East Africa Family Safari

On arrival in Nairobi, you are met and transferred to your hotel by our drivers. Upon reaching our Nairobi hotel our local representative will meet you to ensure that all is well. Our representative will also provide details of the trip briefing that will be held tonight in the hotel as well as any additional tours or activities that you may wish to book whilst in Nairobi. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time. There is a good restaurant at the hotel if you would prefer an early night. Dinner is at your own expense. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was established at the turn of the century by the Europeans as a stores depot during the building of the East African Railway. Without plan or design it established itself as the capital of the British protectorate, and today has a population of around three million comprising a mixture of African, Asian and European.

Today we have a full day in Nairobi. We visit some of the local markets and also the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Langata Giraffe Centre. Both the elephant orphanage and the giraffe centre are involved heavily with wildlife conservation whilst also offering a special opportunity to get close to these animals. We depart from the hotel at 10 am and head first for the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage for abandoned young elephants. Here we spend an hour or so watching whilst the youngsters are being fed and perhaps bathed by their handlers. The orphanage seeks to look after and rehabilitate orphaned elephants, with the long-term intention of re-introducing them into the wild. The rehabilitation process is long term as the orphan elephants need 24-hour care, attention and stimulation - the keepers even need to sleep in the elephant pens as baby elephants are scared of the dark! Orphaned rhino and zebra also come into the care of Daphne Sheldrick at times. From there we head to the Langata Giraffe Centre and feed the giraffes; maybe if you are brave enough you could kiss one of them, as you can get so close! (Not compulsory!) We stop for lunch at the nearby Karen Coffee Club (lunch at own expense); the restaurant has a nice playground which may appeal to younger children. After lunch we make a stop at the Utamaduni Craft Market, where a massive range of Kenyan arts and crafts are on sale, before arriving back at the hotel by mid-afternoon. Here you can rest or spend a few hours at the pool before dinner. Dinner is at your own expense - you may like to go out to dinner at the famous Carnivores Restaurant this evening or the leader will be able to suggest one of the city's fine restaurants.

(Driving time: approx 3 hours; game drive times variable) This morning we drive north from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park where we have lunch then check into our lodge. Lake Nakuru, one of the many lakes of the Great Rift Valley, checking into our lodge, which is located inside the national park. Lake Nakuru, a soda lake, forms the centrepiece of the Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake is probably most famous for the thousands of pink flamingos, which can be found here, turning the waters of the lake into a carpet of pink. We take our first game drive in the national park this afternoon, searching for the animals that live here. This could include cape buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, rhinoceros and maybe our first lion or leopard. Rhinos are highly endangered, but the Lake Nakuru area provides a good chance of seeing some of these prehistoric-looking animals up close!

(Driving time: approx 4 hours; game drive times variable) This morning we make a visit to a very special orphanage located just outside of Nakuru town. The East Africa Mission Orphanage, founded by a wonderful Australian couple, is home to almost 200 children, ranging in age from just a few days old to 18 years of age. We will take a tour of the orphanage and see the primary school and vegetable garden as well as get to enjoy lunch with the children. This morning is sure to be one of the highlights of your east African adventure. After lunch, our next destination is the world renowned Masai Mara National Reserve where we stay in the unforgettable Maji Moto Eco Camp - located within a Masai village in the reserve. The camp is co-owned and managed by a group of Masai from the local community and blends beautifully with the natural environment. All the facilities are built using natural materials and crafted in the traditional Masai style. We arrive at camp in the late afternoon where we will freshen up a get ready for a game walk with Masai warriors.The camp is kept simple and traditional with candles and lanterns plus a camp fire in the evening. Accommodation is in comfortable tents equipped with all bedding, mattresses and pillows and there is a central shower, wash basin and toilet for the camp. The next day we head into the Masai Mara on a game drive to witness the wonderful procession of wildlife that inhabit this area. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are plentiful and, with luck, we may spot the predators keeping a casual eye on their movements. Elephant, giraffe and eland are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. We also visit a Masai school and learn about the projects that this inspiring community have developed to improve health, education and ensure a sustainable livelihood for all. Tonight we stay in our tented camp situated along the Muliban River in the Talek area.

(Driving time: approx 4.5 hours) We leave the Masai Mara behind and head to meet the truck and make our onward journey to Kisii. On the way we will have a picnic lunch and visit the Soapstone factory.

This morning at 7am cross into Tanzania before heading for the shores of Lake Victoria. This lake is immense; at around 70,000 square kilometres, it is Africa's largest lake and borders three countries - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Scattered throughout the lake are more than 3000 islands, many of which are inhabited, some of which are now wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

The Serengeti, which means 'endless plains' in Masai, is Tanzania's largest park, covering an area of 14,700 square kilometres. Its main claim to fame lies in the fact that it is home to over three million animals including a multitude of plains animals that provide for the greatest wildlife spectacle in the world. A unique phenomenon is the annual migration. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra trek the route annually, in some places simply grazing, in other places rushing madly across rivers and plains. The game most likely to be seen in the Serengeti in addition to the wildebeest and zebra are gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. In all there are more than thirty-five species of plains animals, as well as a great profusion of bird life. The landscape changes within the park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these areas is the savannah, dotted with acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops.

In addition to wildebeest and zebra, the game we’re most likely to come across in the Serengeti are gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. In all there are more than thirty-five species of plains animals, as well as an abundance of birdlife.

The Serengeti landscape varies from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these is the savannah, dotted with acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops.

We’ll enjoy a further full day of game drives on Day 8 in the magnificent Serengeti.

Depending on the time of year you visit, a unique phenomenon to witness is the annual migration where hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra trek the route annually, simply grazing in some areas, racing madly across rivers and plains in others.

Perhaps the ultimate way to go game viewing is on a hot air balloon safari over the great plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara. Hot-air ballooning in East Africa offers an unforgettable way to see a truly spectacular part of the world and we strongly recommend booking this activity prior to departure.

(Driving time: approx 3 hours; game drive time variable) After an early morning game drive we depart for the Ngorongoro Crater. Upon arrival we check into our accommodation on the rim of the crater, overlooking arguably the world's greatest natural theatres.

(Driving time: approx 3 hours; game drive time variable) In the morning we descend to the crater floor, where we hope to see some, if not all, of the 'Big Five'. Ngorongoro Crater is indisputably one of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves and is certainly one of the most spectacular settings found anywhere. It is the largest intact crater in the world and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1978. Geologically, Ngorongoro is the remnant of a volcano that blew apart, leaving a flat plain area ringed with steep walls. The Ngorongoro volcano, before it exploded and collapsed 2 million years ago, was one of the world's tallest mountains. Unlike the Serengeti and Masai Mara, the migration in the Ngorongoro Crater is scant, as it has an abundant year-round food and water supply, and the walls of the collapsed volcano discourage migration. Animals within the Ngorongoro Crater are less shy of people and safari vehicles, so it's easier to view the animals up close. If we are really lucky we may get to see the highly endangered black rhinoceros! Views from the rim of the crater are sensational. On the crater floor, grassland blends into swamps, lakes, rivers, woodland and hills. The Masai are permitted to water their cattle at the permanent lake and can be seen leading their animals in and out of the crater. The most commonly seen animals are lion, wildebeest, zebra, eland, bushbuck, cheetah, jackal, buffalo, Grant's gazelle, Thompson's gazelle and black rhinoceros. In the afternoon we travel through the Ngorongoro Highlands to the quaint town of Mto Wa Mbu. Here we embark on a cultural program with local guides. We explore nearby villages and learn about the various aspects of life here, with plenty of chances to interact with the local people along the way. There is a chance to try your hand at some Masai dancing! We then continue to Lake Manyara where our lodge awaits. The lodge is perched on the top of the escarpment, with unparalleled views overlooking Lake Manyara National Park.

(Game drive time variable; driving time: approx 2 hours) We enjoy a full morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park before returning to Arusha in time for lunch at a very special school. The School of St Jude was founded in 2002 by Australian Gemma Sisia, as a school for the poorest, most underprivileged children of Arusha region, Tanzania, East Africa. It was founded on Gemma's belief that not only was a good and accessible education a right for all children in the world, but through education families and communities would be able to lift themselves out of poverty. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2012, the school provides a free, high-quality education at the primary and secondary levels to over 1,500 of the poorest, brightest children. The school, located across three campuses, also provides boarding for over 1,000 students. As a charity funded school that receives no government funding, St Jude’s provides transport, uniforms, stationery, a hot nutritious meal and clean drinking water to its students. Whilst on a guided tour of the school we are given more information on how it operates and to see the success that it has achieved. After joining the children for lunch we visit them in class. (on term breaks lunch will not be included).We may hear some singing and see some of the children displaying special skills. This is an afternoon that is certain to touch our souls and fill us full of optimism. We spend the last night of our adventure in Arusha.

(Driving time: approx 5 hours) After breakfast we are met by our local representative and transferred back to Nairobi. You may choose to end your safari in Arusha and take a flight to the idyllic tropical paradise of Zanzibar. Alternatively you may wish to replace the road journey with a flight between Arusha and Nairobi. These alternate arrangements with transfers are at additional cost and subject to availability. Our transfer to Nairobi will stop at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport en route to the city. If you are departing Nairobi this evening, please do not book flights prior to 9.00 pm. Post-tour accommodation and airport departure transfers in Nairobi can be booked at additional cost, if required.