San Francisco Departure

London

 

Arrive in London Heathrow Airport at 1:00pm this afternoon.  

 

Upon arrival at Terminal 1, proceed through immigration, proceed through customs, and proceed to the Heathrow Express.  Take the Heathrow Express train from the main complex to Terminal 4 in the south part of the airport. At Terminal 4, check in for your flight; British Airways flight #89 departs London Heathrow at 8:35pm.

Nairobi - Masai Mara

Sarova Mara Camp has 75 deluxe tents - 72 twins and 3 triple rooms for families. They have permanent roofs and bathrooms with shower. All rooms are spaciously set amongst indigenous gardens with the open plains beyond.

You can walk around the large camp without fear as it has been fenced to keep out dangerous animals. Stroll the walkways or birdwatch from the boardwalk. Take a romantic stroll onto the bridge over the lily ponds.  

Masai Mara (BLD)

 

Morning and afternoon game drives will be provided by camp vehicles and camp driver/guides, on a shared basis

 

Night drives are not allowed in the Masai Mara Reserve and all vehicles must be back at the lodge by 6.30pm

This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip.  Depart on a morning flight to Nairobi.  Depart the Masai Mara approximately 11:00am.  Arrive in Nairobi's Wilson airport at 12:15pm.

 

Picnic lunches will be provided from the Masai Mara to have on the plane; (Or the picnic lunches will be provided later on  arrival in Nairobi to have in the vehicles.)

Upon arrival, you will be met by your private vehicles and driver/guides.  These are safari cruisers (minibus style) with 7 window seats each.  (The vehicles MAY have luggage that was stored in Nairobi.)

Depart on your drive south to Amboseli.  The drive is approximately three hours.

Upon arrival at the park entrance, begin game viewing en route to your lodge.  Arrive at your lodge at sunset or before dark.

Amboseli Serena Lodge

Rise early this morning to catch the first views of Mt. Kilimanjaro as its snow-capped summit peaks out from under the clouds.

You have a full day of game drives in private vehicles with your safari driver/guides.

Relax in the inviting pool after a morning game drive.

Lake Manyara - Serengeti (BLD)

Enjoy a morning game drive at Lake Manyara.

 

Return to the lodge for lunch.  Then depart on your drive to Tanzania's most famous park, the Serengeti .

The name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word "siringet", which means endless plains.  Appropriately named, every year the Serengeti plays host to one of the world's most impressive migration of herbivores.  Game-viewing is exciting year-round, as the Serengeti supports large prides of lions as well as a healthy amount of leopards. 

Upon entering the park, have game viewing en route to your lodge.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge 

Set high on the saddle of tree-clad ridge commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the Serengeti, the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style. Drawing its inspiration from the circular ‘Rondavel' dwellings and winding paths of a traditional Maasai village, the Lodge features thickly-thatched, stone-built rooms, spaciously set amongst groves of indigenous trees that are cooled by sparkling streams and papyrus-fringed ponds.

The circular bar, its roof supported by massive carven figures of warriors, maidens and elders, looks out over the sky-blue, ‘vanishing horizon' swimming pool towards the miles of lion-gold savannah that lie below, wherein is enacted the thunderous theatre of the million-strong wildebeest migration . As for views, from lilac-streaked sunrise, to diamond-domed night, the searingly sensational Serengeti delivers a series of timeless volcanic vistas that are second to none.

Serengeti - Ngorongoro (BLD)

Depart the Serengeti on your drive to Olduvai Gorge.

The Gorge looks like a long, dry trench cut out from the surrounding plains, but it is a veritable archaeological treasure-trove.  Louis and Mary Leakey spent more than 28 years sifting through hundreds of fossils before uncovering the "homo habilis" (Handy Man), dating back more than 1.6 million years.

You will have time to walk through the small museum at the gorge where you can view displays of copies of some of the finds as well as pictures of what life was like for the gorges earliest inhabitants.

After a picnic lunch, continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation area.  At just 100 square miles, Ngorongoro Crater comprises a small portion of the 3200 square mile conservation area. 

 

 

 

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Perched on the jagged rim of the crater, wreathed in morning mist, camouflaged in river-stone and cloaked in indigenous creepers, the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion. Sensitively constructed so as to take nothing from its environment whilst affording endless vistas over the heat-shimmering reaches of the crater below, the clustered boulder-built buildings of the Lodge hug the crater rim, linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the buttressed roots of ancient, liana-hung trees.

The interior, radiating out from the primeval log fire glowing at the heart of the Lodge, blends the concentrated hush of a game-viewing hide with the ochre, rust and charcoal images of a prehistoric cavern. Lit by flaming wall-lanterns, clad in gigantic volcanic boulders and decorated by the iron spears, bright-beaded robes and intricately carven artefacts of the Maasai, the Lodge is a unique blend of world-class luxury, timeless volcanic splendour and ethnic style. As for the views, from lilac-streaked sunrise, to indigo star-studded night, the immeasurably ancient Ngorongoro Crater delivers a theatre of vistas, most unchanged since the dawn of time .

Ngorongoro - Nairobi (BL)

Early this morning drive to Arusha.  In Arusha, stop for lunch.  After lunch, you will be transferred to the local airport for your flight to Nairobi.

                  

Conceived over 50 years ago, the Safari Park Hotel and Casino has grown from a British Army officer's retreat during the Colonial period to its current status as a world-renowned inland resort.

Surrounded by sprawling 64-acre grounds, the Safari Park Hotel combines the intrigue of African architecture and art with an infrastructure on the cutting edge of technology. Only 15 minutes from downtown Nairobi, you will have the unique opportunity to experience the fast pace of the city and escape back to the expanse and serenity of the hotel.

Shining through flourishing wild flowers and majestic trees are the welcoming smiles. Arrival at the hotel means people at your service. From the doormen to the receptionists to the guest relations' officers, the lobby staffs are there to ensure your personal needs are satisfied throughout your stay.

The evening is at leisure.  Dinner this eveing is on your own.  You may wish to have us reserve one of the specialty restaurants.  The Nyama Choma Restaurant is the open air restaurant serving grilled meats at the table with the African show.  The Safari Park also has a Chinese Restaurant, an Italian Restaurant, and their regular hotel restaurant.

 

 

Nairobi (B)

This morning, visit the Dhanage for a unique perspective into the painstaking work involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.

 

The orphanage was founded in 1963 to look after and later return to the wilderness, sick and abandoned wild animals.  Any abandoned young elephant or rhino is cared for by author and conservationist Daphne Sheldrick.  Her experiences while rearing a variety of African wildlife, particularly elephants, are told in her books "The Tsavo Story" and "An Elephant Named Eleanor." 

Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.  Lunch is on your own.

Day Rooms will be included for late check out, approximately 6:00pm.

You will be transferred to the popular Carnivore Restaurant for dinner.�� After dinner, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight; British Airways Flight #64 at 10:45 pm.

 

 

 

Welcome Home!