East Africa Private Journey
The Wildlife Paradise of the Serengeti and Masai Mara
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $7995 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 11 days |
| Arrive: | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Depart: | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Lodging: | 10 nights in luxury tents/game lodges describe |
| Meals: | All meals included except 1 dinner |
| Activity: | Safaris, Wildlife & Natural History |
| Trip Level: |
Night game drives, Masai-led walking safaris, off-road game drives by 4WD
|
Highlights
- Phenomenal “big five” gameviewing in the famed Masai Mara and Serengeti
- Exciting game tracking on foot with your Masai guide
- Optional hot air balloon rides over the Masai Mara
Everything about each lodge exceeded my expectations. They were all unique and had the “wow” factor.Shawna M.—Loomis, CA
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
Email Area Manager
References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
Golden savannas, prowling lions, red-robed Masai warriors, the snows of Kilimanjaro—all the mystique and wonder of Africa await you in Kenya and Tanzania. Head off the beaten path in these world-renowned safari destinations with Masai-led walking safaris, incomparable wildlife encounters on private Masai gamelands, and intimate, exclusive tented camps.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-4
Masai Mara, Magnificent Gameviewing
At an altitude of 5,000 feet, the Masai Mara Game Reserve is breathtakingly beautiful. The wide Mara River snaking through its rich, tree-studded grasslands is full of frolicking hippos, while enormous groups of elephants wander through the rich marshes along its edge. Buffalo graze here in abundance, baboons leap through the brush, and solitary leopards survey from their perches in acacia trees. Kichwa Tembo Bateleur Camp, one of Kenya’s most exquisite tented camps, is on private Masai lands directly adjoining the famed Mara parklands and is not restricted by park rules. This keeps you far from the main safari circuit and allows you the freedom to enjoy spectacular off-road game drives in open 4WD vehicles, interpretive bush walks accompanied by Masai warriors, and night game drives to look for nocturnal animals and lions on the hunt. Optional hot air balloon safaris are an especially amazing experience in the Mara.
Days 5-7
Ngorongoro and Olduvai
At the eastern edge of the Serengeti in Tanzania is the largest unbroken ancient caldera in the world, Ngorongoro, ringed by steep walls and sheltering over 30,000 resident wildlife. Head down to the grassy crater floor to explore by 4WD in this fantastic Eden-like setting, one of the best places in Africa to see the endangered black rhino, and enjoy an optional visit to the famed archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, “the cradle of mankind.” (Our mid-trip extension to Campi Ya Kanzi begins on Day 5, followed by Ngorongoro and Serengeti.)
Days 8-11
The Serengeti Wilds
The Serengeti is a beautiful mosaic of woodlands and grasslands, laced with wild rivers and riverine forests, and punctuated by rounded granite outcrops called kopjes, a favorite resting spot for lions. Its celebrated untamed tracts have inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Matthiessen, as well as renowned photographers and filmmakers. You’ll feel as if you have the Serengeti all to yourself at your small and luxurious safari camp in the wild northern reaches of the park. In this “kingdom of predators,” head out by 4WD to look for lions, cheetahs, and other big cats, clans of spotted hyena, and a breathtaking array of plains game, including more than a million wildebeests and zebras during the annual Great Migration. You’ll see more wildlife than you ever thought possible! Your lodging is strategically located Klein’s Camp or Grumeti River Camp, both offering superlative wildlife encounters and solitude amid Serengeti’s wild beauty. Depart on Day 11.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Optional Extensions
If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:
- Zanzibar Extension: Serena Inn, Breezes or Palms Resort (4 days)
- Zanzibar Extension: Mnemba Island (4 days)
- Kenya: Campi Ya Kanzi Extension (4 days)
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2. It is a luxury camping and lodge safari with game viewing by 4WD vehicle. It can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. On safari, there are long driving days over rugged dirt tracks.
When to go
June to October December to March
For our Private Journey trips, you choose your own group and your preferred dates—there are no set departure dates. Private Journeys are available to groups as few as two people or as large as you like. Contact us for availability, questions, or to book your adventure!
Tour Costs
Prices valid through November 30, 2010
$7995 per person double occupancy
Single supplement: $750
Peak Season Surcharge (June 16–September 30): $790 per person
Internal airfare: $1550 (subject to change)
Extension Costs
Zanzibar Extension: Serena Inn, Breezes or Palms Resort
from: $1595
Zanzibar Extension: Mnemba Island
from: $3995
Kenya: Campi Ya Kanzi Extension
from: $2095
Includes all land transportation and guides throughout
more on pricing
Tour Cost Includes:
- Accommodations, based on double occupancy
- Meals as noted in the Full Trip Brochure
- Services of safari guides and camp staff
- 4WD safari vehicles
- Land and internal air transportation as noted in the Full Trip Brochure
- All airport transfers
- Park fees
Tour Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare; private safari vehicles; charter flights (see separate cost above); meals not specified after each day in the detailed itinerary in the Full Trip Brochure; any activities described as optional; airport departure taxes; optional tipping or gratuities to staff; additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses such as medical immunizations (if any); travel insurance, passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature.House of Waine
Day 1 (1 night), Nairobi, Kenya
In the leafy suburb of Karen, this 11-room colonial-style manor has spacious rooms, wonderful gardens, and a swimming pool. The service is friendly ...
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Kichwa Tembo Bateleur Camp
Days 2 to 4 (3 nights), Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
This is a fantastic camp with an absolutely stunning location in the Masai Mara. There are actually two separate camp areas, with nine “luxury ...
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Gibb’s Farm
Day 5 (1 night), Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
This is quite a special place in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The main facilities are situated in the old colonial farmhouse built by German ...
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Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Days 6 to 7 (2 nights), Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
One of the most luxurious lodges in East Africa, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge appeared on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold ...
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Grumeti River Camp (Option A)
Days 8 to 10 (3 nights), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Set in a remote valley in the Western Corridor of Serengeti National Park, Grumeti provides excellent year-round gameviewing (particularly in June ...
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Klein’s Camp (Option B)
Days 8 to 10 (3 nights), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
One of the most strategically positioned wildlife sanctuaries in the world, Klein’s is set on the edge of the Kuka Hills in the northwest ...
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Serengeti Under Canvas (Option C)
Days 8 to 10 (3 nights), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
This mobile, Hemingway-style camp offers an authentic experience of the African bush in total comfort—the romance of yesteryear without ...
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Extension Accommodations
If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:
- Zanzibar Extension: Serena Inn, Breezes or Palms Resort (4 days)
- Zanzibar Extension: Mnemba Island (4 days)
- Kenya: Campi Ya Kanzi Extension (4 days)
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.





