Trips

Nairobi

Welcome to Kenya! Nairobi is a lively city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The Kenyan capital takes its name from the Maasai meaning 'Place of Cool Waters'. Today it is a busy, bustling place that comes alive through it's many markets, shops, bars and restaurants, not to mention its vibrant nightlife If you arrive early, explore the city. The National Museum of Kenya and Karen Blixen Museum are both worth a visit. We also highly recommended Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village. There will be a group meeting at 6:00pm - your trip leader will leave a note on the reception with the details of this important meeting. Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Nairobi before the start of your trip with us - please contact your booking agent if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Nairobi. In Nairobi we will camp in the grounds of a peaceful eco-camp in the suburb of Karen. Hotel for the night: Wildebeest Eco Camp Wildebeest Eco Camp 151 Mokoyeti Road West Karen Nairobi Kenya +254 7347 70733

Nairobi

After breakfast we will head out in our overland truck for included visits to the Langata Giraffe Sanctuary and the Nairobi Elephant Orphanage. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure to explore the sights of Nairobi or simply relax by the pool!

Arusha

We will leave Nairobi early today, as we have a relatively long drive day ahead of us. We will travel overland through Kenya and cross the border to northern Tanzania as we head to our camp site outside of Arusha. In Arusha we will stay in a campsite with good facilities. Estimated Drive Time - 5-7hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!) About Arusha: On our trips we make a short stop in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha.Arusha is the largest city in northern Tanzania, and used to be the capital of the East African community. The town sits in lush countryside near the foot of Mount Meru and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year, and surrounding it are many coffee, wheat and maize estates tended by the Arusha and Meru people.Arusha is the centre of Tanzania's safari business and is the gateway for safaris to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater National Parks.

Arusha

This morning we will take an included camel ride or walk to a nearby Maasai village - our Maasai guide will take us through the Maasai Cultural Museum first so that we understand what we are about to see in the village. The village is completely genuine, and the villagers show you as they actually live - nothing here is fixed up for tourists. We will also visit a free clinic run by the campsite for the local villagers. After lunch we head back to our campsite to prepare ourselves for our safari the next day! Activity Approximate Cost See a variety of African reptiles at the snake park in our campsite in Arusha Included in Kitty Take a short walk to a nearby Maasai village to learn all about the life and culture of the Maasai people Included in Kitty

Serengeti National Park

Today we will be met at the campsite by our fleet of 6-person 4x4 jeeps - we will load the jeeps with our camping and personal gear, and then head out for our 3-day excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, leaving our truck behind. Today will be a full drive along the rim of the Ngoronogoro Crater (stopping to take in the awe-inspiring views!) and then down into the plains of the Serengeti. We will take an evening game drive around the savannah before heading to our campsite - the area is one of the world's premier spot for wildlife viewing and we hope to able to find elephants, lions, leopards, giraffe and other big game during our time here! Tonight we will stay at a campsite within the Serengeti National Park. The camp where we stay is very basic (with showers and flush toilets, but no other facilities) but is located right in the middle of the plains, surrounded by animals and their nocturnal noises! Your leader will outline the basic safety rules to be followed when camping in an unfenced location where wild animals are present. Activity Approximate Cost Head on an unforgettable 3-day/2-night safari in 4x4s into the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater National Reserves - two of the world's most incredible areas for wildlife spotting Included in Kitty About Serengeti National Park: The wide open plains of the Serengeti, green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season and home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators, is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa. Flat and rolling with long grasses, the plains get its name from the Maasai word siringitu, "the place where the land moves on forever". Game viewing in the Serengeti is amazing and as you camp out at night, don't be surprised to hear lions in the distance as you recount your amazing sightings from during the day. The Serengeti plains usually live up to every-one's expectations - the classic East African scenery of rolling grasslands dotted with acacia trees and teeming with lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles, impalas, cheetahs, warthogs, hyenas, vultures, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, and much more! For those who really want to spoil themselves with the ultimate game viewing experience, an optional balloon ride over the Serengeti at sunrise will leave you with some unforgettable memories. Please note that this must be pre-booked in advance through the Dragoman Sales team.

Serengeti National Park

Today we will get up very early and we set off in our jeeps for an early morning game drive in the heart of the Serengeti plains. The early morning is the best time of day for wildlife viewing, as many of the animals are at their most active while it is still cool. There is an option this morning to take a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti instead of the game drive - demand is high for this activity, so this must be pre-booked at the time that you book your trip with Dragoman to avoid disappointment. We will have the chance to relax at the nearby Seronera Lodge during the heat of the day, before heading out for a second game drive in the afternoon. We will return to our campsite in the heart of the Serengeti for the evening. Activity Approximate Cost Take a stunning sunrise flight over the vast savannahs of the Serengeti in a hot air balloon(alternative to the scheduled morning game drive). This must be pre-booked through your sales consultant. USD 650

Mto Wa Mbu, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park

This morning we will have another early start to cross the Serengeti plains and head into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. Again, the Ngorongoro Crater is an outstanding area for wildlife spotting, often described as a 'natural wildlife enclosure'. This is the best chance on the excursion to spot black rhinos as well as a myriad of other big game. We will have lunch in the crater and leave in the afternoon. We will then be dropped off at our next campsite in the small town of Mto Wa Mbu, where we are re-united with our truck. We will have a well-deserved free evening to relax at our excellent campsite or to explore the town of Mto Wa Mbu. In Mto Wa Mbu we stay at a well equipped campsite in the grounds of a good hotel. About Mto Wa Mbu: Mto Wa Mbu is the half-way point between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater. It is well known in Tanzania as being a village with great ethnic and cultura ldiveristy, and is the homeland of many different tribal groupings. There are some excellent handicrafts produced here, such as woodcarving and batik paintings done in the the local 'Tinga-tinga' style. The village is also well known for a unique red banana that grows in the area, that the locals brew into a special 'banana beer' - quite an acquired taste! About Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is a huge caldera - a volcano which collapsed in an immense explosion. It measures 19kms in diameter and 265km² in area. The stunning crater is one of the most spectacular sights in Africa, and is absolutely packed with wildlife. On our trips we make the most of our safari in the crater, spending between four and five hours exploring the area at the base of the crater. There is an excellent chance of spotting many of the 'Big Five' (lions, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants and leopards), not to mention many other species.

Marangu

Today we will set off again in our overland truck and head east to Marangu, where we have a nightstop camping in the grounds of a beautiful colonial hotel at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. We will go past the whole length of Mount Kilimanjaro where we'll hope for clear skies and fantastic views of the mountain from the road. In Marangu we will camp in the grounds of a hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours About Marangu: The small village of Marangu is located on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, and is the starting point for the most popular route to climb to the mountain's summit. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain at 5,895m tall, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world - it is absolutely stunning to see from its base and is a magnificent backdrop to the surrounding grasslands on a clear day!

Marangu

Today we will have a short drive to the village of Mshiri, where we will visit the Marangu Village Education Project to learn about the Chagga people and have a delicious local lunch. We will then make our way back to our campsite, where we can take a walk to some nearby waterfalls or simply relax at the pool! Activity Approximate Cost Short walks to waterfalls around the foothills of Marangu, where we hope to get incredible views of Mt. Kilimanjaro (weather permitting!) USD 20 Visit to the Dragoman-supported community education project in the villages around Marangu Included in Kitty

Lushoto

Today we will leave the slopes of Kilimanjaro behind us as we make our way south to the cooler, less frequented Usambara Mountains and the old German colonial village of Lushoto. In Lushoto we will stay in rooms in a colonial hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours. About Lushoto: Lushoto was originally a German colonial settlement set in the beautiful Usambara Mountains. The stunning mountain range is over 90kms long and, unusually for East African mountain ranges, is covered in tropical forest. There are many stunning walks and viewpoints in the area out over the mountains and the Maasai Steppe beyond.

Usambara Mountains

After breakfast we have an included easy half-day trek in the Usambara hills to the Irente lookout to see the breathtaking view over the Maasai Steppe below, and to visit the communities in the villages en route. The rest of the day will be free for you to independently explore the area more, or to simply relax. Activity Approximate Cost Half day trek out to the stunning Irente view point and community visit to the Irente villages Included in Kitty Stargazing in the Usambara Mountains TZS 5000 About Usambara Mountains: The Usambara mountains are located in the north east of Tanzania between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean and overlook the vast Maasai steppe. They are wonderfully lush and green and the area has been dubbed the Galapagos of the plant world. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. As beautiful as the place is, its real jewels are the local peoples and villages. The area has a reputation for gentle hospitality and we will visit some of the small communities.

Dar es Salaam

Today we have another travel day south to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city on the coast of the Indian Ocean. In Dar es Salaam we stay in chalets at a beautiful and well-equipped beach camp on the southern side of the bay across from the city. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours. About Dar Es Salaam: Dar es Salaam (meaning 'Haven of Peace' in Arabic) is Tanzania's largest city and was the country's capital until 1974 when the capital was moved to the central town of Dodoma. The city is the most populous in East Africa and one of the fastest growing cities in the world - it is Tanzania's financial centre and the most prominent city in the country's arts, fashion, media, music, film and television. Dar es Salaam acts as the gateway to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, and the port area is fascinating to visit with its ocean-going "dhows" and inshore "ngalawas" (outrigger fishing canoes). Many of the buildings display Arabian influences, and the melting pot of African, Muslim and South Asian influences give Dar a vibrant atmosphere, making it well worth exploring if you have the time. On our trips we stay on the beaches of the southern district of Kigamboni - this is a beautiful and serene part of Dar es Salaam, and you'll be forgiven for not realising you're so close to such a big metropolis!