11-Nights Kenya and Tanzania Safari Adventure - Small Group Journeys from $12,995

1 Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

Arrive in Nairobi, a microcosm of the African continent and the capital of Kenya. It serves as your gateway to a dramatic procession of natural spectacles here and in Tanzania — two of the most thrilling destinations in the world.

Iconic safari country where impressive herds of elephants roam freely in the shadow of snowcrested Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is a world-renowned wildlife conservation area. Its stunningly rich biodiversity means anything from lions to zebras to leopards might cross your path on an expert-led game drive. Countless bird species call its swamps and wetlands home and up-close game viewing makes it a prime destination for safari-goers. Arrive at your lodge on a drive from Nairobi that showcases East Africa’s soaring natural beauty, then head out on a game drive through woodland, swamps and scrub brush. A special welcome dinner with your fellow guests marks the start of an amazing adventure.

Set out on early morning and afternoon game drives, crisscrossing the landscape in search of the park’s large herds of elephants, as well as zebras and wildebeest, along the salt pan trails. Prepare for predator sightings as opportunistic animals begin roaming the plains in search of prey.

Cross the border into Tanzania, where vast buffalo herds, elephants, giraffes, leopards, impala and the endangered Eastern black rhino can all be found. It’s a land of exceptional topography as well, from the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater to Olduvai Gorge, site of historic fossil discoveries. Continue to your hotel on the picturesque slopes of Mount Meru. En route, visit Kafika House, which provides transformative healthcare to local children living with a disability, a project supported by A&K Philanthropy. Finish with a refreshing cocktail as the sun sets over Lake Duluti.

Drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park for a morning game drive, searching for nonchalant baboons, dik-diks that forage for food beneath acacia trees, and large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebras that gather on the grassy, sun-drenched plains. Along a narrow belt of acacia woodland, you may even spot the region’s storied tree-climbing lions, ascending branches for a cool breeze. After lunch, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater, ascending its outer wall through dense vegetation. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken ancient caldera in the world and a likely place to view lions, elephants, hyenas and gazelles. This afternoon, join a chef for a hands-on demonstration in preparing — and sampling — local dishes before dinner.

This morning, descend into the crater ahead of most visitors — thanks to your lodge’s ideal location on the crater’s rim — to view the resident wildlife at its most active time of day. Watch for buffalo and elephants as well as the countless other species that roam this 100-square-mile “Lost World.” You may even sight flamingos (when in season) or rare black rhinos. After lunch, visit a Maasai village to gain a better understanding of the nomadic cattle herders’ daily lives and culture.

Drive to vast, wildlife-rich Serengeti National Park and through its spectacular mix of savanna grassland and volcanic hills, stopping en route for a privately guided tour of Olduvai Gorge, where renowned paleontologists Mary and Louis Leakey made many notable finds. Visit the on-site museum, take in views from the lookout point and examine the excavations, which revealed 3.7-million-year-old footprints of an early human. Then set out on an afternoon game drive at Meliá.

Roam through true safari country, searching for iconic species such as lions, leopards, Cape buffalo and elephants, as well as giraffes, gazelles and zebras. Along the rivers and rocky outcrops, you may also spot some of the Serengeti’s more diminutive denizens, such as leopard tortoises and rhinoceros beetles.

Fly to the vast Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya’s finest wildlife spectacle, offering excellent game viewing year-round. The unending landscape hosts some 450 bird species, 95 animal species and many of the great predators, including the country’s largest lion population. After familiarizing yourself with your classic tented accommodations, ideally situated at the confluence of the Mara’s four game-viewing regions, drive through the famed reserve.

Explore a region bestowed with over 500 square miles of savannas, woodlands and treefringed rivers on morning and afternoon game drives. You may observe crocodiles basking in the sun, see ever-alert hippos wallowing in muddy water or catch the antics of mischievous monkeys overhead. Watch, too, as African elephants rumble along the forest edge and giraffes snatch leaves from branches high above.

Venture forth on a morning game drive or enjoy an optional hot air balloon ride (at an additional cost), viewing the Maasai Mara and its wild inhabitants from a new perspective. After lunch back at camp and time to relax, head out on a late afternoon game drive for a final look at the Mara’s treasures. Tonight, gather with your fellow guests for a farewell dinner.

Return to Nairobi and relax in a reserved dayroom before being privately transferred to the airport for your departing flight.