Compare Call of the Migration Tanzania & Kenya by Rothschild Safaris vs The Best of Kenya and Tanzania: A Classic Safari by Road Scholar

Day 1: Arusha - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Garden room

A special meet & greet has been arranged for your arrival to assist you through customs, immigration and to collect your bags. Please look out for an airport representative with your name on a signboard. You will be assisted to your Johannesburg airport hotel.

Today you will fly into Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. On arrival, proceed to the arrivals halls where our representative will be waiting with your name on a sign board. Once you connect with your Rothschild Safaris representative, you will be escorted to your vehicle for transfer to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge.

Nice To Know:

Wifi Available

Accommodation meal inclusions:

Full English breakfast, dinner

Activities Included:

Nature walks - Boating - Croquet

Activities Available At Additional Cost:

Horse riding

Mountain biking

Trout fishing

Cultural tours

Coffee farm tours

Day 2 – 3: Tarangire National Park - Kuro Camp

Accommodation: Safari Tent

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arusha - Tarangire National Park, Scheduled Flight

This morning you will transfer to the local airstrip and board your scheduled flight to Tarangire National Park. On arrival, you will be met by your guide for your drive to the camp (approximately 15 minutes).

Nice to know:

Children 8 years and older are welcome at camp. Children over 12 years are allowed to take part in walking safaris.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines. Laundry services.

Activities Included:

Morning & afternoon game drives - Guided walking safaris - Sundowners and bush picnics

Activities Available At Additional Cost: - Night drives with spotlight

Day 4 – 5: Ngorongoro Crater - Plantation Lodge, Accommodation, Standard Room

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Plantation Lodge

This morning you will transfer with your guide by road to Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy a game drive in the park before continuing to the Ngorongoro Highlands and your lodge. Travel through an expanse of lush jungle-like forest where you may encounter hundred-strong baboon troops or blue monkeys. Arrive at the open grassy floodplain and enjoy the expansive views across the alkaline lake. Typically large buffalo, wildebeest, zebra herds and giraffe will congregate on these grassy plains. Your guide will find a picnic spot for you to enjoy your lunch. You then continue through the Park and on towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Most transfers arrive to the lodge in the late afternoon. We recommend you settle into your lodge and enjoy dinner.

Nice To Know:

WiFi is available throughout the property.

Day 4 Maasai Village

Visit This afternoon, you will have the chance to visit a local Maasai village, where you get to learn about the tribe’s traditional, nomadic lifestyle and their coexistence with wildlife. Spend as much time at the village as you wish interacting, or learning about their traditional bead work and crafts, take a look inside their homes and enjoy the small children who run around excited as you wander through their homestead.

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater

Drive On your second day here, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s finest game haunts that plays host to almost every individual wildlife species in East Africa, including the Big Five, the rare black-maned lions, endangered black rhino and over 100 species of birds.

Day 6 – 8: Serengeti National Park - Olakira Mobile Camp, Accommodation, Luxury Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

After breakfast this morning you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Serengeti National Park. On arrival in the Serengeti you will be met by your guide and transferred to your camp. Find yourself captivated on arrival at this traditional, mobile camp.

Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park, Scheduled Flight

Accommodation

As the Great Migration makes its way across the expansive Serengeti plains, so the luxury seasonal Olakira Camp follows; the camp moves twice a year between carefully chosen campsites, allowing for superb game viewing at all times. Under canvas and intimate, Olakira Camp captures the essence of classic mobile tented safaris with nine spacious and comfortable tents. Each tent features a king size bed complete with rich linens, an under-cover veranda with comfortable chaise longue, and en-suite bathroom and dressing area with hot-water safari bucket showers and flushing toilets.

Nice To Know:

Children 5 years and older are welcome. Battery charging facilities are available at camp.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines and laundry.

Activities Included:

Game drives - Bush breakfast and picnics - Cultural & community visits

Activities Available At Additional Cost:

Hot air balloon safari

Day 9 – 10: Maasai Mara Game Reserve - Olonana Camp, Accommodation , Safari Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Enjoy a game drive as you transfer to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Tarime. On arrival in Tarime, you will be met by our representative for your road transfer to Migori. En-route, you will stop at the Kenya/ Tanzania border to go through customs and immigration, accompanied by your guide. This typically takes approximately 1 1/2 hours. After clearing customs, you will continue with your road transfer to Migori where you will connect with your light aircraft flight to Maasai Mara. As you arrive in the Maasai Mara, you will be met by your guide and transferred by road to the camp. Game viewing begins as you transfer from the airstrip to the camp.

Serengeti National Park - Tarime, Scheduled Flight, Migori - Maasai Mara, Scheduled Flight

Accommodation

This small and exclusive camp is situated on a private stretch of the Mara River. The camp features 14 spacious and tastefully appointed tents with en-suite bathrooms and river view verandahs where guests can relax and watch the resident hippos wallowing. The en-suite tents all have two four-poster beds with floor to ceiling mosquito netting. There are also two honeymoon suites, each featuring outdoor showers. Relax with a good book in the library, cool off in the pool or for an extra special treat, experience traditional African remedies and spa treatments in the mini-spa.

Nice to know:

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and main area. Electricity supply is a combination of silent generator, solar and battery system. Rooms include hairdryers.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines and laundry

Activities Included:

Morning and afternoon game drives with sundowners - Nature walk - Maasai village visit - Visit to a school

Activities Available At Additional Cost: Hot air balloon safari

Day 11 – 13: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - Lewa Wilderness Lodge, Accommodation, Cottage

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Today you will board your scheduled flight to Lewa Wilderness Conservancy. Upon arrival at the Conservancy airstrip, you will be met by your guide for your drive to the camp, approximately 45 minutes. Maasai Mara - Nairobi, Scheduled Flight, Nairobi - Lewa, Scheduled Flight.

Accommodation

Lewa Wilderness is situated near the base of Mt Kenya and is one of the oldest and most private safari ventures. The Craig family has passed down from one generation to the next a distinct passion for wildlife, conservation and tourism. This place is as much a home as it is a truly unique and personal safari experience. You will find Lewa Wilderness lodge as the base for all activities including Walking Wild camel safaris. The advantage of being located in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is that guests are surrounded by rich game viewing opportunities without the crowds. There is a very good chance of seeing all of the “Big Five” and Lewa is one of the only game parks where visitors are almost guaranteed to see endangered black and white rhinos. Lewa Wilderness has ten elegantly decorated thatched chalets complete with open fires and private terraces with beautiful views. Relax with a game on the tennis court, wander through the grounds that include a stable with over 30 horses and ponies, get those endorphins pumping at the gym or enjoy a dip in the saltwater pool.

Nice To Know:

Internet access is available in communal areas but may be intermittent.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers, house wines and laundry

Activities Included:

Morning & evening game drives, led by professional guides - Guided game walks - Visit the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy HQ (educational talks, school or project visits) - Horse riding - Camel walks - Visits to Il’Ngwesi cultural boma (entrance fee payable direct)

Day 14

This morning you will transfer to the local airstrip for your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the international airport in time to connect with your international departure flight. Depending on your departure flight time, an optional day use room is available at additional cost. Lewa - Nairobi, Scheduled Flight

Day 1: Arusha - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Garden room

A special meet & greet has been arranged for your arrival to assist you through customs, immigration and to collect your bags. Please look out for an airport representative with your name on a signboard. You will be assisted to your Johannesburg airport hotel.

Today you will fly into Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. On arrival, proceed to the arrivals halls where our representative will be waiting with your name on a sign board. Once you connect with your Rothschild Safaris representative, you will be escorted to your vehicle for transfer to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge.

Nice To Know:

Wifi Available

Accommodation meal inclusions:

Full English breakfast, dinner

Activities Included:

Nature walks - Boating - Croquet

Activities Available At Additional Cost:

Horse riding

Mountain biking

Trout fishing

Cultural tours

Coffee farm tours

Day 2 – 3: Tarangire National Park - Kuro Camp

Accommodation: Safari Tent

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arusha - Tarangire National Park, Scheduled Flight

This morning you will transfer to the local airstrip and board your scheduled flight to Tarangire National Park. On arrival, you will be met by your guide for your drive to the camp (approximately 15 minutes).

Nice to know:

Children 8 years and older are welcome at camp. Children over 12 years are allowed to take part in walking safaris.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines. Laundry services.

Activities Included:

Morning & afternoon game drives - Guided walking safaris - Sundowners and bush picnics

Activities Available At Additional Cost: - Night drives with spotlight

Day 4 – 5: Ngorongoro Crater - Plantation Lodge, Accommodation, Standard Room

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Plantation Lodge

This morning you will transfer with your guide by road to Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy a game drive in the park before continuing to the Ngorongoro Highlands and your lodge. Travel through an expanse of lush jungle-like forest where you may encounter hundred-strong baboon troops or blue monkeys. Arrive at the open grassy floodplain and enjoy the expansive views across the alkaline lake. Typically large buffalo, wildebeest, zebra herds and giraffe will congregate on these grassy plains. Your guide will find a picnic spot for you to enjoy your lunch. You then continue through the Park and on towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Most transfers arrive to the lodge in the late afternoon. We recommend you settle into your lodge and enjoy dinner.

Nice To Know:

WiFi is available throughout the property.

Day 4 Maasai Village

Visit This afternoon, you will have the chance to visit a local Maasai village, where you get to learn about the tribe’s traditional, nomadic lifestyle and their coexistence with wildlife. Spend as much time at the village as you wish interacting, or learning about their traditional bead work and crafts, take a look inside their homes and enjoy the small children who run around excited as you wander through their homestead.

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater

Drive On your second day here, you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s finest game haunts that plays host to almost every individual wildlife species in East Africa, including the Big Five, the rare black-maned lions, endangered black rhino and over 100 species of birds.

Day 6 – 8: Serengeti National Park - Olakira Mobile Camp, Accommodation, Luxury Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

After breakfast this morning you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Serengeti National Park. On arrival in the Serengeti you will be met by your guide and transferred to your camp. Find yourself captivated on arrival at this traditional, mobile camp.

Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park, Scheduled Flight

Accommodation

As the Great Migration makes its way across the expansive Serengeti plains, so the luxury seasonal Olakira Camp follows; the camp moves twice a year between carefully chosen campsites, allowing for superb game viewing at all times. Under canvas and intimate, Olakira Camp captures the essence of classic mobile tented safaris with nine spacious and comfortable tents. Each tent features a king size bed complete with rich linens, an under-cover veranda with comfortable chaise longue, and en-suite bathroom and dressing area with hot-water safari bucket showers and flushing toilets.

Nice To Know:

Children 5 years and older are welcome. Battery charging facilities are available at camp.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines and laundry.

Activities Included:

Game drives - Bush breakfast and picnics - Cultural & community visits

Activities Available At Additional Cost:

Hot air balloon safari

Day 9 – 10: Maasai Mara Game Reserve - Olonana Camp, Accommodation , Safari Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Enjoy a game drive as you transfer to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Tarime. On arrival in Tarime, you will be met by our representative for your road transfer to Migori. En-route, you will stop at the Kenya/ Tanzania border to go through customs and immigration, accompanied by your guide. This typically takes approximately 1 1/2 hours. After clearing customs, you will continue with your road transfer to Migori where you will connect with your light aircraft flight to Maasai Mara. As you arrive in the Maasai Mara, you will be met by your guide and transferred by road to the camp. Game viewing begins as you transfer from the airstrip to the camp.

Serengeti National Park - Tarime, Scheduled Flight, Migori - Maasai Mara, Scheduled Flight

Accommodation

This small and exclusive camp is situated on a private stretch of the Mara River. The camp features 14 spacious and tastefully appointed tents with en-suite bathrooms and river view verandahs where guests can relax and watch the resident hippos wallowing. The en-suite tents all have two four-poster beds with floor to ceiling mosquito netting. There are also two honeymoon suites, each featuring outdoor showers. Relax with a good book in the library, cool off in the pool or for an extra special treat, experience traditional African remedies and spa treatments in the mini-spa.

Nice to know:

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and main area. Electricity supply is a combination of silent generator, solar and battery system. Rooms include hairdryers.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers & spirits, house wines and laundry

Activities Included:

Morning and afternoon game drives with sundowners - Nature walk - Maasai village visit - Visit to a school

Activities Available At Additional Cost: Hot air balloon safari

Day 11 – 13: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - Lewa Wilderness Lodge, Accommodation, Cottage

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Today you will board your scheduled flight to Lewa Wilderness Conservancy. Upon arrival at the Conservancy airstrip, you will be met by your guide for your drive to the camp, approximately 45 minutes. Maasai Mara - Nairobi, Scheduled Flight, Nairobi - Lewa, Scheduled Flight.

Accommodation

Lewa Wilderness is situated near the base of Mt Kenya and is one of the oldest and most private safari ventures. The Craig family has passed down from one generation to the next a distinct passion for wildlife, conservation and tourism. This place is as much a home as it is a truly unique and personal safari experience. You will find Lewa Wilderness lodge as the base for all activities including Walking Wild camel safaris. The advantage of being located in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is that guests are surrounded by rich game viewing opportunities without the crowds. There is a very good chance of seeing all of the “Big Five” and Lewa is one of the only game parks where visitors are almost guaranteed to see endangered black and white rhinos. Lewa Wilderness has ten elegantly decorated thatched chalets complete with open fires and private terraces with beautiful views. Relax with a game on the tennis court, wander through the grounds that include a stable with over 30 horses and ponies, get those endorphins pumping at the gym or enjoy a dip in the saltwater pool.

Nice To Know:

Internet access is available in communal areas but may be intermittent.

Other Accommodation Inclusions:

Soft drinks, local beers, house wines and laundry

Activities Included:

Morning & evening game drives, led by professional guides - Guided game walks - Visit the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy HQ (educational talks, school or project visits) - Horse riding - Camel walks - Visits to Il’Ngwesi cultural boma (entrance fee payable direct)

Day 14

This morning you will transfer to the local airstrip for your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the international airport in time to connect with your international departure flight. Depending on your departure flight time, an optional day use room is available at additional cost. Lewa - Nairobi, Scheduled Flight

 

Day 1 Departures and Overnight flights to Kenya In Flight

Depart on overnight flights from the USA.

Day 2 Arrival in Kenya Nairobi

Arrivals in Nairobi in the late evening. Meet your Study Leader on arrival and check in to the hotel.

Day 3 Giraffe Conservation and Elephant Orphanage Nairobi

After orientation briefing, depart for the elephant orphanage and learn about the conservation efforts here. You will also have the chance to observe how the rangers feed the baby elephants.

During a special presentation, learn about the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya efforts to increase the numbers of endangered Rothschild Giraffe at the Giraffe Center, where you will have the rare treat of hand-feeding these gentle giants and face them eye-to-eye from an elevated viewing platform. Return to the hotel in early afternoon.

In the hotel.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Your choice to explore local fare.

Day 4 Amboseli National Park / In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro Amboseli National Park

The drive from Nairobi to Amboseli will take at least 4 hours and part of the road is unpaved. 2-3 hour game drives at sunrise and in the late afternoon. There are no toilet facilities outside of the lodge.

Depart this morning by Safari Van for the Amboseli National Park.

Meet your Study Leader for an orientation to game viewing and the wildlife of East Africa. Then put your new knowledge to work as you set out on your first game drive in the park.

In the hotel.

At the lodge in the Amboseli.

Be welcomed to the Amboseli National Park with a dinner at the lodge.

Day 5 Amboseli Big Game / The East African Elephant Amboseli National Park

As the sun rises, head out to continue the search through the varied wildlife habitats of the park. Later after a brief rest and before lunch join your Study Leader for a presentation: "Understanding the Tribes of Kenya and Tanzania" with a focus on the culture and customs of the Maasai.

After lunch, head back out in search of big game. Before dinner, meet with an expert from the Amboseli Elephant Trust to learn about the majestic East African Elephant.

In the lodge after the morning game drive.

In the lodge.

In the lodge.

Day 6 Twin peaks of Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro/ the coffee country Arusha

The drive from the lodge in Amboseli to the border will take at least 3 hours and part of the road is unpaved and can be rough at some times of year. The drive from the border to Arusha will take 2 hours and is paved.

This morning we leave early, enjoying a scenic game drive through the western part of Amboseli to the Tanzanian border. Late in the morning we stop at the border for formalities and to change vehicles. We continue our drive from the border to the city of Arusha for lunch. the drive offers an excellent look into rural life in Kenya and Tanzania.

Located in the northern highlands of Tanzania, beneath the twin peaks of Mt. Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is the safari capital of the country. Guests embarking on the popular northern safari circuit all stop in the ‘Geneva of Africa’ to prepare for their journeys into the African bush. From its two-lane streets, the dramatic crater of Mt. Meru stands over the town like a majestic sentinel, its crater strewn with thick clouds, its slopes dark with verdant forest. Arusha’s ideal location near the major national parks and its highland setting make it a peaceful idyll of relaxation before the start of an exciting journey. Built by the Germans as a center of colonial administration in the early 20th century, Arusha was a sleepy town with a garrison stationed at the old boma and a few shops around a grassy roundabout. From its backwater status amidst the farmlands and plantations of northern Tanzania, today Arusha is one of the country’s most prosperous towns. The site for the United Nations Criminal Tribunal on the Rwandan genocide and the headquarters for the Tripartite commission for East African Co-operation, Arusha is a major center of Tanzanian diplomacy and international relations.

In the lodge.

In Arusha at a local hotel.

At the lodge near Arusha.

Day 7 Crossing the Great Rift Valley to Ngorongoro Crater Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The drive from the lodge in Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park will take at 3 hours and the road is paved except inside the park. The drive from Lake Manyara National Park to the Lodge in Ngorongo will take about 3.5 hours and is also paved most of the way except part of the road is unpaved and can be rough at some times of year. While long, this day offers some excellent scenic driving and a unique look into rural East Africa.

This morning we leave early, enjoying a scenic game drive through more of rural Tanzania and the Baobab Tree countryside. Lake Manyara National Park: We will visit this park located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, to discover it’s varied ecosystems, rich in wildlife and incredible numbers of birds. The alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of bird life that thrives on its brackish waters. Pink flamingo stoop and graze and give colorful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore. Yellow-billed storks swoop and corkscrew on thermal winds rising up from the escarpment, and herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky. Even reluctant bird-watchers will find something to watch and marvel at within the national park. Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions are another reason why we will visit the park however we can not guarantee their sightings. The only kind of their species in the world, they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacias their home during the rainy season, and are a well-known but rather rare feature of the northern park. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world — a fact that accounts for interesting game viewing of large families of the primates.

We climb the escarpment and continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where agriculture, wildlife conservation and tourism co-exist in one of Africa’s first experiments of multiple-land use. Upon arriving at the park gates learn more about the larger conservation area from your Study Leader. Prior to dinner take the time to enjoy the view of the crater floor from your rooms or from the terrace. The crater rim is a perfect viewpoint to observe the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

In the lodge.

On the way at a local restaurant.

Dinner in the lodge.

Day 8 The Wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Descend the slope into the Ngorongoro Crater in 4-wheel-drive vehicles to spend the morning observing wildlife on the floor of the crater. The 102 square miles of the Ngorongoro Crater are home to 25,000 mammals, many of which are resident due to the geographically enclosed nature of the crater. The crater is also home to the last population of black rhino in northern Tanzania.

Continue your time in the unique Ngorongoro crater on an afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge. Watch the unmissable Ngorongoro Crater sunset. The sun makes a dramatic exit as it sinks below the crater rim. Later enjoy an early evening Presentation: "The Crater Ecosystem and Conservation."

In the lodge.

Stop for an adventurous picnic lunch in the Ngorongoro Crater.

In the lodge.

Day 9 Early History at Olduvai Gorge / The Plains of the Serengeti Serengeti National Park

The drive from Ngorongoro Crater Lodge to Olduvai Gorge is 2 hours on a non-paved, very dusty road. The drive from Olduvai Gorge to Seronera Wildlife Lodge varies according to how much game is seen en route. Depending on the time of year, roads can be very rough and dusty.

Depart early, with luggage, leaving the Crater Rim and make your way to the Serengeti. En route, visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum and learn about the Leakey’s research and discovery of the earliest known species of humanoids.

As you continue driving to the lodge enjoy a game drive though the plains of the Serengeti. In February, this area can get very crowded with Zebras, Wildebeest and Gazelles often with young newborns, be on the lookout for wildlife, as this unfenced land is all part of the Serengeti ecosystem.

Late evening Presentation: Stargazing – A Unique Night Under the African Sky led by your Study Leader. (weather permitting).

In the lodge.

A box lunch is provided to eat at the Serengeti Visitor center picnic area. The area also has a nice walking path up rocky outcrops known as ‘kopjes’ for those looking to stretch their legs.

At the camp.

Day 10 Into the Heart of the Serengeti Serengeti National Park

Get out early to search for game and perhaps a fresh kill just as the sun rises over the Serengeti. Look for fresh tracks and see the Park come to life.

In the Afternoon before going back out on safari, stop at the Serengeti Visitor Center to experience an illustrated presentation about the "Circle of Life". After the presentation, return to the plains to follow the watering holes along the Seronera creek in search of antelope, and other creatures gathering to re-hydrate.

At the camp after the morning game drive.

Boxed lunch en route.

Dinner at the camp in the Serengeti National Park.

Day 11 On the shores of Lake Victoria Speke Bay

The drive between Moru Kopje and Speke Bay Lodge takes 4 to 5 hours and the roads could be particularly rough and dusty. There are no toilet facilities outside the camps, your Group leader will schedule a couple of stops to break this enduring journey.

In the early morning depart the camp to enjoy a scenic drive through the Western Corridor to the shores of Lake Victoria. As we drive west watch for the abundant resident wildlife stopping along the way to observe new sightings. Keep a lookout for animals as you finish the drive to Lake Victoria. Arrive at your lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Enjoy a bird spotting walk around the grounds of the lodge led by an expert guide. During sunset, both sky and lake explode with light.

In the lodge.

At the Lodge

Enjoy dinner in the lodge.

Day 12 From the Shores of Lake Victoria and into the Maasai Mara Masai Mara National Reserve

The drive between Speke Bay Lodge and the Kenyan border takes 3 hours and the roads are tarmac. The border crossing procedures could take up to one hour. There are no toilet facilities outside the camps, your Group leader will schedule a couple of stops to break this journey.

After breakfast continue north to Kenya. As you drive on the main road, you will notice completely different local architecture passing through local villages. After crossing the border, continue to local air strip in Kenya where a charter flight awaits to bring you to the Maasai Mara. When you arrive in the Maasai Mara, the trip to the lodge is a game drive. Search for the creatures of the Mara before arriving at your lodge.

In the afternoon set out on a game drive from your lodge/camp keeping a watch for many resident lion prides or the fastest of all cheetah.

Tracking the Big Five in the Maasai Mara.

At the lodge in the Maasai Mara.

Enjoy dinner in the lodge.

Day 13 Tracking the Big Five in the Maasai Mara. Masai Mara National Reserve

As the light brightens over the Mara, head toward the river to observe hippo, crocodile and birdlife. Depending on the migration, you may see wildebeest attempting the dangerous crossing. Later in the morning before lunch join a local Masai Moran on a nature walk through the edges of the Maasai Mara Park. Learn about local plant life and maybe observe some insects and lizards.

There is a possibility that you will visit a Maasai Village en route today. It is truly a journey into timelessness, back to the way things have been for thousands of years. Some Road Scholars remain forever touched by the experience, the apparent purity, hopefulness, discipline, and pride of the Maasai people they share this time with. However, we would like to prepare you for the reality of this visit. We hope you will understand that there is a chance you will be asked to buy their wares, trinkets, wood carvings, etc. at an improvised village market. The goods offered do not have prices on them. The offered prices could be much higher for similar items found elsewhere. We have asked the Maasai elders to price the goods several times, however, they have not done so yet and do not understand why we are asking them to - to the extent where they think we are trying to westernize them. At this time, we want to preserve the experience, however, we ask that you resist the selling pressure and stand firm and refuse purchase of any goods if you feel uncomfortable at any time. In the afternoon set out on your final game drive. Enjoy the sounds and sights as you say farewell to the Maasai Mara. Later join your Study Leader for a final wrap-up session and presentation.

At leisure

In the camp after the morning game drive.

At the camp.

Final dinner in the Maasai Mara at the lodge.

Day 14 Return to Nairobi Nairobi

Today you will fly from Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures, and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At dawn, embark on a drive toward the river to observe hippo, crocodile and birdlife. Depending on the migration, you may see wildebeest attempting the dangerous crossing. Late Morning - Board a small plane back to Nairobi.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to rest and pack prior to your flight. You have the use of your day room until 6 PM. We will be leaving for the airport shortly after this time.

Coach departs to the airport with luggage.

In the camp after the morning game drive.

In the hotel restaurant on arrival in Nairobi.

Your choice to explore local fare.

Day 15 Return Flights to U.S. In Flight