Tour members gather in Toronto for the overnight flights to Nairobi.

We arrive in Nairobi this morning where we are met and taken directly to our hotel which is ideally located close to the city centre. Double Tree by Hilton (2 nights)

Our day begins with a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where we can get up close to orphaned baby elephants and rhinos. Following our welcome lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant (known for its game meats), we will enjoy a guided visit to the Karen Blixen Museum. Dating back to 1914, it offers glimpses of an earlier era in Kenya. Then we will visit the Giraffe Centre in time to feed to the endangered Rothschild giraffes.

Heading north we pass through a rich agricultural region, home to the Kikuyu tribe, before entering a transitional region that divides the populous central region with the arid north, an area around the base of Mount Kenya known for its extensive game. Overlooking a floodlit waterhole, our camp offers unforgettable opportunities to watch and photograph animals in their natural habitat. After settling in, we will take our first game drive in this exciting reserve, home to herds of impalas, lions, leopards, elephants and crocodiles. Sweetwaters Luxury Tented Camp (2 nights)

Enjoy a full day of game viewing starting with an early morning drive when light is at its best and animals are most active. Our drive will follow the Ewaso Nyiro River, an area popular with game due to the dryness of the surrounding plains and in spite of the ever present predators. A certain highlight of our stay will be the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only one of its kind in Kenya. The riverine forest and the savannah grassland of the sanctuary are home to 26-orphaned chimps. Here, one has the opportunity to meet with Poco, who spent six years of his life imprisoned before being saved. Now he is a handsome, contented chimp, able to explore his habitat.

Our morning drive takes us through the Aberdare Mountains and into the Great Rift Valley, a massive fault line that extends through the heart of Africa and the area thought to be the cradle of mankind. Today the region is known as a birder’s paradise. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to colourful flocks of Lesser Flamingos as well as its larger game including lion, leopard, rhino and hyena. After lunch we will be taken on a game drive around the lake before settling in for the night. Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (1 night)

This morning we continue down the valley and into the heart of the Maasai Mara, Kenya’s most famous national reserve, known for its extensive grasslands and huge population of nomadic animals. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Great Migration as thousands of wildebeest and zebra wander the plains in search of food. Enjoy a late afternoon drive through this exciting reserve. Mara Serena Lodge (3 nights)

Blessed with permanent water, the park is home to wide varieties of game. At this time of year, the Mara is home to vast herds of zebra and wildebeest and the predators that follow them. Typically the herds are here to enjoy the new grass and to give birth. There may also be an opportunity for a hot air balloon ride (additional cost).

Another day to enjoy the activities in the park.  

This morning a short flight brings us to Isibania where we cross into Tanzania. Another flight brings us into the heart of the Serengeti where we meet our new driver/guides. Continue into the centre of the Serengeti, with afternoon game viewing. Our home will be a deluxe lodge set on a small rise overlooking the vast plains of the Serengeti. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (3 nights)

Enjoy drives twice daily in 4x4 Safari vehicles (with open tops to ensure great game viewing). We hope to find a variety of game including many predators - the very swift cheetah and the cheeky hyenas as well as the Big Five - elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and maybe even the occasional rhino. During the day between game drives, we can relax by the pool, enjoying the atmosphere of Africa.

Another day to enjoy the activities in the park.  

Today enjoy a game drive as we make our way to Olduvai Gorge, thought by many to be the cradle of humanity. Here we can see footprints made over three million years ago and other evidence of man’s early existence in this area. This evening we are on the upper edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongogo Serena Safari Lodge (2 nights)

This amazing caldera, located some 2,000 feet below the surrounding plains and covering just over 100 square miles, is home to an unbelievable density and variety of game. We will spend the full day exploring its interior, taking a picnic lunch with us, as we travel in search of the rare and often impossible to locate rhino plus the rest of the Big Five.

This morning we drive around the edge of the crater to visit Gibbs Farm for lunch, a remnant of the old colonial era and a lush tropical oasis. Following is a visit to the unique underground homes of the Iraqw people. Back on the road we head to Arusha and on to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Arusha Serena Hotel (1 night)

Following a leisurely morning at our hotel, our journey draws to an end as we transfer to Mt Kilimanjaro Airport to catch our evening flights back to Canada.