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East African Wildlife Safari

Optional Add ons - Gorrilla trek in Rwanda / Chimpanzee trek in Tanzania.

Overview

Our classic East African Safari will take you to Kenya and Tanzania's most celebrated game parks, the very places where the concept of wildlife safaris originated in the 1890's. It will include the Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Nakuru National Parks in Kenya, and the Serengeti / Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Lake Tarangire, and Arusha National Parks in Tanzania, plus many other less-visited reserves, conservation areas, cultural and historical attractions.

At the conclusion of the safari, fly to the exotic Tanzanian island of Zanzibar for a five-night stay; three nights in historic Stone Town and two nights at a beach resort located on the island's beautiful north coast.

Enhance your adventure with an exclusive pre-trip add-on to Rwanda for an unforgettable gorilla trek. After your main journey, extend the excitement with a post-trip add-on for a thrilling chimpanzee trek in Gombe. (nb. optional add on's are subject to viable numbers).

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East African Wildlife Safari Photo Gallery

View Gallery

Game-viewing in the wild with no fences is an amazing experience; as watching the animals at such close range, you are in their world. You’ll never forget the awesome moments: watching a pride of lions carefully guide its cubs as they approach a waterhole, seeing herds of wildebeest and zebras moving across the grasslands and elephant families teaching the young ones to dig for water in a dried-up river bed. Observing an elusive leopard patiently waiting for his “dinner” to come within strike range or the lightning speed of a cheetah on the chase.

In East Africa, we found the wildlife to be very prolific and varied. The animals appeared largely unconcerned by our presence so we have always enjoyed close viewings and exciting photographic opportunities. For example, in the Masai Mara, we saw the “Big 5” in one afternoon and we captured memorable images of them all!

An African Safari really is a most magical experience and a photographer’s delight!

2025 Draft Itinerary outline:

Time	Destination
Day 1	Flight via Dubai - depart early evening
Day 2	Nairobi - Arrive early afternoon, Overnight at Hotel Eka or similar.
Day 3	Lake Naivasha - Begin our safari by visiting the Nairobi Giraffe Centre before driving to our first lodge on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Overnight, Elsamere Lodge, the lakeside home of Joy Adamson.
Day 4	Lake Naivasha - Visit Hell's Gate National Park and walk a river-bed canyon before returning to the lake for a sunset cruise.
Day 5	Lake Nakuru - Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park where we will have our first game drive. Overnight Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar.
Day 6	Masai Mara - The most spectacular feature of this stunning game reserve is the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle that cross the Kenya/Tanzanian border and crocodile-infested rivers to reach the Masai Mara’s lush grasslands. Overnight, Keekorok Lodge or similar
Day 7	Masai Mara - We will have two full days to explore this extensive game reserve, each day visiting a different area. Apart from the seasonal migration, game viewing is excellent all year round as the Mara is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where visitors may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago.
Day 8	Red-clad with a spear, Masai warriors tend their herds of cattle among the wildlife, admirably unmoved by the presence of large predators. The most spectacular feature is the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from the plains of Serengeti that cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Maasai Mara’s grasslands from early July, tracked by predators and circled by vultures as the journey unfolds.
Day 9	Cross the Isebania border and continue to Northern Serengeti In this area you will have high chances to see the great migration (estimated to reach 3,000,000 animals now) crossing the Mara river while the crocodiles in the river try to attack them. The rare black rhino can also be spotted in the area.
Day 10	Serengeti National Park North - Morning and afternoon game drives in North Serengeti along the Mara river with early departure exploring the great migration crossing the Mara river.
Day 11	Serengeti North- game drives
Day 12	Serengeti Central -After breakfast drive to central Serengeti national park for game drive. In central Serengeti you will have opportunity to see big prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and other wildlife. In the late afternoon you will continue to Serengeti central bush camp for dinner and overnight
Day 13	Serengeti Central After breakfast depart for morning and afternoon game drive in central Serengeti All meals and overnight will be at Serengeti central bush camp.
Day 14	Morning game drive in Serengeti national park, then continue to Olduvai gorge (this is the place where Dr. Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey found hominid fossils).
Day 15	Game drive in Ngorongoro crater, a good number of lions and cheetahs, hippos hyenas, jackals and it is another good place to see the rare black rhino. In the afternoon you will visit art and crafts market in Karatu.
Day 16	Tarangire, Tanzania's third largest national park and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Animals concentrate along the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply in the area. There is a great diversity of wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs and up to six thousand elephant. In the afternoon you will continue to Arusha
Day 17	After breakfast, you will drive back to Arusha for dinner and overnight at Ambureni coffee lodge
Day 18	Arusha National Park/ Olpopongi - Arusha National Park is a small but beautiful park on the slopes of Mt Meru. After our visit, we will leave the park and drive to the Olpopongi Masai Cultural Village, for a fascinating village-stay experience. Overnight, Olpopongi Masai Village.
Day 19	Stone Town (Zanzibar) - A short flight to Zanzibar a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich cultural heritage of Arabian, Persian, Indian, European, and African elements.
Day 20	Zanzibar - Visit Prison Island where you can get up close with a giant turtle colony. A facinating guided walking tour of Stone Town.
Day 21	Blue lagoon cruise for a relaxing day of snorkeling, swimming and sailing in a traditional boat.
Day 22	Northern Beach - To end the tour we will have a spot of R & R, with a two-night stay at a relaxed beach resort on Zanzibar's beautiful northern coast. Overnight, Kwenda Rocks or similar.
Day 23	Northern Beach - a final day to enjoy beautiful Zanzibar, swimming, snorkeling or just strolling the beach.
Day 24	Dubai - A late morning flight to Dar es Salaam and on to Dubai, where you will connect with tomorrow's early morning flight to Auckland. Those who prefer to pay extra and stay overnight in Dubai will take tomorrow's mid-morning flight to Auckland.
Day 25	Flights - depart Dubai.
Day 26	Arrive Auckland

Transport: High-quality long wheel-based 4 x 4 Safari vehicles with four or five people + driver in each, depending on final group numbers. The vehicles are 7-seaters + driver, so we will have plenty of room.

Accommodation: Hotels, very comfortable Safari Lodges, and tented camps with private facilities. One night in a Masai Cultural Village, with shared facilities. The basic price is based on twin share/double accommodation. Single room use may or may not be available in all locations, but if available a single supplement payment will apply.

Meals: All meals during the 16-day safari are included. The currently anticipated non-included meals being; 1 dinner in Nairobi, 5 lunches and 5 dinners on Zanzibar, and any meals/drinks taken at cafes, restaurants or airports etc. The exact number of excluded meals will be confirmed once the details of the 2023 itinerary are finalised.

Water: Unlimited mineral water is provided during the Safari. For the remainder of the time, bottled water is readily available.

What is Included: Economy airfares Auckland return (does not include overnights in Dubai), a fully inclusive safari with driver/guides and a New Zealand leader, all entries and park permits, lodges and good quality tented-camps with ensuites and all meals plus one night in a Masai Cultural Village. Flights to and from Zanzibar, 5 nights on Zanzibar with excursions and a basic group-tipping fund for our drivers, guides, hotel/camp staff etc. However, please be aware that a supplement over and above this base-fund will be required once the services are settled and the full extent of our group tipping obligation can be calculated.

Not Included: The group tipping supplement (to be advised) and your personal tipping for requested services e.g. laundry, porters and bar bills, personal shopping expenditure, visas, balloon ride, Dubai extra night ( if not included)/any additional fare required and any other item not listed as included.

All bookings are subject to the Grassroots Booking conditions which can be found on the Grassroots Booking Form.