Day 1 – Arrival in Tanzania – Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha City

Arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport aboard afternoon flight ET 867 ETA 1805 hrs / similar. Met by your safari manager after you clear with immigrations, assisted to your private car and transferred to your hotel for check in and pre safari briefing. Rest of the evening will be spent at leisure to relax and settle down as you enjoy nice African weather. Dinner will be on own account at your hotel. Overnight stay at Gran Melia Arusha (Deluxe Mt. Meru Facing Room) / Mt. Meru Hotel (Premium Room) / Kibo Palace Hotel (Executive Room) / similar- Bed and Breakfast Basis. https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/tanzania/arusha/gran-melia-arusha   //

 https://kibopalacehotel.com/kibo-palace-hotel-moshi/  // https://www.mountmeruhotel.co.tz/

Day 2 – Arusha – Tarangire National Park for game drives – Approx. 2.5 hrs driving time

Breakfast will be served at your hotel from 0630 hrs. Check out by 0730 hrs, board your private 4x4WD safari equipped land cruiser and driven to Tarangire National Park. You will embark on game viewing activities until late afternoon. Tarangire National Park is famous for its iconic baobab trees and big herds of Elephants.

With nine distinct vegetation zones ranging from grassland to woodland, from deep gully vegetation to scattered rocky hilltops, Tarangire offers a diverse geological landscape as well as diverse wildlife, including an extraordinary concentration of bird life.

Bulbous baobab trees dot the landscape and the valley of the Tarangire River dominates the entire scene. Tarangire is teeming with an amazing diversity of exotic flora and fauna including elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo.

The rest of the evening will be at leisure to relax at your lodge as you share your game viewing moments.

Dinner and overnight stay at Tarangire Elephant Springs / Nyikani Tarangire Camp / Lake Burunge Tented Lodge / similar, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. https://karibucamps.com/elephant-springs/   // https://nyikani.com/nyikani-camp-tarangire/   //  https://twctanzania.com/tarangire/lake-burunge-tented-lodge/

Day 3 – Tarangire – Ndutu Plains (Southern Serengeti National Park) – Approx. 5 hrs drive

Breakfast at your lodge. Check out by 0730 hrs and driven to the short grass plains of southern Serengeti in the Lake Ndutu area. The scenic drive takes you past the famous Ol Duvai gorge museum where archaeological collections by Louis and Mary Leakey are preserved insitu (you may opt to visit and pay locally). You will arrive at your strategically located tented camp with en route game viewing. Check in and lunch. This afternoon you will enjoy game drives covering diverse habitat in the area in search of both resident and migrant wildlife species.

Overnight stay at Masek Tented Lodge / Nyikani Migration Camp Ndutu / Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. https://twctanzania.com/ngorongoro-conservation-area/masek-tented-lodge/   // https://nyikani.com/nyikani-migration-camp-ndutu/  // https://twctanzania.com/serengeti-national-park/ndutu-kati-kati-tented-camp/

Day 4 – Southern Serengeti

You will have day long game viewing drives through the region, taking in the shores of both Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek as well as the surrounding areas where tens of thousands of young wildebeest take their first steps after being born between February and March of every year.

The Ndutu Region forms part of southern Serengeti National Park, a meeting point for these two incredible wilderness areas. This section of the park is made up of rolling grasslands peppered with alkaline lakes that attract flocks of flamingos, as well as acacia woodlands.

There is year-round resident wildlife (such as giraffe, elephant, hyena and various antelope species) in the Ndutu Region, and you can spot animals around the waterholes during the dry season from June to November. Look out for the six cat species lion, cheetah, leopard, serval, African wildcat and caracal (if lucky) that are present throughout the year.

The best period to visit the Ndutu Region is from December, when the migrant wildebeest herds start to arrive from the north, until April when the millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles head to central Serengeti. In the early months of the year with the peak in February, the wildebeest herds give birth on the verdant grassy plains when thousands upon thousands of baby animals are born every day, attracting the attention of cheetah, lion, hyena, jackal and other predators. Overnight stay at Masek Tented Lodge / Nyikani Migration Camp Ndutu / Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

 Day 5- Southern Serengeti to Central Serengeti

Breakfast at your camp. Check out and depart for the Serengeti. Enjoy en route game viewing leading you to your centrally located lodge in central Serengeti.

You will enjoy a sumptuous lunch, followed by afternoon game viewing activities.

The seemingly endless central Serengeti plains where you will be enjoying your game viewing

drives form a habitat for Lions, Cheetah, Zebra, Buffalo, Giraffe, Rhino, Leopard and other animals that the Serengeti is famous for. Serengeti also hosts the over 1.5 migrant wildebeests, Zebras and Topis between the months of November to June.

Serengeti Masai Mara migration guide: https://www.esseniasafaris.com/a-guide-to-the-serengeti-masai-mara-wildebeest-migration/ . Our game drives will cover the varied habitats and eco-systems of Serengeti. Overnight stay at Serengeti Sametu Camp / Nyikani Serengeti Central Camp / Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.  https://karibucamps.com/sametu-camp/  //  https://nyikani.com/nyikani-camp-central-serengeti/  // https://twctanzania.com/serengeti-national-park/serengeti-kati-kati-tented-camp/

Day 6- Serengeti- Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Approx. 4.5 hrs drive

Breakfast at your lodge. Check out by 0730 hrs, board your safari jeep and driven to Ngorongoro with packed lunch. On arrival, descend the steep walls of the caldera, and enjoy game drives on the crater floor. The crater enjoys one of the highest concentration of Lions in Africa.

Day 7- Ngorongoro Highlands – Arusha- Kilimanjaro International Airport- Departure

Breakfast will be served at your lodge. Check out by 0900 hrs. Board your safari vehicle and be driven

to the city of Arusha. You will visit the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre. Here, you can purchase handcrafts and souvenirs that you can take back home and you may have lunch at the same place – both payable directly. You will then be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport board your late evening departure flight ET 814 ETD 1905 hrs / similar to your next destination, having had an amazing, pleasantly memorable safari adventure in Tanzania with Essenia Safaris, the East Africa Safari Specialists. Meals: Breakfast. End of our services!

 Cost of safari package per person based on adults travelling using a 4x4WD safari vehicle on private basis:

Safari Overview:

This is a Tanzania and Kenya combined safari that has been designed for travellers that want to witness the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti and Masai Mara from July to October every year.

DAY 1- Drive from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater

DAY 2- Ngorongoro Crater tour, drive to central Serengeti

DAY 3- Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti

DAY 4- Northern Serengeti near the Mara River

DAY 5- Northern Serengeti to Masai Mara

DAY 6 & DAY 7- Masai Mara National Reserve

DAY 8- MASAI MARA- NAIROBI CITY- DEPARTURE

Day 1- Arusha City – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Pick up from your hotel in the city of Arusha (option for pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport). Depart by road in a private 4x4WD safari vehicle for the Ngorongoro highlands, on a scenic drive through the country side with views of the Rift Valley in the lake Manyara area. Check in and lunch at your lodge. Afternoon will be at leisure to relax as you enjoy spectacular views of the lush Ngorongoro highlands and enjoy the cool, fresh air. Dinner and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge / Acacia Farm Lodge / Ngorongoro Farm House / similar. Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

Day 2- Ngorongoro Crater Tour- Central Serengeti

Early breakfast will be served at your lodge. Collect your packed lunch, board your safari jeep and be driven down the steep walls of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera for game drives on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. Lions, Elephants (including huge bulls), Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Black Rhino, Gnus, Jackals, Baboons, Buffalos, Flamingos (on the crater lakes), Hippos and even the rare Caracal are some of the animals you might spot here. Enjoy your lunch at the Ngoitoktok springs picnic site as you watch hippos, then begin your drive to Central Serengeti. Arrive in the evening, just on time for your game drives in the park, as you head to your camp where you check in at dusk. Overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs / Serengeti Sametu Camp / Serengeti Kati Kati Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3- Central Serengeti- Northern Serengeti

Breakfast at your camp. Check out and enjoy morning game drives in the Central Serengeti plains as you head north of the park to trail the wildebeest migration near the Mara River. Overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp Kogatende / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4- Northern Serengeti

You will spend the day exploring the northern part of the Serengeti as you search for major wildlife sightings. This is where you can witness the great migration between June and October as they graze in the savannah woodlands and along the banks of the crocodile infested Mara River with frequent River crossings between the south and north being witnessed regularly. After the calving season in southern Serengeti between February and March, the migration moves to Central Serengeti between April and May, before arriving north from June. Big predators like Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and scavenging opportunists like jackals, hyenas, vultures, Marabou Storks are always trailing the migration so you also have a chance of catching them in action. Dinner and overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5- Northern Serengeti- Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, collect your picnic lunch and depart to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve. You will have a stop over at the Isebania border where you will clear with immigrations.  You arrive Masai Mara in the afternoon and enjoy your game drives, arriving at your camp at dusk for check in. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6 and Day 7- Masai Mara

You will spend the two days exploring this world renown reserve during your game drives. Your expert safari driver / guide with in-depth knowledge of the vast reserve will help you locate Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippos, Elands, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Hartebeest, Warthog, Black Backed Jackal, Mongoose, Masai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Martial Eagle, Vultures, Egrets among several other mammal and bird species that call Masai Mara home. You simply need to have your animal checker guide ready, and get ready for the adventure.

Between the months of June and September, Masai Mara hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration when over 1.2 million wildebeest and Zebra cross over from northern Serengeti into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, especially the red oat grass which is a delicacy to the marauding Gnus.

If you travel during these months, your guide will dedicate time to trailing the migrating herds both in the savannah and along the banks of the Crocodile infested Mara River. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8- Masai Mara- Nairobi- Departure

This morning, you check out and begin your drive to the city of Nairobi. (There is an option to book 50 minutes flight). On arrival in Nairobi, you may have your farewell lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, followed by transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on time for your evening departure flight, having enjoyed an enriching safari experience with Essenia safaris, the bespoke safari specialists.  Meals: Breakfast. End of our Services!

Day 4- Northern Serengeti

You will spend the day exploring the northern part of the Serengeti as you search for major wildlife sightings. This is where you can witness the great migration between June and October as they graze in the savannah woodlands and along the banks of the crocodile infested Mara River with frequent River crossings between the south and north being witnessed regularly. After the calving season in southern Serengeti between February and March, the migration moves to Central Serengeti between April and May, before arriving north from June. Big predators like Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and scavenging opportunists like jackals, hyenas, vultures, Marabou Storks are always trailing the migration so you also have a chance of catching them in action. Dinner and overnight stay at Ole Serai Luxury Camp (Kogatende) / Serengeti River Camp / Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5- Northern Serengeti- Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, collect your picnic lunch and depart to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve. You will have a stop over at the Isebania border where you will clear with immigrations.  You arrive Masai Mara in the afternoon and enjoy your game drives, arriving at your camp at dusk for check in. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6 and Day 7- Masai Mara

You will spend the two days exploring this world renown reserve during your game drives. Your expert safari driver / guide with in-depth knowledge of the vast reserve will help you locate Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippos, Elands, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Hartebeest, Warthog, Black Backed Jackal, Mongoose, Masai Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Martial Eagle, Vultures, Egrets among several other mammal and bird species that call Masai Mara home. You simply need to have your animal checker guide ready, and get ready for the adventure.

Between the months of June and September, Masai Mara hosts the world’s biggest wildlife spectacle; the annual wildebeest migration when over 1.2 million wildebeest and Zebra cross over from northern Serengeti into Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, especially the red oat grass which is a delicacy to the marauding Gnus.

If you travel during these months, your guide will dedicate time to trailing the migrating herds both in the savannah and along the banks of the Crocodile infested Mara River. Overnight stay at Mara Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Engai Wilderness Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp / Base Camp Masai Mara / similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8- Masai Mara- Nairobi- Departure

This morning, you check out and begin your drive to the city of Nairobi. (There is an option to book 50 minutes flight). On arrival in Nairobi, you may have your farewell lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, followed by transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on time for your evening departure flight, having enjoyed an enriching safari experience with Essenia safaris, the bespoke safari specialists.  Meals: Breakfast. End of our Services!

Price per person sharing a double / twin / triple room depending on the number of travellers in the safari vehicle (minimum 2, maximum 6 people in a safari vehicle).

All rates quoted are NET payable to Essenia Safari Experts Ltd and include:

Arrival and departure transfers at Kilimanjaro and Jomo Kenyatta International Airports respectively on private basis

1 nights’ accommodation at the Ngorongoro Crater on full board basis

3 nights’ accommodation while on safari in Serengeti on full board basis

3 nights’ accommodation while on safari in Masai Mara on full board basis

All Park entrance fees, concession and crater service fees applicable as per the itinerary

Transport and game drives on safari using a 4x4WD safari converted land cruiser on private basis

Services of a professional, English speaking safari driver / guide

Free enrolment on the AMREF Flying Doctor emergency medical evacuation scheme for all guests with valid travel insurance.

One pair of binoculars provided inside the safari vehicle for use by guests during the trip

Complimentary hand sanitizers inside the safari vehicle

Purified drinking water inside the safari vehicle

Applicable government taxes on tourist services

Not Included in the package:

Additional sightseeing or deviation from the itinerary, all International and domestic Flights, cost of Visa to Kenya and Tanzania, Vaccinations etc, all items of a personal nature such as tobacco; laundry; phone calls, etc., All extra costs incurred at the hotels including drinks, telephone services, Tip for safari guide & waiters, porters, extra guiding fees, Medical/Travel Insurance, any domestic Flights, Post Safari PCR testing, any Other Items not mentioned in the inclusions list.

All rates quoted are subject to availability at the time of booking. In a case where a quoted lodge will not be available, we shall do our best to provide an alternative, but the pricing might be affected.

PLEASE NOTE THAT:

The safari is operated on private basis and can begin any day, subject to availability of rooms

It is possible to make slight adjustments to the package

Prices are based on number of travellers in the vehicle, minimum 2 pax. Maximum 6 pax

It is possible to change lodges to ones of your choice subject to availability

Domestic flights can be added for the sectors Serengeti to Masai Mara and Masai Mara to Serengeti, at an extra cost and subject to availability of seats.

Cost of safari package (per person sharing a double or twin room) based on number of travelers:

Cost of safari package (per person sharing a double or twin room) based on number of travelers:

Day 1- Nairobi- Loisaba

Pick up by your safari manager from your city Hotel in Nairobi and transferred to Wilson Airport. You will board your scheduled flight to Loisaba departing at 0800 hrs. Arrival at Loisaba airstrip at around 0930 hrs. Met by your safari guide in a 4x4WD safari vehicle and transferred to the camp for check in. Lunch, settle in and then embark on afternoon game viewing activities at the expansive Loisaba Conservancy. Perched on the edge of an escarpment, Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp is designed to capitalize on unhindered views across Laikipia’s mottled landscape all the way to Mt Kenya. All accommodations and main areas enjoy a breathtaking vantage point over an expansive panorama.

The flavour of Loisaba Tented Camp is the African themed sophistication and style.

Spacious and airy tents are custom-built with large floor-to-ceiling doors and windows, high ceilings and polished wood floors. The tent suites are adorned in chic Africana furniture with a modern European twist.

Overnight stay at Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp. Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

Day 2- Loisaba Conservancy

Full day spent enjoying scheduled day and night game viewing activities or relaxing at your luxury tented camp.

Covering 57,000 acres of land, Loisaba is a private conservancy, enjoying spectacular views of Mount Kenya, and excellent wildlife viewing, including the less-seen and rare northern species: wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, greater kudu, and oryx.

The conservancy is owned by Loisaba Community Trust, a Kenyan Trust incorporated under the Perpetual Succession of Trustees Act, and committed to wildlife and ecological conservation. The mission of Loisaba is to protect and enhance critical wildlife diversity, abundance and habitat in the Loisaba landscape, which sits on the western edge of one of Kenya’s most important elephant movement corridors, while concurrently supporting sustainable livestock production and improving the lives of neighboring. Overnight stay at Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Optional activities: There are several optional activities that you can engage in during your stay at Loisaba.

The activities include horse-riding, camel-trekking, guided bush walks, fishing, mountain biking, cultural visits to Samburu villages and visits to the anti-poaching sniffer dogs.

Day 3- Loisaba- Nairobi- Departure

Breakfast at your camp. Check out and enjoy en route game viewing as you are transferred to the airstrip. You will board your scheduled flight back to Wilson Airport departing at 1020 hrs. Arrival at around 1120 hrs, met and driven to The Carnivore Restaurant or the Tamarind Karen Blixen Coffee Garden Restaurant. Later, transferred to your city Hotel or the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on time for your outbound flight. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch: End of Services!

 NB: If you wish to immerse yourself more into the local culture and also engage in the extra optional activities, a 3^rd night at Loisaba is recommended. Contact us if you need the extra night quote.