East African Game Parks Safari

You visit the top Game Parks in Kenya and Tanzania, incorporating several amazing game reserves over ten days makes for an exciting adventure.

This East African safari starts and ends in Nairobi with the first stop being Lake Nakuru, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to the lake. After Lake Nakuru National Park we make our way to the fresh water Lake Naivasha, home to many pods of hippopotami and a multitude of bird life. From Lake Naivasha we journey to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in search of Africa's Big 5. Next its Nairobi and then we camp about 40km outside of Arusha, before entering the Serengeti National Park, famous for its annual wildlife migration. Our final wilderness stop is the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Conservation area from where we return to Arusha and then Nairobi.

A Wildlife Feast!

DAY 1:  Nairobi to Nakuru – Kenya (L / D)

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Nairobi we head north, to the town of Nakuru.  This afternoon we head into Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to this soda lake’s edge.  The numbers vary depending on the water level, and when it’s low, the lake almost turns pink.  A truly spectacular sight!  

DAY 2: Nakuru to Lake Naivasha – Kenya (B / L /D)

Lake Nakuru National Park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen.  This morning we head off early on a game drive in search of these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way. In the afternoon, we head to Lake Naivasha where we make camp in peaceful surroundings beside the lake. 

Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake, home to many pods of hippopotami and a multitude of bird life, the most magnificent being the African Fish Eagle with his regal cry.  At 1880 m, this is the highest of the Rift Valley lakes.  

DAY 3: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara – Kenya (B / L /D)

We depart from Lake Naivasha and enter Masai land where these habitual pastoralists are often seen tending their cattle from the side of the road.  We pass through the town of Narok, before arriving at our campsite, Acacia Camp. Acacia Camp looks onto the Meguarra hills and the stream that meanders by on the bottom end forms a natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserve. 

DAY 4: Masai Mara Game Reserve – Kenya (B / L /D)

We spend the day driving through nature as it was intended to be - huge plains, rolling hills and an abundance of game matched nowhere else on earth.  We keep an eye open for the Big 5 - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard.  If travelling between July and October, we may get to witness the impressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle in their Annual Migration.  Sitting around the camp fire, watching the sun set is the perfect way to finish a day’s game viewing in this “Garden of Eden.”

DAY 5: Masai Mara to Nairobi – Kenya (B / L)

This morning we say our goodbyes to the spectacular Masai Mara and head back to the city for the night. Due to the lack of infrastructure in this region, the drive through the bordering Masai Land is somewhat slow, but offers a great opportunity to take in the surrounding scenery & villages. We head up the Rift Valley Escarpment which offers one of the rare opportunities to see this geographical phenomenon, before reaching Nairobi in the late afternoon.  

DAY 6: Nairobi to Arusha – Tanzania (L / D)

Today we head out of Kenya and after our border crossing, head via the Tanzanian town of Arusha to the Meserani Snake Park & campsite. Situated approximately 40km outside of Arusha, the Snake Park offers the opportunity to learn about the local Masai culture in the adjoining Masai Cultural Museum, as well as gaining knowledge of the many species of reptiles housed in the actual Snake Park. Tonight we prepare for our trip into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. 

DAY 7: Arusha to the Serengeti National Park – Tanzania (B / L / D)

This morning, we head off to the Serengeti National Park. Our drive takes us up the Rift Valley and through the Ngorongoro Conservation area, before we reach the famous plains of the Serengeti. This National Park is made famous by the annual migration, which consists of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle constantly migrating over the range of the Park, following the greener pastures that sprout after the rains. The unique climate in this region ensures the continuous movement of migrating animals remains unchanged. 

We explore the landscape in search of the resident game and tonight we camp in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. Without any fences surrounding our campsite we are truly in the midst of nature! 

DAY 8: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania (B / L / D)

Following our morning drive we cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park and head past the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ and into the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Tonight is spent at the campsite on the Crater rim which at aprox. 2000m above sea level can be quite chilly. 

DAY 9: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha – Tanzania (B / L / D)

This morning we depart early and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature ‘Garden of Eden’. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino. After our game drive, we head along the lush crater rim to the town of Karatu, where we meet our truck and head to our camp at Meserani. Our drive takes us down the Rift Valley Escarpment and via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park. We spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experiences.

DAY 10: Arusha to Nairobi – Kenya (B)

This morning we visit the Meserani Reptile Park and Masai Cultural Museum before heading north past Mount Meru (2nd highest mountain in Tanzania) to the border between Tanzania and Kenya. We arrive back in Nairobi in the late afternoon and part ways after having experienced a trip of a lifetime.