Day 01: Arrival Nairobi (KENYA)

Our exciting World Heritage Safari of Kenya and Tanzania starts at Nairobi as we are welcomed at the airport and transferred to our hotel.

Overnight: Nairobi Serena Hotel (1 night)

Day 02: Nairobi/Aberdare Highlands

We start with a tour of Nairobi to include the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Here we interact with these huge and yet gentle humanistic, animals. Then we visit the Giraffe centre followed by the Karen Blixen Museum former home of the famous Danish author of, Out of Africa. Drive alongside rich Kikuyu farmlands of pineapple and coffee plantations and head toward the majestic Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak. Villagers here are known for their excellence in crafts and weaving and we get the opportunity of visiting the craft center villas, the Spinners & Weavers, a women's self-help project at Nanyuki. They produce beautiful African designs on cardigans, shawls, carpets, throws, pullovers, scarves and bedcovers. Arrive at the renowned The Ark. The area is known for its artistic people who produce amongst the best crafts in Kenya. Afternoon we visit the local handicraft centre and the local villages followed by an optional trek at the foot of the 17,058 feet – Mt Kenya a dormant volcano with a glistening cap of ice and snow.

Overnight: The Ark (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 03: Aberdare & Mount Kenya

Our lodge resembles Noah's Ark and has been designed with decks from where balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for game viewing. The Arks Lodge are built above the ground near floodlit waterholes with saltlicks allowing us to observe the animals at close range, as they come out to drink at night. View game in the privacy of your balcony! The area offers lots of optional activities including nature walk, day excursion to Olpejeta Conservancy to see chimps, the animal orphanage at Mount Kenya Safari Club, visit to the grave of Baden Powell – founder of the Boy Scouts Movement. (B, L, D)

Day 04: Aberdare/Lake Nakuru

Scenic drive to the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley*and take a game safari at Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the flamingos and other birds that feed in the alkaline water. The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans. The property features sizeable mammal populations, including black rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs and is valuable for the study of ecological processes of major importance. Afternoon is another exciting game drive. Lake Nakuru is one of the soda lakes of the Great Rift Valley and is at a elevation of 1754 meters above sea level. Famous mainly as home to over 400 birds.

Overnight: Sarova lion Hill Lodge, Lake Nakuru (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 05: Lake Nakuru/Masai Mara

Embark on yet another game drive before traversing the Great Rift Valley to Masai Mara National Reserve, where we enjoy an exciting game safari before checking into our deluxe and ideally located lodge. The Mara offers wildlife in variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe; over 450 species of animals have been recorded here. In the afternoon, enjoy an enthralling game viewing drive spotting Lions, Rhinos, Hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffe, Wildebeests, Zebras, Buffaloes, Warthogs, Hyenas, Jackals, and a variety of antelopes.

Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 06: Masai Mara

Optional an early morning incredible balloon safari over the plains of the Masai Mara. This will be followed by a lavish champagne breakfast. Full day game game drives in this spectacular game reserve with superb photographic opportunities. Masai Mara is known for the abundance in wildlife. The Mara is also part of the great wildebeest migration route and has excellent game viewing year round. Today we have unique cultural insight into the lives of the Masai as we visit a Masai Village. Here we will see how they interact with modern society and the way they use local plants in ceremonial and medicinal ways. Masai Mara is the best place to enjoy a balloon safari. An exciting early morning optional balloon safari with a lavish champagne breakfast at the Mara game park. (B, L, D)

Day 07: Masai Mara/Serengeti (TANZANIA)

Crossing the Isebania Border into Tanzania we explore the incredible Serengeti National Park* - probably the most awesome game park in the world.  The vast Serengeti plains comprise 1.5 million hectares and are home to the largest herds of grazing animals in the world. The carnivores that prey on them provide a wildlife spectacle, second to none. On the grasslands are eland, lesser kudu, roan antelope, oribi, Grant's gazelle, hartebeest, steenbock, topi and oryx, also buffalo. In the woodlands are grimmia, impala and Kirk's dikdik. In the swamps are reedbuck and waterbuck. Among the kopjes are klipspringers, as well as giraffe and olive baboon; and on the mountains, mountain reedbuck. Other characteristic of larger mammals includes leopard, cheetah, caracal, African elephant, black rhinoceros, hippopotamus and giraffe. Smaller mammals include numerous species of bat, bushbaby, vervet monkey, patas monkey, black and white colobus monkey and olive baboon, aardvark, ground pangolin, cape hare, porcupine, three species of hyrax and many other rodents, bat-eared fox, two species of otter, ratel, zorilla, common genet, large spotted genet, African civet, seven species of mongoose, aardwolf, serval, golden cat, African wildcat and bush pigs.  We donot loose any time and start with a game drive before checking into our lodge.

Overnight: Serengeti Serena Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 08: Serengeti

A full day of game drive at the majestic Serengeti home to over 2 million wildebeests including the Big Five. Serengeti is home to the largest concentration of animals during the Great Migration. Here the great migrating herds are continuously moving through the entire ecosystem and the sights are most impressive when the animals travel en masse from the central plains to the permanent water holes on the western side of the park. The Serengeti ecosystem contains much more than these dominant species. Wildebeest in enormous numbers dominates the annual migration; also by Burchell's zebra, Thomson's gazelle, with some eland and topi, each harvesting the grass most suited to it. The herds are followed by prides of lion numbering up to 3,000 individuals, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. (B, L, D)

Day 09: Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater

Another scenic rural African drive to the Olduvai Gorge site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of man’s earliest known ancestral remains.  Continue to your lodge situated on the rim of the Ngorongoro crater. The crater covers over 250 square kilometres (over 100 square miles) of land and is home to the rare black rhino, prides of lion, elephant, cheetah and great herds of buffalo, antelope and wildebeest. This afternoon we descend 600m (over 2000 feet) to the floor of the crater for a half-day crater tour. At our lodge we explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkey and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open savannah where lions hunt for food.

Overnight:Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater/Lake Manyara

Another cultural experience at the Mto wa Mbu village where in a population of 18,000 people only there are people from over 120 tribes. The main tribe is the Maasais and have lunch at a local restaurant. At the enchanting Lake Manyara we start with a game drive at the park famous for its prolific bird-life and other inhabitants such as hippos, monkeys, tree climbing lions.

Overnigh: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Lake Manyara

Full day game viewing at the enchanting Lake Manyara. The park is famous for its prolific bird life and other inhabitants like the hippos, monkeys, tree climbing lions, etc. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Lake Manyara/Moshi/Kilimanjaro

Continue to Moshi - foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Here we visit the village of Olpopongi where he have a wonderful encounter with the Tanzanian Masai and see their village life. Visit the museum, have a traditional lunch, do a walking safari with a Masai, learn Masai hunting skills and also get inside information of their natural medicine. Evening we join a ceremony with the Masai elders.

Overnight: Olpopongi Cultural Village, Kilimanjaro (B, L, D)

Day 13: Kilimanjaro/Zanzibar (flight)

Enjoy our last game safari at Mt Kilimanjaro – what better place before taking a short flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar we are met and transferred to our hotel. Zanzibar invokes so many different images for so many different people, history, culture, romance. This ancient island was once ruled by the sultans of Oman who later made Zanzibar as their capital. Later the island became a British Protectorate till Independence in 1964.

Overnight:Zanzibar Serena Inn (2 nights) (B, L)

Day 14: Zanzibar

We explore the Stone Town of Zanzibar*, a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. It retains its urban fabric and townscape virtually intact and contains many fine buildings that reflect its particular culture, which has brought together and homogenized disparate elements of the cultures of Africa, the Arab region, India, and Europe over more than a millennium. Here we visit the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum, Dr. Livingstone's House, the Arab Fort and the bustling bazaar, as we stroll through Zanzibar's winding streets and alleyways. Remainder of the day is free for personal activities. (B)

Day 15: Zanzibar/Departure or continue (optional extension to Mombasa, KENYA)

Our 15 days exciting World Heritage Safari of Kenya-Tanzania comes to an end as we are transferred to the airport for our flight back home. For those taking the full 18 days safari we take a flight from Zanzibar to Mombasa where we are welcomed and transferred to our hotel. Mombasa and Lamu on the Kenyan coast complete the Swahili cultural experience. Afternoon enjoy free time at the silver sanded Bamburi beach at Mombasa.

Overnight: Serena Beach Hotel, Mombasa (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 16: Mombasa

We explore the Old Town and harbour, famous for its spices, Arab architecture, narrow winding streets and busy markets. We visit Fort Jesus*, built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to protect the port of Mombasa. It is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this type of construction. The Fort's layout and form reflected the Renaissance ideal that perfect proportions and geometric harmony are to be found in the human body. The property covers an area of 2.36 hectares and includes the fort's moat and immediate surroundings. Balance of the day is free. (B, D)

Day 17: Mombasa/Lamu (flight)

Today we take a flight to the most interesting of all – Lamu. Explore the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa as we wander through the Old Town of Lamu*. Built in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is characterized by the simplicity of structural forms enriched by such features as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures. Lamu is almost a one street town, most transportation is on donkey back or on foot and the people are extremely friendly. (B)

Day 18: Lamu/Nairobi

Day free to enjoy Lamu till we walk over to the airfield for our departure flight to Nairobi thus ending our incredible World Heritage Safari of Kenya and Tanzania. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

We accept payments in US$, CA$ as well as in other convertible currencies like EUR, AUD and GBP. Tour prices have been costed in US$. CA$ price shown below is an indicative amount reached at by using the conversion rate at the time of web posting and will be applicable if there is no change in the conversion rate. Should the currency conversion rate change, the US$ pricing will prevail. Bestway Tours & Safaris offers a conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please click here

Notes

Inclusions

Optional 4-day Extension Cost Includes: - Hotels as mentioned or similar on Twin Sharing basis - 05 Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast) - All sightseeing and transfers as per the itinerary - Services of local English speaking guides - Visit to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites Optional 4-day Extension Cost Not Included: - Any airfares (Zanzibar/Mombasa/Nairobi/Lamu/Nairobi currently at US$ 1200) - Insurance/visas - Tips/gratuities

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 06 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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