You will celebrate East Africa’s natural wonder on this 14 Nights Platinum Adventure. You will have an immersive wildlife experience when trekking through the misty jungle on guided gorilla treks and scour the Maasai Mara grasslands in search of leopards and wildebeest. Uncover the mystique of the Serengeti plains and find grazing rhinoceros in Ngorongoro Crater as you enjoy East Africa’s timeless charm.
Detailed trip itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi, Giraffe Manor
After landing in the Kenyan capital, you will be greeted by a guide and then transferred to a hotel on the city’s outskirts. While central Nairobi is full of color and bustle, the outskirts remain a place where wildlife can thrive. Nairobi National Park is partially unfenced, allowing for animals to migrate onto valleys that surround the city. Giraffes and elephants can be spotted from the highway as well as from your hotel room. These animals will provide a charming welcome to Kenya and will tease you with what is to come on the safari.
- Breakfast with Giraffes
- Stroll to Giraffe Center
- Afternoon Tea with Giraffes
- Adopt an elephant at the David Shedricks elephant orphanage
- Visit Nairobi Art Gallery
- Spa Treatments
Giraffe Manor is an exclusive boutique hotel, owned by The Safari Collection. Often referred to as one of the most instagrammed properties in the world, Giraffe Manor is set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. Giraffe Manor is one of Nairobi’s most iconic buildings. The historic manor house has extraordinary appeal, that harks back to the 1930s when visitors first flocked to East Africa to enjoy safaris. With its stately façade, elegant interior, verdant green gardens, sunny terraces and delightful courtyards, guests often remark that it’s like walking into the film Out of Africa: indeed, one of its twelve rooms is named after the author Karen Blixen.
One of the most fascinating things about Giraffe Manor is its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes who may visit morning and evening, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. Giraffe Manor can be booked for the night or as part of a complete tailor-made Kenya safari with The Safari Collection.
Days 2 - 4: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
The domestic airstrip is only ten minutes from your hotel, so it will be a short transfer this morning before a safari flight to the Maasai Mara. Once upon the Maasai Mara, the grass extends in every direction. Thomson’s gazelle may skip upon the grass, elephants may march around the grass, and zebra herds may graze all around the camp. You can venture off on a game drive where you will see something else: kopjes. These rocky outcrops were the inspiration for The Lion King, and they are home to lions. Entire prides perch on the rocks, surveying their kingdom and inspecting their dinner menu.
From dawn until dusk, you will spend the day exploring Maasai Mara National Reserve. An early start will help you to spot the big cats, especially cheetahs and active lion prides. Wildebeest are full of enthusiasm every morning, galloping and bucking with an almost comical glee. These displays of energy eventually lead up to the mating system where the most energetic bulls are preferred mates. By crossing the grasslands, you will experience the scale of this famous landscape, particularly how some areas are quiet and have already been grazed and how others feature long grass that the herds are yet to reach.
- Safari Game Drives
- Migration Adventure
- Guided Nature walks
- Cultural Interactions
- Hot air Ballooning
- Massages
- Sparkling Camp Pool
- Wi-Fi
- Organic Vegetable Garden
- Complimentary SWAROVSKI BINOCULARS
- Bush Breakfast, Dinners and Sundowners
Sprawled along the Saparingo River on the edge of the Oloololo escarpment, where riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the seasonal path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wildlife, delivered with legendary Kenyan hospitality. Set on a private concession, with abundant iconic wildlife and panoramic Maasai Mara views, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp dazzles with its contemporary safari feel.
With timeless interiors that are simple yet sophisticated and stylish, the Camp enhances guests’ sense of privacy and enjoyment. 12 Classic tents, 20 Superior tents and eight Superior View tents, are laid out in immaculate grounds, with leisurely groups of warthog feeding right outside the tent doors. Maasai-inspired interiors firmly entrench &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp as the unrivalled luxury tented camp of its size in the greater Mara.
Massive windows in the spacious guest areas invite the Mara inside and incorporate split-level spaces where guests can relax and unwind. Pick and choose delicious ingredients from the organic garden and enjoy convivial conversations in the inviting interactive kitchen. Treat yourself to holistic healing in the massage tent, indulge in a rejuvenating treatment or browse the Safari Shop, offering the finest Kenyan handicrafts. The rim-flow swimming pool, literally on the edge of the Mara, boasts one of the world’s most extraordinary views.
Days 5 - 6: Amboseli National Park
The Maasai Mara provides a thrilling safari introduction, and Amboseli is more laid back. The park is a fraction of the size, and here, you will settle into a more traditional safari program with early morning and late afternoon game drives. Mount Kilimanjaro will provide your backdrop to it all, which is Africa’s highest mountain. Amboseli’s most famous image is of elephants that wander beneath this huge volcano, and it is something that you will witness directly from the camp. Giraffes are equally impressive in this postcard view as their necks turn to silhouettes when the sun leaves the sky.
While the Maasai Mara has large areas to explore, a safari in Amboseli is a little more predictable. Most of the action takes place around one of the park’s swamps. Hippos may be wading and wallowing in the water, often offering a grunt to any ungulate coming to drink. Lions may lurk close to the water, especially around dawn and dusk. During the middle of the day, lions approach the swamps but make no attempt to hide. As such, the scene is often a conglomeration of many different species together.
- Game Drives
- Sundowners
- Guided bush walks
- Bush meals
- Camel rides
- Cultural Visits
- Hot air balloon rides
Tawi lodge is a private oasis A world away, in the shadows of Mt. Kilimanjaro, succulent rich gardens, interspersed with crystal clear springs and large shady Tortilis Acacia trees. Over 150 species of birds will serenade you on arrival. Beyond the bustling waterhole - look up! Mt. Kilimanjaro welcomes you. Set in the heart of its own 3,000 acre private conservancy and in one of the richest game areas in Kenya. Tawi Lodge is an eco award winning lodge, combining unpretentious comfort with subtle accents of style coupled with traditional East African hospitality.
The lodge and cottages sprawl along the edge of dry acacia woodland with Mount Kilimanjaro standing proudly above. Elephants often pass right closeby, gently allowing close absorption into their secret lives, from the comfort of the cottage decks. Each of the “elegantly rustic” cottages are richly appointed, most with incredible views looking out over the mountain, the cottages have spacious bedrooms, private decks, en-suite bathrooms, with both bathtub and shower each cottage has large, snug 4-poster beds.
Inspired by the exotic ingredients and vibrant colours of East Africa, the team of chefs concoct innovative and tasty meals of fresh locally available ingredients. Delicious candle-lit dinners are served by the warmth of the fireplace, or under the stars, Kilimanjaro presiding as the backdrop. We aim to please at Tawi and we love experimenting with new dishes, presentations, always aiming to create fresh, novel meals for any dietary requirements.
Fresh organic home grown veggies and greens are picked daily from our luscious lodge gardens. Everything we can make from the lodge kitchen we do, from yoghurts, fresh juices, breads and our breakfast cereals.
Day 7: Transfer Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge
From Amboseli, you will travel overland to the Serengeti. Today, you will cross the border into Tanzania and drive half a day to Arusha, which is a busy town that is the gateway for the Serengeti and northern safari circuit. Your lodge will be situated outside the town and will have a superb mountain view. Bush babies chirp from the garden as you enjoy some time to rest and recollect yourself before your Kenyan safari. The guide can accompany you into Arusha where a local market will provide an exciting perspective on Tanzanian life.
Arusha is situated beneath the towering peaks of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. Visit the extraordinary social enterprise Shanga that employs disabled people from the community to create export quality recycled glass products. Go on the exciting and informative ‘Coffee Tour’, weaving in and out of the evergreen coffee trees, the coffee guide explains how the bean is nurtured, harvested, dried and finally roasted to produce a myriad of different blends that sate the taste of the most ardent of coffee connoisseurs.
- "Bean-to-Cup" estate tour
- Daytour to Arusha national park
- Arusha city highlights
- Daytrip to Ngorongoro
- Swimming Pool
- Peaberries Spa
- Kahawa Coffee shop
- Gift shop
- Tanzanite experience
The aptly named Arusha Coffee Lodge lies hidden amongst the sprawling grounds of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantation, set below the rugged peaks of Mt Meru. Guests can unwind in one of the lodge’s exclusive Plantation Suites, which each boast a romantic four-poster bed draped in Egyptian cotton linen, a split-level sitting area, ensuite bathroom, an open fireplace, a personal bar and a private veranda that looks out onto rows and rows of berry-laden coffee bushes.
Guests can enjoy scrumptious meals in the Coffee Lodge lounge or sip on their favourite drinks in the bar area. A boutique store, swimming pool and garden terrace add to guest delight. Other adventures include a tour of the Shanga social enterprise as well as visits to the Museum of Natural History, the Maasai market on Faya Road and the Tanzanite Experience. A game drive in Arusha National Park, accompanied by a delicious picnic lunch, makes for a wonderful outing.
Comprising of 30 Plantation Houses that radiate out into the evergreen coffee fields, Arusha Coffee Lodge has been designed around the original landowner’s home that dates back to the early 1900’s. The theme of coffee permeates throughout Arusha Coffee Lodge, reflecting in the colours and textures of the delightfully comfortable accommodations with beautifully appointed en suite bathrooms.
The homely feel of the Lodge is by no means accidental as the origins of the homestead continue to emit glimpses of times-gone-by. The friendly and personable staff help create an ambiance that continues to draw appreciation from all those who visit and stay.
Within the main Plantation House reside an ‘a la carte’ restaurant, an intimate cafe bistro and a cozy lounge, all of which have inviting open log fires to warm you from the cool night air.
Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park
After driving to Lake Manyara, you will first explore a dense forest. Raucous birds will provide a welcome at the gate, and the park’s narrow trails are very different from those in the Maasai Mara and Amboseli. On open plains, it will be easy to see wildlife for many miles around. That is not possible in a thick and tangled woodland as you can only see until the next bend in the ochre-colored, dirt track. This does make secretive animals like leopards harder to find. However, most animals do not see you coming either, so you may turn a bend and suddenly be surrounded by a dozen elephants.
The world’s largest baboon population occupies this forest, and they make a lot of noise. Giant troops battle for territory by banging on trees and yelping clamorously. Even the elephants may become a little uneasy by these antics. The lions do not though. In Lake Manyara, the lions climb trees. Sometimes, an entire pride can fill a single tree with each member snoozing on a different branch. This rare behavior is just one highlight in one of Africa’s most picturesque parks. Others include hippos in the lake itself and the solitude of your camp. Tonight, you will be tucked away deep in the park, staying in a treehouse that overlooks a floodlit watering hole. Throughout the evening and night, you can watch animals coming for a drink.
- Game drives
- Birding
- Guided nature walks
- Wellness Spa
- Sun Downers
- Bush Dining
- Swimming Pool
- Track the tree climbing lions
- Night game drives
- Community cycle visit
- Souvenir shop
Lake Manyara National Park offers a true wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Cradled in the boughs of an ancient mahogany forest, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge blends into the natural beauty of its breathtaking surroundings.
Nine stilted treehouse suites, crafted from local timber and makuti palm fronds, weave a sophisticated blend of intimacy and romance, offering privacy and exclusivity in the cool, leafy surroundings, with elephant visitors passing through. Designed to exert minimal impact on the environment and provide a tranquil haven, the Lodge offers an exclusive interpretive safari in a more remote area of the National Park. Gentle Tanzanian hospitality is exuded from the team, who have a passion for delighting guests, whether you are on honeymoon or a family safari.
The ultimate spot to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, wellness is a pivotal thread at the Lodge and the lush forest environment is an idyllic cocoon to recharge. Holistically centred, enjoy healing therapies, organic practices and connecting with nature. Dine on nourishing dishes with our food-to-table philosophy, sip the freshest juices and smoothies. Work out in your room with our convenient Gym in a Basket and unwind with a massage in the massage sala.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This morning, you can choose to do another Lake Manyara game drive or to take a relaxed breakfast on a deck above the watering hole. Even by staying at the camp, you will see animals, including elephant herds that drink in the cool morning hours. From Lake Manyara, it is a short drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area where your lodge is located on the rim of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Every vehicle is allowed to spend six hours on the caldera floor, so you will wait until midday before starting the game drive, which ensures that you can still be out exploring just before dusk.
Descend steep slopes into the caldera, and there will be little energy at midday. During the day, many animals retreat to the woodland or find shade close to the caldera slopes. Naturally, these are the areas that you will explore first. Some of the world’s largest elephants march through these trees with their tusks curling above the safari vehicle. Black rhinos hide away, but the guide knows how to best locate them. Buffalos and wildebeests tend to venture close to the trees at this hour of the day. Later in the afternoon, the wildlife will spring to life, and you explore the caldera’s open plain, watching spotted hyena chase a herd of zebra. Soon, the lions will emerge, and you can watch them prowl. If you are lucky, you may spot a leopard as well.
- Bar and lounge
- Swimming pool
- Wellness spa
- Weddings and honeymoons
- Baby sitting facilities
- Bush Dining
- Swimming Pool
- Nature walks
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge. Set in 50 acres of virgin Tanzanian bush in the Ngorongoro volcanic landscape, this all suites wood log cabin style retreat is located a few steps from the Game Reserve Gate and 20 minutes' drive away from the Ngorongoro Crater that is said to have the most dense concentration of wildlife in Africa.
This all inclusive property features 20 spacious private log cabins with fire place, a restaurant, a bar and conference facilities. Indulge in moments of relaxation at the swimming pool or at the Earth & Rain Spa after a full-day game drive.
Days 10 - 12: Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti stretches far beyond the horizon with great sweeps of grassland that are dotted with up to two million mammals. Wildebeest gallop, hyenas snarl and vultures circle while lions hunt, elephants march and hippos bathe in the mud. It is all here, and it plays out in high definition. The Serengeti rumbles north, where it meets the Mara River and the Maasai Mara, and it continues west, towards the private Grumeti Reserve along the Serengeti's Western Corridor. You will arrive here by flight and soar over the plains from Ngorongoro to Grumeti.
You will have exclusive use your next lodge, a decadent place with elegant views over the grasslands. Sit back and sip fine wines as the wildebeest gallop past. Ride a horse onto the plains and encounter wild zebra or mountain bike along trails left by an elephant. Take bush picnics on rocks that overlook the great wildebeest migration or relax in the spa as the sound of lions roars float through the windows. The reserve and your private accommodation provide a luxurious and contemporary conclusion to your journey through East Africa's fables. It's still in the Serengeti, so there is always wildlife roaming around.
Using the private concession opens up new activities. Horse riding and mountain biking safaris can encounter all the antelopes. Bush walks are guided by Maasai warriors, who have expert knowledge of tracking the herds. Nighttime game drives have an eery intimacy while daily game drives are private and always tailored to your interests. Create your own program and live out your own fable as it is just you and the world-famous wonders of the Serengeti. Just when you think it's all been documented, that the final chapter is closing on your East Africa story, a black rhino will slow amble past the house as rare as the gorillas in Rwanda, one of only a thousand left in the wild. That's the thing with East Africa; there is always a new treat when you least expect one.
- Private safari vehicles
- Day and night game drives
- Guided walking safaris
- Balloon safari
- Fly and bush camping
- Sundowners
- Spa treatments
- Maasai boma experience
- Community visits and projects
- Bush dinners
- Champagne bush breakfast
Located at eye level with grazing herds of wildlife, the camp has been beautifully designed to capture the best views over the Serengeti plains, offering guests a peaceful and nurturing place of solitude and respite from modern life. It embodies the essence of intuitive simplicity and comfort,further providing the opportunity to rest, restore and revive.
Designed to provide an authentic safari experience with all the modern furnishings, while exerting minimal impact on the environment. Guests are immersed in nature and have the unforgettable experience of being under canvas in the middle of the wilderness, bringing the sights and sounds of the bush closer than ever before.
Sundowners can be enjoyed under the lantern lit tree with a large open fire every evening. Enjoy endless views, fire-lit meals under the vast African sky, guided game drives and probably the most beautiful balloon flight in the world.
Redefining the classic tented safari, the expansive tents are thoughtfully tailored with rain showers, double basin vanity, writing desk, fixed wooden doors & Persian carpets, providing guests with all the comforts and luxuries, one would expect.
With only eight suites, privacy and personal attention is guaranteed. The private verandas in each suite overlook the wide open spaces of the Serengeti, allowing our guests to appreciate the exceptional beauty of the natural world. The healing power of nature has never been more apparent, and neither has our need for the time and space in which to find this balance.
All efforts are made to ensure our guests have extraordinary experiences that revive and awaken the senses, offering moments of meaning and creating everlasting memories.
Day 13: Kigali, Transfer Retreat by Heaven
Today, you will fly directly from the Serengeti to Kigali, which is Rwanda’s capital city. Upon your arrival, a local guide will take you for lunch in the city, before your 2 ½ hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. It is a beautiful journey, weaving through the Land of a Thousand Hills and contrasting the green landscape with Kenya and Tanzania. After arriving at the lodge, the rest of the day will be at your leisure. There are some hikes in the nearby forest, but most guests prefer to rest before their gorilla trek.
- Art tours
- Golf
- Honeymoon Safaris
- Weddings
- Cultural activities
- Trekking
- Canoeing
- Retail
- Birdwatching
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
It is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation room, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center. Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant (reached through the Retreat’s “Stairway to Heaven”) offers an innovative modern African menu.
The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for one night or several days as it offers innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities in and around Kigali. From public health to hospitality, co-owners Alissa & Josh Ruxin created Heaven Restaurant in 2008 to provide jobs and vocational training in hospitality, to date, Heaven and The Retreat have trained over 1000 Rwandans in hospitality skills. We love properties that go the extra mile to give back to their community.
Nestled in the heart of Kigali, the retreat by heaven grants seamless access to this dynamic city. As one of Kigali's top 5 star hotels, The Retreat blends tranquility, Rwandan charm, and vibrant urban energy. The Retreat is a celebrated hospitality training center of excellence in Kigali; over 3,000 Rwandans have received training since our opening. The hotel has 11 rooms and you have the option to stay in one of two choices, either the Retreat Superior King Suites or Retreat Deluxe King Rooms. Relish fine dining at Fusion Restaurant where the expert chefs use ingredients that are harvested at the on-site organic garden.
Days 14 - 15: Kinigi / Virunga Volcanoes N.Park
The transition from genocide to a modern nation is even more impressive after a visit to the Genocide Memorial. While the photos and stories are difficult to take in, the moving memorial paints a personal picture of what happened, one less concerned with numbers and more focused on the who and the why. Visiting the memorial is the conclusion of a half-day Kigali tour and after lunch, you will drive across The Land of a Thousand Hills, rolling and rising towards Ruhengeri, and then Kinigi, located at the base of Sabyinyo Mountain. With photo stops along the route, it is a three-hour journey. From your opulent safari lodge, there are uninterrupted views over the Virunga Volcanoes, where layers of mist ripple across the green canopy. You will gaze into the rainforest that contains over half of the world's wild mountain gorillas that you will be tracking the next day. You will check in at the Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
The rainforest is dense and tropical and reduces visibility with the overhanging branches and wild grasses that are swiped clear by the guide. Occasionally, you will reach a clearing and gaze over at the mist, but mostly you are journeying along the rugged trails left by elephant herds, and an armed ranger accompanies the group, mainly in case of the rare encounters with forest elephants. Smells will guide you, as do sounds, like a distant call or chesty drum beat. It might take 30 minutes before you find the gorilla troop, perhaps even hours as trekkers are allocated to troops based on their fitness levels, but you can request a shorter or longer hike. However long it takes, you can sense the gorillas during the last few moments before you see them.
- Akarabo Nursery
- Farm to table garden
- Gorilla Trekking
- Golden Monkey Trekking
- Hiking & Walking
- Wellness
- Yoga
- Cycling
- Community Visit
- Kigali city tour
- Wine experiences
- Bird watching
Set right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where more than a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas find refuge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge’s unrivalled position puts life changing gorilla trekking experiences within easy reach. Each of the eight luxurious suites features a private heated plunge pool, wellness treatment area, in- and outdoor fireplaces and large timber-framed windows that welcome breathtaking scenery and volcano views inside. Created in response to its dramatic setting, the luxury lodge includes elements such as woven ceilings and hand-fired terracotta brickwork crafted by local artisans, while a dedicated Conservation Room and on-site nursery and vegetable garden – which provides fresh produce for Kwitonda’s farm-to-table food journey – further enhances the experience. Offering guests a nurturing space within which to contemplate their encounters with the remarkable “gentle giants of the forest”, the lodge envelopes them in a sanctuary of warmth, stillness & solitude.
Day 16: Depart, Transfer Kigali
From Volcanoes National Park, you will drive 2 ½ hours back to Kigali for your outbound flight. You have experienced the wonders of African safari by exploring the beauty of East Africa, the splendor of the wildlife, and the diversity of the culture. You will have plenty of time to check into your flight home, bringing an end to your perfect safari adventure.
Tour Inclusions
- Accommodation as specified in itinerary
- Meals as indicated on itinerary
- Meet and Greet at airport during entry and exit
- Transportation in a 4X4 safari landcruiser
- Schedule flights as indicated on the itinerary
- Park entry fees
- Airstrip Transfers
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Activities in camps / lodges
- Shared vehicles driven by English speaking driver guides
Tour Exclusions
- All international flights and taxes
- Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
- Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Premium Drinks, Cigars
- Visa fees (if required)
- Premium Drinks, Cigars
- Visa fees (if required)