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Experience the magic of East Africa in Kenya and Tanzania

Spend 15 unforgettable days discovering the wonders of East Africa on a Premium journey through Kenya and Tanzania. Enjoy a front row seat as the spectacular landscapes and wildlife of the Masai Mara, Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park unfold in front of you on an exciting series of four-wheel drive game drives. Travel to the waters of lakes Naivasha and Nakuru, meet Maasai warriors at a traditional village and explore with local leaders eager to show you the best of their countries. Dine beneath the stars, sip drinks at sunset and fall asleep to the magical sounds of East Africa.

Start
Nairobi, Kenya
Finish
Arusha, Tanzania
Destinations
Kenya, Tanzania
Style
Premium
Theme
Wildlife
Code
YGPEC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Explore the heart of Lake Nakuru's National Park and look out for endangered black and white rhino stopping for a drink on morning and afternoon 4x4 game drives. Visit Elsamere Conservation Centre, enjoying a high tea lunch, then spot hippos and unique birdlife on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha.

  • Visit a local Maasai community known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. Be welcomed by traditional Maasai warrior song and dance and learn about this remarkable and ancient culture.

  • Spend three unforgettable nights immersed in nature at your feature stay camp, located with easy access to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Search for lions and cheetahs prowling the park on several 4x4 game drives and enjoy sunset drinks within the park.

  • Sleep in the heart of the Serengeti – with no fences, your feature stay eco-camp offers wild surroundings and modern comforts. Dine and drink beneath the African sky during a private bush dinner and enjoy refreshing sunset drinks after an exciting day of game drives.

  • Venture through the diverse Tarangire National Park and explore the spectacular World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Crater in open top 4x4 vehicles. Be astounded by a vast array of wildlife and enjoy a bush picnic lunch on the crater floor.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Purpose-built 4WD Safari Landcruisers are used for the duration of the trip.

  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many some starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

  • This itinerary features some long travel days, which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. It is recommended that you pay close attention to the given approximations of driving hours.

Local Maasai villagers jumping for traditional performance in colourful robes in Tepesua Village, Kenya
YGPK - Accommodation in Lake Nakuru, Sopa Lodge landscape
YGPT - Feature stay: Inside look at the interior of premium tent in Ang'ata Seregenti
YGPK - Masai Mara hot air balloon
YGPT - Spotting rhinos on a safari guided tour at Serengeti NP
YGPT - Elephants in Tarangire National park
YGPT - Premium accommodation: Interior of room at the Marera view lodge

Itinerary
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Welcome to Kenya! Your adventure begins in the capital city, Nairobi. You will be collected from the airport for a short transfer to your hotel, where you will meet your local leader and small group for a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive before this time, you could spend the afternoon browsing the artistic and cultural displays at Nairobi Gallery, or lounging by the pool at your home for the night – a swish central hotel complete with bold pan-African art, a sauna and steam room, and super friendly staff. After your meeting, head out with your leader and fellow travellers to a colourful local restaurant offering traditional favourites with a modern touch. Sharing food is a big part of the culture here and a great way to get to know your new travel companions – enjoy sharing platters and tasty sides like samosas, fried plantains and tilapia.
Accommodation
  • Panafric Nairobi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Nairobi - Welcome Dinner
Optional Activities
  • Nairobi - City Experience Urban Adventure - USD55
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

An airport arrival transfer is included. This transfer is only valid if arriving on day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel.

After Breakfast, we pack our bags and head off to Great Rift Valley of East Africa where our first stop will be at the Eden Project. Eden Reforestation Projects is a nonprofit NGO that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation. Eden works directly with communities experiencing extreme poverty resulting from the deforestation and destruction of the land that sustains them – Intrepid is a proud sponsor of this project and we help raise funds for this organization. Spend an hour at this site and learn how they work alongside the community to produce, plant, and protect tens of millions of trees every month, creating jobs to support them in restoring their local environment and economy long-term.

Then depart for Elsamere, the former home of the writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book 'Born Free' helped bring wildlife conservation into the mainstream. The house is a veritable museum dedicated to the works of Joy and George Adamson, with many photos of Elsa, the lioness that started it all. Embark on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the highest of all lakes in the Great Rift Valley and home to many a hippopotamus. Later, enjoy a high tea lunch on the very grounds Joy cherished for so many years, with the lake as a serene backdrop. After lunch, continue to your Lake Nakuru lodge, arriving in the early evening. From your lodge you’ll enjoy remarkable views of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding national park, alive with the call of birds and rich in wildlife. What better way to take it all in than from your lodge’s infinity pool.
Accommodation
  • Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Boat trip
  • Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
  • Kiambu Tigoni - Eden Reforestation Project
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

This morning you will visit Lake Nakuru National Park by four-wheel drive vehicle (4x4) – the park’s lake is its stunning centrepiece. Mornings can be cold here so it's important to bring warm clothes. You might see why this great soda lake has been described as the world's greatest ornithological spectacle; great seas of flamingos often turn the landscape a sweeping shade of pink. Flooding in recent years has unfortunately caused a decline in birdlife, however the park boasts substantial numbers of other species, including waterbuck, reedbuck and gazelle. Leopards are also to be found here, and the chances of sighting one are significant. Return to the lodge and take some time out for lunch, then head back out for another afternoon game drive. Keep your eyes peeled for one of Africa's most endangered creatures, the elusive black rhinoceros. While white rhino sightings are fairly common, spotting a black rhinoceros is a real treat.
Accommodation
  • Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Nakuru - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Lake Nakuru - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Head southwest to the Masai Mara, one of the finest game reserves in Africa. Cross the Great Rift Valley and pass by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people. This is one of few places where they still practice their traditional way of life with little influence from the western world. Stop at Tepesua Village where you’ll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors through traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts, take a walk to the community village and enjoy a fascinating talk full of insights into this ancient culture. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project’, where widowed women sew eco-friendly handicrafts to sell to visitors and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure. Move on to Zebra Plains Mara Camp, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Here you can watch blazing sunsets and share stories over the bonfire – or cocktails in the plush lounge area – before retiring to your luxury digs. Tented rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, large, comfortable beds and private verandas offering fabulous views of the plains.
Accommodation
  • Zebra Plains (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 7 hours.

Explore more of the park by 4x4 today with further game drives from morning to the afternoon. We depart for an early morning game drive with our packed lunch at hand since we will drive to the furthest part of the park. Witness the wonderful procession of wildlife that inhabits the area. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are plentiful, and you might even spot predators keeping a casual eye on their movements. Elephants, giraffes and elands are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. The area is known for its rolling green plains and riverine woodlands, and amongst the many species of game, a black-maned lion, leopard or cheetah might appear, with some luck. As the sun starts to set, stop and take a moment to soak it all in with a drink in hand – there’s few better ways to wrap up a day of wildlife spotting in one of the world’s most magical places. As dusk falls, a variety of animals might be visible in the vicinity of your camp also. We return to camp late in the evening and freshen up before settling in for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Zebra Plains Mara Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - Sundowner and snacks
  • Masai Mara - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

The morning is yours to do as you wish. You may like to sit back with a cup of coffee on your private deck, keeping an eye out for animals in the reserve, or forgo a sleep-in in favour of an early morning game drive or walking safari. If you’d like to see the Masai Mara from a different perspective, a sunrise hot air balloon ride is a truly memorable experience. Balloon rides can be booked ahead of time or on the ground (subject to availability) and the suppliers are committed conservationists, with a portion of the profits from every flight going straight to worthy conservation projects within the park. You will be collected before dawn and glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, making the most of the amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you'll ascend to get an overview of the enormity of the Masai Mara plains and the early-morning movements of the teeming herds. In the afternoon, regroup for another exciting 4x4 game drive in the park.
Accommodation
  • Zebra Plains Mara Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD500
  • Masai Mara - Half Day Game Drive - KES8000
  • Masai Mara National Reserve - Guided Walking Safari - USD30
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.

Say goodbye to the Masai Mara and make the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. On arrival, settle into your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure.
Accommodation
  • Panafric Nairobi or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours. To reduce your travelling time back to Nairobi, you may wish to consider a flight from Masai Mara to Nairobi (additional cost).

Start the day with an early breakfast, then make the drive to Arusha to begin the Tanzanian leg of your journey. On arrival, settle into your hotel – nestled on the woodland slopes of Mount Meru in the heart of a traditional coffee farm, the hotel offers fantastic views of Lake Duluti. A meeting will take place here at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next part of your adventure. After your meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.
Accommodation
  • Arusha Serena Hotel (or Similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Arusha - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours, including border crossing.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. We suggest you attend, as this is also a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. It’s important that you attend the welcome meeting as your new group leader will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After breakfast, drive on to Tarangire National Park, dotted with soaring baobab trees and varied wildlife. The area experiences its own small-scale migration, as animals travel from Tarangire to Lake Manyara in search of water and grass. Your accommodation here is a permanent tented camp in the heart of the park with wonderful views of the Tarangire River. During the migration periods, you may be lucky enough to witness zebras, wildebeest and elephants passing by the veranda of your tent – a true African bush experience. In the afternoon, set out into the park for a four-wheel drive (4x4) game drive in search of wonderful wildlife.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Tarangire Permanent tented camp (or similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tarangire National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Rise early for a thrilling 4x4 game drive. Tarangire National Park is populated with elephants, herds of cape buffalo, gazelles, Burchell’s zebras, giraffes and warthogs. Their predators also roam the park – look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals and even African wild dogs. If you look to the skies you’ll see the park’s abundant array of birdlife. Return to your camp for breakfast, then continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Along the way, stop at a local farmers’ market for a look at local life. Watch traders and buyers haggle over the prices of a colourful array of fruits and vegetables – your leader will pick up some seasonal fruits for you to try yourself. Arrive at your lodge, located in the verdant Marera Valley. Here you’ll enjoy cosy cottages with a veranda and fireplace, a beautiful swimming pool and organic gardens. This afternoon, you may like to relax poolside, or perhaps head out for an optional bike ride, village walk or coffee tour. Speak to your leader for tips on how to get the most out of this wonderful area.
Accommodation
  • Pamoja Africa Lodge (or similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tarangire National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Market Visit
Optional Activities
  • Karatu - Bicycle tour - USD30
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Today you will make your way to the wide-open plains of the Serengeti. Travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, skirting the mighty volcanic Ngorongoro Crater. Arrive at the 'Endless Plains' of the Serengeti; they span some 14,700 square kilometres, but their main claim to fame is 3 million or so animals. The game most likely to be seen in the Serengeti are the wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. This afternoon, head out on a 4x4 game drive in the southern regions of the Serengeti for your first look at the park’s unbelievable wildlife. In the evening, retire to your Feature Stay accommodation – a permanent tented camp in the central Seronera part of the park. With no fences, this magnificent eco-friendly camp allows you to really connect with your wild surroundings without sacrificing modern comforts. Each tent boasts a four-poster bed and en suite bathroom, and the gorgeous lounge area and dining tent are the perfect spots to gather with your fellow travellers. Tonight you will enjoy dinner to a soundtrack of the wild Serengeti, in your hotel’s dining tent.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Serengeti Permanent tented Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

The interactions between the many species of the Serengeti plains often provide some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. You may like to spend the morning game viewing on a hot air balloon safari over the great plains. Hot-air ballooning in East Africa can be an unforgettable experience and we strongly recommend booking this extra activity prior to departure if you're interested. Enjoy a full day of 4x4 game drives in the magnificent Serengeti. Watch the landscape change within the park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these areas is the savannah, punctuated by acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops. Start at sunrise with a morning game drive, then return to the camp in the middle of the day to escape the midday sun. Take some time to relax and enjoy a meal, then when it’s cooled down and the animals are more active, set out again for an afternoon game drive. Pull up in the park and enjoy a refreshing 'sundowner'; an iconic part of traditional safari life. Dating back to the great safaris of the 1920’s, there’s no better way to finish up an exciting day of wildlife viewing than gathering for drinks and nibbles while watching the sun go down. Return to camp in the evening for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Serengeti Permanent tented Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Sundowner in the Park
  • Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Depending on wildlife movements and opportunities for sightings, the morning game drive may continue through lunch and last all day. In this case, you will return to camp in the late afternoon.

The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.

This morning you will depart the Serengeti National Park and travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area; one of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves and the world's largest intact caldera. Within this crater lies every type of ecosystem, including riverine forests, open plains, freshwater and alkaline lakes. The scenery is awe-inspiring as you descend almost 600 metres down to the crater floor. Within its 300 square kilometres lies a remarkable concentration of wildlife, so on your game drive you may see some, or all, of the 'big five' creatures that rule here, including the highly endangered black rhinoceros. On the crater floor, grassland blends into swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. The Maasai are permitted to water their cattle at the permanent lake and can be seen leading their animals in and out of the crater. Enjoy a bush picnic lunch on the crater floor before continuing with your game drive. After your game drive, return to the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Accommodation
  • Marera View Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4WD Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s drive is long and bumpy. You will depart around 7am for a 3-4 hour bumpy drive to the Ngorongo Crater, where you will spend about 5 hours. After your game drive, the drive to the Ngorongoro Highlands is about 1 hour.

Enjoy a morning at leisure. Today you'll learn all about coffee, with a hands on tour covering the coffee process from seed, to bean, to cup. In the afternoon, spend some time relaxing by the pool, or speak to your leader about the other activities available.
Accommodation
  • Marera View Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Karatu - Coffee Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

This morning, depart the lodge and make the drive back to Arusha. You should expect to arrive back in Arusha by lunchtime, at which point your adventure comes to an end. Please do not book any international flights departing before 6pm this evening to allow for any unexpected delays. If you would like to extend your stay in Arusha, additional accommodation can be booked in advance (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 13 dinners

Transport

4x4 Safari Vehicle, Private vehicle, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (2 night), Lodge (5 nights) Permanent tented camp (7 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Nairobi - Welcome Dinner
  • Lake Naivasha - Boat trip
  • Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
  • Kiambu Tigoni - Eden Reforestation Project
  • Lake Nakuru - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Lake Nakuru - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Masai Mara - Sundowner and snacks
  • Masai Mara - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive
  • Masai Mara - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Arusha - Welcome Dinner
  • Tarangire National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Tarangire National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Market Visit
  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Sundowner in the Park
  • Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4WD Game Drive
  • Karatu - Coffee Tour

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Kenya & Tanzania trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on all nights of this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Optional sunrise balloon rides in the Masai Mara and Serengeti are possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
4. Depending on the departure date, we may use other luxury camps for our Feature Stay in Kenya, including Zebra Plains, Mara Engai, Amani Mara or Fig Tree Camp.
5. This trip finishes after lunch in Arusha on Day 15. Please do not book any flights departing before 6pm this evening. A departure transfer can be booked for an additional cost.
6. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.
7. The departures YGPEC230715 and YGPEC230805 will feature the following hotels in Tanzania: Palace Arusha, Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camp, The Castle at Ngorongoro, Feature Stay Mbalageti Tented Camp Serengeti, and Karatu Simba Lodge.

Essential trip information

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