Tanzania & Kenya Overland Odyssey

Upon arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Nairobi Safari Club, or similar, for your overnight. 

You will leave in the morning and head across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, the longest rift in the crust of the earth, to Masai Mara. Spend two full days in this natural paradise among zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, antelope and gazelle. You will encounter prides of lions resting in the shade of acacia trees or lying low in the tall grass, waiting for their next meal. There is a good chance of spotting cheetah and if you are lucky, the shy leopard. Then it’s lunch, dinner and an overnight stay at the Mara Sopa Lodge, or similar, for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will go game viewing before breakfast and again in the afternoon, with lunch and a siesta at the lodge. In the evening, it is time for a well-deserved shower and a refreshing drink before dinner. Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, continue to Lake Nakuru lodge, which is situated on the shores of Lake Nakuru, one of the many beautiful Rift Valley Lakes.  It is also home to thousands of flamingos and other bird and animal life. Lunch at the Lake Nakuru lodge. You will enjoy another game drive in the afternoon. Drive to Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, or similar, for your dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leave the lodge after an early breakfast and head back to Nairobi.  Continue on to Amboseli National Park, which is beautifully situated at the foot of snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa’s highest mountain. Arrive in time for lunch at the Amboseli Sopa Lodge, or similar.  After lunch, drive to the park for an afternoon game drive. The snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, rising above a saucer of clouds, dominates every aspect of Amboseli and forms a backdrop to an impressive display of  wildlife with its population of lion, elephants, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, hippos and other savannah game.  It is truly a photographer’s paradise. Return to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge, or similar, for your dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart with game viewing en-route to Tanzania, arriving at Namanga border. After customs, you will be met and assisted by your Tanzanian guide and then driven to Arusha, a 120 km and approximately 2 hour drive, arriving for lunch at the Arusha Hotel. After lunch, you will depart for Tarangire National Park, which is 120 km and approximately 2 hours to the gate and approximately 155 km to the lodge from Arusha. You will have the rest of the afternoon free for game viewing. Tarangire National Park is the classic Africa of lore with shimmering acacia stands, old baobab trees, distant Masai warriors and herds of elephants. In the dry-season of July-October, Tarangire National Park surpasses the Serengeti in terms of animal concentration, as big herds begin to congregate around the permanent water of Tarangire River. It is not uncommon to see herds of 50+ elephant, as well as many other mammal species, including the rare Kudu and Oryx. The park is also noted for its prolific birdlife and the occasional sighting of cheetah. In the afternoon, you will take a game drive, perhaps along the Tarangire River, to watch the thirsty herds coming to water before sundown. Dinner and overnight at the Tarangire Sopa Lodge, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will drive to the Serengeti through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands.  This drive is approximately 250 km to central Serengeti and another 30 km to the Serengeti Sopa Lodge, taking approximately 6-7 hours, with game drives and a picnic lunch along the way. You will stop at Olduvai Gorge to visit the site where Mary and Louis Leakey first discovered the remains of Zinjanthropus Bosei, a distant ancestor of man believed to be 1.8 million years old, Australopithecus Bosei, the ‘Nutcracker Man,’ a species that became extinct about 1 million years ago, and fossilized foot prints that date back 3.6 million years. From here, the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti unfurl before you as you game drive through the park to arrive at the lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge, or similar, for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day game of game viewing in the park. The Serengeti National Park is famously known for its wide range of wildlife and birds. The name Serengeti derives from the Masai word Siringiti, meaning endless plains. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will depart to Ngorongoro Crater, which is 175 km and approximately 3 hours away.  After having your packed lunch, you will descend down the 2000-ft walls of the Crater, a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals, for a game drive. Here, you have a very real chance of spotting the big five: lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, buffalo and leopard, plus countless other African animal species. Return to the lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight perched along the crater’s rim at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy another day in the Ngorongoro Crater. A picnic lunch will give you time to explore the details of this fascinating wildlife amphitheater. This caldera, formed from a sunken volcano, hosts a unique cross-section of eco-systems, from soda lake to savannah, and is home to almost every major species of African mammal. Your presence does not threaten the wildlife, creating an exhilarating proximity to the game that you rarely encounter elsewhere. Return to the lodge just before dusk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive back to Arusha which is approximately 211 km and 2.5 hours from Ngorongoro Sopa lodge. Arrive at the airport by 11:30 a.m. for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, you will be met and transferred to your hotel situated in the old stone town. The afternoon is at your leisure; you can explore the Old Stone Town on your own or relax at the hotel. Overnight at the Tembo House Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, enjoy a city and spice tour. You will be transferred to the East Coast after your tour. Dinner and overnight at Bluebay Beach Resort, which is situated on the white, sandy beaches of the east coast area known as Kiwengwa. For those who just want to relax, the beach is an ideal place. For the more energetic guest, Blue Bay Resort offers a flood lit tennis court, a fitness center, and a fully equipped diving center, as well as windsurfing, sailing and other water sports.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

You will have two free days to enjoy the East Coast. There are a number of activities that can be booked through the hotel front desk, or you can simply relax along the beautiful beaches. Dinners and overnights at Bluebay Beach Resort.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast