|
DAY 1: ARRIVE KENYA Upon arrival in Kenya, you will be met by our representative and transferred by road to the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi. DAY 2: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Wilson Airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After clearing immigration and customs, you will continue to the flight to Manyara Airstrip. You will be met by a representative from the lodge and transferred to the Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Lake Manyara National Park has abundant wildlife, including tree-climbing lions. The extraordinary birdlife has made the park world-renowned among ornithologists, who come to view the masses of pink flamingos and great birds of prey. Safari activities include morning and afternoon game viewing drives in open vehicle, incredible bird watching and afternoon sundowners. (B,L,D) DAY 3: LAKE MANYARANATIONAL PARK Spend today exploring the wildlife haven around Lake Manyara. Set in the heart of the Great Rift Valley and surrounded by steep rock escarpments, the lake is a key stop for myriad migrating and permanent resident birds, including vultures, owls, and a dazzling abundance of water birds, most notably the pink flamingoes that often descend upon the waters in their thousands. Egrets, storks and more can also be spotted here. The park is famed for its tree-climbing lions and population of elephants. Other mammals that live here include buffalo, zebra, warthog, hippo, and many more. Olive baboons are at their most populous in Lake Manyara. The hot springs near the camp are heated in deep fissures in the Rift Valley rocks. (B,L,D) DAY 4: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK – SERENGETINATIONAL PARK After breakfast, take a game-drive transfer to the Manyara Airstrip for the flight to Grumeti or Klein’s Airstrip. Upon arrival, you will be met and brought to Grumeti River Camp. An afternoon game drive will introduce you to this extraordinary, primordial realm. The Grumeti River Camp is a luxury tent camp with en-suite facilities situated along the "Western Corridor" of the Serengeti. The camp’s riverfront location is directly in the path of the Great Migration. No other accommodation in the area offers such close-up views of the awesome spectacle of wildebeest plunging through the water and hippos lazily drifting amid the lilies. Ten thatch-roofed tents are fitted with romantic textiles and fine furnishings. Each evening, a banquet is served under the stars; this is one of Africa's finest game viewing lodges. (B,L,D) DAY 5: SERENGETINATIONAL PARK Spend a full day exploring this incredible land. Acacia woodlands, grassy plains and riverine forest dominate the landscape. Supporting lush riverine forest, the Grumeti River provides a sharp contrast to the surrounding plains. The river begins in the eastern Serengeti and heads west, finally spilling into the great expanse of Lake Victoria. The forest lining the banks is most dense in this corridor. The migration passes by during the months of May to July every year. Animals in the Grumeti area include lion, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, baboon, cheetah and Maasai giraffe. The pan on the edge of the camp is home to pods of grunting hippo, which float lazily on the surface by day and after dark move onto the grassy plains to feed. Some of the largest hippos in the world are found in these waters. The area also boasts one of the highest densities of cheetah in Africa, and is also renowned for its superb bird watching. (B,L,D) DAY 6: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – NGORONGORO CRATER After breakfast and a morning game drive, transfer to the airstrip for a flight to Manyara Airstrip. You will be met and assisted to the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Situated on the rim of the world's greatest caldera, this lodge combines one of Africa's greatest wildlife experiences with the epitome of style and luxury. Your private suite is a realm of chandeliers, antiques, raw silk curtains, and dramatic African art. After a day of viewing the wildlife spectacle of the crater, return to a roaring fire that has been prepared by your private butler. Bathe amid rose petals while sipping champagne. A sojourn here is one of the world's most sublime experiences, to be savored by a fortunate few. (B,L,D) DAY 7: NGORONGORO CRATER The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a World Heritage Site, seething with migratory animals during the wet season (November to May). The ancient caldera of the once-volcanic Ngorongoro shelters arguably the most beautiful wildlife haven on earth. The Ngorongoro Crater is nearly 3 million years old. This extraordinary realm of peaks, craters, valleys and lakes is the permanent home of an estimated 30,000 animals, with an equally impressive population of zebra and wildebeest. Others include lion, elephant, rhino, hippo, and the many small herbivores that are the primary prey of the larger carnivores. There is a small but growing population of black rhino living on the crater floor. Four hundred species of birds have been spotted in the conservation area, including over 100 species that are not found in the Serengeti. Guided walks follow the crater rim, providing breathtaking views.* The Olduvai Gorge itself is extraordinary: it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa, and is known as the ‘cradle of mankind’. The Leakey family made some of their most important archaeological discoveries here, with some remains of early humans dating back 3.6 million years. Other safari activities include visits to Shifting Sands and a traditional Maasai manyatta (home). (B,L,D).*Please note that recent conservation restrictions limit crater visits to a half-day. DAY 8: NGORONGORO CRATER – NAIROBI After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Clear customs and immigration and continue on the flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, return to the Norfolk Hotel for an overnight stay. Tonight you will treated to dinner at Carnivore Restaurant, an open-air restaurant featuring every type of meat imaginable. Four types of wild game (and assorted other meats) are roasted over a giant charcoal pit on traditional Maasai swords. (B,D) DAY 9: NAIROBI – NORTH ISLAND, SEYCHELLES Transfer to the airport for your flight from Nairobi to Mahé Island Airport in the Seychelles.* Upon arrival, transfer by helicopter to North Island, the most luxurious resorts in the Seychelles. You will spend four nights here in a villa with private pool, sala, and en-suite bathroom. (B,L,D)*Please note that the flights to and from the Seychelles are not included in the cost. DAYS 10 – 12: NORTH ISLAND North Island was started as a "Noah's Ark" conservation project – an attempt to protect the native plant and animal inhabitants by carefully monitoring and restricting the development of this small island. Human guests spend time on the island to enjoy the pristine beauty and unsullied landscape – and five-star luxury accommodations. Indeed, the property has the attitude of a conscientious eco-project but offers the amenities of a deluxe lodge. Each villa is handcrafted by locals using wood, stone, and thatch, and is decorated with sumptuous fabrics and furnishings. Villas are tucked discreetly into the beach or forest, so that a sense of privacy and splendid isolation is maintained. Guests can scuba dive, snorkel, take a trip to Silhouette Island, ride a bicycle, or just soak up the sun at one of the four beaches. There is no set menu for food on North Island: the chef speaks to guests personally about their culinary tastes and aversions, and develops a menu tailored to the individual – which invariably features the freshest food complemented by an impressive collection of fine wines. (B,L,D) DAY 13: DEPART NORTH ISLAND Transfer by helicopter to Mahé Airport for your departure flight. (B) |