9 Days Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Tours Adventure Africa Expedition

Lake Manyara National Park is visited this day. This vegetative diverse park is set beneath the dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley. See the amazing Baobab tree, an assortment of Ficus and Acacia trees and all the life that inhabits them. This is a birding paradise, along with all the standard East African mammals other than rhinoceros. The group enjoys a safari tour to the back-end of the park, noted for its hot springs, abundance of giraffe and African bush elephant. Don’t be surprised if you see mongoose, clip springer and the elusive rock hyrax. Lake Manyara is a soda lake and is noted for its flamingos.  Overnight at the MTO Wa Wambu Camp again.

A must see Conservation Area within this massive collapsed volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. Ngorongoro’s grasslands, forest, swamps, salt pans, and Lake Magadi provide for an assortment of wildlife and viewing opportunity.  You will see blank rhinos, jackals, spotted hyena, lions, and their prey of wildebeest, water buffalo, and various gazelle species. Birding is good as well. The not too common serval cat is a bonus feature. Overnight in Arusha either at the Arusha Crown Hotel or the Sinka Court Hotel.

The safari group travels to the Tanzania/Kenya border at Namanga, then proceeds to Amboseli National Park within Kenya. Permanent safari canvass tents with 2 beds and thatch over-roofs are serenaded by weaver birds and cicadas by day and massive crickets by night.  Don’t be surprised to be awakening at night by a wondering elephant or two just outside the large fenced in camp facility.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the backdrop of this elephant haven and you will not be disappointed by this first class safari experience. You will have no trouble in getting up close and personal with the monolithic beasts of Africa, in the safety of your pop-up canopy safari vehicle.

Travel day to Lake Naivasha on your way to Masai Mara. This is an opportune time to enjoy the countryside of Kenya and all its people. Part of the trip is along the Great Rift Valley with a stop over to view the escarpment. Lake Naivasha is a major agricultural production area in Kenya and a welcomed break to the day’s travel.

Just when you thought you may have been safaried out, then you enter the world-renowned Masai Mara, the northern extension of the equally famous Serengeti Plains. The productivity of the rolling grasslands and tree studded woodlands are to be witnessed first hand. Countless numbers of wildebeest, zebra, and water buffalo are guaranteed, even after mass migration to the Serengeti. Elephant, giraffe, warthog, lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal, the list goes on. Numerous antelope species are readable photogenic including harte beest, topi, impala, eland, suni, bush duiker, steinbok, dikdik, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle. Numerous lion kills make for some great vulture viewing. The Masai Mara safari will be based out of the Masaai run Mara Sidai tented camp among a beautiful forested setting.  The white-browned Robin-Chat’s lovely song at camp will wake you up in the morning and call you to your tent in the evening.

You will be overwhelmed and satiated by the abundance of wildlife viewed in this park. The safari takes you to the Mari River where you will see and photograph hippos and large crocodiles laying in wait. Masai Ostrich, crowned crane, helmeted guinea-fowl, kori bustard and the secretary bird will have you wondering what’s next on the fascinating bird list.

Part of the morning will be spent visiting a local Maasai village, witnessing current village life, being entertained with dance and Maasai hospitality. It is a colorful event and optional for guests to attend. Arrival to Nairobi for hotel check-in and dinner.