Upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, meet your safari representative for a quick safari briefing before transferring to your hotel for the evening. Located in Nairobi's exclusive Karen Suburb, the Karen Residence offers a comfortable first-night stay in Kenya. If you have an appetite, head down to the Club Restaurant for dinner (at your own cost) before settling in to rest for the evening.

Check out after breakfast and meet your driver guide who transfer you for excursions in the surrounding Karen Suburbs. Spend about an hour on your first stop at Giraffe Centre.

Visitors can hand-feed these gentle giants at eye level from a raised platform while watching the warthogs below snuffle around looking for titbits. After that, drive a short distance to Daphne Sheldricks' Elephant Orphanage, where you can see the many baby elephants rescued from dangerous situations in Kenya's various national parks, as well as the calves being fed and playing with the staff.

Then visit the Karen Blixen Museum and step back in time to see the famous Karen Blixen's house as it was when she lived in Kenya. The museum is located in an area that was once part of Karen Blixen's vast coffee estate, "bogani," and was Karen's home from 1917 to 1931. The Danish community of Kenya has restored the houses and grounds that were made famous by the film "Out of Africa." Visitors get a glimpse of typical colonial life in Kenya at the turn of the twentieth century.

Enjoy lunch at the lovely Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens before continuing to the next part of your adventure, which takes you from Nairobi's hustle and bustle to Lake Nakuru.

Spend the entire day at Lake Nakuru. Enjoy the morning and afternoon game drive.

Today you make your way to the Masai Mara National Reserve, arriving in time for lunch and some relaxation at camp. As the temperatures of the late afternoon drop you step back into your safari vehicles, setting out in search of the Masai Mara's famous wildlife. The Masai Mara is one of the continent's greatest wildlife reserves and game viewing is spectacular year-round; spot a pride of lions stalking prey, observe the intriguing social structure of an elephant herd, or watch a pod of hippos as it wallows in the watering hole. If visiting in July, you may have the opportunity to witness one of the greatest of nature's wonders: the great wildebeest migration and dramatic river crossings of over two million animals. An optional visit to a traditional Masai village or hot air balloon ride can be arranged at an additional cost, please inquire with your Trip Planner. 

Enjoy dinner back at the camp (Fig Tree Camp or similar).

After breakfast, explore the Mara plains in search of the big five and other plains game or engage in one of the Maasai Mara's optional activities. Animals are most active in the early morning hours before the heat of the day sets in, making this one of the finest times to observe them. Head out into the reserve for a chance to see more species on your "must-see" list after a mid-morning relaxation and lunch. Ask your tour guide to show you the regular river crossing routes when you visit the Mara River.

Enjoy the morning and afternoon game drive.

After breakfast, check out of Masai Mara Camp and return to Nairobi with your packed lunch, and from here board the flight to JRO. Upon arrival, you'll be met and transferred to Mount Meru Game Lodge, enjoying dinner and restful sleep after a long day of travel. Tanzania awaits!

Rise early to enjoy views of Mount Meru before heading down for a delicious breakfast. Meet your guide and set out for Tarangire National Park, a beautiful park famous for its massive herds of elephants and unique baobab trees. The elephants in Tarangire are said to reach as many as 500, and during dry the season this park becomes a haven for migratory species clustering around the various watering holes.

As the afternoon light begins to fade, you make your way out of the park and to your next safari camp in the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. Upon arrival, you are assisted with check-in and shown to your tent.

After breakfast and check out, head to the Serengeti with a packed lunch. Upon arrival at the park, proceed with a game drive towards your camp. As the afternoon comes to an end, make your way towards your camp. Upon arrival, you are assisted with check-in and shown your tent.

Nestled in the heart of Tanzania, the Central Serengeti boasts the renowned Seronera Valley, offering exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities. This picturesque landscape features vast savannah plains dotted with granite outcrops and acacia woodlands, crisscrossed by rivers and streams. As part of the great wildebeest and zebra migration, the Central Serengeti provides an ideal habitat for diverse wildlife, including giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, servals, and more. Popular activities in this area include game viewing, cultural tours, horseback safaris, and hot air ballooning over the breathtaking terrain.

After breakfast, meet your guide and enjoy a full day of game drives in Serengeti National Park. Afterward, enjoy quiet evenings by the campfire and the comfort of spending a night in the African bush—an extraordinary adventure for nature enthusiasts.

Check out after breakfast this morning, setting out toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop along the way at the Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. Here you learn why this gorge is referred to as the "Cradle of Mankind", and the vital role this area played in the African origin story of humankind. After this informative lecture and tour you proceed onward to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you drive through the Crater Rim to view - weather permitting - the beautiful Crater.

Settle in at your new lodge for the evening, enjoying dinner and the lush grounds of Karatu Area.

Rise early to maximize your day in the Ngorongoro Crater. This deep, volcanic crater is the largest un-flooded and unbroken caldera in the world, measuring about 12 miles across and 1,970 feet deep for a total area of 116 square miles. The crater's high walls serve as a natural enclosure for the abundance of wildlife existing and thriving within the caldera, offering an exceptional chance to view the Big Five. Return to your lodge in time to freshen up and enjoy one final dinner in Tanzania.

Check out after breakfast and drive to Lake Manyara National Park, your final stop in your exploration of East Africa. Lake Manyara is considerably smaller than Tanzania's other national parks, but this often-overlooked gem was described by Ernest Hemingway as "the loveliest place I have ever seen". Here you can view beautiful resident flamingos, search for lions roaming the park, and the troops of baboons making their way through the rainforest. The park also boasts large herds of buffalo and zebra. 

At a time convenient to your onward plans, make your way back to Arusha for lunch. Fly home or continue your trip to the island paradise of Zanzibar!

Depending on your onward travel plans, transfer to either Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport (additional supplement of $150 per vehicle for the transfer to JRO).