Kenya and Tanzania Expedition Safari Tour

Day 1: Nairobi

1. Nairobi
   1 day
   Upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Journey Quest Safaris representatives will greet you with a warm, traditional welcome—including bubbly, refreshing towels, a safari hat, and a handcrafted canvas pouch filled with safari essentials. You’ll then be transferred to the Tamarind Tree Hotel, ideally located just 5 km southwest of the City of Nairobi’s central business district.

Day 2: Nairobi - Lake Nakuru National Park

1. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
   1 day
   After breakfast, your guide-driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive to Lake Nakuru, with a brief stop at the scenic Rift Valley viewpoint. Upon arrival, enjoy a warm welcome, check in, and have lunch. In the afternoon, head out for a game drive in one of Kenya’s top wildlife parks—home to lions, rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, zebras, leopards, and more. The park also boasts over 300 bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
2. Rift Valley Province
   30m
   A rift valley is a geological feature characterized by a linear depression formed by the stretching and splitting of the Earth's crust. It's a lowland area created when tectonic plates move apart, and the crust thins and subsides. Unlike valleys formed by erosion, rift valleys are shaped by tectonic forces.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru National Park - Masai Mara Game Reserve

1. Maasai Mara National Reserve
   3 days
   After an early breakfast, we set off for the world-renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich wildlife. We arrive at the charming Mara Serena Lodge— a five-star safari lodge located in the Mara Triangle of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. It's known for its unique design inspired by traditional Maasai Manyatta, offering a blend of cultural aesthetics and modern amenities. The lodge is situated on a hill, providing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the Mara River— for a warm welcome and a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we embark on our much-anticipated game drive across the vast open plains, where wildlife roams freely.
   
   Expect to spot black-maned lions, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, rhinos, topis, zebras, giraffes, and more. The Masai Mara never disappoints, offering an incredible diversity of animals and birds. We end the day with dinner and an overnight stay at the camp.

Day 4: Masai Mara Game Reserve

1. Masai Mara National Reserve
   3 days · Admission ticket included
   After a hearty breakfast, set out for a thrilling day of adventure in the Masai Mara. Keep your eyes peeled for the famous Big Five—lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and black rhino. With a bit of luck, you might even witness the breathtaking speed of a cheetah or a leopard on the hunt. Later, return to the camp to unwind, enjoy dinner, and spend the night surrounded by the sounds of the wild.
2. 1h · Admission ticket not included
   OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Enjoy an unforgettable Balloon Safari over the scenic Mara plains, followed by a traditional champagne breakfast in the bush. Alternatively, take a cultural visit to an authentic Masai Manyatta, tucked away from the usual tourist routes. Here, you’ll engage with the Masai people—who continue to live as they have for centuries—and gain insight into their unique customs, traditions, and nomadic way of life.

Day 5: Masai Mara Game Reserve - Serengeti National Park

1. Serengeti National Park
   3 days
   Today starts early with a hearty breakfast before heading out with a picnic lunch. You'll cross into Tanzania at the Isebania & Sirari border, where your driver-guide will assist with immigration. Here, you'll switch to Tanzanian vehicles and guides, then continue to Serengeti National Park. Spanning over 14,700 square kilometers, the Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest and most iconic park, famous for the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras. Some herds cross the crocodile-filled Grumeti River, while others head toward the Lobo Hills and into Kenya’s Masai Mara. The park's dramatic landscape includes the striking Moru Kopjes. You’ll arrive at your lodge by early evening, just in time for dinner and a good night’s rest.
   
   Note: This is a long drive of almost 10hours or more depending on road conditions and time spent at the border control.

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

1. Serengeti National Park
   3 days
   After breakfast this morning, set out with a picnic lunch for a full day of game drives across the expansive Serengeti plains. The landscape is especially breathtaking in the soft light of early morning and late afternoon. You'll return to the lodge by late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.
2. Serengeti National Park
   1h
   OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Dawn Balloon Safari over the Serengeti Plains ending with a champagne breakfast.

Day 7: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Conservation Area

1. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
   3 days
   After breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro with a brief stop at the historic Olduvai Gorge—one of the world’s most significant prehistoric sites, offering deep insight into human evolution. Enjoy an informative talk by a resident guide before continuing up the crater rim to your lodge, arriving in time for lunch.
   Spend the afternoon relaxing and soaking in the breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater below.
   
   This massive, unbroken caldera is the largest in the world and often described as one of nature’s greatest wonders. Formed over eight million years ago when a volcano collapsed in on itself, the crater is now 610 meters deep, 20 kilometers wide, and spans 311 square kilometers—yet it makes up just a tenth of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
   It is especially known for the endangered black rhino. Birdlife, including seasonal flamingos, thrives depending on the balance of soda & fresh water in Lake Magadi at the crater’s base.
   NOTE: A warm jacket or cardigan is strongly recommended.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

1. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
   3 days
   After breakfast, descend roughly 610 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch. This incredible natural amphitheater is a haven for wildlife and a dream for photographers. As the world’s largest unbroken caldera, the crater supports a rich variety of animals that live here year-round—among them lions, Cape buffalo, impalas, Thomson’s gazelles, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, golden and black-backed jackals, and spotted hyenas.
   The crater is not only renowned for its dense wildlife population but also for its stunning scenery and ecological diversity—few places in the world pack so much natural beauty into such a compact area. It is also of major archaeological significance, with evidence of early human ancestors discovered nearby. The crater floor’s small lakes attract hundreds of bird species, adding to its vibrant ecosystem. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 9: Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Tarangire National Park

1. Tarangire National Park
   1 day
   After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, head out on an exciting game drive through a landscape marked by towering baobab trees and home to a variety of wildlife, including the graceful eland antelope. Herds of up to 300 elephants can often be seen digging into the dry riverbed of the Tarangire River in search of underground water, while large groups of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland gather around the shrinking waterholes. This park boasts the highest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, making it a prime hunting ground for predators. Tarangire is also the best place in Tanzania to spot dry-country antelopes such as the rare fringe-eared oryx and the unique long-necked gerenuk. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Tarangire National Park - Amboseli National Park

1. Amboseli National Park
   2 days
   Start the day with an early breakfast before departing via the Namanga border, where you'll complete immigration procedures and switch to Kenyan-registered vehicles with a Kenyan guide-driver. Continue your journey to Amboseli National Park, arriving at your lodge to a warm welcome and a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, head out for a game drive in the park, which is home to a wide range of wildlife including lions, buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes, baboons, gazelles, hippos, and wildebeest. Amboseli is also a birdwatcher’s haven, with over 400 bird species and diverse flora and fauna, all set against some of Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 11: Amboseli National Park

1. Amboseli National Park
   1 day
   Enjoy both morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli National Park, renowned for its stunning scenery and iconic African landscapes. On clear days, the park offers some of the most spectacular and photogenic views of Mount Kilimanjaro—truly unmatched anywhere else. Amboseli is also famous for its impressive herds of large elephants and is often considered the quintessential image of Africa, as seen in countless films and documentaries. All meals and overnight stay will be at the lodge.

Day 12: Amboseli National Park - Nairobi

1. Nairobi
   5h
   Enjoy a hearty breakfast before checking out. It’s hard to believe, but your incredible safari adventure has come to an end. Say goodbye to your wonderful lodge manager and their team, then begin your journey back to Nairobi—though not without souvenirs of the experience. You’ll be taking home treasured memories and photos that capture the magic of your time in the bush. Your guide-driver will take you to the Carnivore Restaurant for lunch, and afterward, transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.

Pickup details

For international arrivals, we shall pick up the guests at the airport and transfer them to Eka Hotel for an overnight stay before the start of their Journey the following day.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness