Your Travel Experience Explored – Kenya & Tanzania

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and after clearing with Immigration and Customs formalities, proceed to the International arrivals area where you will be warmly met by a representative of Berleen Safaris and you will be transferred to Hemingways Nairobi.

Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury boutique hotel located in the quiet and exclusive suburb of Karen. The elegant architecture fits discreetly into the rolling landscape, optimising the views over the forested valley and the famous Ngong Hills. The hotel’s main area houses the restaurants and opens onto large, airy terraces on both the ground and first floors, with sweeping, un-interrupted views towards the Hills. All of the 45 suites, two of which are penthouse style Presidential Suites, includes a valet service. There is a wellness centre on site, along with a pool, gym and spa. 

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city. In addition to its urban core, the city has Nairobi National Park, a large game reserve which is home to giraffe, zebra lion and many others. Next to it is a well-regarded elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Nairobi is also often used as a jumping-off point for safari trips elsewhere in Kenya or East Africa.

Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner will be on own arrangement.

Hemingways Nairobi

Breakfast will be served at your hotel. Proceed for excursions in Nairobi.

10:30hrs: Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. 

11:00hrs: Public hour visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage, meet them as they return from the bush and talk to their keepers to learn more about this worthwhile project and the importance of the elephant in Africa’s conservation efforts. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant Orphanage is a small charity, established in 1977 by the late Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick to honor the memory of her husband, famous Naturalist, David Sheldrick, the founder Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. For over 25 years Kenya born the late Daphne lived and worked alongside her late husband and during that time she raised and rehabilitated back into the wild orphans of misfortune from many different wild species, including elephants aged two and upwards. 

Followed by a visit to Giraffe Centre which offers the unique experience of hand-feeding these gentle giants at eye level from a raised platform, while watching the warthogs below snuffle around looking for titbits. 

Proceed for lunch at Talisman or any other recommended restaurant in Karen (lunch will be payable direct). Then visit the Karen Blixen Museum which offers a glimpse of typical colonial life in Kenya. The house was once the centre piece of a farm owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen. The museum gained international fame with the release of the Oscar winning film ‘Out of Africa’, which is based on Karen’s life.  

Time permitting you may visit Kazuri bead factory or Utamaduni Craft Center and buy some souvenirs.

Return to your town hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight. Dinner on this day will be payable direct too.

Hemingways Nairobi

(Meals: Breakfast)

After breakfast, drive north through the rich agricultural and hilly mosaic of small farms, coffee plantations and pineapple to Sweet Waters Tented Camp located in a national park around the foot of Mount Kenya arriving in good time for lunch.

Olpejeta conservancy is located in an eco-tone area meaning that you may spot both species of animals only found south of the Equator as well as those found North of Equator. Again it will act as a good overnight stop-over between the Samburu and Lake Nakuru National Park due to the driving distance involved. The Ol Pajeta Ranch hosts the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and you will get to visit it during one of your afternoon game drives.

After lunch you will proceed for your first game drive in the reserve before returning to your camp in the evening. 

Sweetwaters Tented Camp

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

A full day to explore the exotic Sweetwaters Sanctuary. 

You will also visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary in the conservancy, the only sanctuary for chimpanzees in Kenya.

The chimpanzees’ natural home range spans from Senegal on the West African coast, through the central forested belt of Africa, to Uganda. They are not native to Kenya, but when a rescue centre in Burundi had to be closed due to the civil war outbreak in 1993 – Ol Pejeta opened its doors. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established with an agreement between the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute. The aim – to provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from West and Central Africa. Over the last decade, Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary has been compelled to keep accepting chimpanzees rescued from traumatic situations – bringing the total number of chimpanzees in the Sanctuary to 36. Many are confiscated from cramped and unnatural living conditions, and many arrive with horrific injuries sustained from abuse at the hands of humans. Here at Sweetwater’s, they get a chance to start over. 

In the afternoon you will visit Nanyuki rug weaver and learn more about how they dye, wash, spin and you will visit the show room too and see what you can purchase. Feel free to offer your donation.

All meals will be served at the camp. Evening return to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Sweetwaters Tented Camp 

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Early morning game drive. After breakfast you will drive to Lake Naivasha with a brief stopover at Thompson falls.

Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across, but its waters are shallow with an average depth of five meters. Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree. These forests abound with bird life, and Naivasha is known as a world class birding destination. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo populations sleep the day out in the shallows.

In the afternoon you will go for a boat ride on Lake Naivasha and a visit to crescent Island. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner will follow and overnight.

Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge 

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Breakfast will be served early on this day, You will then be transferred to Loldia Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Masai Mara departing at 1015hrs arriving at 1100hrs.Upon arrival at Olkiombo Airstrip you will be met by the camp representative who will welcome you and transfer you to Tipilikwani Mara Camp with a short game drive en route. 

Tipilikwani Mara Camp lies on the banks of River Talek overlooking the vast plains of the Masai Mara. The camp is decorated in the rich colors of Africa and original oil paintings and soft intimate lighting create a warm atmosphere in the lounge and dining areas. All tents are en-suite with views over the river.

Lunch will be served. Afternoon game drive in a shared vehicle as per the camps scheduled and will be conducted by the camps driver guide.

Tipilikwani Luxury Mara Camp 

(Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Spend two more days’ game viewing in this wildlife haven enjoying both morning and afternoon game drive as per the camps schedule and in a shared vehicle.

Masai Mara is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Acacia dotted plains, tree-lined rivers and woodlands are abundant with wildlife and an array of birdlife. Game viewing is spectacular year-round, you may see a pride of lions stalking their prey, observe a herd of elephant and their fascinating social structure, or see pods of hippo wallowing in the rivers.  

Masai Mara is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Acacia dotted plains, tree-lined rivers and woodlands are abundant with wildlife and an array of birdlife. Game viewing is spectacular year round; you may see a pride of lions stalking their prey, observe a herd of elephant and their fascinating social structure, or see pods of hippo wallowing in the rivers. The Mara plays host to one of the natural wonders of nature – The Great Wildebeest Migration. An estimated two million animals migrate in a year-round pattern through Tanzania and Kenya, following the rain. 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Balloon Safari over the Mara plains followed by a champagne breakfast or visit a traditional Masai Manyatta (off the beaten track) and experience the culture of this world famous community. The Masai still live as they did for centuries -interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions.

Tipilikwani Luxury Mara Camp

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Breakfast at the camp. After breakfast you will be transferred to Olkiombo Airstrip for your scheduled flight with Air Kenya Aviation departing at 0845Hrs arriving at 0930Hrs in Migori. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Kenya/Tanzania border point of Isebania to clear with Immigration and customs formalities. Then, transfer to Tarime airstrip for another scheduled flight (1115 hrs/ 1300 hrs) to Serengeti National Park. These transfers from Migori to Tarime will be directly organized by the Airline and may take approximately 50 minutes excluding time taken at the border.

On arrival at Seronera airstrip, you will be met by our English speaking driver guide and transferred to the lodge. Enjoy a short game viewing drive enroute to the lodge arriving in time for lunch. Game drive in the afternoon in Serengeti National Park.

Return for dinner and overnight.

Serengeti Sopa Lodge 

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Breakfast at your lodge. Spend both morning and afternoon game drive in this wildlife haven.

The name ‘Serengeti’ comes from the Maasai language and means ‘endless place’ The vast open savannahs and wooded grasslands are home to large predators like lion, leopard, cheetah, herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffe and also to a host of plains game and a wide variety of birdlife. The Serengeti / Ngorongoro Conservation area plays host to the Great Wildebeest Migration which is one of the natural wonders of the animal world – millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate in a year round pattern through Tanzania and Kenya and in the early months of each year the short grass plains in this area provide the perfect setting for the calving season where hundreds of calves are born.

Lunch and dinner will be served at the lodge.

Serengeti Sopa Lodge

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

After breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Crater with a brief stop at the Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world to learn on human evolution. The resident guide will provide an on-site talk on the interpretation of the gorge. Continue to Ngorongoro making brief stops along the way to admire the breath-taking beauty of the vista unfolding before you as you continue to your lodge. Lunch and dinner are at your lodge with the afternoon left to relax, unwind or participate in optional activities offered by the lodge.  

 Ngorongoro Crater has the largest unbroken caldera in the world. It has been described as one of the great natural wonders of the world. Eight million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater was an active volcano but its cone collapsed, forming the crater that is 610 meters deep, 20 kilometres in diameter, and covers an area of 311 sq. km. Spectacular as it is, the crater accounts for just a tenth of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater is home to many species of wild game and birds. With the exception of impala and topi (due to fierce competition with the wildebeest) and the giraffe (because there is not much to eat at tree level), almost every species of African plains mammal lives in the crater, including the endangered black rhino, and the densest population of predators in Africa. The birdlife, which includes the flamingo, is mainly seasonal, and is also affected by the ratio of soda to fresh water in Lake Magadi on the crater floor. 

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Breakfast will be served at the lodge.

After breakfast we descend some 610 metres into the crater, which is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise, for a full day of game-viewing drive with picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world teams with an abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. Prides of lions, herds of Cape buffalo, rhino, giraffes, golden & black-backed jackal, zebra, cheetah, leopard and the spotted hyena freely roam on the crater floor plains. Unmatched for its natural variety & breath-taking beauty, there are few places on earth where such a tremendous diversity of landscapes exist inside a region this size. Apart from its wildlife riches, the crater is also of great archaeological importance, with the remains of some of mankind’s earliest ancestors discovered in the area, also a home to hundreds of bird species, refreshing in the small lakes in the crater floor. Return late afternoon to your lodge. 

Enjoy dinner and overnight.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge 

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Breakfast will be served at the Lodge. After breakfast depart to Arusha. The journey to Arusha will take approximately 03 hours drive. Upon arrival in Arusha you will check in at your hotel. Lunch will be payable direct on this day.

Extraordinary natural beauty, sweeping Lake Duluti and garden views and the ambience of a colonial era coffee farm distinguish Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa as one of Tanzania’s most timeless and tranquil getaways.  Each of our 42 meticulously crafted guest rooms has been inspired by our heritage and natural splendour, welcoming guests to experience the romance and simplicity of a 1920s lakeside retreat. Designed in the manner of a stone cottage, all accommodations are clustered around a village square adorned with beautifully tended lawns and extensive gardens. In warm hues of red and crisp shades of white, rooms feature classic country house design touches like tile floors, leaded windows and French doors giving way to garden and lake views. Modern amenities like complimentary Internet and flat-screen televisions with cable and satellite channels along with personalized touches like ceiling fans and comfortable robes enhance the guest experience.

Spend the rest of the evening at leisure at the Hotel.

Dinner will be served followed by overnight.

Lake Duluti Serena Hotel 

(Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Breakfast will be served at the Hotel. After breakfast you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your outbound flight home.

(Meals: Breakfast)

Berleen Safaris look forward to hosting you!!!