East Africa Safari (2025)
East Africa Safari (2025)
East Africa Safari (2025)
11 Days Starting in Nairobi and ending in Arusha
Visiting: Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli, Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AAESMP20
Age range:
18-35
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Vast National Parks full of wildlife, an orphanage for elephants, a Maasai village and an ancient volcano: this isn't a film plot, it's just a taste of what East Africa has to offer. We've included all our morning and afternoon game drives in all the national parks including the Maasai Mara and Serengeti for your best shot at seeing the Big 5, and even better, you'll be driving through valleys and plains in our top of the range open-top vehicles and staying in some of the best lodges and luxury campsites for the ultimate safari experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi To Maasai Mara
Location: Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Sentrim Mara (or similar)
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Today your adventure begins. You’ll meet your guides and your fellow travelers, and then we’ll load up the safari vehicles and be on our way. Passing through the Great Rift Valley, we’ll get to our Maasai Mara lodge just in time for lunch – and then head out for our first game drive. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife large and small as we make our way across those magnificent rolling hills.
Day 2: Maasai Mara
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Sentrim Mara (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast, you'll get the chance to head out on a hot air balloon ride to check out the African Savannah as the sun rises. Then, after a champagne breakfast to top it all off, you'll rejoin the morning's game drive. At midday, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a swim, and then embark on our second game drive this afternoon – in search of Africa's elusive big cats. The Maasai Mara is the setting for one of nature’s greatest phenomena: The Great Migration. If you’re here at the right time of year, you’ll have the chance to witness millions of wildebeest and zebras en route to greener pastures.
Day 3: Maasai Mara
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Sentrim Mara (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast, you'll get the chance to head out on a hot air balloon ride to check out the African Savannah as the sun rises. Then, after a champagne breakfast to top it all off, you'll rejoin the morning's game drive. At midday, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a swim, and then embark on our second game drive this afternoon – in search of Africa's elusive big cats. The Maasai Mara is the setting for one of nature’s greatest phenomena: The Great Migration. If you’re here at the right time of year, you’ll have the chance to witness millions of wildebeest and zebras en route to greener pastures.
Day 4: Maasai Mara To Nairobi
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi
Accommodation: 2.5.4. Ole Sereni (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll treat ourselves to our last spectacular morning drive in the unforgettable Maasai Mara before we head back to the capital. Make sure your camera is ready for your last glance of this extraordinary location.
This afternoon we head back to Nairobi, where something truly special awaits us. We'll visit the Kibera Slum to see the incredible work being done by the Mirror of Hope Foundation - working to break the cycle of poverty through education, helping the women and children to improve their quality of life. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to relax and choose from a variety of hotel restaurants with views of the Nairobi National Park.
Day 5: Amboseli
Location: Amboseli
Accommodation: Sentrim Amboseli (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After our morning's buffet breakfast, we will do a short safari walk to a Maasai village, guided by Maasai warriors as they teach us about their culture and everyday lives co-existing with wild animals. After lunch we will head out to Amboseli National Park, famous for its iconic shots of elephants and wildlife feeding in the foreground while the peak of Africa rises in the background: Mt Kilimanjaro. It's a photographer's dream, and it's all yours. Our final dinner in Kenya will be included back at the lodge.
Day 6: Amboseli To Tarangire
Location: Amboseli, Arusha, Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Roika Tented Camp (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we will have one final game drive in Amboseli before we head across to the Tanzanian border. We say goodbye to our Kenyan guides as we are welcomed by our Tanzanian guides and drive to the town of Arusha.
This morning we will have one final game drive in Amboseli before we head across to the Tanzanian border. We say goodbye to our Kenyan guides as we are welcomed by our Tanzanian guides and drive to the town of Arusha.
After lunch we will head off to our first lodge and national park in Tanzania - Tarangire. Famed for its two African giants; the elephant and baobab trees.
Day 7: Tarangire
Location: Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Roika Tented Camp (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early start this morning will take us into the Tarangire National Park for a full day, in the hopes for a glimpse of some of its elusive predators and changing landscapes. We'll stay here for most of the day with a packed lunch provided to give us the most opportunity of exploring this wildlife wilderness. Afterwards, we'll visit a Maasai village, meeting some of the locals to learn all about their customs and way of life. There'll be a buffet dinner tonight too, so be sure to save some room!
Day 8: Tarangire To Serengeti
Location: Tarangire National Park, Serengeti
Accommodation: Sound of Silence Camp (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we'll set out in our safari vehicles to our next destination: the Serengeti.
We take in views of the Rift valley and the rim of Ngorogoro Crater as we make our way to the main gate of the Serengeti, stopping off to visit Mto Wa Mbu Village and a local market. We'll drive through the endless plains of this vast reserve to reach our accommodation for the night. Tonights accommodation will be a safari-style lodge in the middle of the Serengeti. A buffet meal will be served for dinner, and you're free to sit outside and listen to the sounds of nocturnal animals waking up to forage or hunt, all while sitting under the bright canopy of stars in the African sky.
Day 9: Serengeti
Location: Serengeti
Accommodation: Sound of Silence Camp (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll spend a full day seeking out the game of Africa's plains, with predators in hot pursuit of their prey. If the wildebeest migration is around, then you are in for a wildlife treat: millions of wildebeest and zebra grazing for as far as the eye can see really is one of Africas' greatest spectacles to observe. If you want to make today even more unforgettable, you can opt in for a once-in-a-lifetime Balloon safari. A buffet dinner awaits us back at our safari camp.
Day 10: Serengeti To Ngorogoro Crater
Location: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation: Eileen's Tree Inn (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy some breakfast before we depart the Serengeti with a morning game drive on our way to our next destination, the Ngorogoro Crater.
In the late morning we reach the Ngorogoro Crater, an ancient volcano, boasting one of the highest densities of predators stalking the abundant wildlife enclosed inside the volcano's center. We'll stop here for a picnic lunch before we ascend the plateau. A true natural wonder, only found in Africa.
Day 11: Ngorogoro Crater To Arusha
Location: Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Arusha
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Its our last day on safari and our last chance for some wildlife viewing. Opt to jump on one last game drive to Lake Manyara National Park.
Renowned for its famed tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara is a completely different ecosystem to the other parks we have visited with grassy floodplains and massive forests to spot unique wildlife and bird-life to this region.
With full hearts and memories made, it's time to say fond farewells to your new lifelong friends, and to our African adventure.
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
In 1961, a guy called John Anderson founded Contiki in New Zealand. Whilst later bought by The Travel Corporation, the tour company had already been using the name ‘Contiki’ since its inception.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Contiki trips are designed & operated exclusively for those aged 18-35 years. Your travelling companions will be like-minded adventurers within that age range. The age range is adhered to strictly.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is our commitment to protect people, wildlife and the incredible planet we all share. Powered by The TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Contiki’s guiding hand when it comes to making travel matter.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
All documentation will be sent via email around 21 days prior to your trip departure. You can also access information on your trip by signing up to My Contiki via the top right icon of the homepage.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Contiki allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform contiki, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Contiki requires a minimum deposit of 60 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of contiki charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.