset, when the clouds lift and the light is both clear and soft. The park is one of the smaller game parks in Kenya, but it offers you the best opportunity of seeing the critically endangered black rhino, along with a spectacular range of wildlife. The area’s low and well-munched vegetation also ensures that animals are easy to spot. Lions can easily be found and can occasionally be watched stalking their prey. Buffalo, cheetah, gazelle, hyena, jackal, wildebeest, zebra, and baboon are just some of the animals that can be encountered at Amboseli. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. Day 5 Amboseli National Park - Ngorongoro National Park Hotel: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (B,L,D) After breakfast we drive to Namanga border and onto Arusha for lunch. Following lunch, we drive to Ngorongoro National Park. Regularly voted one of the best hotels in the world, this unique lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on Earth. Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and

camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 metres below. Known as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife arenas. Hugging the contours of the jagged Crater rim, the lodge takes its inspiration from the socalled ‘Cradle of Mankind’, the prehistoric site of Olduvai Gorge, which lies close by. Linked by arched stone passages and timbered decks, its walls are decorated with stylized prehistoric cave paintings and lit by flaring torches. At the stone heart of the lodge burns a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight. Decorated with cave paintings, the rooms are strung around the Crater rim. Each has its own rock- enclosed balcony, and all enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheater far below. Day 6 Amboseli – Lake Naivasha Hotel: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (B,L,D) A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a unique biosphere, which has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. Deep within the Crater, enclosed by towering walls, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests of ‘the land that time forgot’, dominated by enormous bull elephants, rhinos and lions. The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World,’ a visit to the crater is a main draw card for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction. Within the crater rim, large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lions laze in the sun. At dawn, the endangered black rhino returns to the thick cover of the crater forests after grazing on dew-laden grass in the morning mist. Just outside the crater’s ridge, tall Maasai herd their cattle and goats over green pastures through the highland slopes, living alongside the wildlife as they have for centuries. The Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are without a doubt some of the most beautiful parts of Tanzania, steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. Besides vehicle safaris to Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and surrounding attractions, hiking treks through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are also available. Day 7 Lake Naivasha – Serengeti National Park Hotel: Serengeti Serena Lodge (B,L,D) After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park with a stop at The Olduvai Gorge. The gorge

is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering the understanding of early human evolution. This site was occupied by Homo habilis approximately 1.9 million years ago, Paranthropus boisei 1.8 million years ago, and Homo erectus 1.2 million years ago. Homo sapiens is dated to have occupied the site 17,000 years ago. Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley that stretches through eastern Africa. It is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in Arusha Region, Tanzania and is about 48 km (30 mi) long. It is located 45 km (28 mi) from the Laetoli archaeological site. This site is significant in showing increased developmental and social complexities in hominids. Evidence of this is shown in the production and use of stone tools, which indicates the increase in cognitive capacities. Evidence also indicates the practices of both scavenging and hunting, which are highlighted by the evidence of gnaw marks predating cut marks, and comparisons on percentages of meat versus plant in the early hominid diet. Furthermore, the collection of tools and animal remains in a central area is evidence of increases in social interaction and communal activity. Arrive at Serengeti Serena Safari for lunch. Set high on the saddle of a tree-clad ridge, commanding panoramic views across the Serengeti, this lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style. Winner of numerous awards from the world travel press, it is perhaps the finest venue the Serengeti has to offer. Centrally located adjacent to the famous Western Corridor and Grumeti River, the lodge has been designed to blend completely into the living landscape. A series of traditional domed ‘rondavels’ are widely spaced throughout the grounds, which are cooled by groves of acacia trees and watered by sparkling streams. On the very edge of the ridge is a ‘vanishing horizon’ pool, which looks out over the ‘endless plains’ after which the Serengeti is named. Enjoy an afternoon game drive after lunch and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Day 8 Serengeti National Park Hotel: Serengeti Serena Lodge (B,L,D) Today we have a full day exploring the vast Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti region encompasses the Serengeti National Park itself, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maswa Game Reserve, the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. It’s unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, filmakers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous

photographers and scientists. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves. Day 9 Serengeti – Lake Victoria Hotel: Speke Bay Lodge (B,L,D) Speke Bay Lodge is located on the south-eastern shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, East Africa. It is 15 kilometres from the Serengeti National Park, and 125 kilometres north of Mwanza. Speke Bay is part of Speke Gulf, named after the famous explorer John Hanning Speke, who, in 1858, discovered Lake Victoria to be the source of the Nile. Embraced by savannah, the Lodge looks like a small village, stretched out along the shores of the lake. The main buildings and luxury accommodation are round in form, built to perfection, painted white and thatched with a grass roof in the traditional style of the local tribe, the Sukuma. Excursions in boats and on mountain bikes are offered, so you can truly experience Africa; you can fish from the beach for Tilapia, enjoy the peacefulness, or wander around on the Lodge’s 100 hectares of savannah, looking for birds. Day 10 Lake Victoria – Maasai Mara Reserve Hotel: Mara Serena Lodge (B,L,D) After breakfast at the lodge, depart for Maasai Mara Game Reserve with picnic lunch boxes. Arrive at the Mara Serena Lodge later in the afternoon. Located at the very centre of the famous ‘Mara Triangle’ of the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate safari destination. Set high on a bush-cloaked hill with long views over the savannah and down to the winding coils of the hippo-filled Mara River, it stands centre-stage to one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife arenas, with a ringside seat for the ‘greatest wildlife show on earth’, the legendary migration of the wildebeest. Styled to echo the circular motif of a traditional Maasai manyatta, our Masai Mara lodge blends international sophistication with raw African beauty, while featuring twin rows of individual rooms, each with its own view of the famous Mara River. The central bar and dining areas enjoy spectacular views, as does the rock-surround swimming pool. Each unique-

ly-presented room is accommodated in its own stand-alone modular unit, with uninterrupted views, private balcony and spacious seating area. Activities include two daily game drives in custom-built traditional safari vehicles, ‘sundowners’ in the bush, breakfast by the hippo pool, lunch in the wilderness, dinner in the bush, balloon safaris or relaxation and reinvigoration in the panoramic new Maisha Safari Spa and Gym. World renowned for the breathtaking spectacle of ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth’, the awe inspiring annual migration of the wildebeest, the Mara is Kenya’s most visited protected area. Technically an extension of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti National Park, the Mara constitutes only 4% of the entire Serengeti ecosystem but its rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments offer one of the world’s most rewarding and evocative wildlife arenas. Enjoy an afternoon game drive and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Day 11 Maasai Mara Reserve Hotel: Mara Serena Lodge (B,L,D) Spend the day exploring the Reserve! We will tailor your day to fit in with every moment at the Camp. The Masai Mara Game Reserve is Kenya’s finest wildlife reserve. Everything about this reserve is outstanding. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific. Including migrants, well over 450 species have been recorded, among them, 57 species of birds of prey. Amongst the list of easy-to-view species are: gazelle, elephant, topi, buffalo, lion (Kenya’s largest population), black rhino, hippo, hyena, giraffe, leopard and mongoose. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well-spread rainfall year round. Throughout the year the Masai Mara is a place of natural drama, a kaleidoscope of colour and life. Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, Topi and Eland and many more species of plains’ game offer a rich choice of food for the dominant predators; lion, leopard and cheetah which hunt in this pristine wilderness. Here the great herds of shuffling elephants browse among the rich tree-studded grasslands with an occasional sighting of a solitary and ill-tempered rhino. In the Mara River, Hippo and Crocodile are commonly found. Day 12 Maasai Mara – Nairobi Hotel: Nairobi Serena Hotel (B,D) After breakfast we drive back to Nairobi and arrive approximately at 1.00 p.m to check in at

Nairobi Serena Hotel. In the evening, visit the Daphne Sheldrick Animal orphanage located in the Nairobi Game Park, Kenya. It was originally started by David Sheldrick, and the work was taken over by his wife after his death. The park itself is too small to sustain any adult elephants, but they take in orphaned baby elephants from all over Kenya. Unfortunately, due to the rise in ivory poaching, most of the elephants are there because their mothers have been killed by hunters, but some have just got separated from their mothers for some reason. The elephants are raised with the intention of gradually re-integrating them into the wild. The age range of the elephants can vary from a few months up to three years. Each elephant is assigned its own keeper, who acts as a surrogate mother and will stay with the elephant until it is released back into the wild. Being orphaned is obviously a very traumatic experience, so the keeper spends as much time as possible with the elephant in the first few days to lavish attention on it. Your visit is scheduled between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to see the elephants being fed and playing. In addition, there is a keeper there who will give a talk about the elephants, where they came from, how they are getting on, and how some of the previous orphans are progressing. The evening visit is for foster parents and usually there are no more than 25 to 30 people there, so you can get really close to the elephants. After the visit, drive to The Carnivore Restaurant for a farewell dinner and overnight. The Carnivore is the ultimate ‘Beast of a Feast’ A variety of meat including ostrich, crocodile and camel, is roasted over charcoal and carved at your table. Delicious side dishes and an exceptional array of sauces complement this fixed price feast that also includes soup, a selection of desserts and Kenyan coffee. Set in attractive tropical gardens, the service and the décor are outstanding. The Carnivore is also home of the Simba Saloon, a delicious a la carte restaurant by day and Nairobi’s most popular nightclub. The informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere, exceptional snacks and the pulsating rhythms of Africa combine to ensure an exciting ambiance. After dinner, you are transferred back to the Nairobi Serena Hotel Day 13 Nairobi - Australia After breakfast, you are transferred to the Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight. Day 14 Australia Arrive home in Australia today.