The Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari plus Tanzania Extension - Discount Travel Vacation Packages By Friendly Planet

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Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

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The Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari plus Tanzania Extension & a special Dubai Stopover opportunity

Acacia trees against a Serengeti sunset

Savvy travelers and novices alike include Kenya & Tanzania on their list of dream destinations, and for very good reason. Both countries are blessed with an abundance of spectacular wildlife and lavishly gorgeous, incredibly photogenic landscapes. Everywhere you go, from the teeming cities to the plains of the Masai Mara, the people are friendly and welcoming. Tourist infrastructure is amazing, often offering white glove service where the basics of running water and electricity appear impossible to find. Game reserves are magnificent, filled with all manner of wildlife, beautiful lakes and beaches, and sweeping vistas that seem to go on forever.

With more than 50 parks to choose from in Kenya alone, and almost 25% of Tanzania protected as nature reserves, it's hard to decide where to go. But everyone agrees on the top three must-visit parks in Kenya, Masai Mara, Samburu and Amboseli, and the #1 top must-visit site in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater. Our all-new “Best of Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safaris” includes them all plus a lot more! And like all Friendly Planet tours, you'll enjoy the best of Kenya and Tanzania at prices that are as amazing as the countries themselves.

Kenya Wildlife Safari Touring Program

Departures prior to January 1, 2007 of our Kenya & Tanzania safari program feature a different itinerary.

Day 1: USA/Kenya. Depart from JFK this morning on your overnight flight to Kenya, via Dubai, aboard award-winning Emirates Airlines. (flight schedule)

View of Nairobi, Kenya

Day 2: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya. Arrival this afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city and the starting point for your safari adventure. Meet your guide and take a city orientation tour en route to your deluxe, centrally located Nairobi hotel. An optional welcome dinner, including transfers, is available at the world-renowned Carnivore Restaurant, where you'll find all sorts of meat and game cooked to delicious perfection, carved tableside and served with a variety of sauces and salads ($40). Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi

Migrating wilderbeest & zebras, Masai Mara © Christophe Poudras - Fotolia

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. After breakfast, board your touring coach for the Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Every year, between June and September, millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate into the Mara in search of water. The timing of this phenomenon varies, depending on the rains, but they usually start heading back to the Serengeti in October. Whether you see the migration or not, the Mara almost guarantees you'll enjoy a magnificent time in Kenya.

Young Masai woman

Here among the grassy plains and lush landscape, you'll find a huge variety of game, the largest in all of Kenya, including lions, cheetahs, buffalo and abundant bird life such as ostriches, cranes and storks. Enjoy lunch at your lodge then relax until later this afternoon when you'll take your first game drive through this haven of wildlife. This afternoon you'll have an optional opportunity to visit to a Masai Village for an in-depth look at this colorful and pastoral people in their natural setting ($15). Keekorok Lodge or similar (B,L,D)

Game viewing

Day 4: Masai Mara National Reserve. Today you will take two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography. You will have the option of replacing one safari drive with an optional balloon safari ($385) which provides a unique and thrilling opportunity to soar high over the busy plain for animal viewing from above. Whether you go by air or land, you will enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area guided by your expert driver, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush. (B,L,D)

Accommodations were beyond expectations. Our guide and safari drivers were outstanding. No request was overlooked, and I felt when I left Kenya that I'd learned a great deal, and I had great fun doing it!

— Jean Manson, Toronto, Canada

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Day 5: Lake Nakuru National Park. Early this morning, you'll drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, known throughout the world for its two million flamingos as well as its other birds. The sight of the massed flamingos is quite spectacular, and when you look down on the lake from an overlook, it appears to be ringed in pink. Arrive at the park in time for lunch at the lodge and a little time to rest.

Flamingos at Lake Nakuru

Later this afternoon enjoy a game viewing drive with a stop at the shore of the lake to see the flamingos at close range as well as other animals which also inhabit the park. This park is a rhino sanctuary, and offers probably one of your best chances to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild's giraffes as well as buffalo, leopards and lions, which are known to climb trees. Lake Nakuru Lodge (B,L,D)

Samburu warriors & children, Kenya

Day 6: Samburu Game Reserve. Depart after breakfast and drive north to the remote, dry area of Samburu. This is the homeland of the nomadic Samburu people, whose culture attaches great value to tending their livestock of cattle, sheep, goats and camels as their main economic activity.

Samburu Reserve

Samburu is rich in species not seen in southern Kenya's more famous parks, such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, kudu and gerenuk. You'll also have a good chance at spotting lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. The semiarid landscape is dramatic, with the rugged outcrop known as Mt. Ololokwe a prominent feature.

Elephants bathing, Samburu Reserve, Kenya

The Ewaso Ngiro River, which forms the southern boundary of the reserve, attracts many birds and is a popular watering hole for elephants. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and some relaxation, then take an evening drive for more game viewing. Samburu Lodge (B,L,D)

Cheetah

Day 7: Samburu Game Reserve. Enjoy another day of game viewing drives in the Samburu Game Reserve during two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography. Enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area guided by your expert driver, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush. (B,L,D)

Rhino and Egret

Day 8: Aberdares National Park. After breakfast, enjoy the scenic drive to the Aberdare region, also known as Nyandarua, whose diverse topography includes waterfalls, rain forests, rivers and, at the highest elevations, open moors. After lunch at the Aberdares Country Club or Outspan hotel, with time to relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery around you, drive to your tree hotel with only an overnight bag while the rest of your luggage is safeguarded at your base hotel. While home to such rare species as bongo (large antelopes whose hides were used to make drums) and black rhino, the dense forest of the Aberdares region makes it difficult to spot animals. However, you'll have perfect viewing from the lounge of your tree hotel of the floodlit watering hole and saltlick where wildlife congregates. The Ark Tree Lodge (B,L,D)

Burchell Zebras

Day 9: Amboseli National Park. In the morning after breakfast, transfer to the base hotel to collect the rest of your luggage then drive to Amboseli, which lies in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The combination of salt flat and marshland provides one of the most dramatic settings in Kenya, and the mountain makes an amazing background for photographing animals. Enjoy lunch en route at Toona Tree Restaurant, then continue to Amboseli, with opportunities for animal viewing en route to your lodge. Ol Tukai Lodge (B,L,D)

Amboseli National Park

Day 10: Amboseli National Park. Waking up for an early morning game viewing drive you return to your lodge for breakfast. From your lodge you enjoy unrivalled views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Meru which can be clearly seen in the morning, particularly before 10 am. The rest of the morning is spent at leisure perhaps enjoying the panoramic views of the park, particularly atop Observation Hill, where you'll also find young Masai ready to have their pictures taken (for a fee).

Buffalo at a water hole

In the evening you undertake another game viewing drive to appreciate the abundance of wildlife that thrives here. Amboseli is known for its elephant herds, amazing to watch as they and buffalo stand in the marshes to keep cool, drink water and munch on vegetation. Other animals, such as zebras and wildebeests and even lions are also found here. This park, like others you visit, is a bird-watcher's paradise. (B,L,D)

Chanting Masai

Day 11: Nairobi/Departure. Return to Nairobi by coach and proceed to the airport to check in for your overnight return flight to the USA. Or, continue by coach to Tanzania for a three day extension including the Ngorongoro Conservation area, one of the world's greatest natural wonders. (B)

Day 12: Arrival in USA. Your magnificent adventure in Kenya ends as you arrive at JFK International Airport this morning.

4 Day Tanzania Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare and extend your stay to three of Tanzania's magnificent game parks: The Ngorongoro Crater, often described as the "eighth wonder of the world," is the remnant of an ancient volcano and has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa; Lake Manyara, home of the famous tree-climbing lions; and Tarangire National Park, famous for its abundant birdlife as well as plentiful big game.

Elephants

Day 11: Kenya/Tanzania. After breakfast, board your touring coach and drive to the Kenya/Tanzania border at Namanga. Continue to Arusha and enjoy lunch at the Arusha Hotel. After lunch drive to Tarangire National Park, home to thousands of elephant, and, in the dry season, game which congregates along the river after having migrated from the Masai Mara. Tarangire is an ornithologist's paradise, rich in an incredible diversity of birds. In addition, large herds of antelope, zebras, gazelles, buffalo, wildebeest, leopards, elephants, rhinos and lots of smaller mammals make the park their home. Arrive at your lodge later in the afternoon, with game viewing en route. Tarangire Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)

Lion

Day 12: Lake Manyara National Park. After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Located at the base of the Great Rift Valley, the park is covered with forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps. After lunch, take a game drive in search of tree climbing lions and thousands of flamingos dotting the lake. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 13: Ngorongoro Conservancy. After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving at in time for lunch at the lodge. This extinct volcano, whose completely intact rim rises 1800 ft above the floor, offers among the very finest game viewing in Africa. It is considered one of the world's greatest natural wonders, and its abundant game, including rare species such as black rhinos and cheetahs and magnificent scenery will thrill even the most experienced safari traveler. After lunch, descend into the crater, whose floor, with the passage of time, has become grassland with a lake in the middle that is a sanctuary and source of water for the abundance of wildlife found. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 14: Tanzania/Kenya/Departure. After breakfast, say a reluctant goodbye to Africa as you drive back to Arusha for lunch and your flight back to Nairobi. Check in for your continuing overnight flight to the USA via Dubai. (B,L)

Day 15: Arrival in USA. Your magnificent adventure in Africa ends as you arrive at JFK International Airport this morning.

Tanzania Extension:
Add $1099 per person in double, $1248 in single.

December 2007 departures only:
Add $1249 per person in double, $1448 in single.

Dubai Stopover
$449 per person in double/$749 in single*

Available after our 12 day Kenya Tour and our 15 day Kenya plus Tanzania tour

Dubai Skyline

Whether you travel with us to Kenya only or you add Tanzania to your tour, we invite you to take advantage of a special stopover package in Dubai on your way back to the USA from Africa. Dubai is one of the hottest new destinations around, and it has been extensively featured in such prestigious travel publications as Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure and others.

Palm Island

You'll find some of the world's most lavish and luxurious hotels and resorts in Dubai, and for duty-free shopping, it's pretty much in a class by itself. Our 3-night stop-over package is priced at only $449 per person in double occupancy, and includes 3 nights at the 5-star Sofitel City Centre, buffet breakfast daily and transfers.Take advantage of optional tours, spend your time shopping or indulge in both! At these prices, this is one special opportunity you definitely won't want to miss!

* Stopover package on the Jan. 15 departure with the Tanzania Extension is $569 per person in double occupancy and $969 per person in single occupancy. This is due to limited hotel availability because of a major convention being held in Dubai at this time.

Kenya Wildlife Safari Optional Tours

To enhance your visit to Kenya and make it more complete and memorable, here are some optional tours that will be available to you through your guide or tour manager. More information, including updates on pricing and availability, will be included with your travel documents.

Carnivore Restaurant, Nairobi

Nairobi: Carnivore Dinner
On your final night in Nairobi, before departing to the airport for your return flight, savor an "all you can eat" dinner at the world famous Carnivore Restaurant. You'll be transferred to the restaurant where you'll enjoy a buffet of salads and deserts to accompany the amazing array of "all you can eat" meats brought to your table. After dinner, you will be transferred directly to the airport. $35 per person.

Masai warriors performing a traditional dance

Masai Mara: Masai Village Tour
This is an opportunity to experience what the Masai tribal life is like as you walk through a traditional village compound. You'll be greeted by the village chief and be escorted around the village by a local host who will explain the history, culture and practices of the Masai. Before departing the village, enjoy a cultural performance by the young men of the tribe, the famed warrior "morans". $15 per person, credit card not accepted for this tour.

Hot air balloons and giraffe on the Serengeti

Masai Mara: Hot Air Balloon Safari and Champagne Breakfast
Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird's eye view of the plains below. At the conclusion of your incredible flight, you'll be treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush. Before returning to your lodge, your balloon pilot will present you with a Balloon Flight Certificate. This is certain to become a once in a lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! (Please be advised that flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable for balloon flying). $375 per person if you reserve and prepay in Nairobi, or $385 if reserved and paid in the Masai Mara.