9-Nights Kenya and Tanzania: Epic Great Migration Safari - Small Group Journeys from $17,995

1 Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

Arrive in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and gateway to East Africa’s vast natural treasures. Settle into your luxurious hotel overlooking the Ngong Hills, their pastoral beauty evoking the romance of a vintage safari.

Fly to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a private reserve encompassing 90,000 acres of unspoiled African landscape where the Big Five roam, and arrive at your stunning tented camp. Your tent is large and airy, with a private veranda and an en-suite bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. After lunch, set out on a game drive. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner.

Embark on a game drive highlighted by an up-close visit with the world’s last northern white rhinos in their heavily guarded enclosure. Then enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

• Take a Guided Bush Walk accompanied by a ranger, getting up close to life in the African bush.
• Interact with the Dogs of an Anti-Poaching Unit and test their skills as you hide and let them sniff you out.
• Visit a Chimpanzee Sanctuary to observe rescued and orphaned chimpanzees up close while learning about protection and rehabilitation efforts.
  

Later, enjoy dinner in camp on a relaxing evening under the stars.

Fly to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, set in a vast plain teeming with animals, easily the greatest concentration of wildlife in the country, including some 450 bird species. The action never seems to stop, and the chain of command begins with the Mara’s lion population, the largest in Kenya. After settling in, embark on a thrilling game drive followed by a refreshing drink.

Over the next two exciting days, drive across the sprawling savanna in search of abundant game in one of Kenya’s most spectacular reserves. Running along the Tanzanian border, the Mara forms a vital part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Each year, more than a million zebras, wildebeests and gazelles march north to graze on the Mara’s lush grasses as part of the Great Migration’s annual cycle. Follow the Mara River to see crocodiles basking in the sun, hippos wallowing in the water or monkeys swinging madly overhead.

In place of a morning game drive, opt for a hot air balloon ride (at an additional cost). Then, visit a school (if in session) on the edge of the Maasai Mara for an A&K-exclusive experience, viewing a recently installed LifeStraw Water filter that purifies drinking water for students and teachers — a project supported by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy and funded by each departure of this journey. Then, visit a nearby Maasai village for firsthand insight into their unique way of life.

Fly south to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Covering 5,700 square miles, the park is home to dozens of species including antelope, hyenas, leopards, giraffes, lions, buffalo and cheetahs. After arriving at your camp, take part in a late afternoon game drive (time permitting). Then, return to camp for a chef-led cooking demonstration and tasting of a local dish before dinner.

Explore the Serengeti for two days, enjoying morning and afternoon game viewing in this vast, sun-drenched region. Rivers flow through the park, providing habitats for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles, while antelope can be seen feeding on the plains. Cap off this afternoon’s exciting game drive with a refreshing cocktail.

Search for Africa’s iconic Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo) as well as the lesser-known but fascinating Little Five (ant lions, leopard tortoises, elephant shrews, rhinoceros beetles and buffalo weavers), which may be hiding behind a stone or resting on an acacia branch. Return to your camp under a golden sunset and celebrate your unforgettable safari adventure with your fellow guests at a farewell dinner.

Fly to Arusha. Upon arrival, enjoy the use of a dayroom at your lodge, which shares the site of a working coffee farm. This evening, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.