Travelpack

Highlights: Nairobi - Arusha - Karatu - Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro conservancy area - Mto Wa Mbu

Other departures: Manchester - £2235, Birmingham - £2595, Glasgow - £2605, Edinburgh - £2615, Belfast City - £2405, Aberdeen - £2399, Leeds Bradford - £2495, Newcastle - £2609, Southampton - £2415, Norwich - £2575

Group Tour: (Dates)
- 04 Jul - 11 Jul 20
- 18 Jul - 25 Jul 20
- 19 Jul - 25 Jul 20
- 15 Aug - 22 Aug 20
- 26 Sept - 03 Oct 20

Included activities:
• Kisongo - Cooking class, crafts & village walk
• Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
• Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
• Mto wa Mbu - Village walk and lunch

Experience East Africa with your family as you discover the wildlife, history, people, culture and beauty that spans across this incredible landscape. Roam the famous Serengeti National Park, nearly 15,000 sq km of rolling savanna that shelters an astounding array of animals, from miniature dik-dik antelopes to the noble African elephant. Spot wildlife while taking in mind-blowing views from the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater and listen to the sounds of the African night in a thrilling camping experience. This is also a human journey that puts you in the heart of the valleys once inhabited by some of humankind's earliest ancestors – where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the Maasai community – hear about the customs and traditions of village life and even prepare a local Swahili dish. If you’re looking for a family adventure full of friendly folk and some of the best game-viewing in Africa, then this will truly be a trip to remember!

Itinerary:
Day 1: Nairobi
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. If you and your family arrive early, perhaps 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. Or, to get a glimpse of some animals, head to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. These conservation projects allow you to see the animals up close while learning more about them and their plight in the modern world.

Accommodation:
• Heron Court Portico or similar (1 night)
• Meals: There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information:
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Day 2: Arusha
Hit the road after breakfast as you drive across the border to Tanzania and your overnight stop, Arusha. Located at the base of volcanic Mt Meru, Arusha is the gateway to safari destinations and to Africa's highest peak – the 5895 m Mt Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometres northeast. After setting up the campsite on arrival, you and your family can relax and have a swim in the pool.

Driving time: 5 hours

Accommodation
• A1 Resort & Hotel or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3: Karatu
Take a short drive to the small town of Kisongo where you and your family get to enjoy a fun day with some local ‘Mamas’ (the name for female artisans in Tanzania) First, the women will teach you how to prepare a local Swahili dish for lunch. After enjoying your creations, you’ll get the chance to take a closer look into their lives. With help from a translator, the women will lead smaller groups around their village. Visit their homes and see how a traditional boma (small hut made of mud and cow dung) is set up. You’ll also get to meet their families and learn about Maasai culture. After this illuminating day, drive to the small town of Karatu, the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater. Have a good night’s sleep before we head on safari tomorrow!

Accommodation:
• Kudu Camping Ground with facilities or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Activities:
Kisongo - Cooking class, crafts & village walk

Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Travel from Karatu to the gate of Serengeti National Park and have a picnic lunch at the entrance. Enter the Serengeti and enjoy a game drive on the way to your campsite. The vast plains of the Serengeti – green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season – are home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Flat and rolling, with long grass and acacia trees, these plains get their name from the Maasai word siringet – 'The place where the land moves on forever'. Your campsite is right in the action, within the park itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep. Driving time today is 4 hours plus game drives.

Accommodation:
• Serengeti NP Camping Ground or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Activities
Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive

Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Start the day with a game drive at dawn. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. After spending the warmer part of the day relaxing, as the animals do, depart again at dusk for another adventure through the wild before returning in time for dinner. There's also the option of a balloon ride over the park today, which makes for an excellent family activity. If you have pre-booked this activity (please see the ‘Notes' section) you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, you will glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast, before being returned to your camp.

Accommodation:
• Serengeti NP Camping Ground or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Activities
Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive

Optional Activities
Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599

Special Information:
The balloon ride is offered 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.

Day 6: Ngorongoro conservancy area - Karatu
Enjoy a game drive on your way out of the park today. After lunch, you and your family will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area. A gigantic, perfectly intact volcanic crater, Ngorongoro is home to some 30,000 animals. Among these are endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round, and the photo opportunities here are unrivalled. We jump in some 4WDs and head into the crater itself for three to four hours where the kids (and adults!) can enjoy spotting the animals. Leaving the park we head to Karatu - our overnight stop was the kids can take a swim in the campsite pool.

Accommodation:
• Flamingo Lodge campsite or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Included Activities:
Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive

Special Information:
You will notice some Maasai villages in the region of the Ngorongoro crater offering a cultural experience. Intrepid recommends avoiding these villages, as they can impact negatively on the Maasai culture and travellers' perceptions of it by selling an artificial experience.

Day 7: Mto Wa Mbu
After breakfast, take a short 30-minute drive to Mto Wa Mbu where you will camp for the night. Upon arrival, join the local community for a guided afternoon stroll around the farming areas, milling machine and local homes before enjoying a traditional meal. This afternoon you can relax around the campsite or have a swim in the pool. (Driving time: 30minutes)

Accommodation:
• Twiga Lodge & Campsite or similar (1 night)
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Included Activities:
Mto wa Mbu - Village walk and lunch

Day 8: Nairobi
Set off early this morning (around 7.30 am), heading for the border with Kenya and then on to Nairobi. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you'll be dropped at the finishing point hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but this can be arranged when you book this trip. (Driving time today is 7–8 hours)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Special Information
If you didn't want to travel all the way back to Nairobi consider flying out of Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).
The group will be travelling through Arusha at approximately 9 am. You can either be dropped at the Impala Hotel in the centre of town or at Arusha airport. If flying out of Kilimanjaro airport, you will need to make your own way or arrange a transfer at additional cost.

Kilimanjaro airport is 1.5 hrs from township of Arusha. Arusha Airport is 20 mins from the township of Arusha

Departing flights:
Out of Nairobi no earlier than 8pm
Out of Arusha no earlier than 10.30am
Out of Kilimanjaro no earlier than 1 pm

Offer Includes

Meal Plans