Wings Over Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Tanzania & Kenya Flying Safari Vacation & Holiday, Tanzania Flying Safari: Kenya Flying Safari Vacation

WINGS OVER KENYA AND TANZANIA SAFARI

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS.

KENYA.
Day 1 - Nairobi Serena Hotel – Nairobi
Day 2 - Samburu Serena Lodge - Samburu Nat. Reserve
Day 3 - Samburu Serena Lodge - Samburu Nat. Reserve
Day 4 - Samburu Serena Lodge - Samburu Nat. Reserve
Day 5 - Mara Serena Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 6 - Mara Serena Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 7 - Mara Serena Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.

NORTHERN TANZANIA.
Day 8 - Serengeti Serena Lodge - Serengeti Nat. Park.
Day 9 - Serengeti Serena Lodge - Serengeti Nat. Park.
Day 10 - Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - Ngorongoro Crater Conservation.
Day 11 - Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - Ngorongoro Crater Conservation.

KENYA.
Day 12 - Return to Nairobi and depart.

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI, THE NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL.

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Nairobi on board flight ….. at …..hrs, go through the passport control then down to the luggage collection hall. Collect your luggage from the conveyor belt and walk out to the arrival concourse. Someone shall be waiting for you holding a folder written 'TRAVEL CONNECTIONS'.

Drive from the airport to Nairobi Serena Hotel and check in. Rest of the day at leisure.

The Nairobi Serena is a beautiful garden hotel. The hotel's clean white silhouette rises at the edge of Nairobi's extensive Central Park. Surrounded by its own tropical garden, the hotel's rather stark lines are softened by cascades of plants and flowers growing on terrace areas and individual balconies. From the gardens, terraces, swimming pool, and many of the rooms, there is a striking view of modern Nairobi's distinctive skyline, especially beautiful at night.

The Mandhari is one of Nairob's finest a la carte restaurants. The elegance of the food, fine linens and silver is perfectly complemented by the inspired use of Kisii stone from western Kenya. The popular and more informal Café Maghreb is North African in style with arched recesses displaying pieces of brass and copper, and colourful tapestry screens separating tables. The Kisima Bar is decorated to reflect the importance of water themes in Swahili coastal life. 'Kisima' means watering hole in Swahili. There are low divans and stools, Swahili implements and murals on the walls.

Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel - bed and breakfast.

DAY 2 - NAIROBI TO SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK (BY FLIGHT – 1 HR).

After a sumptuous breakfast at the Thorn Tree Café transfer to Wilson Airport for your flight to Samburu.

Pick up at Samburu airstrip and drive to lodge for lunch.

Depart on an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight Samburu Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 3 AND DAY 4 - SAMBURU NATIONAL GAME RESERVE.

These days are dedicated to game viewing in Samburu National Game Reserve.

The Samburu National Game Reserve extends for an area of 105 square kilometers north of the meandering Ewaso Ngiro or 'Brown' river. It is part of a lava plain that includes a varied landscape of red dirt, thorn scrub, broken volcanic rock, dried river beds, steep hills, and rocky outcroppings, some large enough to be called mesas. Following the river curves, a riverine forest of doum palms, acacia, and tamarind is a magical contrast of cool green. It is attractive to the region's wildlife and visitors alike. There are elephants, hippos, crocodiles and leopards, as well as plains game, other small mammals and birdlife. The region is home to the rare Grevy Zebra with large furry ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with their distinctive blue legs, and the shy oryx beisa.

Lunch and dinner at the club. Overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 5 - SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK TO MASAI MARA SERENA LODGE (BY FLIGHT-1.5HRS).

After breakfast transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Masai Mara.

Pick up at Mara Serena airstrip and drive to lodge for lunch.

This popular lodge is set high on a ridge within the reserve. It commands magnificent uninterrupted views down across the Mara plains and over two water holes. The Mara Serena's unique architecture and décor suggest a fantasy Masai manyatta - rounded spaces, earth tones, natural furnishings and tribal touches. A swimming pool has been positioned to take advantage of the wonderful view.

Depart in the afternoon on game hunting.

Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 6 AND DAY 7 - MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE.

Both days are solely reserved for game viewing in the vast Masai Mara National Reserve.

The Masai Mara is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It is an extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, and offers the best game viewing in Kenya. On these wide open rolling grasslands you can often see an incredible variety of different animals at one time. Perhaps a cheetah mother sits on a termite mound with her punky-looking cubs, while beyond, gazelle, antelope and zebra placidly graze. Giraffe might peer curiously through the trees, while elephants pass on silent feet and vultures circle above. Every year millions of wildebeests migrate north from the Serengeti to the green grass of the Mara. This exciting spectacle usually occurs sometime between July and August.

Even when animals are not highlighting the scene, the views by themselves are worth the trip. Visits to a Masai manyatta can be arranged between you and the driver. Another popular 'excursion' is a romantic hot air balloon trip where you view animals from above and then touch down for an extravagant breakfast in the bush.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 8 - MASAI MARA TO NARIOBI, THEN TO ARUSHA (BY FLIGHT) THEN TO NGORONGORO CRATER.

After breakfast take morning schedule flight (11:00/12:15) to Nairobi, then take afternoon schedule flight (12:45/13:30) to Arusha.

NORTHERN TANZANIA.

Meet and greet at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport then drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Game drive en-route to lodge.

As if in a land before time, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is built into the rim of a dormant volcano, the plant and ivy-covered native stone blending masterfully with its surroundings. Close by lies the Olduvai Gorge, the 'birthplace of man'. Today the volcano and surrounding landscape are part of a vast conservation area inhabited by the masai tribe, as well as an extra-ordinary variety of big game and birdlife. Most guest rooms have private terraces with views of the crater floor where countless animals make their home. At Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, visitors co-exist in perfect harmony with the natural environment and wildlife that inhabits it.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 9 - NGORONGORO NATIONAL PARK.

This day is solely reserved for a full day game viewing of the crater with picnic lunch.

Ngorongoro crater is without doubt one of the most outstanding natural features in the world and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1978. Stunningly beautiful, the 18 km wide and 600 meter deep caldera is teeming with wildlife and one of the best places to see black rhino. On a full day crater tour to this garden of Eden, with a picnic in a shady grove, most large mammals can be seen.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 10 - NGORONGORO NATIONAL PARK TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.

Drive to Serengeti Serena Lodge

Serengeti Serena Lodge is set high on a hill with breathtaking vistas of a landscape teeming with game. The lodge design is simple but stunning. Inspired by a traditional African village, separate rondavel 'huts' house the luxury guest rooms. From the overall impression to the smallest detail, the lodge is rich in local atmosphere created by indigenous handicrafts and art.

Game drive in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 11 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.

These days are solely reserved for game viewing in the park.

Serengeti is the most famous of Tanzania's national parks and is one of the world's last great wildlife refuges. On the seemingly endless and almost treeless plains, there are an estimated three million large animals in constant search of food and water. Most take part in a seasonal migration that is unparallel in nature. Driven by the rains, over one million wildebeest and a few hundred thousand zebra and gazelles move to fresh grazing lands, in columns of several kilometers length and crossing crocodile infested rivers without regard to losses.

Lunch, dinner and overnight in Serengeti Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 12 – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA (BY FLIGHT) THEN TO NAIROBI (BY FLIGHT) AND DEPARTURE.

After breakfast transfer to airstrip for your flight to Arusha.

Connect to your flight to Nairobi.

Arrive at Wilson Airport, meet and greet then farewell dinner and final transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.

COST:
HIGH SEASON – 01 JULY TO 15 DECEMBER 2006.
2 PERSONS – USD 4,444.- PER PERSON
3 PERSONS – USD 4,026.- PER PERSON
4 PERSONS – USD 3,814.- PER PERSON
5 PERSONS – USD 3,687.- PER PERSON
6 PERSONS – USD 3,597- PER PERSON
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT - USD 594.-

Included-
·         All transfers
·         Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
·         2 regional flight - Nairobi to Arusha & Arusha to Nairobi - tax inclusive.
·         1 Tanzania domestic flight – Serengeti to Arusha – tax inclusive
·         3 Kenya domestic flights – Nairobi to Samburu, Samburu to Masai Mara & Masai Mara to Nairobi - tax inclusive.
·         Safari minibus with pop-up-roof-top in Kenya.
·         Safari 4x4 vehicle with pop-up-roof-top in Tanzania.
·         Experienced English speaking driver guide during the safari
·         Game drives
·         All park entrance fees.
·         Doctor flying service membership.

Not included-
·         International flights and taxes
·         Visa fees for Kenya and Tanzania
·         Personal insurance policy
·         Personal effects and toiletries
·         Laundry and telephones.
·         Drinks
·         Tips.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. CURRENCY
Kenya money is called Kenya Shillings, abbreviated as Kshs. 100 cents makes 1 shilling. 1 US$ is equivalent to about Kshs. 75/= but this may change from more to less from bank to bank and lodge to lodge depending on the percentage of the commission taken.

Tanzania money is called Tanzania Shillings, abbreviated as Tshs. 1 US$ is equivalent to about Tshs. 750/=.

Most banks in Kenya and Tanzania open between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs. There are however bureau de change in every urban center and the open as earlier as 08:00hrs and close at 17:00hrs. Hotels and lodges change currencies as well.

2. VISA/MASTER CARDS
Most lodges and hotels included shops accept the use of Visa/Master cards.

3. WATER
On the whole safari, it is recommended that you use only mineral water for drinking. Tap water may be used for shower and brushing of teeth, but we do not recommend that you drink it. The hotels and lodges have enough mineral water and you may also purchase this en-route when you make short breaks between the destinations.

4. WEATHER
January is quite hot in East Africa. Summer runs from December to March and rain, if any will be little. The nights could however be cool. You will require warm clothing during the evenings i.e. jackets, long sleeved blouses and shirts, trousers etc. For the day, you may need casual clothing as t-shirts and shorts.

5. PHOTOGRAPHY
Generally, photography is allowed in Kenya and Tanzania. (The animals get a monthly wage for posing for the photos, so you are encouraged to take as many shots as you wish). Do not take photos of strangers, police officers, military personnel, presidential motorcade, masai herdsmen and women or any other traditionally dresses persons. You may seek permission first before taking shots of strangers and masai people. Your driver will be at your service for any assistance that you may need.

6. POWER VOLTAGE
All regions in Kenya and Tanzania are supplied with 240 volts. Almost all sockets you will find on safari are those that take in the rectangular prongs plug. You may however need to carry an adaptor just in case the two bottom holes are too wide apart for the charger prongs to go in. Most lodges and hotels will provide you with an adaptor if you do not have one. It will be very rare to find sockets with rounded prongs.

7. TIPPING
As a sign of appreciation, you may offer some tips to those who offer services at the hotels on the entire safari. However, tipping remains entirely on you. Should you feel like tipping for services rendered, we recommend that porters and waiters be given at least US$ 1.- For the driver-guide, we recommend a tip of between US$ 5.- to US$ 7.- per person per day.

8.       DO'S AND DON'TS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES.
-          Do not throw litter or leave litter. There are litter bins at designated places or you may leave them in the bus.
-          Do not feed the animals, i.e. monkeys, baboons etc
-          Do give the animals the right of way and do not disturb wildlife
-          Do not take any plant or animals, dead or alive.
-          Do not start fires or throw cigarettes
-          Do stay in your vehicle except at designated viewing points
-          Do not shout, laugh loudly, play radio or cassettes as this will keep away the animals.
-          Do enjoy yourself to the fullest

Travel Connections wishes you all an unforgettable Africa safari.