Kenya - Tanzania

FULLY BOOKED!!!!

Delving into East Africa is like rummaging through "nature's treasure chest".

Itinerary

The beginning of the tour will take in the highlights of Kenya's bustling capital, Nairobi.  For an entertaining start we shall visit the bomas of Kenya where talented artists perform traditional dances and songs from the countries 16 tribal groups including Swahili music, Embu drumming and Kalenjin warrior dances.  Before moving on from Nairobi we also visit our affiliated charity, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.  This superb sanctuary will give you an understanding into the anti-poaching operations, community outreach projects and the intensive hand-rearing and rehabilitation of orphaned baby elephants and rhinos treatment undertaken.  We will have the opportunity to see first hand how our group donation has been used to allow the continuation of the excellent work being done by everyone involved with the Trust.

The first sighting of one of Africa's many members of the animal kingdom will certainly wet the appetite for the next few days as we visit the the world famous Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru national parks.  Here you are virtually guaranteed to see "the big five" (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) amongst hundreds of other animal species set against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful, expansive utopian landscapes in the world.

After three memorable days in the wildlife reserves of Kenya, we cross the border to Tengeru village, Tanzania for a chance to see some grassroots tribal village life from a more localised perspective. Our hosts Mama Gladness and Brightson Pallangyo have been running the Green Foundation Trust for nearly ten years and will spend a couple of days interactively teaching you the more traditional aspects of tribal life.  There will be the opportunity to learn about some of the contemporary issues of local African life by visiting schools, learning how people earn a living from the coffee plantations as well as visiting an orphanage based in Tengeru.  This will be a relaxing couple of days and will certainly be needed before the beginning of the climax of the challenge, the trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

At 5896m, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa not to mention the highest free standing mountain in the world and one of the world's tallest volcanoes.  There is no doubt this is one of the countries most magnificent sights.  Our five day trek begins in Marangu and takes us through areas as biodiverse as lush rainforests and dense foliage in the lowlands to alpine desert at the higher ascents.  The culmination and certainly the most testing part of the challenge will be the midnight ascent from Kibo to Uhuru Peak.  This final trek takes around six hours and is completed in near total darkness in order the reach the summit for sunrise. Although tough, the view from the glaciated 'roof of Africa' will certainly be some of the most awe-inspiring sensations you have ever experienced.

We will celebrate the completion of the trek with a traditionally big night out in Moshi before driving back across the border to Kenya and on to Mombasa.  Our well earned resting place here is Tiwi beach a picture-postcard tropical paradise.  We'll kick back and relax, enjoy a cold beer and spend a few days sunbathing and snorkelling, discovering one of the Indian Ocean's most pristine coral reefs.

After riding the overnight train from Mombasa back to Nairobi, for the finale of the trip we'll visit Kenya's most famous Nyama Choma restaurant, Carnivore's.  Having twice been voted among the 50 best restaurants in the world there's an exciting opportunity (if you wish!) to taste various farmed game meats such as giraffe, zebra, ostrich and crocodile!  The popular Simba Saloon bar is next door for drinking and dancing into the early hours ending the trip with a sore head but taking away friendships and memories from a trip you'll never forget!