The Family Safari: Kenya & Tanzania

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Home City / Europe

You set off today for Nairobi via Europe.

Days 2-3: Nairobi

You are met at the airport for your transfer to the Norfolk Hotel, historic centerpiece of Nairobi and epitome of luxury since 1904. Of interest in Nairobi will be a meeting with a Maasai Elder and lunch at a tea plantation hosted by descendants of the original settlers—vibrant, living history that can’t be found in textbooks. You 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, you depart for dinner at the home of Felix and Jane Pinto, Micato’s founders. In the warmth of hearth and home, you’ll immediately feel welcome in this foreign land. (And the family’s dogs love visiting youngsters!)

Days 4-5: Lake Naivasha

You drive through bucolic countryside to Lake Naivasha, a temperate escape from Nairobi’s pulsing streets. Your destination is Chui Lodge, set in the private 20,000 acre Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mau escarpment provides a dramatic backdrop as you roam this wilderness in complete privacy, seeing an array of wildlife difficult to find elsewhere, including leopard, white rhino, Beisa oryx and greater kudu. Picnics at the lake tempt, while early morning walks around its shore equally appeal. Even amidst all of these possibilities, Mom and Dad may wish to lounge by the pool admiring the view of zebras and waterbuck just outside the fence while the kids explore with their Safari Director. In the evenings, guided stargazing helps youngsters locate the Southern Cross while toasting marshmallows and telling tales around the fire. Later you retire to your delightful rooms with their four-poster beds of local woods and the ever-stoked fireplace. It is indulgent luxury that is thoroughly African.

Days 6-8: Maasai MaraGame Reserve

You spend three nights here, giving you 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. You'll also immerse yourself in the Maasai culture by visiting villages and schools, witnessing rituals and activities that have survived innumerable generations. Your game drives are colored with bush lore courtesy of your expert guides, who also explain the dynamics of the wild and the importance of conservation. Young travellers can enjoy a Bush Treasure Hunt, while teens check out the Swahili pop music disco. 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! Karen Blixen or Mara Intrepid tented camps also delight.

Days 9-11: Serengeti National Park

The planet’s most amazing wildlife is on display here and the daily drama of this famous savannah will enrapture even the most stoic (translate teenage) observer. Its landscapes evoke storybook Africa—wide and wild, a golden wonderland. This is the safari that you’ve read about, yet it is better than you’ve ever imagined. The Mbalageti Lodge, your home here, is ideal for adventure and relaxation alike—rock-hewn pool, luxurious rooms, a deck with a jaw-dropping 360 degree view of the Serengeti. 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.

Days 12-13: Ngorongoro Crater

You 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. This massive caldera, at over twelve miles across and 2,000 feet deep, is worthy of its unofficial "Eighth Wonder of the Natural World" mantle. In addition to its jaw-dropping physical beauty, the Crater is also replete with wildlife. You stay at Lemala Tented Camp, a secluded enclave of great charm and luxury, in a prime location on the crater’s rim.

Days 14-15: Nairobi, AmericaShare Visit / Depart

Returning to Nairobi, an amazing day is in store when families travel to the poignant yet joyful Mukuru slum to visit your home for orphaned and vulnerable children. First stop at the local mega-shop for treats—a fascinating errand in and of itself—select a tree from the nursery to plant at the home, then head to Mukuru bearing gifts. The children in the group will be matched with African youngsters of similar ages, tour the home, maybe work on a project together, share a meal and even a game of soccer. This may very well be the most important afternoon that your family spends in Africa.You depart late evening of Day 15 and arrive home on Day 16.

Trip Details

Tour Type	Land-based Adventures
Highlights	Expert naturalist guides & drivers, luxury accommodations, superb service & transportation, perfect safari for families, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Maasa Mara, Lake Naivasha
Trip Notes	Included: All meals; bottled water and soft drinks at every meal and in safari vehicles, and local beers and wines in most Southern African bush lodges; all gratuities; Karibuni Africa Welcome Kit (pre-stamped postcards included); special lectures and presentations; safari hat; full-time concierge service based in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Nairobi and available twenty-four hours a day via mobile phone (for shopping, private car, dining reservations, etc.); transfers to/from airports in Africa; high calibre field staff of safari directors, tour leaders and drivers; state-of-the-art safari vehicles with stocked ice chests, binoculars for each traveler, library of field guides, and guaranteed window seat for every travelers; complete pre-tour documentation. Not Included: International airfare; Internal airfare, Naivasha / Maasai Mara / Serengeti / Manyara; Manyara / Nairobi (Adult: $2,075, Child under 12: $1,450); cost of obtaining passports, visa, travel insurance; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, communication (calls, faxes, emails, etc.); international airport departure tax (to be paid in US dollars or acceptable foreign currencies); deviations from the tour; gratuities to safari directors; tour leaders, drivers, rangers and trackers. Sample Airfare from New York: Economy Class from $1,100 Business Class from $5,375
Payment Policy	A deposit of 20% is requested at the time of booking. The balance or final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-06-02	2008-06-16	+
2008-06-16	2008-06-30	+
2008-06-30	2008-07-14	+
2008-07-07	2008-07-21	+
2008-07-14	2008-07-28	+
2008-08-04	2008-08-18	+
2008-08-11	2008-08-25	+
2008-08-18	2008-09-01	+
2008-12-22	2009-01-05	+

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