On this epic journey, explore some of the finest national parks in East Africa, from Kenya’s Masai Mara to the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Keep your binoculars at hand on a trip to Lake Nakuru, a birder’s paradise; and seek out lions, leopards, and rhino in the wilds of the Serengeti. In between safaris, learn about local customs on a visit to a Maasai community and share a meal with a family in the vibrant Mto wa Mbu village.

Day 1 Nairobi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Nairobi/Masai Mara
Travel to our comfortable tented camp, located in the heart of the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve. Head out for an afternoon safari through vast, acacia-dotted plains, driving past throngs of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes; and keep an eye out for lions, elephants, and the rest of the African “big five.”

Day 3 Masai Mara
Opt for an early morning hot air balloon safari, or embark on a wildlife drive to track the animals that traversed the savanna during the night. View ungulates like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topi and eland antelopes—as well as their stealthy predators—at one of their most active times of the day. Continue your exploration on a late afternoon safari, discovering the timeless landscapes of Masai Mara.

Day 4 Masai Mara/Lake Nakuru National Park
Depart early for Lake Nakuru, known for harbouring flocks of pink flamingos and a rich variety of bird species. Stop en route at Café Ubuntu, a G Adventures–supported project that trains and employs local women and mothers of children with disabilities. Visit the craft centre to meet some of the women who create the wares sold there, then sit down for a delicious farm-to-table lunch. Continue to our safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park, and seek out the resident rhinos on a late afternoon wildlife drive.

Day 5 Lake Nakuru National Park/Amboseli National Park
After a morning safari around Lake Nakuru, venture south to the renowned Amboseli National Park, situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro—the world’s highest freestanding peak. The grass and marshlands surrounding the mountain provide prime habitat for elephants, making the park one of the best places in Africa to see these majestic animals.

Day 6 Amboseli National Park
Immerse yourself in the drama of Amboseli on morning and afternoon safaris. Encounter local Maasai tribespeople and the resident elephant herds, and keep an eye out for the savanna’s smaller creatures—including some of the more than 400 bird species that have been identified here. Meet a representative from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a government institution dedicated to managing Kenya’s wildlife, and gain a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding ivory poaching and elephant conservation.

Day 7 Amboseli National Park/Arusha
After a morning of wildlife viewing, continue the journey to Arusha, gateway to the Serengeti and the northern parks of Tanzania.

Day 8 Arusha/Lake Manyara National Park
Visit Mto wa Mbu village for a guided cultural walk and a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to our safari camp located outside Lake Manyara National Park. The camp provides unobstructed views of the Rift Valley Escarpment. Embark on an afternoon wildlife safari drive with phenomenal wildlife viewing and search out the famed tree-climbing lions.

Day 9 Lake Manyara National Park/Serengeti National Park
Travel to a Maasai village to learn about the G Adventures–sponsored Clean Cookstoves Project, dedicated to providing clean-burning cookstoves to Maasai communities throughout Tanzania. Enjoy a presentation by a Masaai woman on the impact of the project, and take a guided tour of the village, visiting traditional homes or bomas and helping build a new stove. Continue to our safari camp in Serengeti National Park, stopping en route at the Olduvai Gorge Museum and Visitor’s Center—located near the site where National Geographic archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early hominid fossils and stone tools in 1960.

Day 10 Serengeti National Park
Immerse yourself in the splendor of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. Discover the park’s iconic creatures on an optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, and set out in a 4x4 on morning and afternoon game drives through the rippling grasslands. With luck, spot all of Africa’s “big five,” and visit the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre for a talk by one of the visiting scientists.

Day 11 Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
Depart the Serengeti this morning, looking out for the park’s wild denizens along the drive. Check in to our comfortable tented camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy a fiery African sunset from the deck.

Day 12 Ngorongoro/Arusha
More than 12 miles in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest non-flooded caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 25,000 animals. Descend into this green-walled paradise early in the morning on safari, riding past herds of zebra, gazelles, and buffalo, and keep your eyes peeled for a pride of lions or a lone leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the floor of the crater; then drive to Arusha.

Day 13 Arusha
Depart at any time.