Follow your complete day-to-day schedule, wildlife tracking routes, meal plans, and premier lodge stays for this 13-day East African expedition.
Day 1
Arrival & Scenic Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Depart Nairobi in your custom 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser, descending down the Great Rift Valley escarpment with a scenic stop at the panoramic viewpoint. Continue across the Narok plains to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve. Check in at your lodge or luxury tented camp, savor a hot buffet lunch, and set out on your inaugural afternoon game drive tracking pride lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras across the golden plains.
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge / Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 2
Full Day Exploring Maasai Mara National Reserve – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Spend a full day exploring the Maasai Mara savannah. Head out at dawn when big cats are active on the hunt. Explore diverse ecosystems from the Talek and Mara riverbanks to open grasslands teeming with wildebeests, topis, and gazelles. Enjoy a scenic bush picnic lunch under an acacia canopy while watching hippos wallow in the river pools, followed by an afternoon game drive.
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge / Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 3
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Another exhilarating day in the Mara. You may opt for an early morning sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara plains followed by a champagne bush breakfast, or embark on a morning tracking drive. In the afternoon, visit an authentic Maasai cultural boma to experience traditional songs, rhythmic jumping dances, and ancient bushcraft.
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge / Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 4
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Another exhilarating day in the Mara. You may opt for an early morning sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara plains followed by a champagne bush breakfast, or embark on a morning tracking drive. In the afternoon, visit an authentic Maasai cultural boma to experience traditional songs, rhythmic jumping dances, and ancient bushcraft.
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge / Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 5
Cross-Border Transfer to Serengeti National Park (Kenya to Tanzania)
Depart after breakfast and travel to the border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania (Namanga or Isebania). After smooth customs and immigration clearance with the assistance of your guides, enter Tanzania and journey directly to Serengeti National Park, taking in magnificent scenery and en-route game viewing before checking into your lodge.
Accommodation: Serengeti Safari Lodge / Serengeti Sound of Silence Camp / Ang'ata Serengeti Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 6
Full Day Exploring Serengeti National Park – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Dedicate a full day to tracking the legendary wildlife of the Serengeti. Following the seasonal movements of the Great Wildebeest Migration or central predator territories, navigate through diverse ecosystems including riverine woodlands, open savannahs, and towering granite kopjes. Enjoy an open-air picnic lunch in the wild surrounded by untamed African wilderness.
Accommodation: Serengeti Safari Lodge / Serengeti Sound of Silence Camp / Ang'ata Serengeti Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 7
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Serengeti National Park
Explore the northern or southern corridors of the Serengeti depending on the seasonal migration movements. Marvel at dramatic predator-prey dynamics, spot hyena dens, towers of giraffes browsing on whistling acacias, and vibrant raptors. Savor sundowners overlooking the endless horizon.
Accommodation: Serengeti Safari Lodge / Serengeti Sound of Silence Camp / Ang'ata Serengeti Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 8
Transit Game Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater
After a hearty breakfast at your lodge, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater. Ascend the slopes of the ancient Ngorongoro volcanic massif into the mist-shrouded highlands. Take in panoramic vistas from the crater rim overlook, gazing 600 meters down onto the caldera floor below. Settle into your lodge perched on the rim or in the nearby Karatu coffee estates, preparing for tomorrow's descent.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House / Marera Valley Lodge / Country Lodge Karatu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 9
Full Day Exploring Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Descend 600 meters down steep forested crater walls into the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera. The crater floor is an enclosed wildlife paradise sheltering over 25,000 large mammals. Spend the day tracking the critically endangered black rhino, dense prides of black-maned lions, giant old-tusker elephants, and spotted hyenas. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool at Ngoitoktok Springs.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House / Marera Valley Lodge / Country Lodge Karatu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 10
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater
Visit a traditional Maasai village within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, experiencing Maasai songs, traditional dances, and cultural traditions. Afterwards, explore the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, the famed "Cradle of Mankind" where hominid fossils dating back nearly 2 million years were discovered by Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farm House / Marera Valley Lodge / Country Lodge Karatu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 11
Flight / Transfer to Zanzibar Island & Tropical Beaches – Tropical Coastline
Board your flight or transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. Your private driver greets you and transfers you to your beachfront resort on the north coast (Nungwi / Kendwa) or historic Stone Town. Settle in, dip your toes in the warm turquoise Indian Ocean, and enjoy a tropical sunset seafood dinner overlooking the calm waves.
Accommodation: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort / Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 12
Heritage Discovery & Island Highlights in Zanzibar Island & Tropical Beaches
Embark on a guided Stone Town heritage tour visiting the Sultan's Palace (Beit al-Ajaib), the Old Fort, and the historical Anglican Cathedral. In the afternoon, visit an organic spice farm in the lush countryside to touch, smell, and taste fresh cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and exotic tropical fruits before returning to your beachfront resort.
Accommodation: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort / Ocean Paradise Resort & Spa
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 13
Morning Beach Leisure & Departure Transfer (Zanzibar Island & Tropical Beaches)
Enjoy a leisurely tropical breakfast overlooking the azure ocean waves. Spend your final morning strolling the beach or shopping for handcrafts before your driver transfers you to Zanzibar Airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation: Drop-off at Airport or City Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch En Route
