Classic East Africa
Classic East Africa
Classic East Africa
9 Days Starting in Nairobi, Kenya and ending in Arusha, Tanzania
Visiting: Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli National Park, Tarangire National Park, Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 6
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Classic East Africa" safari tour, an unforgettable journey through Kenya and Tanzania's most iconic wildlife reserves. Begin your adventure in Nairobi, then traverse the fertile highlands to the renowned Masai Mara, where you'll witness diverse animal encounters. Explore Amboseli National Park, home to over 400 bird species and the majestic Big Five. Continue to Tanzania's Tarangire National Park for thrilling game drives, and marvel at the stunning landscapes of the Ngorongoro Crater. Travel in style with airport transfers and safari sectors in 4x4 vehicles, and enjoy comfortable accommodations and delicious meals throughout your 9-night stay.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Departure
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation Name: Onboard Flight
Make your own way to your gateway international airport to check-in for your flight to Nairobi. Enjoy inflight meals and services.
Overnight Onboard Flight
Day 2: Nairobi Arrival
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn Airport Hotel
Welcome to Nairobi! Upon arrival into Nairobi, you will be met and transferred by the hotel shuttle to the Hilton Garden Inn Airport Hotel. (Early morning arrivals before 0500 hours must look for the rep from Hilton Garden Inn at the airport for the transfers). Spend the day at leisure.
Overnight in Nairobi
Day 3: Nairobi - Masai Mara National Reserve (B/L/D)
Location: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Masai Mara Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Nairobi after breakfast, you will travel towards Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the Rift Escarpment on a road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. Search for the charming chapel they built at the foot of the escarpment. You will pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the Valley to Narok, and then travel across acres of wheat and barley before you reach the Masai Mara in time for lunch. After lunch and a siesta, you will head on an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge as the sun sets.
Overnight in Masai Mara Area
Day 4: Masai Mara National Reserve (B/L/D)
Location: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Masai Mara Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast, clients will head on a morning game drive. Return to the lodge for lunch. After the siesta, set off for an afternoon game drive and visit the Masai Village. Return to the lodge as the sun sets.
Overnight in Masai Mara Area
Day 5: Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru (B/L/D)
Location: Lake Nakuru
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Lake Nakuru Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart the Masai Mara after breakfast to travel across the ‘breadbasket of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley flood the landscape. Head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. From there you will travel across the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelles as you head up the Mai -Mahiu. You will arrive at Lake Nakuru around midday. Upon arrival in the park, view game en route to the lodge, where you will arrive as the sun sets. The National Park, known for its birdlife, offers an incredible opportunity to see flamingoes. It is also home to Black and White rhinos as well as the endangered Rothschild Giraffe.
Overnight in Lake Nakuru Area
Day 6: Lake Nakuru - Amboseli National Park (B/L/D)
Location: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Amboseli National Park Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast continue to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride. Later, leaving the Rift Valley behind, proceed to Nairobi for an early lunch (or picnic lunch depending on road conditions). Later, head south towards Amboseli, where you will arrive at your lodge by late afternoon. As dull looking as Amboseli is, it has historically supported both game drive and the Maasai that kept their herds of cattle here. It is thanks to the waters that run off Africa's greatest mountain that the apparently dry Amboseli, Kenya's first game sanctuary, can support its wildlife. Mount Kilimanjaro broods high over Amboseli, usually cloaked by clouds but showcasing its snow-shrouded magnificence from time to time. Kilimanjaro was once part of Kenya, but after the marriage of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, Queen Victoria gifted it to her beloved grandson, whose colony Tanzania was, as the perfect wedding present.
Overnight in Amboseli National Park Area
Day 7: Amboseli National Park (B/L/D)
Location: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Amboseli National Park Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart the lodge after a sumptuous breakfast for a full-day game drive. Enjoy hot lunch at a picnic site before you return to the lodge at 4:00 PM. Mount Kilimanjaro now provides water for the park, breathtaking views, and, of course, the most fascinating background for animal photography. The park has undergone serious erosion. Elephant feeding habits combined with light soil have made serious inroads in the Amboseli vegetation. Nonetheless, there are still high numbers of the elephant for which the park is famous, and it is here that much research has been performed on the largest land mammal. Indeed, a cursory examination will show that humankind is not the only animal to destroy its own environment. The grasslands in the park can be undeniably lovely when made verdant by the rains and the three major swamps could star in a dinosaur movie. The swamps on the east of the park attract wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes with the predators that live off them. Lions tend to be easy to view here. In the south, Enkongo Narok Swamp attracts hippos to the larger pools and plenty of buffalo, buck, and teeming birdlife including the jacanas that pick their way elegantly and carefully. Giraffes continue to treed the area while leopards, cheetahs, caracals, and civets may also be seen. In the west of the park lies Lake Amboseli, a seasonal soda lake, sometimes with flamingos.
Overnight in Amboseli National Park Area
Day 8: Amboseli - Namanga - Arusha - Tarangie National Park (B/L/D)
Location: Tarangire National Park
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Tarangire National Park Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, continue your journey to the Tanzania border post and then to Arusha for lunch. After lunch, you will drive to Tarangire National Park. Through the highlands and the Karatu district, you may view the scenic wheat plains and coffee plantations before journeying down the spectacular escarpment, where you may turn south onto the main Arusha–Dodoma Road and into the park. From here to the lodge, you may enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge. After lunch and perhaps a swim, spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Tarangire National Park Area
Day 9: Tarangie National Park - Karatu (B/L/D)
Location: Karatu
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Karatu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you may enjoy a game drive through Tarangire National Park. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch you will be transferred to Karatu. This colorful town serves as a gateway to the Ngorongoro Highlands and is situated between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Karatu will give you a relaxing pause between two wildlife safaris. Karatu offers a great coffee as it was the main crop grown for export. Several farms that remained in private hands continue to cultivate the cash crop on the hills and small valleys outside the town. From Karatu you may enjoy splendid views over the northern highlands. Upon arrival at the lodge, you may enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Karatu
Day 10: Karatu (B/L/D)
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation Name: Lodge in Karatu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch viewing game across the vast Serengeti plains. After a picnic lunch, you may continue towards The Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, the worlds largest intact volcanic caldera and commonly referred to as the 8th Wonders of the World. Due to its significant size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct areas, ranging from forests, swamps, lakes, and springs, to open grasslands and sandy dunes. Prepare for an awesome wildlife experience. The 2,000 feet high walls of the approximately 10-mile-wide crater will create a natural amphitheatre for the densest populations of large animals anywhere. This is a microcosm of the vast Serengeti National Park —in one day it is possible to see a staggering array of East African wildlife featuring all the large carnivores. The crater lives up to its infamous reputation with abundant and easily accessible wildlife and offers a chance to see lions, hyenas, or cheetahs in action. The Crater is an awe-inspiring sight and will surely be one of the highlights of your safari. The rim of the Ngorongoro Crater ranges in altitude from about 7,000 feet to 8,000 feet. Down below, the relatively flat floor of the Crater rests at an elevation of about 5,500 feet. The Ngorongoro Crater's rich soils and abundant year-round water offer an ideal habitat for a large variety of animals. The Crater is not a self-contained ecosystem and some animals do migrate in and out, but only in small numbers. Most of the animals in the Crater are residents and remain year-round. There are approximately 20,000 large mammals at any given time within the Crater wall. Return to Karatu Lodge after the game drive and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Karatu
Day 11: Karatu - Arusha - (B/L/-)
Location: Arusha
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Depart Karatu after breakfast and drive to Arusha, where you will arrive just in time for lunch. After lunch, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International airport for your flight back home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
09 nights accommodation on a twin sharing basis at listed hotels/lodges or similar.
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Meals
Daily buffet breakfast, 08 lunches, and 08 dinners.
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Airport Transfers
Arrival and departure airport transfer in safari minibus or mini coach.
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Meet and Greet
Meet and greet services at the Airport.
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Safari Transport
Transport for safari sector in 4x4 vehicles on a shared basis with maximum 6 passengers per vehicle.
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Guides
Services of experienced English-speaking driver-guides on our scheduled seat-in-vehicle safaris.
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Filtered Water
Filtered water will be provided in safari vehicles (Please bring reusable water bottles).
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Game Drives and Activities
All Game drives and activities as specified in the itinerary.
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Park Fees and Taxes
All park fees and government taxes.
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Local Taxes
All applicable local taxes.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Items of a personal nature, tips, and gratuities.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees, if applicable.
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Optional Tours
Optional tours.
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Transfers for Land Only Passengers
Arrival and departure transfers for land only passengers.
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Unspecified Items
Items not mentioned as included.
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Masai Mara Community and Bed Levy Fees
Potential Masai Mara Community and Bed Levy Fees of USD 80 per person
ight (To be confirmed at the time of final payment).
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with arrival and departure airport transfers in a safari minibus or mini coach, and enjoy safari sectors in 4x4 vehicles on a shared basis with a maximum of 6 passengers per vehicle.
Accommodation
Enjoy 09 nights of comfortable accommodation on a twin sharing basis at listed hotels or lodges, ensuring a restful stay throughout your safari adventure.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is provided during the safari?
The safari sectors are conducted in 4x4 vehicles on a shared basis with a maximum of 6 passengers per vehicle. Arrival and departure airport transfers are provided in a safari minibus or mini coach.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
You will enjoy 09 nights of comfortable accommodation on a twin sharing basis at listed hotels or lodges, ensuring a restful stay throughout your safari adventure.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes daily buffet breakfast, 08 lunches, and 08 dinners.
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Will there be any opportunities for game drives during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes multiple game drives in various national parks such as Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, and Tarangire National Park.
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Is filtered water provided during the safari?
Yes, filtered water will be provided in safari vehicles. It is recommended to bring reusable water bottles.
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Are park fees and taxes included in the tour cost?
Yes, all park fees and government taxes are included in the tour cost.
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
You can expect to see a diverse range of wildlife including the Big Five, flamingoes, Black and White rhinos, Rothschild Giraffe, elephants, lions, hippos, and various bird species.
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Are there any additional fees not included in the tour package?
Yes, additional fees not included in the tour package are personal expenses, tips, gratuities, visa fees, optional tours, and potential Masai Mara Community and Bed Levy Fees of USD 80 per person
ight. -
Will there be any cultural experiences during the tour?
Yes, you will have the opportunity to visit a Masai Village during your stay in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
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What is the maximum number of passengers per safari vehicle?
The maximum number of passengers per safari vehicle is 6.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but only in case it was previously agreed by both sides and arranged by us.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our e-document package includes all local contact details, daily itinerary, airline e-ticket information, service vouchers, and travel tips which should be everything you require to go on your trip.
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If I need one, who is responsible to obtain my visa?
You are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the destinations on your itinerary, including having a passport that is valid for at least 6 months before the date of departure and a visa if required. Please check the Visa section in the Know Before You Go document for the countries you will be visiting.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, not as standard. Solo travellers can book and occupy their own room for a supplement.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been organizing unforgettable trips since 2001.
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Can I arrange flights via Indus Travels, too?
In some cases, yes. Indus Travels can provide flights from/to selected departure points in the USA. If you would like a quote inclusive of flights, please let us know and we'll be happy to check the details for you!
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Changes to an existing reservation up to the Final Payment Date, whatever the cause, will incur a $100 per person amendment fee, potential loss of any supplier fees (such as non-refundable event tickets, park permits, and sea cruise reservations) plus any costs for replacement services. On/ after the Final Payment Date, the $100 change fee is no longer valid, instead cancellations terms apply.
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Low Deposit
Indus Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of indus travels charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.