This is an exciting programme that begins with the boarder park of Amboseli in Kenya before getting into Tanzania with cultural visits in the Maasai villages of Longido and Mto wa Mbu village (melting pot of Tanzania’s diverse cultures). Game drives in the now World Heritage site that is Ngorongoro Crater is a welcome activity to introduce you to the Tanzania’s big game. Finally the hike in the Empakaai Crater will get you closer to these wildlife species on foot. But not to worry here, as we will have an armed game ranger to accompany you.

Day 1: Depart from Nairobi and journey south through vast savannah to Amboseli national park for a first wildlife viewing session and arrive in time for lunch. The park is famous for being the best spot in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest free-standing mountain in the world. This afternoon we explore five main wildlife habitats - open grassland plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshland that characterize Amboseli. These ecosystems are home to gazelles, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, wildebeests, zebras, hippos among others. The presence of the permanent swamp makes birdlife in Amboseli abundant. We return to the tented camp in time for a magnificent sunset followed by dinner.

Day 2: After an early breakfast we have another game drive en-route to the border town of Namanga and cross into Tanzania then proceed to a Maasai village below the Longido Mountain. We have a picnic lunch here then visit a Maasai homestead and learn about medicinal plants and their use and age-old cultural practices. We set up camp near the Maasai village. Have dinner as you enjoy Maasai folktales told by the locals under star-lit night sky. Overnight in tents in bush campsite.

Day 3: Guided by Maasai warriors together with our own naturalist guide, leave camp early and follow narrow footpaths through a dense natural forest. After three hours you will be at the picturesque Dawa ya supu (medicine soup) view point. We then follow trails created by buffaloes to reach the top in another two hours climb. Our Maasai guides make loud cries intermittently to warn buffaloes of our presence. The views from the top are simply unbelievable. On clear days you can see for more than 200km and view all the mountains of Northern Tanzania (Mount Meru, Oldonyo Lengai and Kilimanjaro). Descend to campsite, have a short rest and a well deserved hot lunch. Our trek has taken the better part of 6 hours. We then board our vehicle(s) for the journey to Mto wa Mbu and check into our Lake Manyara Bandas and Campsite.

Day 4: Set of early with packed lunch to Ngorongoro Crater, a unique collapsed volcano which is a permanent residence of over 25,000 herbivores and a high density of predatory cats. We do a game drive in the Crater with high chances of seeing elephants, rhinos, zebras, lions, gazelles, wildebeests among others. Later in the afternoon we drive to Empakaai Crater close to Ngorogoro and set camp on the crater rim at an altitude of over 3000m. On a clear day Lake Natron and Mount Kilimanjaro are clearly visible.

Day 5: With a diameter of 6km, Empakaai is a much smaller crater than Ngorongoro, but comparably beautiful. Together with local guides and game rangers we go down into the crater floor for a hike that is time and again interrupted by sightings of animals and birdlife resident in the forest. We enjoy 6 -7 hours of quality walking in an area that’s rarely visited as a start of acclimatisation for our Kilimanjaro trek ahead. In late afternoon we break up camp and drive to our Lake Manyara Banda’s for a treat of a traditional African dinner.

Day 6: Today is a reasonably relaxed day. A short morning drive brings us to Mto wa Mbu village, a cultural melting pot for a mix of Tanzanian tribes. We alight from the vehicle(s) and hike into the village to learn about the different economic activities undertaken by the locals. Among these are small-scale horticultural farms, banana plantations, local beer brewery and Makonde wood carving workshops. and community project we support that include schools and water points. We return to our Camp for lunch then journey back to Arusha for a relaxed evening and guest house overnight!

Day 7: Early morning walk on the shores of lake Manyara and later depart to Arusha town. Late afternoon free day in the town with options of visiting the market, banana and coffee farms or just relax at the hotel gardens.