Visit the most famous wildlife parks in Kenya and Tanzania on the most comprehensive itinerary available—a perennial favorite!

East Africa is the perfect place to go big, and this comprehensive trip has it all: Serengeti, Tarangire, Amboseli, and Masai Mara. Let MTS, the African safari experts since 1971, guide you on a classic Tanzania and Kenya adventure. Witness the Great Migration, where millions of animals gallop and graze their way through the southern and eastern Serengeti plains. Explore Ngorongoro Crater, a verdant, tranquil world that’s part Garden of Eden and part Noah’s Ark. Surrounded by glorious scenery—grasslands, lush green crater walls, and the snow-topped peak of Kilimanjaro in the distance—you’ll encounter wildebeest and zebras, elephant herds, lions and leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and amazing birdlife. After each remarkable day in the bush, you’ll spend the night in comfortable lodges or tented camps. What more could you ask for? This sweeping survey of the great wildlife paradises of the region is ideal for your first time on safari—or your tenth!

Activities

Game viewing by 4-wheel-drive vehicle

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• 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, offering game viewing par excellence!
• Fascinating, authentic 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. 

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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 7 - 20, 2013 Aug 31, 2013 - Sep 13, 2013 Dec 16 - 29, 2013

PRICING: 2013 Prices $6,095 (4-14 members) $1,000  internal airfare $1,000 park fees (going up to $1,050 on all June -Dec 2013 trips) $1,600 single supplement (Requested OR Forced)

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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 Simba Lodge

  Kenya

  At the Mara Simba Lodge the ambiance is Masai, and the decor incorporates ethnic design elements from the local tribes. The grounds extend almost a kilometer along the Talek River with the beautiful riverbank left in its virgin state. Further back, lush landscaped gardens of indigenous plants and trees attract colorful birds and butterflies. The lodge overlooks a dramatic bend in the river and is designed to complement its natural setting.  The 84 guest rooms, arranged in clusters of 6, are outfitted in natural wood tones and stone banda. Guest rooms have ensuite showers and tiled bathrooms with natural granite. Each spacious room opens onto its own private veranda with uninterrupted views across the river.

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  Ol Tukai Lodge

  Amboseli National Park, Kenya

  Ol Tukai Lodge is a comfortable safari lodge situated in the heart of Amboseli National Park. The property overlooks Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Amboseli plain to the south and the eastern boundary is amongst the best spots in the world to watch elephant.There are 80 chalet-style twin rooms at Ol Tukai Lodge, all with an uninterrupted view of the wetlands or Kilimanjaro. The rooms are built from gum trees, local river stone and slate. All rooms are comfortably furnished and have private bathrooms and individual terraces.

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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.  This trip features two separate guides-- one on Tanzania and one for the Kenya portion.  The national parks of both Kenya and Tanzania have certain restrictions on using foreign guides, and we find that using 2 in-country guides, each experts in their particular region and culture, enhances your safari experience.  One of our often-assigned Tanzania guides is:

• 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