See the Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli, and Masai Mara on a safari with the African experts for 40 years

East Africa is the perfect place to go big, and this comprehensive trip has it all: Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli, and Masai Mara. In glorious settings—vast expanses of plains, baobab-studded grasslands, and lush green crater walls—watch thousands of zebra and wildebeest, along with elephant herds, lions and leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and amazing birdlife. Comfortable lodges or deluxe tented camps top off each day on this king of safaris. Bring the kids!

Like all our safaris, you’ll travel in rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles that offer maximum game viewing opportunities; overnights are at comfortable lodges or deluxe tented camps that guarantee your every comfort. This quintessential safari is great for first-timers who want to see it all—but whether it’s your first trip to Africa or your tenth, you couldn’t ask for more.

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Activities

Game viewing by 4-wheel-drive vehicle, optional bush walks

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• The classic safari brought to you by the experts since 1971! See all the major game parks of East Africa’s Tanzania and Kenya on one great adventure!
• Visit Tanzania’s “must-see” spots—Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Oldupai Gorge
• Explore Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, noted for its elephant herds and dramatic views of Kilimanjaro, and the Masai Mara, where game viewing par excellence is the order of the day!
• Cultural visits with the Maasai

Duration: 14 days Start Location: Arusha, Tanzania End Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Download Detailed Itinerary

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Tanzania

  Meet in Arusha, Tanzania, and transfer to a nearby lodge for dinner and overnight.

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  Day 2 : To the Serengeti

  Fly to the Serengeti and transfer to our lodge for the next three nights, watching for wildlife along the way.

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  Days 3 - 4 : In the Serengeti

  Game viewing in the Serengeti. The sheer volume of wildlife is staggering: buffalo, giraffe, dik-dik, reedbuck, impala, waterbuck, baboons, and vervet monkeys are all common resident species, as are lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. The bird life is also extremely varied and prolific!

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  Day 5 : Oldupai Gorge – Ngorongoro Crater

  Game drive en route to Oldupai Gorge, where you'll visit the famed Leakey museum. Explore the environs of Ngorongoro Crater, a tranquil misty world that invites comparison with the Garden of Eden and Noah's Ark. You'll also learn about the unique and magnificent culture of the Maasai warriors on a visit to a Maasai boma (homestead).

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  Day 6 : Ngorongoro Crater

  Spend the morning exploring the wild sanctuary of Ngorongoro Crater. In the afternoon we'll drive into the crater highlands where we'll take an easy hike to the summit of Olmoti volcano. We'll meet the local Maasai and visit with them in their traditional manyatta (village).

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  Days 7 - 8 : Tarangire National Park / Tarangire National Park

  Drive to Tarangire National Park along the path of the Tarangire River. You’ll see family groups of elephants (often in concentrations of hundreds), huge herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra, as well as predators like lion and leopard.

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  Day 9 : Arusha – Amboseli National Park

  Return to Arusha and transfer to the Kenya border. Continue to Amboseli National Park for a day of wildlife viewing. Amboseli is famous for its abundant wildlife and classic views of glacier-capped Kilimanjaro.

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  Day 10 : Amboseli National Park

  Spend the day exploring Amboseli, all the while watching for its abundant and varied wildlife, including uncommon species like the fringe-eared oryx and the gerenuk.

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  Days 11 - 13 : Masai Mara National Reserve

  Fly to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s portion of the Serengeti ecosystem and home to an incredible diversity and density of wildlife species (and legendary for leopard and cheetah sightings!).

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  Day 14 : Departure

  Fly to Nairobi and depart, or join one of our extensions in East Africa.

Download Detailed Itinerary

DATES: Best time to go: January - March, July, September - October, December Departures: Jul 15 - 28, 2012 Sep 8 - 21, 2012 Dec 18 - 31, 2012

PRICING: 2012 Prices $6,595 (8-14 members) $6,995 (4-7 members) $1,200  internal airfare $1,000 park fees $1,300 single supplement

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  Mountain Village Lodge

  Arusha, Tanzania

  Set in the midst of a coffee plantation on the shores of Lake Duluti and at the foot Mount Meru, this unique hotel boasts stunning vistas of nearby Mount Kilimanjaro. Thatched rondavels, flowered gardens and groves of coffee bushes make this lodge an idyllic haven.

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  Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

  Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

  Inspired by the circular rondavel dwellings and winding paths of a traditional Maasai village, the lodge features thatched, stone-built rooms set among groves of trees cooled by a sparkling stream and papyrus-fringed pond.

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  Ndutu Safari Lodge

  Tanzania

  Ndutu Safari Lodge is situated in the South-eastern part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Shaded by majestic acacia trees, each of the thirty four cottages, which are built of local materials, has a private verandah facing Lake Ndutu. The Lodge is surrounded by indigenous trees and shrubs which encourage a host of birds and mammals to come right to your front door.

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  Mara Serena Safari Lodge

  Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

  Located at the very center of the Mara Triangle, the Mara Serena offers an incredible view of the annual wildebeest migration, the 'greatest wildlife show on earth'. Each luxurious room has a private balcony with uninterrupted views, and the dining terrace overlooks a watering hole where big game comes to feed.

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  Amboseli Serena Lodge

  Amboseli National Park, Kenya

  This lodge stands against the magnificent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro in the heart of Amboseli National Park. Each suite is decorated in a Maasai manyatta theme, with hand-painted wall frescos, and offers spectacular views of the park.

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  Tarangire Safari Lodge

  Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

  Built high on a bluff overlooking the game-rich Tarangire River, the lodge offers you an uninterrupted view of the landscape and wildlife below. Luxury tents combine modern comforts with the authentic safari atmosphere.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• James Kivuyo

  James Adiel Kivuyo was born in Arusha, Tanzania. He is interested in the conservation of biodiversity in African wildlife, and has had previous experience as an interpreter. James speaks a number of languages from English and Masaai to the local dialect of Chagga and Kiswahili—the national language of Tanzania. He enjoys using his knowledge of other languages to communicate with people from a broad cultural spectrum, and loves sharing his experience with travelers from around the globe. He has also been helping travelers climb Kilimanjaro for more than a decade, with qualification to respond to emergencies on the mountain.

photo credits: ©Blaine Harrington / MTS