09 Days Kenya and Tanzania Budget Safari
Highlights
- Explore Nairobi's unique urban park
- Visit the David Shedrick Elephant Orphanage
- Experience Maasai culture in Loita Hills
- Go on a full-day Masai Mara safari
- Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater
Introduction
Discover the best of Kenya and Tanzania Budget Camping Safari on this 9-day journey beginning in Nairobi, Kenya. Travel to Africa's most famous Safari destinations including the Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, where you'll take multiple game drives in search of the Big Five animals and switch from Africa's animals to people as you spend time with the Maasai people and learn about both their cultural traditions and more about way of life from an elder.
Day 1 Arrive Nairobi
Welcome to Nairobi, the world's only major city containing an urban national park. You will be picked on arrival at an appropriate time and transferred to the hotel booked on bed and breakfast
Start point
Hotels within Nairobi, Nairobi Central, Nairobi, Kenya
07:30 - 08:00
Day 2 Nairobi Excursion
This morning you'll take part in a unique experience of Nairobi suburbs. During this tour you’ll visit the David Shedrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe centre and Karen Blixen museum. Dinner at the Carnivore restaurant.
Day 3 Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast in your hotel you will depart from Nairobi to the famous Masai Mara, a journey of approximately six or seven hours. This is one of the best game reserves in all of Africa and on the way you'll stop in Loita Hills, a remote region that's home to the traditional Maasai people. This is one of the key places where the Maasai people still practice their traditional way of life, with little influence from the western world. Make a stop at Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. You’ll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors by way of traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts and enjoy a fascinating talk, full of insights into this remarkable and ancient culture. Take a walk to the community village which was founded for widows who had lost their cows due to drought, and can never remarry. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project’. Here the women are engaged in making handicrafts and sewing eco-friendly handbags, washable sanitary pads, and backpacks to sell to visiting travellers and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home, and their cattle enclosures. Continue to the outskirts of the Masai Mara, where your permanent tented camp can be found.
Day 4 Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast you will proceed for a full day game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve. This is the quintessential African experience and with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world's most impressive animals, one you won't soon forget. Keep your eyes peeled for wildebeest, lions, leopards, antelope and giraffes, to name but a few. You will enjoy picnic lunches at the Mara River returning back to the camp for a dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park
Prepare for a long travel day as you head towards the border separating Kenya and Tanzania, then on to the Serengeti National Park (approximately six hours) and enjoy a picnic lunch at the entrance to the famous expanse. Continue to your campsite on your first Serengeti game drive, keeping an eye out for the hoofed animals and predators that call this place home. Tonight you'll have a true African safari experience, camping in an unfenced site within the national park, right in the heart of the animal action. Your leader will give you a full safety briefing once you arrive.
Day 6 Serengeti National Park
Wake to another glorious day in the Serengeti. Start the day with an early morning game drive to search for animals when they're at their most active, then return to the campsite for a relaxed brunch. Spend the hottest part of the day relaxing in camp – don't stress, the animals will be doing the same – then head off again in the afternoon for another drive through the park. Return to the campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 Serengeti to Ngorongoro conservation area
Enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti as you exit the park this morning. After lunch, you'll drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Ngorongoro is a World Heritage site, the highlight of which is the Ngorongoro Crater, a gigantic volcanic caldera that you'll visit tomorrow in search of the Big Five.Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater / Arusha
This morning you'll descend to the Ngoro Ngoro’s crater floor for a 4WD excursion. If all goes to plan, you'll see some or maybe even all of the Big Five animals that reside here and better yet, the vehicle have an open roof so you can really feel like a part of the action. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles and as a result it's easier to watch them from up close. Take in the spectacular views from the rim of the crater as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lion, zebra, cheetah, buffalo, gazelle and the endangered black rhino, as well as the colorfully dressed Maasai people who often water their cattle at the lake here. In the afternoon, you'll drive to Arusha and maybe enjoy an optional group dinner to celebrate this trip and say farewell to your new friends.
Day 9 Arusha / Nairobi
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today as you board a scheduled shuttle bus from arusha to Nairobi. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).
End point
Hotels within Nairobi, Nairobi Central, Nairobi, Kenya
16:00 - 17:00
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
Not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services