Unconventional Safari Experiences
Within the vast landscapes of East Africa lay the hidden secrets of the jungles, savanna and beaches. Uncover these secrets and find adventure within an East African Safari. From the gargantuan grasslands of the Masai Mara to the wild winds within the Ngorongoro volcanic crater, and from the snow peaked Mt Kilimanjaro to the heavenly white sandy beaches and warm waters of the Indian Ocean and everything in between, it is all simply Magical. We will help you find your adventure and walk away with breathtaking memories and fantastic photographs. With a simple phone call, we will tailor make your safari.
We largely prepare bespoke itineraries, however here are a few sample itineraries for you to go through. The 3 star itineraries are generally shorter and offer a good standard of properties whereas the five star itineraries are much longer with higher category properties and extra services.
Discover Masai Mara
The Greatest Show on Earth
By the month of June a gentle wind ripples through the tall red oat grass, and the only animals easily visible are the slow moving elephants and giraffes, or a lone topi standing on an abandoned termite mound. A stillness sits across the savannah and the lions of the Mara lie in the shade of the acacias, waiting in anticipation. One late morning, small specks rise up through the bushes by Sand River and within minutes become clouds of dust. A herd of a few hundred wildebeest swarms its way along and then down the dusty river bank. Some of the herd settles for a few sips of water before the throng returns and takes the thirsty back to the top of the river bank. The migration has arrived. Within a couple of days many herds of thousands of wildebeest are trampling their way through the long grass, snaking their way across to Look-Out Hill and then down to the Mara River.
Many visitors only want to see the river crossings but the true spectacle of the migration is 1,245,000 wildebeest, 200,000 Burchell's zebra, 18,000 eland and 500,000 Thomson's Gazelle filling the entire stretch of landscape. The shifting columns of the herds as they traverse the valleys and the hills can only be watched in awe. There is nothing else like this on earth.
On arrival to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by our representative who will escort you to your transfer vehicle.
Our representative will join you on your transfer to the Domestic Airport Wilson Airport (Approx. 30 Min Drive). They will brief you on your safari and are at your disposal to answer any questions you may have.
Once you have checked in, you can have lunch at Dormans Restaurant as you wait for your flight to Maasai Mara (Approx. 40 Min flight time). Dormans became Kenya’s first coffee roaster in 1950. Today they continue to grow coffee, produce, roast and distribute Africa’s most exceptional coffees.
Take off at 1400Hrs and enjoy the views of our beautiful Kenya from up above.
Arrive at Keekorok Airstrip at 1440Hrs and be received by our guide in your private Safari Land Cruiser.
You will embark on an on route game drive as you make your way to your camp.
Check in and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
Wake up for breakfast at the camp.
Head out by 0900Hrs for a full day game drive.
This is recommended because you can drive quite far out to explore the Masai Mara. You will get to go to the migration crossings which is a spectacle this time of the year.
You will have a picnic lunch under a thorn tree on a vantage point. Picturesque...
Continue exploring the Mara and head back to the camp by 1800Hrs.
Wake up early and have breakfast.
Check out from the lodge by 1000 hrs and drive to Nairobi (Approx. 5 hours 30 min drive)
The drive is very scenic as you pass wheat farms, rural towns, drive in to and out of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment and also drive by a dormant volcano, Mount Longonot.
You will pass through Nairobi City and be transferred to the JKIA International Airport for your onward flight.
Explore Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is famous for its Innovative, tangible, sustainable conservation for wildlife and people.
With the snowy peaks of Mt. Kenya as your backdrop, your safari in East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary is sure to be as beautiful as it is diverse. Find yourself and the Big Five as you explore 90,000 acres of pure wild with an experienced guide who will share his expert knowledge with you.
Venture out there for close encounters with elephants, wild dog, lion, hyena, buffalo, cheetah, rhino, and all the plains herbivores. Early morning and evening are the best times to explore the Conservancy, as predators are on the hunt and their prey is on high alert.
Ol Pejeta is the closest place to Nairobi to see the Big Five – just three hours drive from Kenya’s capital.
Head out from Nairobi at 0800 hrs to Ol Pejeta Conservacny which is approximatly a 3 hours drive. The drive is scenic as you get to see the World famous DelMonte Pineapple farms and coffee plantations.
You will arrive in time for lunch at your property and head out to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Carry on for a game drive before your get back to the lodge for dinner. As you are having your dinner Elephants and plains game come to the watering hole a stone throw away from your dining area.
After dinner head out for a night game drive to look for the nocturnal cats on the prowl for their dinner.
Return to the lodge to sit around the camp fire.
Head out for an early morning game drive after you grab your Coffee at 0600 hours. IT gets really chilly in the morning hours but warms up just as soon as the sun starts to rise and peak through the clouds.
Return to the lodge for your breakfast and jump in to the pool...
After lunch you will head out with a team of rangers to participate in helping to gather vital research information needed to monitor the collared lions. In the event that the collared lions are inaccessible, other lion sightings are reported and the same identifying features such as whisker spots, ear tears and nose spotting recorded. It is a great way to learn about lions and all of the information gathered is passed on to the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department. Its thrilling.
Return to the lodge for dinner and entertainment.
Wake up to an early breakfast visit Ol Pejeta’s anti-poaching dog unit. Interact with the dog keepers, and learn about what it takes to look after the highly trained canine team.
After a tour of the kennels, you are encouraged to try and evade the sniffer dogs. Run, jump, twist, turn and find somewhere to hide within the confines of the Morani Information Center area and see if our blood hounds can seek you out. Not only is this great fun for you, but you will also help in keeping the skills of our dogs in sharp shape.
All that will surely turn up an appetite, so head to the Morani Restaurant named in memory of Ol Pejeta’s most famous rhino ambassador, Morani’s was named one of the top 20 amazing places to eat in Kenya’!
After lunch you head back to Nairobi.
Experience Amboseli
Amboseli National Park is magnificent is all senses of the word.
No where else will you find such spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Tallest Mount in Africa and the Worlds Tallest Free Standing Mountain. The term free standing means that it is not part of a cluster or range of mountains like that of the Swiss Alps which cover miles on end, whereas with free standing mountains, it is just one gigantic snow peaked mountain soaring above the clouds, this makes for an amazing backdrop on the contrasting wildlife and landscape.
Amboseli is also revered for large parade of elephants in excess of 500 at a time roaming the plains, a sight worth seeing.
Head out from Nairobi as early as 0700 hrs for Amboseli National Park. You will be heading south from Nairobi and in 5 hours you arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch you head out for a game drive and discover the magic of Amboseli.
Return to the lodge for your supper and enjoy the campfire under the stars.
After breakfast head out to enjoy the park and look for game.
Stop for a picnic lunch in the wild and continue on your game drive.
Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Head out for an early morning game drive at 0600 hrs.
Return for breakfast, check out leisurely and head back to Nairobi.
Bush ‘n Beach
This Itinerary covers 2 game parks as well as a beach destination.
After going on your Bush Adventure its nice to kick back on the beach and soak up the sun.
This Itinerary covers 2 amazing game parks and one beach destination.
After being in the bush adventure for a few days its nice to kick back and soak up the sun.
After breakfast, drive to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy located in Nanyuki (approx. 3 hours drive)
After lunch head out for a game drive and return at sun set.
After dinner sit by the water hole and watch the game come up close for a drink.
Check out from the Lodge after breakfast and head to the Nanyuki Airstrip for your flight to Masai Mara. The one hour flight takes off at 1030 hours.
You will be met by our guide at the Keekorok Airstrip. Continue on an enroute game drive as you head to the camp to check in and have lunch.
At 1800 hours, head out for a game drive and return to the lodge for dinner.
After breakfast, head out for a full day exploring the Mara.
Stop for a picnic lunch and continue on your game drive.
Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Head out for an early morning game drive at 0600 hours and return to the camp for breakfast.
Check out and head to the airstrip for your 1 hour 30 min fight to Mombasa.
You will be met by our representatives at the airport and transferred to the beach resort in time for lunch.
Enjoy the resort facilities.
Kick back and enjoy the beach, resort and spa.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Nairobi.
Perfect Honeymoon
An African safari honeymoon
A honeymoon in Africa creates memories that will last for ever. It forms the perfect backdrop to recollections of your special day, but also a wonderful escape into a whole new reality.
Some newlyweds choose to bring their immediate family, creating a stunning follow-up to the wedding day, but most couples bask in their own company, loving the peaceful contrast to their recent group celebration.
Here amidst the rolling hills they find a haven of tranquillity in which to relax, let the world go by, and quietly begin planning a lifetime ahead. The wonders of the Masai Mara and the private Conservancy lie all around, with ample time to rest and relax in your tent, or make use of our beautifully-appointed facilities.
Naturally the camp spends extra-special attention on newly-married couples, sharing the joy of a new life partnership.
So as you head out on safari, take a dip in the pool or visit the camps award-winning Amani Spa, our job is simple: to ensure you have the time of your lives!
Fly out from Nairobi to Masai Mara and arrive at the Mara Bushtops Camp in time for lunch.
Soak in your private Jacuzzi in your tent as you watch the plains of the Mara.
Head out for a 1600 hours game drive and stop for a romantic sun downer from a vantage point.
Head back to the camp for a private candlelight dinner under the Magical Skies of the Mara.
After breakfast, head out in to the Mara to explore the ecosystem.
At lunch time your guide will stop at a scenic spot. As you admire your surroundings, your guide will set up a picnic lunch paying attention to every little detail, from the flowers to the dessert.
Continue on your game drive as you head back to the camp where the champagne and Jacuzzi is already ready for you.
Have a private dinner in your room with a dedicated butler.
After an early morning game drive and breakfast, transfer to the camp airstrip to fly out to Diani Beach.
Upon arrival at the airstrip you will be transferred to the Beach Resort which is 5 minuted from the airstrip.
Check in and enjoy your lunch by the beach.
Spend the rest of the afternoon in the spa.
Enjoy cocktails before you carry on for dinner.
Enjoy the beach, resort and spa.
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi.
Kenya and Tanzania
Welcome to Kenya!
Check in to the Tribe Hotel and have your welcome dinner at the Jiko Restaurant.
After breakfast head out to the Elephant Orphanage followed by lunch at the Matt Bronze Art Gallery.
Head to the Kazuri beads workshop followed by a visit to the giraffe center.
Return back to your hotel to freshen up and continue to the Phoenician restaurant for dinner.
After breakfast, check out and leave for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy which is a 3 hour drive.
Check in to the Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp in time for lunch.
Head out in the afternoon for a game drive and return for dinner to the camp.
After having a few drinks head out for a night game drive.
After a 0600 hours game drive, return to the camp for breakfast.
Check out and head to the Fairmont Mt Kenya Safari Club which is a 45 mn drive.
After lunch relax and enjoy the views of Mt Kenya.
After breakfast transfer to the Nanyuki Airstrip for your 1 hour flight to Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Transfer with an en route game drive to the Sarova Mara Game Camp in time for lunch.
Afternoon game drive and dinner at the lodge.
Head out at 0500 hours for a balloon safari followed by a champagne bush breakfast.
Return to the camp and head out for an afternoon game drive after lunch.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
After breakfast go for a full day game drive exploring the Mara with a picnic lunch.
Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, fly out from the Keekorok Airstrip to the Migori Airstrip, transfer to the cross the Kenya Tanzania border to the Tarime Airstrip to fly south to the Seronera Airstrip.
The Serengeti Serena is close to the airstrip so you will reach in time for lunch.
Afternoon game drive followed by dinner at the Lodge.
After breakfast head out for a full day exploring the Serengeti with a picnic lunch.
After breakfast check out and head down in to the Ngorongoro Crater for a hot lunch in the bush followed by a game drive.
Drive up out of the crater and check in to Serena Ngorongoro.
After breakfast check out and head to the Lake Manyara National Park.
Have a picnic lunch and catch a flight to Zanzibar.
Transfer to Diamonds La Gemma Dell'Est and check in.
Enjoy the Beach, Resort and Spa...
After breakfast, check out and fly to Nairobi.
Check in to the Tribe Hotel and continue for dinner to the Carnivore Restaurant.
THE WORLD AWAY BUSH & BEACH RETREAT
Samburu | Masai Mara | Indian Ocean, Kenya’s stunning south coast
A 2 week journey combining Kenya’s vast wildernesses and secluded coastal class and calm. Retreat to the natural hideaways of Saruni Samburu, Saruni Mara, Saruni Wild and Alfajiri Villas.
Tour Itinerary:
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a vehicle will transfer you to Wilson Airport for your flight to Samburu.
Depart Nairobi in the morning*, arriving at Samburu an hour later, where your guide will meet you and transfer you to the lodge, or take you on a game drive.
Afternoon game drive on Kalama Conservancy exploring over 200,000 acres of pristine wilderness in total privacy and sundowners with a breathtaking view.
Early morning game drive into Samburu National Reserve to seek out the ‘Samburu Special Five’: the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy zebra, the beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich and the gerenuk, all rare species that occur only in this part of the country, and look for its well-known larger wildlife including elephants, lion and leopard.Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading back to the lodge to relax for the afternoon.
Enjoy a complimentary half hour Back & Neck massage upon arriving back at the lodge.
Continue to explore the wonders of Samburu with a morning game drive and after lunch possibly head out on a nature walk discovering animals, plants and the caves in the local area with rock paintings, accompanied by an experienced Samburu tracker.
Evening game drive in Kalama Conservancy, the 200,000-acre private wildlife conservancy in which Saruni Samburu is located, ending with a bush dinner under the stars in the middle of the wilderness, and a night drive back to the lodge.
The Samburu warriors dancing, candles and fire under the vast African skies, make this a truly magical experience, and one of the highlights of your stay.
Depart Samburu on your flight in the morning* and arrive in the Masai Mara an hour and a half later.
Game drive with a picnic lunch to enjoy under an acacia tree or by the river next to a pod of hippos. Or, head to Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild for some rest and an exclusive game drive later in the afternoon in Mara North Conservancy – over 30,000 acres of plentiful, protected land bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy a completely different and less-explored corner of the Mara ecosystem in total privacy, brimming with wildlife.
Early morning game drive to look for the big cats and other predators of the Mara, returning to the camp or lodge for lunch and treatments at the Maasai Wellbeing Space.
In the afternoon, a game drive will take you to a special area where the largest tower of giraffe can be seen, followed by dinner at the lodge or camp and an optional night game drive.
Walk through the valleys and plains surrounding Saruni Mara, accompanied by a vehicle, or a game drive up to the top of Kilileoni, the highest mountain in the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem - led by your skillful and knowledgeable Maasai guides.
In the afternoon you will discover more of Mara North and its surrounding conservancies and experience first-hand what makes the Mara one of the most exciting wildernesses in the world.
Weather permitting, experience a bush dinner in the middle of nature under the vast African sky, with Maasai warriors singing and dancing around the fire.
Visit the rhino sanctuary on the way to the airstrip and once again admire the hippos and the crocodiles of the Mara River.
The flight to Diani’s Ukunda leaves the Mara at 14:00 PM and arrives in Ukunda at 16:00 PM. An Alfajiri vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to the peace and calm awaiting 5 minutes away at the world-famous Alfajiri Villas.
Unwind from your journey by taking a refreshing dip in your private swimming pool, followed by a welcome sundowner on your lavish veranda overlooking from high the white sands of Diani beach and the Indian Ocean, cooled by the early evening tropical breezes. Enjoy an elegant seafood offering paired with exquisite wines before falling asleep to the lulling sounds of the sea.
Wake up each day with the sea breeze and spend your morning walking along the beach, kayaking and snorkelling as you discover the colourful aquatic life of the Indian Ocean.
Head out on the clear ocean on a traditional dhow to visit Funzi Island for a day of sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins and discovering rare turtles before casting ashore for a delicious fresh seafood lunch.
Spend your afternoons enjoying lazy siestas, lounging by the pool, indulging in massage treatments or a bit of retail therapy and souvenir shopping at the nearby shopping centres.
If you are feeling adventurous, you may want to give kite surfing a try, or deep sea fishing, trying your luck with a heavy line to hook a prized marlin or wahoo!
Spend the evenings relaxing barefoot on the beach collecting seas shells.
Finish off another heavenly day with sundowner dhow rides at sunset, and sumptuous fresh seafood dinners.
Enjoy your final morning waking up in paradise and relax to your fullest with a leisurely stroll on the white-sand beach.
After a morning unwinding and rejuvenating, depart in the afternoon for your flight back to Nairobi, which leaves Diani at 16:00 PM and arrives at Wilson Airport at 17:30 PM.
Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Depending on the time of your international flight, stop at the Talisman or Carnivore restaurant for dinner.
*Our team can amend this itinerary as you wish.
WILDLIFE & ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS WITH MARK GEE
Art of Night Africa Photography Tours are 2 day/2 night photographic adventures which really do live up to the claim “holiday of a lifetime”. Each tour is run by international award-winning photographer Mark Gee. Mark spent time at Bushtops during August 2015 and June 2016, and was totally blown away by the experience both times, so much so that he wants to invite others to join him to repeat this amazing photographic adventure.
Two tours will be held at Mara Bushtops, located within its own private conservancy right next to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Then we are adding a tour at Serengeti Bushtops just over the Tanzania border within the Serengeti National Park.
Both locations are African wildlife hotspots, especially for the famous Wildebeest Migration. The night skies are incredible, thanks to the absence of light pollution in the area. If you haven’t ever viewed the Milky Way Galaxy with the naked eye before, you will be amazed by the starry skies here! By focusing on wildlife and astrophotography, each tour promises to be a photographers paradise.
So what will I learn on the tour?
Whether you’re a hobbyist photographer or a seasoned pro, these tours will cater for all. Mark will accompany you on all the game drives and night shoots, guiding you every step of the way and offering personalized tuition. We will cover all the basics of equipment, settings and techniques to get you the best shots possible. You will also learn how to process your images, with a step by step guide in either Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.
What equipment do I need?
- A digital DSLR or a mirrorless camera, with a basic knowledge of operating the camera and changing settings.
- For wildlife photography – a zoom lens somewhere in the 70-200mm range is good, but the longer the focal length the better.
- For astrophotography – lenses with a maximum aperture between f/1.4 and f/4 and a focal length between 10 and 24mm are ideal. For example – a 14mm f/2.8 lens is perfect, a zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 24mm at f/4 would be fine too.
- A sturdy tripod.
- Laptop computer with Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop installed.
- A headlamp or torch – one with a red light mode is best.
Optional equipment:
- Spare camera batteries – always good to have backup batteries ready to go.
- Spare memory card(s) – memory cards can fill up fast and also fail, so good to have a spare.
- Portable external hard drive for additional data – we shoot in raw, so tend to use a lot of data, especially when photographing a time-lapse image. Extra hard drive space can come in handy.
Tour Itinerary:
- Introduction and meet and greet before heading out on our first full day game drive for wildlife photography. Picnic lunch provided out on the drive. Meet back at the camp late afternoon before heading to a sundowner, where we will talk about the night’s proceedings.
- After dinner we will meet up, go over some of the fundamentals of night/astrophotography, and head out on a night game drive with our cameras to practice.
- Morning Q&A and processing session. After lunch we will head out on an afternoon game drive for wildlife photography.
- After dinner we will meet up, go over some of the techniques we learnt the previous night with a Q&A session, and then head out on our final night game drive with our cameras.
*The night photography sessions are weather dependant, but alternative activities will be held if the weather doesn’t give us the opportunity to head out.
EAST AFRICA SAFARI INSPIRED BY CONDE NAST TRAVELER
There are some experiences that are simply so extraordinary that they become iconic – places that you can’t imagine not visiting when traveling to a certain region, where coming back always feels like coming home. We know these hidden gems in East Africa that are recognized as the best by the world’s most discerning travelers, year after year.
Motivated by your feedback, we have put together your most loved East Africa safari, featuring all those perennial properties that regularly appear in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Traversing Kenya and Tanzania’s best known safari landscapes, this is the African adventure that our guests come back to over and over again, whether to catch the thundering herds of East Africa’s spectacular Great Migration or to enjoy the wealth of resident wildlife and the magnificent scenery throughout the remainder of the year.
Tour Itinerary:
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by a member of our team, who will drive you to your hotel in vibrant Nairobi.
Kenya’s capital is one of the largest and most influential cities in Africa, an important commercial and financial hub. It is the port of entry for most travellers to Kenya and offers bustling markets, interesting history and numerous attractions. Named after a Maasai watering hole, “enkare nyarobi”, which means “place of cool waters”, Nairobi is known for its leafy streets and parks. With its towering skyscrapers and imposing architecture, the city’s skyline also draws the attention. Visits to the city’s beautiful Uhuru Park and an informative excursion to the Karen Blixen Museum are not to be missed.
Surrounded by vast acres of indigenous forest, the elegant Giraffe Manor is famous for its resident herd of giraffe, which casually wander around the hotel grounds. Beautifully furnished rooms include comfortable four-poster beds and well-appointed bathrooms.
Spend the night in a standard room with ensuite bathroom at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Wilson Airport, where you will board a flight to Kichwa Airstrip in the Masai Mara. On arrival, you will be welcomed by a member of the team from &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, who will drive you to the camp.
As Kenya’s most renowned wilderness destination, the Masai Mara National Reserveoffers exceptional game viewing, including the opportunity to witness the seasonal Great Wildebeest Migration, one of nature’s greatest wildlife spectacles. The park takes its name from the Mara River, which flows through the reserve, as well as from the Maasai people. Covering an area of 1 510 km² (580 square miles), the Masai Mara is a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains. The reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah sighted year round alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra.
Steeped in the aura of classical safari, the recently refurbished &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp boasts 12 classic tents, 20 superior tents and eight superior view tents. While all the tents look out onto the open grasslands or the shady forest surrounding the Sabaringo River, the superior view tents boast exceptionally beautiful, uninterrupted views of the Masai Mara. The superior tents feature Maasai-inspired interiors that showcase a simple and contemporary use of local materials.
Experience the beauty of the Masai Mara on a hot air balloon flight. Take off at dawn and float in whichever direction the morning winds take you. Your altitude may vary from treetop height or lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities, to 300 metres / 1 000 feet, showcasing the wonderful panorama. From time to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below. The flight lasts about an hour and is followed by champagne and a full English breakfast.
Spend two nights in a superior view tent at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp. Your stay includes accommodation, three meals daily, teas and coffees, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, two scheduled game drives per day, transport to and from Kichwa Tembo Airstrip and emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Depart the Masai Mara on a flight to Migori Airstrip, where you be welcomed and driven to Tarime, where you will cross the border into Tanzania to board another flight to the Serengeti National Park.
With its name meaning “endless plains” in the Masai language, the Serengeti National park is undoubtedly one of the world’s most celebrated wildlife areas and is an ongoing source of inspiration to writers, filmmakers and photographers. It is Tanzania’s oldest game reserve, renowned as site of the annual Great Migration, when an estimated three million antelope (mostly wildebeest) migrate to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. This epic, seasonal journey is a deeply moving experience and a wonderful photographic subject. Visitors to the park can roam its sprawling plains on exhilarating game drives or hop into a hot air balloon for an once-in-a-lifetime safari adventure.
&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp is set in the remote Western Serengeti and offers one of the best wildlife experiences in this incredibly picturesque area, which enjoys far fewer tourist numbers than many other parts of the park. The camp is situated on a by-water of the Grumeti River, known for its dramatic wildebeest crossings and enormous Nile crocodiles. Tucked into a strip of riverine forest, guests thrill to the antics of the hippo resident in the tranquil pool in front of the camp and the spectacular pied colobus monkeys, found nowhere else in the Serengeti. Every year, in June and July, Africa’s renowned Great Migration passes through the Grumeti region and hundreds upon thousands of wildebeest, zebra and other herbivores cross the Grumeti River, risking the jaws of some of Africa’s largest crocodiles.
During the remainder of the year, the area offers exclusive game viewing far from the crowds, with the open Western Serengeti plains attracting the elegant cheetah and large prides of lion, as well as clans of hyena that number up to a hundred individuals. The riverside thickets are the ideal dwelling place for leopard and elephant. This area also lies in the path of the annual movement of exceptional numbers of topi antelope.
Spend two nights in a spacious tent with ensuite bathroom with open air shower at &BeyondGrumeti Serengeti Tented Camp.
Enjoy an early morning breakfast before being driven to the Grumeti Airstrip, where you will board a flight to Lobo Airstrip. Upon landing, you will be collected for a scenic game drive to &Beyond Klein’s Camp.
&Beyond Klein’s Camp is situated on a private concession on the edge of the Serengeti National Park, where night drives and bush walks allow guests to explore the nocturnal world of the predators or to get an intimate glimpse into the details of the African bush. Overlooking the wooded hillsides, rolling grasslands, lush marshes and forested river banks of the Serengeti and with Kenya’s renowned Masai Mara directly to the north, Klein’s Camp is one of the most strategically positioned wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Set on the edge of the Kuka Hills, it commands breath-taking views of the valley below, through which huge herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate each year. While the Great Migration is an annual highlight, guests can experience excellent year-round lion, leopard and cheetah sightings. Huge herds of buffalo and breeding herds of elephant are all resident and birdwatching in the seasonal marshlands is exceptionally rewarding. Several species of raptor breed on the cliffs above Klein’s Camp and numerous birds of prey, including vultures and eagles, are frequently spotted soaring on the updrafts.
Spend two nights in an intimate cottage with ensuite bathroom with shower only at &BeyondKlein’s Camp.
Enjoy an early morning game drive and a wholesome breakfast before being driven back to the airstrip for a flight to &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas.
The luxurious tented camps of &BeyondSerengeti Under Canvas move around the park year-round, attempting to anticipate the movements of the Great Migration and exploring the remote and beautiful corners of the Serengeti with excellent resident game. Using only private campsites, these mobile camps are entirely intimate and exclusive, featuring spacious safari tents, each with a double bed, indoor seating area, ensuite bathroom, separate w.c and al fresco bucket shower. Redolent of classic safari style, custom-made Indian rugs, crisp linens, sparkling crystal and polished brass lend flair to the simplicity of camping. Carefully planned according to the projected movements of the Great Migration, the camps aim to bring guests within comfortable driving distance of the herds. However, the wildebeest masses move with the rains, which may occur at a different time each year, so it is not always possible to accurately predict where they will be. &Beyond’s expert guides will always try to place guests in the midst of the thronging wildebeest but, should the animals not appear when expected, the guides’ intimate knowledge of the ample resident game will ensure a rich game viewing experience.
Spend two nights in a spacious tent with ensuite bathroom with outside bucket shower at &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas.
Enjoy an early morning game drive, followed by a delicious breakfast, before being driven back to the airstrip for a flight to Manyara Airstrip. On arrival, you will be welcomed by a member of the &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge team, who will drive you to the lodge.
The Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. Some maintain that before it erupted, it would have been higher than Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Today, long since having collapsed and eroded, it is an extensive highland area with the famous 600 m deep Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point. Nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth. Endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, giant tusked elephants wander the forests, black-maned lions stalk the grasslands and flamingos crowd the soda lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl of plenty, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, 16 highly endangered black rhino and around 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the spectacular Lerai Forest.
Perched above cool, swirling mists on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the sumptuous safari suites at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offer breath-taking views. Inspired in design by the Maasai mud and stick manyatta, or homestead, this is without doubt one of the most spectacular lodges in Africa. Three separate and intimate camps totalling just 30 suites are reminiscent of a bygone era. Steeped in romance, each stilted, handcrafted mud and thatch suite is adorned with graceful antiques, grand chandeliers and elegant African treasures. The bedroom, sitting room and ensuite bathroom boast floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the magnificent Crater below.
Indulge in a gourmet feast served in one of the most unique settings in Africa. Descend into the scenic landscape of the Ngorongoro Crater and enjoy the incredible density of wildlife before making your way to a private picnic spot on the Crater floor. Tables set with snowy tablecloths and sparkling silver cutlery are laden with the most delectable of dishes. An army of butlers spring into action to attend to your every wish as you indulge in a mouth-watering meal served against the backdrop of groups of zebra strolling along the Crater floor.
Spend two nights at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Accommodation is in a suite with ensuite bathroom with bath and shower. Your stay includes three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, scheduled safari activities, refreshments on game drives and laundry.
Today, we wave a fond farewell. After a scrumptious breakfast, you will be collected for your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Lake Manyara Aistrrip, where you will board your flight home.