Classic East Africa
Classic East Africa
Classic East Africa
13 Days Starting in Nairobi and ending in Karatu
Visiting: Nairobi, Maasai Mara, Lake Elementaita, Amboseli National Park, Mount Meru , Rhotia, Serengeti , Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Tour Overview
On this 12-day safari adventure through the everchanging landscapes of East Africa, you’ll take multiple game drives in the Maasai Mara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Amboseli National Park. With expert guides and a handy local leader, you’ll visit spots far off the tourist trail, including the base of Mt Meru, where you’ll go on a hike through the slopes of the mountain to a waterfall, and Lake Naivasha for a boat safari. Visit a Hadzabe tribe and learn about their way of life, getting a unique insight into a small community with ancient roots. Spend time in Arusha and take part in a traditional cooking class with a company that supports and empowers the local women and visit the Patinaai Osim project, supported by the Intrepid Foundation and working to fight inequality of women and girls in Indigenous communities. With all of this and more, you’ll hit all the iconic wildlife, landscapes and highlights of Africa and gain a special understanding of this incredible land – what are you waiting for?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation: Hotel
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. When you arrive at the airport today, you’ll be met by a representative and taken to your hotel. Your adventure then begins in Nairobi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya, where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village.
Day 2: Maasai Mara
Location: Maasai Mara
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, drive to the famous Masai Mara National Park – with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and the world's most iconic animals living within its boundaries, this is the quintessential African experience. When you arrive, you can opt to explore this diverse environment on an afternoon 4WD game drive with expert local guides, looking out for the abundance of wildlife that call this park home.
Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Maasai Mara
Location: Maasai Mara
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, you have the option to take part in a hot air balloon ride and bush breakfast, giving you a rare chance to see the Masai Mara from a different perspective, above the open plains at sunrise. Today, you’ll venture into the Masai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD safari. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a multitude of wildlife – look out for lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hippos.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Lake Elementaita
Location: Lake Elementaita
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today, you’ll drive to your lodge on Lake Elementaita, which sits between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley. This shallow soda lake is known for its huge concentrations of flamingos. This afternoon, you’ll head to Lake Naivasha – one of the few freshwater lakes in the valley, Naivasha has floating islands of papyrus reeds and a border of flat-topped acacias. It's also home to a healthy population of hippos, giraffes, zebras, and buffalos, which graze along the shores, and a huge variety of birds. Here, you’ll go on a boat safari – see how many kinds of birds you can spot while floating along the still waters!
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Amboseli National Park
Location: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Board your private vehicle bound for Amboseli National Park. This park is home to the largest population of African elephants in Kenya, many of which have impressively long tusks, known as ‘big tuskers’. Tusker elephants are increasingly rare in Africa due to poaching, but Amboseli is one of the few places where they can still be seen. You may even spot a ‘super tusker’ - a male bull elephant with tusks that weigh over 45 kg (100 lbs) each, usually so long they scrape the ground! If you're lucky to visit on a clear day, you'll be treated to amazing views of Mt Kilimanjaro. When you arrive, you'll have the option to set off on a night safari to spot predators, like lions and hyenas, and nocturnal animals, like porcupines and aardvarks that emerge once it gets dark.
Day 6: Amboseli National Park
Location: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast today, visit the Patinaai Osim project – supported by The Intrepid Foundation, this project supports Indigenous Maasai women in creating sustainable livelihoods and rising above poverty and inequality. Learn how this Community Care Organisation is committed to changing the narrative of girls and women in Indigenous communities and how they work to protect their fundamental human rights. The project also provides access to information and safe spaces for young girls.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Amboseli National Park
Location: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
‘Home of the African Elephant’ and crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya's most picturesque parks, and today you will spend the full day on safari exploring. With your expert guides, you’ll get a deep dive into the wildlife of Kenya's thriving natural world. Spot herds of elephants as you look out for the other wildlife that call this park home, including lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and leopards. Don’t forget your camera, the views of the wildlife backdropped by Kili are nothing short of epic!
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Mount Meru
Location: Mount Meru
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Today, drive to Arusha National Park to hike in the foothills of Mount Meru – Tanzania’s second highest peak and a colossal dormant volcano sitting at an altitude of 4566 m (15,000 ft). When you arrive, you’ll head to Kitoto viewpoint to start your day hike. A perfect spot for wildlife spotting and exploring the diverse landscape, this hike offers the chance to experience the lower slopes of Tanzania’s mountains. From your starting point, trek through the Afromontane Forest and into the crater, looking out for warthogs, giraffes and zebras along the way. As you gain altitude, you’ll be surrounded by dense forest – the prime habitat for Kilimanjaro colobus monkeys and forest duiker (a pint-sized antelope). Follow the trail up to Meru Falls, the ideal spot to enjoy a picnic lunch before you head back down the slopes.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Rhotia
Location: Rhotia
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Head to Arusha, often referred to as the ‘safari capital’ of Tanzania, and start the day with a traditional cooking class that supports local women. The Mamas (skilled local cooks) will teach you how to cook traditional Tanzanian dishes, as well as some simple words in Swahili. Connect with the women, then sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour for breakfast. After finishing your meal, head to Rhotia and enjoy a free afternoon to relax. If you're up to more adventures, you'll also have the opportunity to visit a Hadzabe community near Lake Eyasi. This area has been their home for over 10,000 years and is one of the few places in Africa where traditional tribal life continues without modern influence. Learn how this community still lives the hunter-gatherer lifestyle – men typically hunt and bring home honey to feed their families, while women and children gather fruits, berries and roots – and how they use locally made poisons and camouflage. By connecting with the locals, you’ll gain an insight into an ancient culture and have a chance to learn about their ways of life. Maybe even join in on daily activities, like hunting, gathering and dancing. You’ll also learn about their unique ‘click’ language, believed to be one of the oldest languages still in use.
Day 10: Serengeti
Location: Serengeti
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Depart for the wide-open plains of the Serengeti today. The Serengeti landscapes see a huge contrast of colours during the year – green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season. The never-ending land is home to thousands of animals travelling as herds across the plains. This region gets its name from the local Maasai word ‘siringet’, meaning the place where the land moves on forever. After entering the park gates, enjoy an en-route game drive to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch, you’ll head back out for an afternoon 4WD safari to spot the local wildlife. Tonight, listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift to sleep.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Serengeti
Location: Serengeti
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, there’s the option of a balloon ride over the park to see Serengeti and its vast plains from a bird’s eye view. You’ll head out today for a full-day game drive through the wilds of the national park. A unique habitat with the riverine forests, this is a favourite spot for hippos and crocodiles, and you might also spot some long-neck giraffes, zebras, Topis, impala and gazelles.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Ngorongoro
Location: Ngorongoro
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Say goodbye to Serengeti National Park today and soak up the final views of this incredible spot, before entering the Ngorongoro Conservation area. When you arrive at the crater, take in the spectacular views from the crater's rim as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles, and as a result, it's easier to watch them up close. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffalo, gazelles and the endangered black rhino. Later, you have the option to head to the village of Mto wa Mbu for a guided tour and dinner. Here, you can acquaint yourself with the village and get a snapshot of small-town African life.
Included Activities:
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Day 13: Kilimanjaro International Airport / Nairobi
Location: Kilimanjaro International Airport / Nairobi
Meals Included: breaksfast
Set off early this morning to begin your final journey of the trip. Your first stop will be at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you'll have the option to end your trip. If it’s more convenient for you, there’s the option to travel back to Nairobi. You’ll be dropped at a centrally located hotel, however, no accommodation will be provided tonight. If you’d like to extend your stay in Nairobi, please speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (1 nights), Lodge (7 nights), Permanent Tented Camp (4 nights) -
Meals
12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners -
Masai Mara National Reserve - Full Day 4WD Game Drive
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Lake Naivasha - Boat Trip
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Patinaai Osim - Village Visit
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Amboseli National Park - Full Day 4WD Game Drive
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Mount Meru - afternoon hike, walk around Mt. Meru
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Serengeti National Park - Full Day 4WD Game Drive
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Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
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Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari
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Patinaai Osim (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit
Transport
- On this trip we use 8 seater 4x4 safari vehicles. For smaller groups of up to 6 travellers we will use 1 safari vehicle and for larger groups between 7-12 we will use 2 vehicles.
- There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you.
- African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it's certainly our aim to avoid them, it's important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. This itinerary offers two optional sunrise balloon safaris—one in the Masai Mara and another in Serengeti National Park. We offer both as a pre-booked service, which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to – but keep in mind that this is a popular activity, and places are limited.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This is a 4WD overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in 4WD vehicles, visiting remote communities and world-renowned wildlife parks. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.
There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
This trip includes a hike in the foothills of Mount Meru. The hike is quite steep and takes approximately 4 hours. A reasonable level of fitness is required. We recommend bringing sturdy, comfortable hiking or trail shoes with good support. Please see Day 8 of the Itinerary for more information.
The day-to-day itinerary features a selection of optional activities. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a guide. Prices are approximate and may change at the discretion of the local provider, and all activities are subject to availability. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions