9 Days East Africa’s Masai Mara & Serengeti Migration

Destinations visited: Kenya, Maasai Mara, Tanzania, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha.

Not only are the highlights of Kenya and Tanzania on this 9days itinerary but the accommodation is some of the best in East Africa – enjoy a range of extraordinary camps, many in private reserves.

Day to Day Itinerary:

• Day 1: Welcome to Kenya
• Day 2: Maasai Mara Adventure
• Day 3: To Tanzania.
• Day 4: Charming L. Manyara
• Days 5- 6: Ngorongoro Crater
• Days 7 – 8: Time stands still in the Serengeti.
• Day 9: Farewell East Africa!

Day 1: Welcome to Kenya

Upon arrival at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a vehicle waits to transfer you to Wilson Airport, where you board a scheduled flight to the Masai Mara National Reserve. The reserve’s vast plains are dotted with clusters of trees giving rise to the Masai name ‘Maa’, which means ‘spotted’.

Affectionately known as the Mara, this reserve protects the northern-most section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, a magnificent 25 000 square kilometers of natural migration corridor. Your home for two nights is the opulent Bateleur Camp.

Bateleur Camp is located where the iconic final scene of Out of Africa was filmed, set within the shade of an indigenous forest overlooking the grasslands. During the heat of the day, the pool offers a refreshing escape complete with glorious poolside loungers and the subtly attentive service of your personal butler.

Your tented suite is a romantic blend of canvas and polished hardwood, with a generous bathroom and magnificent views from a private deck. You may well find yourself seated at the carved writing desk, pen poised above a postcard, quite lost in the splendid view of far away rolling plains.

Day 2: The Masaai Mara Adventure

Bateleur Camp is located in a private concession in the Western Mara. The plains are best explored by vehicle on early morning and late afternoon game drives when wildlife is most active. Guided nature walks provide a more intimate insight into the natural environment and spot lit night drives add a thrilling sense of adventure to the possible sighting of nocturnal species. One of the camp’s delightful traditions is stopping at a scenic spot for refreshing sundowners during the late afternoon drive.

The Mara has a richly varied resident population of wildlife, including all the Big 5 along with rarer species like cheetah, bat-eared foxes and Roan antelope. The Great Migration occurs when the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move through the ecosystem following the rains and fresh grazing. More than 470 bird species have been recorded here, including 60 raptors. Among the resident species that top the must-see list are vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds and African pygmy falcons. The national bird of Kenya is the aptly named lilac-breasted roller, a whimsical beauty that flashes its jewel colors against the muted tones of the savannah.

Day 3: Tanzania awaits

After an early morning game drive and a hearty breakfast, you return to Wilson Airport for a scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. One more air transfer delivers you to Lake Manyara, the area Hemingway described as, ‘the loveliest I had seen in Africa’.

Your home for two nights is the enchanting Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Elegant and comfortable, the lodge’s delightful tree houses are cradled in the boughs of an ancient mahogany forest. For a highly recommended treat – especially on the day you arrive – book a deeply relaxing spa massage.

Day 4: Charming Lake Manyara

Manyara’s lush forests are alive with skipping blue monkeys and the joyous honking of hornbills. Where the forest gives way to plains, the eye is drawn past clouds of flamingo on the lakeshore, up to a line of pale purple volcanic. Inland from the floodplains lies a narrow belt of acacia woodland, home to tree-climbing lions, Africa’s graceful giants, elephants, and the diminutive Kirk’s dik-dik. Clans of banded mongoose add a comical touch to the panorama.

Manyara is a birder’s delight thanks to the combination of wetlands, woodlands and hot springs. Birds flourish here with over 400 recorded species in the area. While flamingos put on the most ostentatious show, Manyara is a haven for many large, migratory water birds, including pelicans and storks.

The Lodge offers daily game viewing expeditions on foot, safari vehicle or mountain bikes, all led by expert guides, as well as night drives that offer fascinating insights into the rich nocturnal life of the Park, and the chance to spot elusive creatures like aardvark and bat-eared foxes.

Days 5 – 6: Ngorongoro Crater: a true original

After an early game drive and delicious breakfast, you will be transferred by road from Lake Manyara to the dramatic and breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. This is a place of wonders – from its miraculous terrain to the abundant fauna and flora it supports, from its status as a World Heritage Site to the harmonious coexistence of its people and wildlife.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is architecturally spectacular.

Perched on the edge of the crater, every suite offers impressive views. Glamorous opulence rules this Lodge, from the chandelier-lit bathrooms to the personal butler service and fine dining.

The Crater is the world’s largest intact, un-flooded caldera, formed by a massive volcanic eruption. Your route from the lodge descends over the lush rainforests of the rim, 610m down to the grasslands of the crater floor, an area of about 260 square kilometers. This haven provides a year-round home to wildebeest, zebra, eland and gazelle, along with Africa’s densest population of lion. The rainforests shelter elephant, mountain buck, buffalo, hyena, wild dog, leopard and cheetah. Spend your day game viewing and exploring the crater floor, stopping to picnic on the grasslands amidst the grazing herds. Return to the Lodge for sundowners on the crater’s rim and a sumptuous feast in the domed dining area.

Days 7 – 8: Legendary Serengeti

After breakfast, a short flight whisks you to the place the Masai call Siringitu: place where the land moves on forever. Tanzania’s first game reserve, the Serengeti National Park is one of the last remaining natural migration corridors and one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate, vegetation and fauna have remained mostly unchanged over the past million years. The natural instinct that drives the annual Great Migration of more than a million wildebeest, gazelle and zebra is so powerful that neither drought nor crocodile-infested rivers can halt it.

The drive to your Serengeti under Canvas Camp wets your appetite for more. After settling into your suite, you waste no time taking your place on the afternoon game drive. There is so much to see here that the drive lasts until sundowner time, when your ranger selects a scenic spot to stop and delve into the generous picnic hamper.

After sunset, the game drive continues with a deftly wielded spot light seeking out the nocturnal creatures that emerge after dusk. You return to camp in time to freshen up and join your fellow explorers to dine under the stars. The emphasis at this camp is on comfortable luxury and a romantic, close-to-nature experience. In addition to daily game drives, we highly recommend an early morning hot-air balloon ride.

Day 9: Farewell to East Africa…

After breakfast, you begin your journey home. Scheduled flights take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport and on to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. A driver waits to transfers you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home. You have seen spectacular sights and created unforgettable memories – simply close your eyes to feel the warmth of the African sun on your skin, catch the scent of wild sage on the cool evening air, and hear the low, spine-tingling moans of lions at dusk. All this and more you have witnessed on your East Africa safari.

This marks the end of what we hope will be an adventurous trip- Thank you very much!!

Luggage

PLEASE be reminded that the luggage allowance on our inbound schedule flights is strictly 15KGS PER PERSON and that SOFT BAGS are highly recommended, if not essential. In light aircraft the baggage area and weight allowance is limited. Hard Samsonite type suitcases do not fit into the cargo compartment easily, if at all. Due to limited space available for storage in safari vehicles, we strongly recommend use soft duffle bags rather than hard suitcases.

Your contract

A binding contract will come into existence once Sun Africa Expeditions and yourself agree on the itinerary and quote provided for the same. The booking will then be considered confirmed when an invoice is issued. Your contract for the services chosen will be direct with the relevant supplier(s). Your supplier contact will be governed by the laws of the country in which the supplier is located and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of that country.

Reservations, Payment and Deposits

When Sun Africa Expeditions has accepted your booking, the date of the confirmation invoice activates the terms and conditions of the contract. Confirmation of services is subject to payment of a non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total invoiced amount. The balance is to be paid not later than 30 days prior to commencement of the services. When bookings are made within 30 days prior to the departure date, full payment is required immediately on written confirmation.

All bookings are subject to availability at the time of booking and cannot be guaranteed except for scheduled departures.

Prices

Prices are quoted in US dollars. All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Should prices or costs from suppliers increase due to inflation, currency depreciation and fuel surcharges, then Sun Africa Expeditions will not have any other option than to pass on the same to you. All suppliers reserve the right to increase prices at any time of the year when costs increase outside the control of the supplier. Please note that when the clients’ itinerary overlaps two seasons, the price will be prorated over the two seasons.

Rates include but are not limited to the following services specified in the itinerary. Accommodation with meals, tours, transport, driver/guide, park entrance fees, hotel taxes and service charges.

Rates exclude (Unless otherwise specified), Medical Air Rescue services, Porter-age, domestic Air Charters, Visa fees, beverages, laundry, telephone calls, scheduled flights, gratuities and all expenses of personal nature.

NB: Flying doctor services are Optional at USD 25 per pax (Subject to change and vendor terms & conditions).

Child rate: – is only applicable to one or two children under 12 years sharing a room with 2 adults. In the case of 02 children sharing a room with parents, the two children will share a bed, as most hotels/lodges cannot accommodate a fourth bed. 01 child sharing a room with 01 adult will be charged full adult rate.

Single Room Policy

Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but the suppliers do not guarantee singles. Single rooms are scarce and cannot be guaranteed even if paid for at twin sole use rate. Where this occurs an appropriate refund will be made by the supplier to the client. Suppliers will only allow a maximum of 3 single rooms per group at a single room rate except for high end luxury camps where single rooms are limited to only 02 singles.

Cancellation Policy

Should you wish to cancel your confirmed booking, you must advise the company in writing.

Reservations that are cancelled, reduced in length of stay or reduced in numbers (hereinafter collectively called a CANCELLATION) are subject to Cancellation and No Show fees if cancelled within 30 days of the arrival date:

55 days to 41 days prior to arrival: 25%
40 days to 22 days prior to arrival: 35%
21 days to 15 days prior to arrival: 50%
14 days to 07 days prior to arrival: 65%
06 days to 03 days prior to arrival: 80%

Within 48 hours and after commencement of holiday: 100%. Once the holiday has commenced no refund will be made. The figures expressed are percentage of the total tour price.

Cancellation: Although it rarely happens, and Sun Africa Expeditions will do their utmost to avoid doing so. Sun Africa Expeditions must reserve the right to cancel tours and other arrangements. Where your holiday is cancelled (other than due to your default in payment) due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control e.g. Natural disaster or over booking, Sun Africa Expeditions will offer you the choice of purchasing an alternative holiday.

Force Majeure

The expression “force majeure” means any event which the supplier(s) in question could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Such events may include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, government action and all similar circumstances outside the suppliers’ control. In these circumstances the suppliers shall not be liable to pay any compensation or otherwise be responsible for any expenses or losses you incur where supplier is forced as a result to cancel, delay, curtail or change your holiday arrangements in any way or where the performance or prompt performance of the supplier’s contractual obligations is prevented or affected. Complaints

In the unlikely event that a tour member has a dispute whilst on safari this must immediately be brought to the attention (and put on record) of the local representative, Hotel, Lodge or Camp management. It is likely that the tour member’s complaint will be satisfactorily resolved there and then. If, however, this is not the case and the tour member wishes to pursue the matter on their return from safari, it is essential the complaint be communicated in writing to Sun Africa Expeditions within 21 days of the end of tour quoting tour reference, destination and departure date.

Responsibility of Sun Africa Expeditions

Sun Africa Expeditions acts only as the Agent for the suppliers and shall not in any event be liable for any negligence, breach of contract or acts of omission on the part of suppliers, their employees or any other Agent, it shall be the responsibility of all customers including (without limitations) Tour members, Tour Operators and Travel Agents, to read and familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions of suppliers. Sun Africa Expeditions liability for its own negligence or breach of contract shall be limited to the Tour price.

Transportation

Safari Minibuses, Cars, Land Cruisers and coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. Sun Africa Expeditions reserves the right to employ services of sub-contractors. Multi-lingual driver guides are provided on request. For flying packages, clients will share vehicles with other guests booked at the hotel. For exclusive use, please check with Sun Africa Expeditions for supplements, which will be subject to availability.

Insurance

The hazards of travelling in Africa may inevitably rise to some risks and dangers. It is therefore a condition of booking that all tour members must have sufficient and appropriate travel insurance for the duration of their tour. Such insurance (which is not supplied by Sun Africa Expeditions) should fully cover all personal requirements including death, personal injury, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of accident or illness, cancellation or curtailment of the tour members’ personal property.

Special Requests

Any special requests (e.g. for single rooms or particular diet) must be notified in writing when the booking is made. Whilst the supplier will endeavour to meet such requests they cannot be guaranteed and any failure to comply will not be a breach of contract.

Sun Africa Expeditions services include flight re-confirmation and airport assistance within Africa if clients are provided all services by Sun Africa Expeditions. In cases whereby Sun Africa Expeditions is providing part of the services and the clients have other arrangements of their own, then Sun Africa Expeditions will only reconfirm where forwarding address or contacts are provided.

Itineraries

Demand for safaris can be high and may lead to shortage of lodge/hotel accommodation. All bookings will be confirmed, but no occasions changes may be necessary. Hotels/Lodges/camps, here specifically named are given as an indication of the category and rooms may be reserved at similar lodges/ hotels/camps. We undertake to advise you of any changes known to us prior to departure, but the possibility of change without notice, must be acceptable when booking. Where ever possible we book rooms with private baths showers throughout on the basis of two persons sharing a double room. Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but neither single rooms nor rooms with private bath/shower can be guaranteed.

Safari minibuses cars, four wheel drive vehicles or coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. The right is reserved to employ the services of subcontractors. Multi-lingual chauffer/guides are provided. Occasional mechanical problems, changes of lodge or adverse road conditions may in turn lead to a change of routing or game viewing without prior notice being given. We reserve the right to offer substitutes of equal value or to cancel the operation of any tour. In practice, very few itineraries are affected but a little flexibility on your part will ensure the tour is unique and rewarding.

Website and Brochure Description

Descriptions of accommodation facilities and services in our brochures are shown in good faith, it is however possible that certain facilities or services may be unavailable or limited due to maintenance , adverse weather, local conditions, seasonal restrictions etc.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this website/e-brochure at the time of printing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore check all details of your holiday booking with your travel agent or supplier at the time of presentation.

The company cannot therefore accept responsibility for any information not contained in this brochure, being confirmed verbally by its staff or representatives unless subsequently reconfirmed in writing by the company.