Classic East Africa

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. When you arrive at the airport today, you’ll be met by a representative and taken to your hotel. Your adventure then begins in Nairobi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or join a local guide on an Intrepid day tour who'll not only show you the sights but also lead you to the perfect lunch spot to try some local cuisine.

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This morning, drive to the famous Maasai Mara National Park – with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and the world's most iconic animals living within its boundaries, this is the quintessential African experience. When you arrive, you can choose to explore this diverse environment on an optional afternoon 4WD safari with expert local guides, looking out for the abundance of wildlife that call this park home.

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This morning, you have the option to take part in a hot air balloon ride and bush breakfast, giving you a rare chance to see the Maasai Mara from a different perspective, above the open plains at sunrise. Today, you’ll venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD safari. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a multitude of wildlife – look out for lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hippos.

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Today, you’ll drive to your lodge on Lake Elementaita, which sits between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley. This afternoon, you’ll head to Lake Naivasha – one of the few freshwater lakes in the valley, Naivasha has floating islands of papyrus reeds and a border of flat-topped acacias. It's also home to a healthy population of hippos, giraffes, zebras, and buffalos, which graze along the shores, and a huge variety of birds. Here, you’ll go on a boat safari – see how many kinds of birds you can spot while floating along the still waters!

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Board your private vehicle bound for Amboseli National Park. On the way, visit the Patinaai Osim project – supported by The Intrepid Foundation, this project supports Indigenous Maasai women in creating sustainable livelihoods and rising above poverty and inequality. Learn how this Community Care Organisation is committed to changing the narrative of girls and women in Indigenous communities and how they work to protect their fundamental human rights. The project also provides access to information and safe spaces for young girls.

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Enjoy a free day to relax and take in the beauty of your safari lodge and make use of the facilities. You may want to treat yourself to a leisurely morning sleep-in and spend the day unwinding by the outdoor pool. If relaxing isn't your style, maybe rise extra early this morning for a special optional activity – a safari in a hot air balloon! If you're lucky to visit on a clear day, you'll be treated to amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro as the sun rises over the park. You could also take an optional guided nature walk or join a range of optional 4WD safaris available throughout the day. Amboseli National Park is home to the largest population of African elephants in Kenya, many of which have impressively long tusks, known as ‘big tuskers’. Tusker elephants are increasingly rare in Africa due to poaching, but Amboseli is one of the few places where they can still be seen. You may even spot a ‘super tusker’ - a male bull elephant with tusks weighing over 45 kg (100 lbs) each, usually so long they scrape the ground!

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‘Home of the African Elephant’ and crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya's most picturesque parks, and today you will spend the morning and afternoon on safari exploring, with a break in between to enjoy lunch. With your expert guides, you’ll get a deep dive into the wildlife of Kenya's thriving natural world. Spot herds of elephants as you look out for the other wildlife that call this park home, including lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and leopards. Don’t forget your camera, if you're lucky enough to visit on a clear day, the views of wildlife backdropped by Kili are nothing short of epic!

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Cross the border into Tanzania and make your way to Arusha. Here, join the Mamas (skilled local cooks) for a hands-on cooking experience. Learn to prepare a traditional Tanzanian meal, pick up a few simple Swahili phrases and hear about local life as you cook together. Then, sit down to enjoy the meal you've created before continuing to your lodge. Upon arrival, make good use of the swimming pool and relax.

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This morning, head to Arusha National Park to hike in the foothills of Mount Meru – Tanzania’s second highest peak and a colossal dormant volcano sitting at an altitude of 4566 m (15,000 ft). When you arrive, you’ll head to Kitoto viewpoint to start your day hike. A perfect spot for wildlife spotting and exploring the diverse landscape, this hike offers the chance to experience the lower slopes of Tanzania’s mountains. From your starting point, trek through the Afromontane Forest and into the crater, looking out for warthogs, giraffes and zebras along the way. As you gain altitude, you’ll be surrounded by dense forest – the prime habitat for Kilimanjaro colobus monkeys and forest duiker (a pint-sized antelope). Follow the trail up to Meru Falls, the ideal spot to enjoy a picnic lunch before you head back down the slopes. After finishing your hike, head to Rhotia and enjoy a free evening.

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Depart for the wide-open plains of the Serengeti today. The never-ending land is home to thousands of Africa's most iconic animals. The Serengeti landscapes see a huge contrast of colours during the year – green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season. This region gets its name from the local Maasai word ‘siringet’, meaning the place where the land moves on forever. After entering the park gates, enjoy an en-route game drive to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch, you’ll head back out for an afternoon 4WD safari to spot the local wildlife. Tonight, listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift to sleep.

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This morning, you’ll head out for a full-day 4WD safari through the wilds of the Serengeti. You might also opt to take a balloon safari over the park this morning. If you have booked this activity, you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, take off and glide through the dawn sky, sometimes at tree height, getting some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you'll ascend higher, giving you an overview of the vastness of the plains. After landing, celebrate with a glass of champagne before tucking into a special bush breakfast.

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Say goodbye to Serengeti National Park today and soak up the final views of this incredible spot, before entering the Ngorongoro Conservation area. When you arrive at the crater, take in the spectacular views from the crater's rim as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles, and as a result, it's easier to watch them up close. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffalo, gazelles and the endangered black rhino. Later, you have the option to head to the village of Mto wa Mbu for a guided tour and dinner. Here, you can acquaint yourself with the village and get a snapshot of small-town African life.

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Set off early this morning to begin your final journey of the trip. Your first stop will be at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you'll have the option to end your trip. If it’s more convenient for you, there’s the option to travel back to Nairobi. You’ll be dropped at a centrally located hotel, however, no accommodation will be provided tonight. If you’d like to extend your stay in Nairobi, please speak to your booking agent ahead of time.