| Day 1 |
Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya’s Capital City |
| |
Nairobi, a warm welcome awaits. A dedicated Kalama Safaris representative will be there to greet you personally, assist with any formalities, and smoothly transfer you to the Hemingways Nairobi or Nairobi Serena Hotel. This first evening is yours to settle in, unwind from your journey, and begin soaking up the energy of Kenya’s vibrant capital. |
| Days 2-3 |
Drive to Amboseli National Park |
|
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic 4-hour drive south from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park. As the vast plains open before you, the majestic snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rises dramatically on the horizon — one of Africa’s most iconic and breathtaking views. Famous for its large elephant herds, Amboseli offers superb game viewing across its swamps and open savannah. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in search of lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and over 400 species of birds, making it a photographer’s paradise. You will spend two nights at the charming Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, located inside the park. With its excellent location, warm hospitality, and comfortable rooms overlooking the plains, it provides the perfect base for immersive wildlife experiences with Kilimanjaro as your constant backdrop. |
| Day 4 |
Drive Across the Border to Arusha – Fly to the Lake Ndutu Region |
| |
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll depart for the Kenya-Tanzania border. The scenic drive to Arusha takes approximately 4–5 hours, including border formalities. As you travel, the landscape transforms beautifully from the open Kenyan plains into the lush, rolling hills and coffee plantations of northern Tanzania.
You’ll enjoy lunch in Arusha before flying to Ndutu Luxury Lodge for a two-night stay in this exclusive, intimate camp, ideally located in the heart of the Southern Serengeti. After settling in, head out for an exciting afternoon game drive in search of Big Cats, followed by dinner at the lodge. |
| Day 5 |
Experience Off-Road Game Drives in Ndutu |
| |
The Ndutu area sits in the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti, close to Lake Ndutu. It stands out as one of the top spots to see big cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs) particularly during the Great Migration’s calving season, which usually runs from December through March and reaches its height in January and February. The short-grass plains here draw enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras that come to give birth, pulling in large numbers of predators and setting the stage for exciting hunts and action-packed game drives.
Ndutu also hosts smaller wild cats such as servals and caracals, which enrich the overall cat-watching experience. With skilled local guides who know the area intimately, you’ll follow fresh clues like paw prints, prey alarm calls, or circling vultures to greatly improve your odds of remarkable sightings. |
| Days 6-7 |
Drive to Central Serengeti |
| |
Start your day with an exciting morning game drive in the Ndutu area, one of the best regions for close predator encounters and abundant wildlife. After the drive, collect a delicious picnic box lunch and begin your scenic journey through the Serengeti ecosystem toward Central Serengeti. This route allows you to enjoy your lunch in the wild while soaking in the ever-changing landscapes and possible wildlife sightings along the way.
You will arrive in the afternoon at Serengeti Explorer, your home, for the next two nights. In the afternoon and following days, enjoy game drives focused on searching for lions, cheetahs, and leopards in this prime area. |
| Days 8-9 |
Flight to the Maasai Mara National Reserve |
| |
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This scenic flight takes you across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, offering beautiful aerial views of the vast savannah and the winding Mara River. Upon arrival at the Mara airstrip, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to Ilkeliani Camp or Sarova Mara Camp. Both lodges offer excellent locations with superb game viewing opportunities to see Big Cats. This afternoon you can enjoy your first game drive in the Maasai Mara, famous for its abundant wildlife, iconic savannah landscapes, and spotting the Big Cats. You will spend the next two nights in the Maasai Mara, immersed in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations |
| Days 10-11 |
Fly to North Samburu National Reserve |
| |
After breakfast, you take a local flight north to Samburu National Reserve. Located along the scenic Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu offers a completely different landscape and wildlife experience. In addition to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo), this arid wonderland is famous for its Samburu Special Five: the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and the long-necked gerenuk. You will spend two nights at either Soroi Larsens Camp or Elephant Bedroom Camp, both excellent luxury tented camps perfectly positioned for immersive wildlife experiences. Over the two days, you will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives along the river, with the dramatic red-earth landscapes and unique wildlife making Samburu one of Kenya’s most special reserves for the Big Cats. |
| Days 12-13 |
Drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy |
| |
After breakfast, you depart for a scenic 3-hour drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, one of Kenya’s leading private wildlife conservancies. Ol Pejeta is renowned for its outstanding conservation efforts and exceptional game viewing. It is home to all of the Big Five, including East Africa’s largest population of black rhinos and a significant number of white rhinos. The conservancy is also famous for housing the last two remaining northern white rhinos in the world. In addition to superb Big Five and Big Cats sightings, you will have the opportunity to visit the chimpanzee sanctuary and enjoy thrilling game drives across the conservancy’s diverse landscapes. You will spend two nights at the comfortable Sweetwaters Serena Camp, a classic tented camp beautifully positioned beside a busy waterhole, offering excellent wildlife viewing directly from your tent. |
| Day 14 |
Drive to Nairobi for International Flight Home |
| |
After a final early morning game drive (weather and flight schedule permitting), you will depart for Nairobi. On arrival, you will be transferred to your day room at either the Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi or the Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi near the airport. These comfortable day rooms provide a relaxing space to freshen up, rest, and use the hotel facilities before your international departure. |
