Guillermo Velez Travel

DAY 1: NAIROBI

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Accommodations:Jacaranda Hotel (or similar)

DAY 2: NAIROBI/LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Depart early for Lake Nakuru, known for harbouring flocks of pink flamingos and a rich variety of bird species. Arrive at our safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch, and seek out the resident rhinos on a late afternoon wildlife drive.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Lake Nakuru Lodge (or similar)

DAY 3: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Set out on morning and afternoon safaris through the picturesque park, searching for rhinos, buffalo, impalas, lions, and more; and drive along the salty shores of Lake Nakuru to discover a mind-boggling variety of birds. Later, hear from a representative of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)—a government institution dedicated to managing the country’s wildlife—about the issues surrounding poaching and rhino conservation.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Lake Nakuru Lodge (or similar)

DAY 4: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK/LAKE NAIVASHA

Head south through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a large freshwater lake surrounded by grassy banks and olive trees. Cruise the lake on a boat, watching for hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo; and peer through your binoculars to spot lovebirds, ibis, and the African fish eagle. Step ashore at Crescent Island—a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake— and enjoy a guided stroll in search of wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: LAKE NAIVASHA/MASAI MARA

Travel to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve and settle into our comfortable tented camp, located in the heart of the reserve. Head out for an afternoon safari through vast, acacia-dotted plains, driving past throngs of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes; and keep an eye out for lions, elephants, and the rest of the African “big five.” In the evening, relax at the camp and enjoy scenic views of the rolling plains.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Fig Tree Camp (or similar)

DAY 6: MASAI MARA

Venture out on an early morning safari to track the animals that traversed the savanna during the night. View ungulates like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topi and eland antelopes—as well as their stealthy predators—at one of their most active times of the day. Continue your exploration on a late afternoon safari, discovering the timeless landscapes of Masai Mara.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Fig Tree Camp (or similar)

DAY 7: MASAI MARA/NAIROBI

Witness a breathtaking sunrise over the savanna during your final safari in Masai Mara, and head back to Nairobi. Stop en route at Café Ubuntu, a G Adventures–supported project that trains and employs local women and mothers of children with disabilities. Visit the craft centre to meet some of the women who create the wares sold there, then sit down for a delicious farm-to-table lunch.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations:Jacaranda Hotel (or similar)

DAY 8: NAIROBI/ARUSHA

Fly to Arusha, gateway to the Serengeti and the northern parks of Tanzania, and settle into your lodge.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Accommodations:Ilboru Safari Lodge (or similar)

DAY 9: ARUSHA/LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

This morning, make your way to Mto wa Mbu village, a vibrant settlement of Tanzania’s diverse tribal groups. Take a guided walk through the village, visiting the local market and meeting artisans in their workshops; then sit down for a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to the Rift Valley escarpment and settle into our safari camp, located at the edge of Lake Manyara National Park. Set out on our first safari drive to discover East Africa’s legendary wildlife, searching for lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and more.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Rift Valley Photographic Lodge (or similar)

DAY 10: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK/SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Travel through the breathtaking Rift Valley to a Maasai village. Here, we learn about the G Adventures–supported Clean Cookstoves Project, dedicated to providing clean-burning cookstoves to Maasai communities throughout Tanzania. Enjoy a presentation by a Masaai woman on the impact of the project, and take a guided tour of the village, visiting traditional homes or bomas and helping build a new stove. Continue to our safari camp in Serengeti National Park, stopping en route at the Olduvai Gorge Museum and Visitor’s Centre—located near the site where National Geographic archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early hominid fossils and stone tools in 1960.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Serengeti Tortilis Camp (or similar)

DAY 11: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Immerse yourself in the splendor of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. Discover the park’s iconic creatures when you set out in a 4x4 on morning and afternoon safaris through the golden grasslands. With luck, spot all of Africa’s “big five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Later, visit the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, and enjoy a talk by one of the visiting researchers.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Serengeti Tortilis Camp (or similar)

DAY 12: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK/NGORONGORO

Depart the Serengeti this morning, looking out for the park’s wild denizens along the drive. Check in to our comfortable tented camp near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy a fiery African sunset from the deck.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations:Pembeni Rhotia (or similar)

DAY 13: NGORONGORO/ARUSHA

Spanning more than 20 kilometres in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest non-flooded caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 25,000 animals. Descend into this green-walled paradise early in the morning on safari. As you ride past herds of zebra and flocks of flamingo, keep your eyes peeled for a pride of lions or a lone leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the floor of the crater; then drive to Arusha.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations:Ilboru Safari Lodge (or similar)

DAY 14: ARUSHA

Depart at any time.

Meals Included:Breakfast