Focus Travel Club
ANIMAL MIGRATION, THE BEST SHOW ON EARTH
THE BEST OF TANZANIA & KENYA NATIONAL PARKS
Via Dubai (Dubai, Nairobi, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Central and Western Serengeti and Masai Mara National Parks)
17 Days / 16 Nights
June 27 – July 13, 2012
$5,990.00 per person in double (Land only) for a minimum of 16 passengers
Group Airfare from Houston based on 2011 on Emirates Airlines
including TWO nights in Dubai is $1,800.00 plus applicable taxes
LODGE & CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS:
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dubai: June 28 – 30 Two (2) nights at Regent Palace hotel
KENYA
Nairobi: June 30 – July 1 One (1) night in Nairobi Serena Hotel
TANZANIA
Tarangire Park: July 1 – 3 Two (2) nights at Tarangire Treetops Lodge
Ngorongoro Park: July 3 – 5 Two (2) nights at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
C. Serengeti Park: July 5 – 7 Two (2) nights at Serengeti Sopa Lodge
W. Serengeti Park July 7 – 9 Two (2) nights at Kirawira Tented camp
KENYA
Masai Mara Park: July 9 – 12 Three (3) nights at Mara Sopa Lodge
MEALS:
• Three meals daily at lodges
• Buffet breakfast in Dubai and Nairobi hotels
TRANSFERS - AIRPORTS / HOTELS:
• Two (2) transfers in Dubai and two in Nairobi
• All transfers in Tanzania, private car / safari vehicle and English-speaking HLO Tours’
Representative and driver / guide
• Private safari vehicle from Nairobi to Namanga (Kenya and Tanzania border)
SAFARI & SERVICES:
• All park fees as per the safari program
• Half day city tours in Dubai
• All safaris by private 4X4 land rover with English-speaking driver / guide.
• HLO Tours’ representative assistance all airports.
• Handling of two (2) pieces of standard size luggage per person
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION (Emirates Airlines via Dubai)
• June 27 Houston / Dubai Emirates Flight # 214 12:30PM – 12:20pM
• June 30 Dubai / Nairobi Emirates Flight # 719 10:45AM – 2:45PM
• July 12 Nairobi / Dubai Emirates Flight # 722 11:15PM – 5:15AM
• July 13 Dubai / Houston Emirates Flight # 211 9:05AM – 4:25PM
* Air schedule & flights are subject to change without prior notice. *
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 01 Jun 27 Wed
HOUSTON (USA) / DUBAI
PM: Depart from Houston to Dubai on Emirates Airlines depart sat 12:30PM.
Overnight on board the plane. Meals served on board.
Day 02 Jun 28 Thu
DUBAI
12:20pm: Arrive to DUBAI International airport) where you will be met and
transferred to Dubai to spend the next one night at the 4 stars REGENT
PALACE HOTEL.
Regent Palace hotel
Dubai is the most populated and the second largest emirate of UAE. It has a
spectacular combination of skyscrapers showcasing the modern living and the traditional architectures and souks displaying the age old vibrancy of the place. This fantastic blend of modernity with tradition makes it one of the most favored tourist destinations of the world.
PM: at leisure
Regent Palace Hotel in Dubai is situated exactly opposite to the Bur Juman
Shopping Mall at Dubai World Trade Center Road. 6 minutes away from the airport. There are 144 elegant and well decorated rooms and suites which provide stunning views of Dubai's skyline. There are 7 restaurants and cafes available which offers specialized mouth watering cuisines to the guests. Relaxation and recreation is enhanced by the Health and Fitness Center, Swimming Pool and Steam Bath.
Day 03 Jun 29 Fri
DUBAI – City tours
AM: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
DUBAI CITY TOURS (4 hours)
Discover the new and the old Dubai. The half day tour will take you through
some of Dubai’s beautiful landmarks. The magnificent Mosque in Jumeirah.
Visit Burj AL Arab, the tallest standing hotel in the world, the Camel Race
Track. Then we take a short break by the Creek to view the amazing
architecture of Deira Towers, before we visit the fascinating underground
Dubai Museum. Our journey continues through the colorful textile market and the glittering gold souk where we feast our eyes on the dazzling display of gold jewellery.
PM: at leisure or 4 hours OPTIONAL DUBAI SHOPPING TOUR.
Day 04 Jun 30 Sat
DUBAI / NAIROBI
AM: Buffet breakfast at the hotel
8:00AM: you will be transferred to Dubai international airport for your
10:45AM Emirates flight to Nairobi. Meals on board
2:45PM: Arrive to Nairobi international airport where you will be met and
transferred to the NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL to spend the next one night in Nairobi (Kenya).
Day 05 July 1 Sun
NAIROBI / ARUSHA / TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK (Tarangire Treetops)
AM: After buffet breakfast at the hotel, get ready for your adventure, by
meeting your Kenyan driver / guide to start your 10 days safari adventure by
boarding safari vehicles for your two and half hour drive to NAMANGA
(Kenya and Tanzania border). After completing the immigration formalities
and obtaining Tanzania entry visa, we cross to Tanzania side and board our
4X4 safari land rover for our hour and half drive to the city of Arusha where
we are going to have lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge.
After lunch we will proceed to Tarangire National Park (known for its Baobab trees, Oryx, Elephants, Wildebeest, Giraffe and Impala).
PM: Arrive toTarangire where you are spending the next two nights at
Tarangire Treetops which consists of 20 stunning ‘tree-house’ style
chalets. Tarangire Treetops Lodge is situated in the Tarangire Conservation Area and a mere 98kms from Arusha. Its location, just outside Tarangire National Park, allows the Tarangire Treetops to offer activities such as foot safaris, mobile camping, night drives and mountain bike trails that cannot be conducted inside the Park.
Tarangire Treetops Lodge
Tarangire Treetops is a stunningly original property consisting of giant tree houses built upon platforms amongst a cluster of Baobab, Mopani and Wild Fig trees. Each of the twenty suites is perched high up in the age old Baobab and Marula trees and offer en-suite bathrooms and has a private veranda and lounge area allowing access to the sweeping views over the Conservation area.
Afternoon game drive. Late afternoon, return to the lodge for dinner &
overnight. BB, L, D
Day 06 July 2 Mon
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK (Tarangire Treetops Lodge)
5:30 AM: Wakeup call
6:00 AM: Tea and Coffee. Morning game drive
9:00 AM: Return to the hotel for buffet breakfast
1:00 PM: Lunch and afternoon at leisure
3:00 PM: Afternoon game drive
7:30 PM: Dinner and overnight BB, L, D
(Your daily Game drive time is subject to your agreement with your driver /
guide, that means the above morning and afternoon game drives could be
changed)
Day 07 July 3 Tue
TARANGIRE / NGORONGORO CONSERVATION PARK (Sopa Lodge)
AM: Game drive in Tarangire continuing to Ngorongoro where the animals of the crater can be approached at very close quarters giving you wonderful
photographic opportunities! Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken
caldera in the world, surrounded by steep hills rising 610 meters from the
floor.
PM: Arrive to Ngorongoro where you are going to spend the next two nights
at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge which is located on the northeastern rim of the
crater with the closest access road down to the crater floor. Each of the 96
rooms offers ensuite facilities and has a sitting room "porch" overlooking the crater. The lodge’s swimming pool has a fabulous view over the crater. Dinner & overnight BB, L D
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro crater floor
Day 08 July 4 Wed
NGORONGORO (Sopa Lodge)
7:00AM: Buffet breakfast, followed by your morning descent into the morning mists to the floor of the 2,000 foot deep crater for game viewing at its best in the world’s largest natural zoo! The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact caldera in an exceptional geographical position, forming a spectacular bowl of about 265 sq km with sides up to 600m deep. It is the stalking ground of 20 - 30,000 wild animals at any one time. The crater floor consists of a number of ecological environments that include grassland, swamps, forests and Lake Makat, a central soda lake filled by the Munge river. All these various habitats attract various wildlife to drink, wallow, graze, hide or climb. Although animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests and spring source lakes on the crater floor tend to incline both grazers and predators to remain throughout the year. Different animals on the crater floor. Enjoy your half day safari experience. Your game drive and lodge accommodations will provide you with breathtaking views of the crater floor far below and spectacular game viewing. Picnic will be provided for lunch on the Crater floor. Return to the lodge for dinner & overnight. BB, L, D
Day 09 July 5 Thu
NGORONGORO / SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (Sopa Lodge)
9:00AM: After breakfast, you will continue your adventure by driving- about 4 hours - to Serengeti National Park. Driving through the seemingly endless Serengeti plains viewing the dramatic scenery and numerous animals
indigenous to the area is an unforgettable experience.
PM: Arrive to Central Serengeti where you are going to spend the next two
nights at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.
Sopa Lodge
Lunch at the camp.
PM: Afternoon Game drive. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 July 6 Fri
CENTRAL SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (Serengeti Sopa Lodge)
AM: Optional Serengeti hot air balloon: For those who choose to take the
hot air balloon option (approximately $490 per person), you will have a
choice of three mornings to schedule this optional activity. The view is so
different from the air, sometimes so high you can see for hundreds of miles
in every direction. Pass directly over vulture nests in acacia tortillas, float silently over the Seronera river watching hippos yawn; see Giraffe, Waterbuck, Buffalo and Cats. Upon our landing, you will be congratulated with Champagne and full English breakfast cooked on the balloon burner.
Serengeti National park – Zebra and wildebeest migration
Morning and afternoon game drives in this leading park of Tanzania are
dominated by grassy savannahs that appear to stretch to infinity. Granite
outcrops rise from the swaying sea of grass giving families of lions and
leopards an elevated view from which to survey their surroundings, teeming
with wildlife all seemingly relaxed but always alert for approaching danger.
Three million large mammals live in total freedom including (the big five)
Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo. Overnight. BB, L, D
Day 11 July 7 Sat
CENTRAL SERENGETI / WESTERN SERENGETI and
The Great Migration (Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp)
Optional Serengeti hot air balloon
6:45 AM: Wake-up call
7:30 AM: Buffet Breakfast at the lodge.
8:00 AM: Morning game drive in our way to Kirawira luxury tented camp in the western Serengeti (about 60 miles) game viewing en route. After lunch
game drive around Kirawira near Grumeti River which is filled with big game animals such as Lion, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Baboon, Gazelle,
Wildebeest as well as abundant bird life. Different animals on the Serengeti Plain during migration One million wildebeest, two-hundred thousand zebra- almost five million hooves pounding the plains of the Serengeti. This is the park at the height of the migration, when columns of wildebeest up to twenty-file miles long instinctually follow fresh grasses through gorges, woodlands, and crocodile infested rivers. As the herds move, they fertilize their path, dropping 420 tons of dung daily. During wildebeest mating season, males circle their harems, battling junior males that threaten their dominance.
Kirawira Tented camp
The western corridor is one of the spots where the migrating animals are
forced to cross a river, in this instance The Grumeti River. The time when
this happens is after the animals leave the southern plains and begin
heading north and west, which is usually July. By the late dry season the
Grumeti dries up into a series of pools, but after a good rainy season the
river can be still be fast flowing and a serious hazard to the migrating
animals. Actually seeing a crossing is largely a matter of luck. However, even
if you don't find a crossing there are many opportunities to get into the middle of seriously large herds of animals. They often gather in the mid mornings around waterholes in such densities that they look like ants swarming round a nest.
PM: Afternoon game drive. Return to the camp for dinner & overnight.
BB, L, D
Day 12 July 8 Mon
WESTERN SERENGETI (Kirawira Tents camp)
5:30AM: wake-up call
6:00AM: Tea or coffee will be served in your tent
6:30AM: Morning game drive.
9:00AM: Return to the camp to have your buffet breakfast
This is your viewing Veranda at your luxury tent. (Western Serengeti)
Lunch at the camp
3:30PM: Afternoon game drive
7:00PM: Return to the camp for dinner and overnight. BB, L, D
Day 13 July 9 Tue
SERENGETI / MAASAI MARA (Kenya) – Mara Sopa Lodge
AM: Buffet breakfast at the camp
AM: After breakfast, say good bye to Tanzania as we will be following the
animals by driving further north for about 100 miles to cross to Kenya via
ISEBANIA / SIRARI border between Tanzania and Kenya.
As soon as we cross the border to Kenya, we will board our safari vehicle for
an hour drive to the town of MIGORI - which is located in the north west of
Mara - where we board a light aircraft for about half an hour flight to MAASAI MARA NATIONAL PARK airstrip. Upon our arrival to MARA National Park, you will be met by your driver / guide (Kenya side) to start your adventure for the next four days.
Drive to MARA SOPA LODGE where you are going to spend the next three
nights. Game drive en route. Lunch at the lodge.
PM: Afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge before dark for dinner and
overnight. BB, L, D
Mara Sopa Lodge
MARA SOPA LODGE:
Nestled within the Ngama Hills in the verdant Oloolaimutia Valley sits the Masai Mara Sopa Lodge. Its architects took great care to create an eco-friendly and culturally conscious lodge that provides high quality accommodations. The result? A luxurious lodge that blends in perfectly with its pristine natural surroundings and serves as the ideal base to experience prime wildlife viewing at one of the most well renowned game parks in east Africa. Because of the lodge’s location (128 mi from the Equator) and altitude (6400 ft), it enjoys warm days and cool evenings, so lightweight clothing and a jacket are recommended.
Mara Sopa room
The Mara Sopa’s 77 guestrooms resemble picturesque rondavels, traditional
African circular huts with thatched roofs. Inside, all rooms include a comfortable bed, a well-stocked mini bar, and en suite bathroom with shaving sockets and hairdryers. Best of all, every room has a private veranda that affords guests the perfect place to relax, take in views of the valley, or snap pictures of resident wildlife. Be sure to pack a bathing suit so that you can enjoy the lodge’s spectacular freeform, fresh-water swimming pool, featuring breathtaking views of the valley. The lodge has direct-dial telephone facilities as well as satellite television and video options. Amenities: Private veranda, En suite bathroom, Hairdryer, Mini-bar, Direct dial telephone, Satellite TV, Outdoor swimming pool, Gift shop/convenience store
Mara River in Masai Mara National Park.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve: known by the locals as 'the Mara') is a
large game reserve in south-western Kenya, which is effectively the northern
continuation of the Serengeti National Park game reserve in Tanzania.
Named after the Maasai people (the traditional inhabitants of the area). It is
famous for its exceptional population of Big Cats, game, and the annual
migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle and wildebeest from the Serengeti
every year from June to October, a migration so immense it is called the
Great Migration. All members of the "Big Five" are found in the Masai Mara, Hippos are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek rivers.
Around June of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast
ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and
return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the
most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of
herbivores some 1,300,000 wildebeests, 360,000 Thomson's gazelles,
97,000 Topi and 191,000 zebras. These numerous migrants are followed
along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most
notably lions and hyena.
MASAI MARA SPECIALITIES & FACTS
· Wildebeest Migration
· Hot Air Ballooning
· Huge savannahs of golden grasslands
· Big skies
· Rift Valley escarpment
· Lion sightings
This is a malarial area
The reserve covers an area of (1,510 km²) .There is no night driving and
vehicles must be back at the lodge by 6pm. Several lodges are located
outside the park's boundaries, but as there are few fences you may not be
aware of this. This is a Reserve rather than a National Park and it belongs
to the Masai people.
Day 14 July 10 Wed
Masai Mara Park
MASAI MARA
5:30AM: wake-up call
6:00AM: Early morning tea and coffee.
6:30AM: Start your morning game drive
9:00AM: return to the lodge for buffet breakfast
Relax around the pool
Lunch
3:00PM: Afternoon game drive
7:00PM: Dinner and overnight
Day 15 July 11 Thu
MASAI MARA
5:30AM: wake-up call
6:00AM: Early morning tea and coffee.
6:30AM: Start your morning game drive
9:00AM: return to the lodge for buffet breakfast
Relax around the pool
Lunch
3:00PM: Afternoon game drive
7:00PM: Dinner and overnight
Day 16 July 12 Fri
MASAI MARA / NAIROBI / DUBAI
6:30AM: Early morning tea and coffee, followed by morning game drive.
9:00AM: return to the lodge for buffet breakfast. Relax around the pool.
Lunch at the lodge
PM: After lunch, we will get ready to board our safari vehicles for our 4-5
hours drive to Nairobi to connect with your 11:15PM flight to Dubai. BB, L
(Meals on board)
(If we arrive to Nairobi early, we can have some optional activities: Visit
to Karen Blixen Museum and dinner at Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi).
Day 17 July 13 Sat
DUBAI / HOUSTON (USA)
5:15AM: Arrive to Dubai International airport where we will connect with your 9:05AM flight to Houston.
4:25PM: Arrive to Houston (USA) where you will connect with your flight back home.
WELCOME BACK HOME
For more information, contact Ellie Leinaweaver.