Greatest Parks of
East Africa
World Explorer Safari to
Uganda, Kenya &
Tanzania
For sheer volume of animals, there's simply nothing like East Africa. On this grand safari tour, enjoy the verdant beauty of Uganda, the endless plains of the Serengeti, and Africa's "Garden of Eden," the Ngorongoro Crater. See animals as they were meant to be, seen in their natural habitat, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Optional extensions are available for close encounters with the endangered mountain gorilla in Uganda and swimming with dolphins in the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar.
Days 1/2 - New York/Europe/Entebbe, Uganda
Your journey begins as you board your overnight flight from New York to Europe. The next morning connect with your flights to East Africa. Arrive Entebbe in Uganda, where you are escorted to your hotel. LAKE VICTORIA HOTEL. (Meals Aloft)
Days 3/4/5 - Queen Elizabeth National Park
Depart on your light aircraft flight to Uganda's second largest national park. Experience the excitement of three full days of wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park where you may see hippo, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Ugandan kob, topi, bushbuck, pangolin, warthog, hyena and civet. The park has over a quarter of Africa's bird species, more than any other park in Africa. Along with game drives take a launch trip on the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward to view some of the largest concentrations of hippo in the world. Enjoy a nature walk through the Maramagambo Forest, one of the largest forests in Uganda. Here you will visit some of the bat caves to see thousands of bats and possibly pythons and monitor lizards hunting the bats. Your lodge has stunning views of Lake Edward, Kazinga Channel, and the Rwenzori Mountains. MWEYA LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 6 - Entebbe/Nairobi, Kenya
After a morning game drive, fly to Entebbe and connect with your flight to Nairobi, where you are escorted to your historic hotel. The legendary Norfolk has been the starting point for safaris for such famous travelers as Teddy Roosevelt, Karen Blixen, Ernest Hemingway and British Royalty. Relax poolside and enjoy the fine cuisine. NAIROBI NORFOLK HOTEL. (B)
Days 7/8/9 - Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Fly to the Maasai Mara, Kenya's most famous game reserve with its classic savannah grasslands, plentiful animals and spectacular vistas. Experience exciting wildlife viewing across the endless plains, home to lion, cheetah, elephant, leopard, rhino and hippo. There are also over 500 resident species of birds in the park including ostrich, larks and sunbirds. Each year up to two million wildebeest, thousands of zebra, and an escort of carnivores cross the plains following the rains and succulent new grass. Optional activities while in the Mara include a dawn balloon safari and excursion to Lake Victoria to fish for giant Nile perch. You can also visit a Maasai Village to experience this nomadic tribe's way of life and see their colorful culture. Enjoy the romance of your famous and elegant tented camp. LITTLE GOVERNORS' CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 10/11 - Nairobi/Tsavo
Return to Nairobi via air and continue to Tsavo West National Park, the largest in Kenya. Its rolling volcanic landscape is carpeted in long grass, and is dominated by giant baobab trees and dense bush. Tsavo West is famous for the Mzima Springs. This pool of natural spring water has underwater viewing hides for observing hippos and crocodiles in their natural world. On game drives you may have close encounters with lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, various antelopes, kongoni, waterbuck, buffalo, and elephant. Visit a nearby local village and school. Enjoy the fine china and crystal of your sophisticated tented camp, named after Karen Blixen's lover and reminiscent of yesteryear. FINCH HATTON'S. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 12/13/14 - Taveta/Arusha/Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Morning drive to the town of Taveta to cross the border into Tanzania, and on to Arusha. After lunch, fly to Serengeti National Park. Over three million large mammals roam its endless plains and you will have three days of exciting wildlife viewing to see many of them. The park lies between Ngorongoro and Lake Victoria and adjoins Kenya's Maasai Mara. In between game drives, relax poolside and enjoy your lodge's beautiful views of the sweeping grasslands. SERENGETI SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 15/16 - Ngorongoro Crater
Fly to Lake Manyara and continue by road to the Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site. Descend 2,000 feet by land rover into this extinct volcano. The crater is a microcosm of East African scenery with abundant wildlife, more than 25,000 larger animals, mostly elephant, zebra, wildebeest and lion. This is also the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania. Your splendid lodge is built into the rim of the crater and has a central living area and viewing decks overlooking the awesome crater. NGORONGORO CRATER LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 17/18 - Arusha/Europe/New York
Depart this morning for your flight back to Arusha and your dayroom at the SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. After a farewell dinner you are transferred to the airport for your return flights home. (B,D Meals Aloft)
Optional Extension to Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Zanzibar
Begin your wildlife adventure with an optional pre-extension to trek for gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. In this mysterious and awesome lowland rainforest and montane forest, you may come face-to-face with these gentle giants as it is home to half the world's population of mountain gorillas (330.) End your grand safari with a few pampered days at the Indian Ocean Resort of Zanzibar. Sleep in, sway gently in the breeze of your hammock overlooking the Indian Ocean or lounge pool side. Then when you have the energy, why not indulge in a little snorkeling, windsurfing or swimming with the dolphins?
Your Safari Includes:
- Round trip air transportation between New York and East Africa arriving in Entebbe, returning from Arusha.
- Domestic flights within Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as indicated.
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated.
- All meals as specified.
- All wildlife viewing by either safari minibus with pop-up roof hatch or private landcruiser, driven by a naturalist guide.
- A maximum of 6 passengers per vehicle. A window seat is guaranteed.
- Lecture by Maasai ranger while in the Mara (duties permitting).
- Professional naturalist, with minimum 10 tour members throughout.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles. Complimentary set of field glasses in vehicle, but we reccomend you bring your own.
- All applicable accommodation taxes, gratuities for included services, and all game park entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.