African Drums - 23 Days
Kenya - Tanzania - Zanzibar
Here's an action packed three week trip into the great national parks of Africa for some great wildlife and some adventure of your own. From Nairobi we head out on the Masai escarpment and into the legendary Rift Valley. Then it's on to the Masai Mara and tribal villages plus teeming wildlife - lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra. Next stop is Lake Naivasha and time for some great sightseeing, a horse-riding safari and boat trip. Watch out for flamingos on a game drive at the next stop, Lake Nakuru National Park, and camp out on the lakeshore. Into Tanzania and the famous Serengeti for more big beasts and a game drive in the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. We finish this tour with a trip back in time through the historic streets and markets of exotic Zanzibar where you can buy great gifts, have a boat ride on an Arab sailing dhow or relax on the white sands by the Indian Ocean.
Please note: On the last two days of this tour we drive directly back to Nairobi. Alternatively end this tour in Zanzibar on day 19.
You may also add a 7-day Kilimanjaro Climb to the beginning or end of this tour.
Day 1
Travel to Africa
Day 2
Nakuru National Park. Leaving Nairobi behind us we set out northwest towards the Rift Valley. En route we stop at the Masai escarpment, giving us our first view of this amazing valley caused by volcanic activity millions of years ago. The Rift Valley runs 6000 kms from the Red Sea into Mozambique and is up to 100km’s wide in places. After a photo opportunity at the viewpoint and a chance to enjoy the spectacular view, we drop down into the valley floor and continue our drive to Nakuru National Park, where we set up camp for our first night on safari.
Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for it’s large population of pink flamingos, which featured in the movie “Out of Africa”. Aside from flamingos, Lake Nakuru boasts a sizeable population of rhinos, both black and white. The more sociable white rhino is a common sight seen grazing on the open plains, however it’s less sociable cousin, the black rhino often remains hidden in the dense bush. Although not native to this park they were introduced here because the park offered good security from poachers and they are being used in a breeding program to maintain and improve the rhino population and gene pool. This park also has lion, leopard, buffalo, plains game and a large diverse bird population, which was the original reason the park was established.
Nakuru is the primary Masai trading centre in the area, and the town is full of the colour of the Masai resplendent in their red shukas (robes). From the beautiful Nakuru National Park, we head south to the stunning Lake Naivasha.
Days 3, 4
Lake Naivasha. The township of Naivasha is a small sized town with banks and a post office. Lake Naivasha, one of the Rift Valley’s fresh water lakes, is home to an incredible variety of bird life, and we camp on its tranquil shores for two nights. The campsite is set amongst yellow Acacia trees and frequently visited by black and white colobus monkeys. The lake is also home to around 300 hippos that can often be seen and heard from the campsite.
Camping here for two nights we have plenty of time to explore and there are a number of optional activities to choose from, such as a trip to Elsamere - the home of the late Joy Adamson, famous for "Born Free", which is now a museum. Here you will learn about her life, and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and cakes in the very picturesque location of the Adamson’s home.
Other options include hiring a boat to take a trip to Crescent Island, a horse riding safari around Naivasha, or the opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ walking amongst the game. Venture out on a walking safari through Hells Gate National Park, one of the only game parks where you are allowed to explore by foot –there are no predators in this game park but you will spot giraffe, zebra and impala! If you tire of walking, why not hire a mountain bike and take off exploring by pedal power.
Days 5-7
Masai Mara. Leaving Naivasha we have an early start for our drive to the Masai Mara. The last one and half-hours of the journey find us on bumpy, dusty, dirt road as we drive across the Loita Plains taking in the scenery. Before entering into the Game Reserve there is the chance to visit a Masai village. Not only can you see inside a traditional Masai hut, but also try your hand at the age-old tradition of bartering for souvenirs. The village is slightly commercialised but still gives a good idea of how the Masai live.
The Masai Mara is the most famous and prolific game park in Kenya covering an area of 1672 square kilometres. It is classified as a Reserve as opposed to a National Park to allow the Masai people to use the area to graze their cattle. A highlight of the Mara is no doubt the annual wildebeest migration when literally millions of these beasts stray north from the Serengeti in search of grass for food, before turning south again. In most National Parks it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a National Park is not always easy. This is one of the advantages of using a truck, which has superior height making it easier to see over the grass. Game parks are places where the enthusiastic use a lot of film so it’s advisable to have some extra. Hopefully we should be able to spot prides of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebra and hippo and other more common animals such as wart hog, giraffe, and baboon - almost every conceivable species of East African wildlife can been spotted here.
At our camp on the outskirts of the reserve there are many optional activities to enjoy. In the evening there is the opportunity to learn more about the Maasai and their way of life with a talk about their rich culture and an option to join them in traditional dancing. Early the next morning hot air ballooning is on offer. It is an amazing experience, as you float above the Game Reserve viewing the wildlife for approximately an hour before enjoying a full breakfast with champagne under the shade of a tree on the plains.
Leaving the Masai Mara we head to Nairobi and have another chance to stop at the rift valley viewpoint.
Day 8
Nairobi. In Nairobi there are the options of visiting Karen Blixons House, the giraffe centre or the animal orphanage. This is also a good time to persuade your tour leader to take you to the famous Carnivores restaurant (optional).
Days 9, 10
Namanga to Arusha. From Nairobi, after we meet up with new fellow travellers joining us for the next two weeks, we head towards Tanzania and the border town of Namanga. If there are clear skies we may catch a glimpse of the snow peeked caps of Mt Kilimanjaro.
The following day from Namanga we cross over the border into Tanzania. Tanzanian visas will be required by most nationalities and can be purchased at the border. Please note: USD cash will be needed for visas. Be ready to be swamped by Masai ladies selling jewellery, you can pick up some great bargains from them whilst we clear customs and immigration formalities.
Our route to Arusha takes us through the Masai tribe lands and along the western slope of Mt Meru. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. These days safaris have taken over as its primary industry and it is now the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. In town you will find an excellent market and bakery, along with a post office, banks and e-mail facilities and we will have an opportunity to indulge in some curio shopping here.
Days 11-13
Serengeti N.P. & Ngorongoro Crater. It is not possible to take large trucks into the Ngorongoro Crater, so for the next few days we will be using a local operator with four wheel drive vehicles.
Starting early we begin our journey to the Serengeti, en route stopping at the village of Mto Wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek) where there is a good curio market for more purchases. Prices here are quite expensive though, so be prepared to haggle for a good deal. Further along the road we pass Lake Manyara, the largest soda lake in East Africa, where we will stop briefly to enjoy the magnificent views from the escarpment. Driving through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area we skirt our way around the rim of the crater itself, before heading down onto the short grass plains, arriving at the gate to the Serengeti National Park mid-afternoon.
The Serengeti is the oldest and largest National Park in Tanzania, its name coming from the Masai word meaning “endless plains”. Its landscape varies from the long and short grass plains in the south, to the central Savannah, the hilly wooded areas in the north, and extensive wooded areas in the west. It is world renowned for its immense concentration of game, in particular its lion and zebra populations and the annual wildebeest migration which commences in July – the beginning of the dry season, when they move in search of pasture towards the Masai Mara. It is a time when you will see the full circle of life for these animals sometimes called “the clowns of the plains”. The migration journey is hazardous and many of the older and weaker animals will lose their lives to predators such as lions and crocodiles. The migration also coincides with the annual rutting season; the calves being born at the beginning of the rains when there is plenty of fresh grass for feeding.
After crossing into the park, we game drive through the long grass plains to our campsite in the Seronera valley at the very heart of the National Park. Campsite facilities here are very basic. The following morning an early start finds us game driving in search of big game.
After approximately an hour ballooning, waiters serve a full English breakfast, together with continental pastries, accompanied by champagne and fruit juice, in colonial dress on long white clothed tables in the middle of the plains.
We return to camp for lunch before making our way back across the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater. Tonight we camp right on the rim of the Crater, where weather permitting, we enjoy a spectacular view into this ‘Garden of Eden’. Camping facilities are again basic.
Early the next day we descend onto the Crater floor for a morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique eco system. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater, before heading back to camp for lunch. Watch out for the black kites!
That afternoon we head back to Arusha and rejoin our truck for the onward journey to Dar es Salaam and the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Days 14, 15
Arusha And Dar Es Salam. The next few days are spent covering the distance between Arusha and Dar Es Salaam. En route we have another chance to see Mount Kilimanjaro. This is the highest mountain in Africa at 5896m, and is snow capped all year round. We also pass through large sisal plantations and a number of small villages and towns. The temperature becomes noticeably hotter the closer we get to the port city of Dar Es Salaam, (translated from Swahili as ‘Haven of Peace’). This predominantly Muslim city is an absolute hive of activity. It started off as a humble fishing village in the mid 19th century becoming the capital in 1891. It is a city with most of its colonial character intact, though like most African cities there are contrasts in various parts of the city from the harbour fringed with palms and mangroves and Arab dhows and dugout canoes dotting the horizon, to the busy and dusty streets with their colourful and exotic atmosphere.
Days 16-19
Zanzibar. Our ferry crossing from Dar Es Salaam takes us 1½-2 hours and soon we are stepping ashore on the ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar. The name promises to take your senses to another world and has lured travellers to its shores for centuries. Many different cultures have made a home here: Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Dutch, Omani Arabs and English all have contributed to and influenced Zanzibar. Hidden among the narrow winding streets of Zanzibar are countless bazaars, mosques and palaces. Marvel at the whitewashed, coral-rag houses, with over-hanging balconies and the richly detailed carved brass-studded doors.
We spend two nights in the historic Stone Town staying in a local Zanzibar inn. There are many options to enjoy in your leisure time. Take a trip to Prison Island to see the ruins of the old prison and the giant tortoises thought to have originated in the Seychelles, swim with the playful dolphins on the southern beaches or take a Spice Tour of the island. On the Spice Tour your local guide will show you a variety of different spices and fruits grown on the island, as well as explain more of its fascinating history. It is easy to see the strong Arabic influence as you listen to the Muslim prayer chanting and see the traditional dress. Zanzibar was a major centre for the slave trade in the 19th Century and at its height 50,000 slaves a year passed through the island before being exported overseas or sent to local plantations. Your guide will also take you to the site of the old slave market and you can visit one of the chambers where the slaves were imprisoned upon their arrival on the island.
In the evening we can enjoy a ‘sundowner’ watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean before sampling the delights of the local restaurants or maybe a trip to the night food markets to savour the myriad of fresh seafood available. Try a Zanzibar Pizza - not a pizza at all, but well worth a try!
From Stone Town we head to the northern beaches for two days. Here you can enjoy a boat ride in a traditional Arabic sailing dhow, go snorkelling or even dive in the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean. Its coconut palms, white sands and clear blue sea make it a peaceful tropical setting for the ending of our tour.
Days 20-22
Dar Es Salaam To Nairobi. Bidding a fond farewell to Zanzibar we catch our return ferry to mainland Dar Es Salaam for our last opportunity to shop for souvenirs at the nearby markets, where you can watch the tradesmen handcrafting their wooden carvings.
The last two days of our safari are spent on our return journey to Nairobi arriving at approx 5.30pm on the last day of the tour.
Day 23
Travel Home
ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT
Camping
18 Nights
Hostel (Zanzibar Only)
2 Nights
Kumuka Overland Truck
Ferry
Safari Vehicle
On foot
HIGHLIGHTS
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS MARKED *
Kenya
Nairobi, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate National Park*, Elsamere*, Horse Riding*, Crescent Island Boat Trip*
Tanzania
Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar Island, Spice Tour*, Stone Town, East/North Coast Beaches, Swimming with Dolphins*, Diving and Snorkelling*
