The Great Wildebeest Migration

Overview

To give an insight into the types of self-drive safari experiences we create, please view the sample itinerary below. It can either be treated as a standalone program, incorporated into a longer itinerary, or modified to match your particular interests and budget. Alternatively, you may wish for us to start with a blank canvas, to handcraft a personalised itinerary based on what you want and nothing more. Prices will fluctuate based on the time of year, length of stay, accommodation choices, number of participants and inclusions.

We pride ourselves in our ability to plan and execute every trip to perfection.

Itinerary

  • Meet your Travulous guide at your Nairobi hotel. After completing our arrival in country procedures, we depart for the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

    Covering an area of approximately 1,510 square km, the Maasai Mara is undoubtedly a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise, offering dazzling views across the rolling grasslands. Home to abundant wildlife, the national reserve is a kaleidoscope of colour and life, offering the best game and bird-viewing opportunities in the country. The Mara’s annual wildebeest migration, one of the natural wonders of the world, sees over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in November.

    Upon arrival at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 4:30 hours.

    Meals: Dinner included, breakfast and lunch at own arrangement.

    Overnight: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Activities include hot air balloon safaris, game drives, walking safaris, Maasai culture and horseback safaris.

    Flying across the plains of the Maasai Mara in a hot air balloon is a once in a lifetime adventure. During the early hours of the morning, we depart for the launch-site. Your pilot takes you through the important safety briefing, after which you climb into the basket and prepare to lift into the dawn. The flight lasts an hour, and each journey is unique as it’s dictated by the direction of the wind. After your basket returns to the plains of the Maasai Mara, you are served breakfast with a glass of bubbly in the middle of the Mara’s open rolling grasslands. After the flight, enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in the Maasai Mara).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Ruma National Park.

    Located close to the shores of Lake Victoria, Ruma National Park is situated in the Lambwe River Valley and is bordered by the dramatic Kanyamwa Escarpment and the Ruri Hills. It is recognised for being Kenya’s last remaining sanctuary for the endangered roan antelope, one of Africa’s largest and rarest. Many other wildlife species call Ruma their home, including a prolific population of birds.

    Upon arrival in Ruma National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 6:00 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Ruma National Park. Activities include game drives and bird watching.

    Off-the-beaten path, Ruma National Park is not only home to the countries only population of endangered roan, but you can also spot Kenya’s largest concentration of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Thanks to a successful relocation program from other parks, there are black and white rhinos to be found in Ruma. Other wildlife species include leopard, zebra, buffalo, serval cats, honey badgers, hartebeest, reedbuck, hyena and 145 different bird species.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for the Serengeti National Park.

    The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s jewel in the crown and best-known wildlife sanctuary. Called 'Siringet', by the Maasai people, meaning 'endless plains', this vast wilderness area is home to a spectacular array of wildlife. Apart from seeing the wildebeest and plains game that make up the Great Migration, you will also have an excellent chance of spotting the Big Five, comprised of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

    Upon arrival in the Serengeti, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.

    Driving Time: 5:00 hours + 1 hour border crossing

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore the Serengeti National Park. Activities include hot air balloon safaris, game drives, walking safaris, Maasai culture, horseback safaris, and a visit to world famous Olduvai Gorge.

    Flying across the plains of the Serengeti in a hot air balloon is a once in a lifetime adventure. During the early hours of the morning, we depart for the launch-site. Your pilot takes you through the important safety briefing, after which you climb into the basket and prepare to lift into the dawn. The flight lasts an hour, and each journey is unique as it’s dictated by the direction of the wind. After your basket returns to the plains of the Serengeti, you are served breakfast with a glass of bubbly in the middle of the Serengeti’s open rolling grasslands. After the flight, enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in the Serengeti).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for the Ngorongoro Crater.

    A breathtakingly beautiful part of Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest caldera and one of the continent’s most renowned natural teasures. It has been named one of the new 7 Natural Wonders of Africa. Apart from it’s incredible landscapes, it is famous for being one of the best places in Tanzania to see the Big Five. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, the Ngorongoro Crater is often described as Africa’s ‘Garden of Eden’.

    Upon arrival at the Ngorongoro Crater, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 4:30 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore the Ngorongoro Crater. Activities include morning and afternoon game drives and a visit to a Maasai village.

    Descend down to the crater floor, the word’s largest inactive and empty volcanic caldera. Formed approximately 2-3 million years ago and extending over part of the Eastern Rift Valley, the crater basin is a naturally contained ecosystem covered by open grass plains, lakes, marshes, swamps, and acacia woodland. Keep a lookout for lion, leopard, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, hyena, jackal, and more than 400 resident and migratory bird species. The endangered black rhino and African wild dog can also be found here.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in the Ngorongoro Crater).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Lake Manyara National Park.

    Situated in the north of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in East Africa. Boasting beautiful scenery, one of the main attractions of Lake Manyara’s diverse landscapes is the park’s Rift Valley soda lake. The park provides visitors with an excellent wildlife viewing experience and is famous for being the home of the tree-climbing lions seen in the Acacia trees.

    Upon arrival at Lake Manyara National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 2:00 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Lake Manyara National Park. Activities include day and night game drives, cultural visits, canoeing, and sunset boat cruises.

    Ideally suited to safari enthusiasts who are looking for diverse wildlife encounters, Lake Manyara is home to an abundance of wildlife. Tree-climbing lions, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, elephant, hippo, otter, baboon, impala, giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest and hippo all call this park their home. A great location for birders, Lake Manyara National Park offers good opportunities to spot over 400 bird species including flamingos that assemble to breed on the lake during the summer months.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Lake Manyara National Park).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Tarangire National Park.

    Wildlife enthusiasts 'in the know’ tend to agree that lesser-known Tarangire is a real gem of a national park. Not visited as much as it’s better known neighbours, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire offers it’s visitors a secluded safari experience where they can see wildlife in a relaxing and less-crowded-manner. The park is best known for its migration of large elephant herds and amazing birding opportunities.

    Upon arrival in Tarangire National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 1:00 hour.

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • Today, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Tarangire National Park. Activities include both day and night game drives, balloon safaris, walking safaris and cultural village visits.

    Tarangire National Park is famed for its baobab trees and thousands of elephants. It’s possible to see the Big 5 in the park, in addition to wild dog, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, hyena and antelope, all of whom call this park their home. There are over 500 species of birds to be spotted, including weaver, starling, hornbills, parrots, rollers, barbets, mousebirds, bee-eaters, and owls.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Tarangire National Park).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Amboseli National Park.

    Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, Amboseli is one of Kenya's most scenic national parks. Located in the southern region of Kenya, the park is home to stunning rich biodiversity and landscapes. The name Amboseli comes from the Maasai word meaning 'salty dust'. The park is one of the best places on the African continent to view large herds of elephants up close.

    Upon arrival in Amboseli National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 4:00 hours + 1 hour border crossing.

    Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Amboseli National Park. Activities include game drives, nature walks, bird watching and cultural village visits.

    Amboseli was originally established as a game reserve in 1948 and converted to a game reserve in 1974. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991, Amboseli National Park is famous for its majestic herds of elephant and glorious views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli has over 80 different mammals and over 400 bird species recorded throughout its varied ecosystems. The Big Five can be found in this park, as can cheetah, hippo, giraffes, oryx, wildebeests, gerenuk, impalas, and gazelles.

    All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

    Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Amboseli National Park).

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

    Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

  • After breakfast, pack your vehicle and depart for Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, for your onward travel arrangements.

    Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (see below) to this program.

    Driving Time: 4:00 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.

General Info

Highlights

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Accommodations

When it comes to choosing accommodations in East Africa, we can suggest a wide range of properties. View a sample of some of our favourite hotels, lodges and camps below:

If you have an alternative property in mind, contact us as we contract with a large variety of accommodation providers.

Map

Extension Ideas

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Visit world famous safari highlights including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the Gorillas

BEHIND THE SCENES

Gain unique insights into Wildlife Conservation, Educational Experiences and History & Traditions

BEACH DESTINATIONS

Round-off your safari in East Africa with a great choice of world-class Indian Ocean beach destinations

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

Visit a wildlife sanctuary and learn about the increadibe work they do to safeguard Africa’s wildlife

Driving

Due to the distances we travel whilst on a self-drive safari, long driving days will sometimes be required in order to explore off-the-beaten track destinations.

We spend a minimum of 2 nights in each destination, which gives our customers time to relax and recuperate, enjoy the property facilities, participate in activities and prepare for the next driving day.

On the days where long drives are required, we leave at 8am in the morning, drive for 2 - 3 hours, stop for a 2 hour lunch-break, and continue for another 2 - 3 hours in the afternoon before reaching our destination.

Travel Notes

  • KENYA
    Kenya is a year-round destination with a diverse climate influenced by its vast size, varying altitudes, and coastal areas. Picking the 'best time' will depend on your interests, where you are travelling to and for what purpose. While generally tropical, Kenya is broadly divided into dry and wet seasons.

    The approximate seasons are: short dry season - January to mid-March long wet season - mid-March to May; long dry season - June to October and short wet season - October to December. These are generalised weather patterns, and regional variations can be significant. During the rainy seasons, the landscape is lush and green with fewer tourists around.

    TANZANIA
    Tanzania is a year-round destination with a diverse climate influenced by its vast size, varying altitudes, and proximity to the Indian Ocean. Picking the 'best time' will depend on your interests, where you are travelling to and for what purpose. While generally tropical, Tanzania is broadly divided into dry and wet seasons.

    The approximate seasons are: short dry season - mid-January to February; long wet season - mid-March to May; long dry season - June to October and short wet season - November to mid-January. These are generalised weather patterns, and regional variations can be significant. During the rainy seasons, the landscape is lush and green with fewer tourists around.

  • KENYA
    All foreign nationals will require a Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for entry to Kenya. Please check with your local Kenyan Embassy or our travel team for further information. ETAs can not be obtained, on arrival, at any port of entry. The Kenyan government has introduced an online eTA application system for issuing eTAs in advance of travel. Travellers should carry a printed copy of their eTA to present to immigration officials.

    TANZANIA
    Most foreign nationals will require a visa for entry to Tanzania. Please check with your local Tanzanian Embassy or our travel team for further information. Tourist visit visas can often be obtained, on arrival, at most ports of entry. The Tanzanian government has introduced an online 'e-visa' application system for obtaining visas in advance of travel. Travellers who require a visa prior to arrival should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.

  • KENYA
    Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Kenya. Kiswahili is spoken by most Kenyans, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and cities. There are over 65 languages spoken throughout Kenya, which mainly belong to the various Bantu and Nilotic tribal populations.

    TANZANIA
    Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania. Kiswahili is spoken by most Tanzanians and Zanzibaris, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and tourist areas. In Zanzibar, many residents also speak Arabic. There are 126 languages spoken throughout Tanzania, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in East Africa.

  • KENYA
    The local currency is the Kenyan shilling, which divides into 100 cents. US dollars are often acceptedin hotels and at tourist attractions; local currency is required for dining in restaurants, tipping and small purchases. Some vendors will only accept USD dated 2013, or newer. Hotels in tourist areas generally accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Remote lodges often accept cash only. Access to cash machines is available in most major towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.

    TANZANIA
    The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, which divides into 100 senti. US dollars are widely accepted in hotels and at tourist attractions; local currency is required for dining in restaurants, tipping and small purchases. Some vendors will only accept USD dated 2013, or newer. Larger hotels in tourist areas may accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Do not rely on using credit cards other than as a backup. Remote lodges often accept cash only. Access to cash machines is limited outside of major towns and cities. Exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.

  • KENYA
    Kenya has three international airports; Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO), Moi International Airport in Mombasa (MBA) and Moi International Airport in Eldoret (EDL).

    TANZANIA
    Tanzania has several international and regional airports. The main airports are Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport in Kilimanjaro (JRO) and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar (ZNZ).

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The Majestic Mountain Gorillas