Kenya & Tanzania Family Holiday Safari

(13 Days / 12 Nights)

Malewa Wildlife Lodge Kenya's Great Rift Valley

Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge Serengeti National Park

Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp Wilderness of Ngorongoro

Summary Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi arrival. Overnight at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi City Tour. Overnight at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi
Day 3: Lake Naivasha. Overnight at Malewa Wildlife Lodge
Day 4: Lake Naivasha (visit Lake Nakuru for a day trip). Overnight at Malewa Wildlife Lodge

Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Nairobi – Fly Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Overnight at Karen Blixen Camp
Day 6: Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Overnight at Masai Mara Karen Blixen Camp
Day 7: Maasai Mara Game reserve. Overnight at Masai Mara Karen Blixen Camp
Day 8: Fly Nairobi – Fly Kilimanjaro – Fly Serengeti National Park. Overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
Day 9: Serengeti National Park. Overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge

Day 10: Serengeti National Park. Overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge

Day 11: Drive Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight at Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight at Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp

Day 13: Ngorongoro – Drive Lake Manyara – Fly Kilimanjaro – Fly Nairobi –Depart

Cost for 2010 per person
Land arrangement (per person)

Child Rate 2 – 11 Years is 75% of the adult rate

Kenya & Tanzania Family Holiday Safari 13 Days

Priceless memories are made when the family goes on vacation. At 'Spice' we provide an extravagant safari experience that will amuse, educate, entertain, and enthrall the entire clan. The Family Safari is more than just your average foray into the African wilds. Activities abound for every age ....Maasai – and Samburu – style traditional beaded necklace making. Swahili mask-making. Nightly star-gazing. Safari escorts teaching the basics of big-game tracking— whether it’s identifying an animal’s footprints or (less desirably) its dung.

There are even special gifts and equipment provided for children. Plus, staff is on hand to keep the younger guests engaged —allowing Mom and Dad to get away on their own for a while. Each lodge is family-friendly. We stay at each location for two to three days, truly experiencing each locale and avoiding a rushed feeling. And of course, we offer our family safaris during ideal family travel times, designed to coincide with school vacations. Even the food is customized—simple, fun foods for the kids and gourmet cuisine for discerning adults.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1
Nairobi arrival

Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, an African Spice Safari Escort whisks family members from the airport to the Norfolk Hotel, historic centerpiece of Nairobi and epitome of luxury since 1904.

Overnight at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi
Meal Plan: {Bed & Breakfast}

Day 2

Explore Nairobi

Of interest in Nairobi today will be a tour of Nairobi, meeting with a Maasai Elder and lunch at a tea plantation hosted by descendants of the original settlers—vibrant, living history. We follow this with a tour of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen’s home and the opportunity to feed rare Rothschild giraffes. After an enriching day, we return back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3
Nairobi – Lake Naivasha
Next, we overland to papyrus-fringed Lake Naivasha, a cool and peaceful escape from Nairobi’s big-city bustle. With over 400 species of bird, this freshwater lake is a birding Paradise. Along the lake’s fabled waters, we are bound to see some of the area’s more intriguing species—hippos, giraffes, buffalo and even the arboreal colobus monkey. Lake Naivasha lies in the Great Rift Valley and the name derives from the local Maasai name Nai'posha, meaning "rough water" because of the sudden storms which can arise.

After lunch we visit Crescent island — a private sanctuary, where you can walk beneath yellow-barked acacias (yellow fever trees) in search of giraffes, wildebeest , impala , dikdiks, thompson’s and grant’s gazelles, elands, waterbucks and countless bird species. Oh, and there are some rather gigantic pythons too! We are allowed to walk with the animals since all were introduced during the filming of Out of Africa. An optional boat ride on the lake reveals many water bird species and schools of Hippos.

Overnight at Malewa Wildlife Lodge
Meal plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 4
Lake Naivasha —Visit Lake Nakuru for a day trip — Lake Naivasha

After a delicious breakfast, we travel overland to Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day game viewing experience. The spectacular alkaline Lake is famously known as the feeding ground of both lesser and greater flamingos. This National Park, which is fenced all round is a sanctuary for birds, Rothschild giraffes and both black and white-rhinos. Other mammals in abundance include Waterbucks, Buffalos, Gazelles, Lions, Baboons and the elusive Leopards sometimes seen sleeping on the horizontal branches of the “Fever trees”. Lunch will be served at one of the lodges located in the Game Park, offering its own local specialties, served with fresh produce from the region. Later we retire to our delightful rooms with their four-poster beds of local woods and the ever-stoked fireplace. It is indulgent luxury that is thoroughly African.

Overnight at Malewa Wildlife Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5
Lake Naivasha – Nairobi – Fly Maasai Mara Game Reserve

After a leisure breakfast at Naivasha Sopa Lodge, depart overland to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve-jewel of Kenya's Game Park. We return to Nairobi and fly to the Mara. The Maasai Mara is Kenya's finest and most outstanding wildlife sanctuary where gentle rolling grassland ensures animals are never out of sight. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well spread rainfall year round. The sensation of the great wildebeest migration between July and October is unparalleled. The wildlife is far from being confined within the Reserve boundaries and an even larger area extends beyond the game Reserve. Centuries of close association with the wildlife has resulted in an almost symbiotic relationship where wildlife and Maasai people live in peace with one another.

After lunch, explore the Reserve on a late evening 'Spice' game drive. No matter how much you have thought about Africa, this is more than you expected—the big five-Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Cape buffalo are in abundance.

Overnight at Masai Mara Karen Blixen Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Days 6 & 7

Explore Maasai Mara Game Reserve

We spend two nights here, giving us the luxury of time to appreciate the region’s rich wildlife by game drive or even Hot-Air Balloon. Zebra, wildebeest, topi and hippos are common, as are leopards, lions and cheetahs. We’ll also immerse ourselves in the Maasai culture by visiting villages and schools, witnessing rituals and activities that have survived innumerable generations. Our game drives are colored with bush lore courtesy of our expert guides, who also explain the dynamics of the wild and the importance of conservation. Young travelers can enjoy a Bush Treasure Hunt, while teens check out the Swahili Music. Meanwhile, adults will appreciate Bush Sundowners—a civilized cocktail party staged in the untamed wilds of Africa—and a gourmet dinner. Kids, on the other hand, will feast on their favorites like pasta!

Overnight at Masai Mara Karen Blixen Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 8
Maasai Mara – Fly Nairobi – Fly Kilimanjaro Airport – Fly Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park is our destination today. The planet’s most amazing wildlife is on display here and the
daily drama of this famous savannah will excite you. We find ourselves deep in the heart of this famous migration corridor. With its wide-open spaces, bright blue skies and creature-filled landscape, over the next two days we will discover why the fabled Serengeti typifies the dream of “Old Africa.” Large prides of lions laze in the long grasses; plentiful families of elephants feed on acacia bark and trumpet to each other across the plains, while giraffes, gazelles, monkeys, eland and the whole range of African wildlife present themselves in awe-inspiring numbers.

Overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Days 9 & 10

Discover Serengeti National Park
Two Serengeti game viewing days. The great diversity of Serengeti wildlife is also evident here—look for buffalo, hippopotamus, elephant, giraffe, antelope, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, lions, and in season the spectacular migration of the wildebeest. In late afternoon we venture out in another game drive. Everywhere there are animals, monkeys and, yes, birds…but look closely and you will thrill to the huge jungle cats—lion, leopard and cheetah—just watching the world go by. And go by it does. Rhino, gazelle, antelope and massive elephants by the hundreds. Animals in the trees, on the wing, camouflaged in the bush, in rivers and in streams. The adventure of a lifetime. Children will not only learn how to shoot an arrow, but how to make their own bow. If you aren’t feeling adventurous, bring the clan inside for some board games—the wilderness will be there when you’re ready.

Overnight at Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 11
Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater
Our adventure today takes us to Ngorongoro Crater, where our lodge sits dramatically on the rim of the crater, revealing an awesome panorama of the world’s largest, unflooded and unbroken caldera. We make a stop in the Great Rift Valley, the noted “Cradle of Mankind” where the Leakey family discovered human fossils which date back almost two million years, before continuing to Ngorongoro Crater.

Be prepared for some remarkable views down into the crater. The caldera of Ngorongoro marks the ancient walls of a collapsed volcano, which was probably once the size of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Today the completely enclosed circular crater is some twelve miles across, with steep walls of over 2,000 feet. We are at an altitude of approximately 7,500 feet above sea level, the highest point on our trip. After our time on the lower plains, the cooler air here is refreshing. This afternoon enjoy a short nature walk to learn more about the local fauna, or just stay at the lodge and admire the view.

Overnight at Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp

Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}

Day 12
Ngorongoro Crater
Early this morning we descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor to explore this natural zoological park, and observe an extraordinary variety of wildlife: elephant, rhinoceros, lion, hyena, zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle, reedbuck, and buffalo. The lovely crested crane (similar to a peacock) can be found in great profusion here and maybe you'll spot a bat-eared fox. The balance of predator and prey in this extraordinary ecosystem is so precise that animals seldom leave. Our exact route is decided on the spot by our expert safari guides, depending on where the animals are. An insider's tip: bring plenty of film-you may never take better wildlife photos anywhere else.

Ngorongoro Crater is said to be one of the natural wonders of the world. A spectacular game haunt, the 102-square-mile crater is a perfect caldera, one of the largest on earth. Millions of years ago a smoldering volcano collapsed, creating the crater and a home for thousands of animals amidst its many types of vegetation grown and nourished over the centuries. Over 30,000 animals live here: prides of lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah and giraffe, gazelle by the thousands and multitudes of wildebeest. Uniquely beautiful, we will never see its likes again. We spend a memorable morning ensconced in the crater, exploring its breadth and depth returning to the lodge for a late lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. The views from our lodge are outstanding and there are various outlooks from which you can survey the crater. And tonight, as we delight in another luscious meal at this exceptional lodge, we are once again stunned by the beauty of the orange sunset that hovers in the wild African sky, signaling the end to yet another unforgettable day on safari.

Overnight at Lemala Ngorongoro Luxury Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}

Day 13
Ngorongoro – Drive Lake Manyara – Fly Kilimanjaro– Fly Nairobi – Depart

We enjoy leisure breakfast and then we drive to Lake Manyara Airstrip, fly to Nairobi via Kilimanjaro International Air port. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. You might take this opportunity to visit our local stores. They displays items pertaining to Kenya and Tanzania's cultural heritage, and offers unique carvings, artifacts, clothing and gem stones to augment and expand the experiences you've had on your visit. If you are returning to the United States, you have a day room available for the afternoon and dinner at the Hotel is included. As we leave Africa we know that the old adage is true: you may leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you.

Dayrooms at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}

What’s included!
• With exception of transfers within Nairobi, when mini-buses are used, we use four-wheel-drive vehicle- custom built safari land cruiser for the entire safari

• 9 Days in National Parks and Reserves— 1 Lake Nakuru 2 days in Ngorongoro, 3 days in Maasai Mara , 3 days Serengeti
• Baggage handling included at hotels, camps and airports (for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips)

• Accommodations — only the most deluxe hotels .lodges and selected camps selected for the programme

• 2 bottles of water per person, per day (1 bottle provided by your Trip Leader and 1 bottle at the lodge)

• Complimentary travel to and from airports for all our travelers, at any time

• Detailed daily briefings by our Tour Leaders and Safari directors

• Guaranteed window seat; open top for easy photography
• Pre –tour documentation with extensive travel information

• Daily small group exploration and unique cultural activities

• Expert African Spice Trip Leader and driver-guides

• 36 meals— 12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 12 dinners

• No surcharge or supplementary cost ever imposed

• Once booked your trip will depart as scheduled

• All park and conservation fees— a $600 value
• Flying Doctor services in Kenya and Tanzania
• Extra game drives gladly provided

• Up to 14 game drives