13 Days Highlights of East Africa – Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Manyara, Amboseli, Naivasha, Mara, Nakuru, Nairobi

Day 2 – Arusha to Ngorongoro Highlands with Lunch at Gibb’s Farm

After breakfast, depart Arusha and begin your scenic journey toward the cool, lush Ngorongoro Highlands. The drive takes you through rolling farmland, coffee plantations, and vibrant rural communities before reaching one of Tanzania’s most historic and celebrated estates—Gibb’s Farm.

Arrive in time for a farm-to-table lunch, featuring fresh organic ingredients harvested directly from the property’s gardens. After lunch, enjoy a guided coffee tour, where you will learn about the bean-to-cup process, stroll through the aromatic plantations, and sample some of Tanzania’s finest Arabica coffee.

Continue onward to the Ngorongoro Farmhouse, a charming lodge set on a private estate with beautiful views of the surrounding highlands. Settle into your room, relax by the gardens, or enjoy the serene atmosphere before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Gibbs Farm Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farmhouse
Travel Time: Arusha to Ngorongoro Highlands: Approx. 3–3.5 hours

Day 3 – Ngorongoro Crater Tour & Maasai Boma Visit

Today you will explore one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders — the Ngorongoro Crater. After an early breakfast, descend 600 metres onto the crater floor for a full morning of exceptional wildlife viewing. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an extraordinary concentration of animals, including lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, abundant plains game, and the endangered Black Rhino.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated crater sites, surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the caldera’s walls and the wildlife-rich plains.

In the early afternoon, ascend from the crater and continue to a Maasai Boma, where you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the Maasai community, learn about their traditions, and gain insight into their pastoral way of life.

Return to Ngorongoro Farmhouse for a relaxed evening and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Farmhouse
Travel Time: Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Day 4 – Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge Museum, Dig Site & Camp Leakey Tour

After breakfast, depart the Ngorongoro Highlands and begin your journey toward the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Along the way, stop at the historic Olduvai Gorge Museum, one of the most significant paleoanthropological sites on earth. Enjoy a guided tour of the museum, the excavation dig site, and the insightful Camp Leakey exhibit, where the story of early human evolution comes to life.

Continue your journey onto the endless plains of the Serengeti, where wildlife sightings often begin long before reaching the main gate. Arrive at a specially chosen location for a private bush lunch, surrounded by the vast landscape that defines the Serengeti experience.

After lunch, continue game viewing throughout the afternoon, keeping watch for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and large herds of migrating plains game.

Arrive at The Singing Grass Tented Lodge in the late afternoon, where refreshing drinks await and the warm hospitality of the Serengeti welcomes you in.

Meals: Breakfast, Bush Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: The Singing Grass Tented Lodge
Travel Time: Ngorongoro to Serengeti with stops: Approx. 4–5 hours

Day 5 – Full Day Safari in Serengeti National Park

Spend a full day exploring the spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife of Serengeti National Park. Begin with a morning game drive during the prime hours for predator activity and grazing herds moving across the plains.

You may choose to return to The Singing Grass Tented Lodge for a relaxed hot lunch, or opt for a picnic lunch in the bush, allowing you to maximise your time in the field and explore deeper into the park.

Continue your game viewing throughout the afternoon, searching for lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and the vast herds of plains game that make the Serengeti one of the world’s greatest wildlife destinations.

Return to camp before sunset for dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Hot or Picnic), Dinner
Accommodation: The Singing Grass Tented Lodge
Travel Time: Game drives within Serengeti National Park

Day 6 – Serengeti to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, depart the Serengeti and enjoy a scenic drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Lake Manyara National Park. The journey offers varied landscapes and occasional wildlife sightings as you transition from the open plains to the lush forests of the Great Rift Valley.

Arrive at Manyara Safari Lodge in time for a relaxed lunch overlooking the sweeping escarpment. After lunch, continue into Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. Known for its dramatic Rift Valley scenery, large baboon troops, tree-climbing lions, and seasonal flamingos, Manyara provides a beautiful contrast to the Serengeti’s wide-open plains.

In the early evening, return to Manyara Safari Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay in this peaceful, elevated location.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Manyara Safari Lodge
Travel Time: Serengeti to Lake Manyara: Approx. 4–5 hours (depending on stops and wildlife)

Day 7 – Lake Manyara to Arusha → Kenya Border Crossing → Amboseli National Park

After breakfast, depart Lake Manyara and drive toward Arusha, enjoying the scenic journey through the highlands and Maasai countryside. Continue onward to the Namanga border, where you will complete immigration formalities.

Here, meet your Kenyan driver-guide, who will welcome you and continue the journey north into Amboseli National Park—world-renowned for its striking views of Mount Kilimanjaro, large elephant herds, and dramatic open plains.

Arrive at Tulia Amboseli Camp in the afternoon and settle into this comfortable lodge set in the heart of Amboseli’s wildlife-rich landscape. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner, taking in the sweeping views and the possibility of spotting elephants right from the lodge grounds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tulia Amboseli Camp
Travel Time: Lake Manyara to Arusha: Approx. 2 hours; Arusha to Namanga Border: Approx. 1.5 hours; Border to Amboseli: Approx. 1 hour

Day 8 – Full Day Safari in Amboseli National Park

Enjoy a full day of game viewing in Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Known for its large herds of elephants and its breathtaking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli offers exceptional photographic opportunities and a diverse range of wildlife encounters.

Begin with a morning game drive, exploring the park’s wetlands, woodlands, and open plains in search of elephants, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, and an impressive array of birdlife.

Return to Tulia Amboseli Camp for a relaxed lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive to continue your exploration of this beautiful landscape.

As the sun sets behind Kilimanjaro, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tulia Amboseli Camp
Travel Time: Game drives within Amboseli National Park

Day 9 – Amboseli to Lake Naivasha with Afternoon Boat Safari

After breakfast, depart Amboseli and begin your scenic drive north toward Lake Naivasha, travelling through the Great Rift Valley with sweeping views of its dramatic escarpments and expansive plains.

Arrive at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge in time for a relaxed lunch, set among beautifully landscaped grounds frequented by resident wildlife such as giraffes and waterbuck.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, a peaceful excursion offering close-up views of hippos, abundant birdlife, and the serene waters of this freshwater Rift Valley lake. The experience provides a wonderful contrast to the open savannahs of Amboseli.

Return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner and an overnight stay, with time to unwind in the tranquil lakeside environment.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Travel Time: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha: Approx. 5–6 hours (depending on traffic and stops)

Day 10 – Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and begin the journey southwest toward Kenya’s premier safari destination, the Masai Mara National Reserve. The drive takes you through the picturesque highlands and into Maasai country, with beautiful scenery along the way.

Arrive at Sarova Mara Game Camp in time for lunch, followed by a chance to settle into your tented accommodation, set in lush surroundings at the heart of the reserve.

In the afternoon, head out on your first Masai Mara game drive, exploring the rolling plains and riverine forests that support one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Keep watch for elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and large herds of resident plains game.

Return to camp in the early evening for dinner and a restful night in the Mara wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Mara Game Camp
Travel Time: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara: Approx. 4–5 hours

Day 11 – Full Day Safari in the Masai Mara

Spend the day exploring the extraordinary wildlife of the Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s most renowned safari destinations. With its sweeping grasslands, acacia woodlands, and abundant wildlife, the Mara offers exceptional game viewing throughout the year.

Begin with a morning game drive during the prime hours for predator activity, keeping an eye out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, and vast herds of plains game.

You may choose to return to Sarova Mara Game Camp for lunch, or enjoy a packed picnic lunch in the bush to maximise your time on safari.

Continue your exploration in the afternoon, visiting different areas of the reserve to increase your chances of witnessing diverse wildlife behaviour and breathtaking scenery.

Return to camp in the early evening for dinner and another peaceful night in the heart of the Masai Mara.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Mara Game Camp
Travel Time: Game drives within the Masai Mara

Day 12 – Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and drive north toward Lake Nakuru National Park, travelling through the scenic Rift Valley with its dramatic escarpments and sweeping vistas.

Arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in time for lunch, followed by check-in and a brief chance to relax before the afternoon’s activities.

In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, renowned for its rich birdlife, thriving populations of both Black and White rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, and lions. Explore the lakeshore, acacia woodlands, and cliff viewpoints as you search for the diverse wildlife that makes this compact park so rewarding.

Return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner and an overnight stay, surrounded by the peaceful landscapes of the Rift Valley.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Travel Time: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru: Approx. 5–6 hours

Day 13 – Lake Nakuru to Nairobi

Begin the day with a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, taking advantage of the early hours when wildlife is most active. Enjoy final sightings of rhinos, lions, giraffes, and the park’s abundant birdlife before departing.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for check-out and then drive back to Nairobi, arriving in time for lunch at a city hotel or restaurant of your choice (own arrangements unless specified).

Your safari services conclude upon arrival in Nairobi.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: End of itinerary
Travel Time: Lake Nakuru to Nairobi: Approx. 3–3.5 hours