SUNDAY, JUNE 6 – NEW YORK – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
We depart this evening on a KLM Airlines flight from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam. After an overnight on board, we arrive Amsterdam the next morning.
MONDAY, JUNE 7 – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA (1 NIGHT)
We arrive early this morning in Amsterdam and will connect to our KLM Airlines flight to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in the evening on June 7th. After clearing customs and immigration formalities, we will be met and transferred by private vehicles to the Serena Mountain Village, nestling in the heart of a coffee plantation on the shores of Lake Duluti, near Arusha, Tanzania. This property is designed as an African village, and is renowned for its collection of spectacular bougainvillea flowering plants. Our accommodations tonight are in thatched huts, grouped in semi-circles around tropical shade trees. All of our guest rooms have private balconies that boast magnificent views of the mighty snow-capped Kilimanjaro on one side, and Lake Duluti and the rugged peaks of Mount Meru on the other.
Serena Mountain Village, B, D. TUESDAY, JUNE 8 & WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA (2 NIGHTS)
After breakfast we’ll be transferred by road to Tarangire National Park. The park gets its name from the river that threads its way through the length of the reserve. It is famous for its dense wildlife population, which is most spectacular between June and October – the dry period. During this time, thousands of animals – wildebeest, zebra, eland, elephant hartebeest, buffalo and fringe eared oryx – migrate from the dry Masai steppe to the Tarangire River looking for water. Lion and other predators follow the herds. Our accommodation for the next two nights is at Tarangire River Camp, which is made up of 20 luxury safari tents within a 55,000 acre concession area set aside for conservation by the local Masai community of Minjingu, which borders the national park. Each of the tents offer en suite facilities, and a private veranda. The main building is an elegant elevated thatch and timber structure comprising of a main lounge, wildlife reference library, dining and cocktail bar with stunning views of the plains and forested area of the park. We’ll spend these two days exploring the park with our guide in search of the numerous species of animals that make Tarangire their home.
Tarangire River Camp, B, L, D. THURSDAY, JUNE 10 – LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA (1 NIGHT)
This morning we depart by road for Lake Manyara National Park. The extraordinary birdlife has made Lake Manyara world renowned among ornithologists, who come to observe the masses of pink flamingos and great birds of prey. The park is most famous for its tree-climbing lions, which spend most of the day spread out along the branches of Acacia trees twenty to twenty five feet above the ground. Our accommodation for this evening is at the Manyara Serena Lodge, overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the stunning Manyara Soda Lake. We’ll have the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, B, L, D. FRIDAY, JUNE 11 & SATURDAY, JUNE 12 – NGORONGORO CRATER, TANZANIA (2 NIGHTS)
After breakfast, we depart by road to the mystical and mighty Ngorongoro Crater, said to have been the original Garden of Eden, and the playground of Adam and Eve. En-route we will visit a Masai village, followed by a visit to a local school at Karatu. Three million years ago the mountain peak of Ngorongoro towered alongside Kilimanjaro as one of Africa’s tallest peaks. Formed during the tumultuous birth of the Great Rift Valley, its volcanic top erupted violently and the entire mountain collapsed upon itself, forming the present day caldera. Our accommodation for the next two nights is at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, perched on the very edge of the crater and offering breathtaking views 1800 feet down onto the crater floor. We’ll spend a full day with our rangers in our vehicles for a stupendous and exciting safari. The journey down onto the crater floor takes about 45 minutes and as we descend, you will become aware of huge volumes of game sheltered within this caldera. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to marvel at some of Africa’s last remaining black rhino and black maned lions stalking the grasslands. Huge flocks of pink flamingos crowd the soda lakes and giant tusked elephants wander through the fever and fig tree forests. The array of wildlife is quite awe inspiring as is the amazing ancient interaction between the local Maasai and their cattle, alongside that of the wildlife.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, B, L, D. SUNDAY, JUNE 13, MONDAY JUNE 14 & TUESDAY JUNE 15 – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA (3 NIGHTS)
This morning, we depart by road to the famous Serengeti, which is unequalled for its beauty and contains more than 3 million large animals all spread over the vast endless plains. This area is home to the annual wildebeest migration, where 1.25 million wildebeest trek in columns of up to 40 kilometers long in search of grazing, drawing with it the predators and numerous other species of game. Along the way, enjoy a visit to Olduvai Gorge, known for its discovery of early humankind. Our accommodation for the next three nights, Kirwaira Tented Camp stands high on the bluff of a bush-cloaked ridge, commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the park. Designed in typically Edwardian style, the camp features an elegant central meeting tent evocatively furnished with a tasteful selection of chintz-covered chaises lounges, jewel-hued Persian rugs, antique escritoires, wind-up phonograms, leather-bound traveling cases, brass shooting sticks, and carved rocking chairs. We’ll spend the days exploring the endless grass plains in search of Africa’s big game. During our stay, you’ll have the opportunity to go on an optional early morning hot air balloon ride across the endless plains.
Kirawira Tented Camp, B, L, D. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, THURSDAY JUNE 17 & FRIDAY, JUNE 18 – MASAI MARA NATIONAL PARK, KENYA (3 NIGHTS)
This morning, we depart by road across the border into Kenya and continue on to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara hosts one of the most spectacular wildlife sights every year with the Wildebeest Migration. Our accommodation for the next three nights is at the Mara Serena Lodge. An interpretation of a traditional Masai Manyatta village of domed huts, the lodge is set on the saddle of a hill where it overlooks rolling plains, woodlands and the Mara River. We’ll spend these three days enjoying morning and afternoon game drives across the endless plains where countless animals compete in a real life day to day challenge for survival.
Mara Serena Lodge, B. L, D. SATURDAY, JUNE 19 – NAIROBI, KENYA – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
This morning, we will be transferred to an airstrip for a flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, we’ll be met and transferred to the Serena Hotel where day rooms will be held for your convenience. This evening, we’ll be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta Airport for our KLM Airlines flight to Amsterdam. After an overnight, we arrive Amsterdam the next morning.
SUNDAY, JUNE 20 – AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – NEW YORK
We have an early morning arrival in Amsterdam, and connect on a KLM flight to New York (JFK). We’ll arrive JFK in the late afternoon.
