On Safari in Kenya & Tanzania: Up Close with the Big Five
It’s no exaggeration that this East African safari around Kenya and Tanzania is better than ever! Rated 5-stars by past travelers, the most common advice they offer is, “Just do it!” From the accommodations — including Kirawira Tented Camp in the Serengeti, a national park famed for the wildebeest migration — to interacting with the Iraqw ethnic tribe near Lake Manyara, you’ll be immersed in the culture of Kenya and Tanzania.
Seeking Africa’s Big Five
The African safari hunters of a century ago dubbed them the "Big Five" — the most elusive and dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. Today's wildlife safari goers hunt with a camera, but the lion, African elephant, black rhino, leopard, and Cape buffalo are still the prize, and the game-rich preserves of Africa are where it all happens.
Gibb's Farm, Tanzania
Tour the fertile and scenic coffee plantations at the renowned Gibb’s Farm, a model for sustainable, environmentally-respectful practices
Shanga Riverhouse
Shanga is a for-profit organization, which embraces a fusion of African and Western design elements. Shanga aims to provide safe and supportive employment opportunities to disabled Tanzanians while producing unique and quality products handmade from recycled materials.
Olduvai Gorge
Witness the “Cradle of Mankind,” where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered hominid fossils over 2.5 million years old.
Lake Victoria & Masai Mara
Explore a traditional fishing village on Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake and source of the White Nile
Ngorongoro Crater: Africa's Garden of Eden
See an incredible diversity of wildlife, Maasai pastoralists, and stunning vistas during your visit to Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater.
Hoti Fortunatus, Adventure Leader, Kenya & Tanzania
Hoti grew up on his family’s farm in Tanzania’s lake district, not far from the wildlife reserves at Lake Manyara, and holds a diploma from the College of African Wildlife Management in Mweka, Tanzania. “My Vantage travelers benefit greatly from my love and knowledge of African wildlife,” he says.
David Kalama, Adventure Leader, Kenya & Tanzania
David is the consummate safari guide: he lives just outside Tsavo National Park, has more than 13 years of experience as a ranger, tour director, and bush transport manager, and is an avid birder and photographer.
Masai Mara Balloon Safari Optional Tour
Enhance your African safari tour by floating above it all as you embark on the balloon ride of a lifetime. This one-hour flight will give you a bird’s-eye view of the best east Africa has to offer, in the magnificent setting of the Great Rift Valley. A champagne breakfast in the bush after you land adds to the buzz you will get from the early morning air, and the sights and sounds that only an eagle ever sees. The morning drive back to your camp/lodge offers more opportunities for game viewing. Early morning is the ideal time to see wild animals on the plains.
Serengeti Balloon Safari Optional Tour
One of the most magically memorable of the Serengeti experiences, a balloon safari allows you to drift in silence above the splendor of the plains. Awakened by an early morning cup of tea, you’ll be driven to the balloon take-off point. There, you’ll meet your fully qualified balloon pilot and watch as the team inflates the enormous rainbow-colored balloon. After a 45-minute flight, your balloon will descend to the plains, where the ground crew will greet you with a glass of chilled champagne.
Nairobi Serena Hotel
As a member of
the Leading Hotels of the World, the Superior First Class
Nairobi Serena Hotel is known in luxury travel for its quality, service, and hospitality. One of the finest hotels in Nairobi, the
Serena stands amidst lush tropical gardens with panoramic views of the city’s Central Park and the sparkling downtown skyline.
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Framed against the glorious backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, the magnificently beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro, are miles of rolling grasslands, patrolled by vast herds of elephants. Shaded by the lush, feathered-green of an acacia grove and hugging the banks of a gently flowing river, this traditional yet supremely luxurious lodge is the safari destination of a lifetime.
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Standing high on the bluff of a dramatic ochre and terra-cotta streaked cliff above the flamingo-frosted expanse of Lake Manyara’s gleaming alkaline waters, the lodge commands panoramic views across the Great Rift Valley.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge blends the almost indescribable beauty and magnitude of the Ngorongoro Crater with unparalleled standards for comfort and service.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Set high on the saddle of a tree-clad ridge, commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches of the Serengeti, the
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style.
Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp Western Serengeti
Escape to the Africa of legend and myth at this luxury tented safari camp in the Serengeti’s famous Western Corridor.
Kirawira Serena Camp has been styled to replicate the elegant hunting camps of legendary hunters such as Denys Finch Hatton and Baron Bror Blixen.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Mara Serena Safari Lodge invites you to a world where dramatic sights and experiences are enhanced by gracious service and five-star amenities. As the only safari lodge in the famed Mara Triangle, it offers a setting matched by few other hotels in the world.
Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp
This Superior First-Class rated tented camp is situated within the 90,000-acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which abounds with wildlife, including all members of the Big Five. The camp itself offers a charming blend of under-canvas ambiance and uncompromising luxury.
