Day 1: We meet at your town of departure to board our bus to O’Hare Airport for our early evening departure on our major international airline for our flight to Nairobi; we will be making a connection in one of Europe’s major airports. We will be served dinner and can watch a movie during our overnight flight. (In-flight meals)
Day 2: Touch down in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. We will be met by our Tour Manager; after we clear customs, he will be with us for the duration of our stay in East Africa. We will be met with cold towels, champagne and the presentation of an authentic safari hat, we will then depart for our hotel and a welcome dinner. (In-flight meals, D)
Day 3: After breakfast we depart on a pleasant drive to the floor of the Great Rift Valley with spectacular views of the valley below to arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for lunch. Afternoon we proceed on a game-viewing drive to see the millions of flamingo and a host of other bird and animal life including the “tree climbing lions”, white rhino, black rhino and leopards. We return to the lodge for dinner and traditional entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 4: We have an early breakfast this morning and then we depart for the famed Masai Mara, where we arrive in time for a late lunch at Mara Serena Lodge. This afternoon we proceed on an exciting game-viewing drive. (B, L, D)
Day 5: We experience a full day of game-viewing with both morning and afternoon drives. (B, L, D)
Optional Activity: - if interested you may take a Dawn Balloon Safari over the Mara Plains this activity ends with a champagne breakfast. (Cost approximately $500)
Day 6: We need to wake early today and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before heading south towards Isebania and Sirari, the border towns of Kenya and Tanzania. We’ll continue with our journey passing the Mara River as it drains into Lake Victoria and stop at a picnic site to enjoy lunch. We continue after lunch with a game-viewing drive on our way to the Serengeti Sopa Lodge, where we will spend the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 7: We experience a full day of game-viewing with morning and afternoon drives in the Serengeti. (B, L, D)
Day 8: After breakfast we depart for the Oldupai Gorge where hominid footprints believed to be 3.6 million years old were found. We will enjoy an on-site talk on the interpretation of the gorge by the resident guide. We will then proceed towards the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater stopping occasionally to admire the breath-taking vista unfolding before you to arrive at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for lunch. This afternoon is free for you to relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the crater. The lodge is built into the rim of a huge caldera (collapsed volcano) with a balcony in every room providing spectacular views of the crater floor. A warm jacket/cardigan is highly recommended. (B, L, D)
Day 9: After breakfast this morning we will descend some 60 meters into the crater, which is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise, for a full day’s game-viewing drive. Our picnic lunch today will be served by the Crater Lake which is teeming with hippos. We will return to the lodge in the late afternoon for a welcome cup of tea or coffee and a variety of cookies. (B, L, D)
Day 10: After breakfast we depart for Lake Manyara which is a short distance away. Our lodge for this night is the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge which is set on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the stunning Manyara soda lake. This afternoon we proceed on a cultural walk in the village of ‘Mto wa Mbu’ (B, L, D)
The cultural walk is the finale of this trip. The village we will be walking through is not set up for the tourist but is a normal village where we will have the opportunity to walk about, talk to and visit the homes of the inhabitants of this village we will be escorted by a professional guide. Part of the proceeds from this walk goes towards the welfare of the community living in the village, for example: building or improving health, education and water facilities.
Day 11: After breakfast, we depart and head back to Nairobi where we have arranged to have Day Rooms reserved until 6 P.M. We will have a farewell dinner with the Manji family, if our flight departure time permits. We will be transferred back to Nairobi airport to start our journey back to Chicago. |
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| Air Transportation |
| We will use a major airline from Chicago to Nairobi round trip – the flight might operate either out of O’Hare or from Midway Airport. |
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| Hotels |
The Stanley Hotel in Nairobi
Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Mara Serena Lodge
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge |
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| Travel Insurance |
| The cost of this trip includes full third-party insurance which covers trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage loss, medical coverage and coverage against financial default of all suppliers including the airlines used. The medical coverage also covers pre-existing medical conditions. |
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B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner
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