Spend 12 days and nights in glorious Tanzania visiting world-renowned national parks and reserves such as Amboseli, Arusha, Tarangire and the Serengeti plains along with one of the great wonders of the world ‘Africa’s Garden of Eden’ the Ngorongoro Crater. We’ll encounter myriads of birds, including colorful bee-eaters, kingfishers, sunbirds and rollers, hornbills, Secretary Birds, Gray-crowned Cranes, Ostriches and a wide assortment of bustards, raptors and vultures.

Day 1: Fly from US to London
Overnight flight from the US to London

Day 2: Arrive in Nairobi.
Morning flight from London to Nairobi. Transfer to hotel.

Day 3 & 4: Amboseli National Park
Leave Nairobi driving through the Athi-Kapiti plains to Amboseli National Park, Kenya’s second most popular park. Embark on the first of our game and bird watching drive, mainly along the Amboseli swamps in search of the waterbirds and the numerous plain game that favour the swamps.

Full day at the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa with a series of game drives as we enjoy the breath-taking views of the snow cupped Kibo and Mawenzi peaks that offer a backdrop to the gracefully grazing animals that roam this vast wilderness, including large numbers of elephants. Buffaloes, Lions, Cheetahs, Wildebeests, Hyenas, Jackals, Warthogs, Zebras, Maasai Giraffes and Baboons are among a wealth of animals to be seen here. Birdlife is prolific with over 350 species recorded. There are two permanent swamps Ekongo Narok and Ol-Kenya that host big herds of grazing and wallowing animals and numerous waders.

Day 5 & 6: Tanzania Arusha National Park
Transfer to the Namanga border where after immigration procedures we proceed to the town of Arusha before entering the Park for an en route game drive.

Arusha National Park lying between the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru is an outstandingly beautiful area. The park has a wide range of habitats, from the string of crater lakes where many water birds can be watched, through the highland montane forest. The forests contain a wealth of birds and animals such as the bushbuck easily glimpsed in the glades between the ancient cedar trees, or the black and white Colobus monkeys climbing along the branches. The interesting geology of the area is reflected in the impressive view of the ash cone and cliff face to the summit of Mt. Meru. Key species here include: Narina Trogon, Maccoa Duck, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, African Crowned Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, White-fronted Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill and Hartlaub’s Turaco.

Day 7 & 8: Tarangire National Park
Drive to Tarangire National Park, arriving in time for lunch at our Tented Camp, with wonderful panoramic views. Afternoon game drive followed by a full day in the park.

Tarangire National Park covers approximately 2600 square kilometers and it lies on the southern edge of a large open grassland plain, interspersed by huge baobab and acacia trees. It is home to a number of dry country birds including Tanzanian endemics such as the Ashy Starling and the Rufous-tailed Weaver. Other specialties include, the Yellow-collard Lovebird, Coqui Francolin, White-headed Vulture, Brown and Black-chested Snake Eagle. The River at Tarangire will also reward us with a number of waders including snipes, Marsh, Common and Green Sandpipers among others. It is its huge concentration of Elephants, Impalas, Grants Gazelles, Giraffes, Reedbucks, Wildebeest, Hyenas and Buffalo that make this place one of the best wildlife areas of East Africa along with its tree-climbing pythons.

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Ecosystem
After breakfast we visit the Olduvai Gorge “the cradle of Mankind”. Discovered by Dr. Leakey the fossilized remains of Homo habilis, or “handy man” are said to be 1.75 million years old and the fore-runner of modern man. From here we move to
the Ngorongoro Crater and descend 2000’ to witness the animal kingdom spectacle on the crater floor, where black-maned Lions stalk through the grasslands, flamingos crowd the Magadi Lake and the giant-tusked Elephants are mostly seen along the permanent swamps. It is also one of the last strongholds for Black Rhinos. Towering euphorbias cling to the crater walls and on the floor, fever- and fig tree forests provide shade for the awe-inspiring array of wildlife flanked by lone, Maasai, resplendent in blends and furled in scarlet kanga robes. Birdlife is prolific here, mostly with grasslands species, including Kori Bustard and waterbirds

Day 10-12: Serengeti National Park
Today we head to the Serengeti National Park and begin by exploring the Ndutu area and Lake Ndutu before moving on a having two full days to explore this expansive and game studded park

Serengeti National Park shares the same ecosystem with Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The ecosystem boasts the greatest wildlife concentrations of Ungulates; over more than one million wildebeest and nearly half a million zebra annually follow the rains from the plains to savannah to woodlands. It has been described, as the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. Just like the Mara, Lions, Cheetahs, Jackals, Hyenas, and Leopards are reasonably common. Antelopes include Topi, Hartebeest, Dik-dik, Eland, Steinbok, and Grants and Thompson’s Gazelles among other small creatures.

The Serengeti is not only famous for the big game roaming over the plains, but also with its great ornithological spectacle. The highlight includes; the endemic Grey-breasted Spurfowl and the `true` Fischer’s Lovebirds, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill, Silverbird, Magpie Shrike, Winding, Desert and Rattling Cisticolas, Ashy Starlings and Rufous-tailed Weaver among others.

Day 13: Lake Manyara National Park
This morning, we will depart for Lake Manyara National Park and stop at the Gibbs Farm for lunch. After lunch we proceed on to Lake Manyara National Park arriving in time for our evening game drive.

Lake Manyara National Park is yet another Rift Valley lake park, renowned for its unique rainforest microclimate, woodland, and marshy swamps. The swampy Forest is incorporated within the park and it is a heaven for forest birds and primates. The diverse habitats are the home of a great variety of mammals and birds, making this park one of the world-best-small-parks. The ground waters from the west of the lake, flow through the forest into a permanent swamp. This carpet of wetlands are well known as the breeding and feeding sites for thousands of Pink-backed Pelicans, Yellow-billed Storks, Marabou Storks, Cattle and Little Egrets, Black-headed, Black and Grey Herons. It is an incredible place for snipes, plovers, sand pipers, jacanas, swamp warblers, stilts and ibises as well as other migratory waterbirds.
Notable species of mammals here are Buffalos, Elephants, Impalas, Spotted Hyena, Olive Baboon; Giraffe; Hippopotamus, as well as its famous tree climbing Lions.

Day 14: Manyara-Nairobi-Home.
After breakfast and our last early morning game drive at Lake Manyara NP, we will drive to Arusha, birding on the way, before proceeding on to Nairobi via Namanga. Late evening flight home.

Day 15: Arrive in London; Fly onto the US

What is included: All ground transportation, accommodations, meals and services of your guides from Nairobi; all entrance fees to National Parks and Reserves; temporary flying doctor medical insurance; mineral water while on safaris

What is not included: flight to Nairobi; visa fees for both Kenya and Tanzania; travel insurance; tips to porters and guides; items of a personal nature; beverages

Number of participants: A minimum of 4 participants and maximum of 10 (2 vehicles)

Transportation: 4x4 mini buses, land rovers or land cruisers with pop-top roof excellent for wildlife view.

Accommodations: Good to very good all with en-suite facilities.