Kenya Royale

After breakfast, depart Nairobi for the 4-hour drive south to Amboseli National Park — one of Africa's most iconic wildlife destinations. Amboseli is defined by its extraordinary backdrop: Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5,895 metres, rises from the Kenyan plains and dominates the skyline throughout. The park hosts some of Africa's largest and best-documented elephant families, with family groups of 50+ animals roaming the swamps and open plains. Afternoon game drive in the shadow of Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Lodge or Ol Tukai Lodge.

A full day in Amboseli with morning and afternoon game drives. The park's open landscape and permanent swamps fed by underground streams from Kilimanjaro's glaciers create exceptional conditions for wildlife photography — elephants silhouetted against the snow-capped summit at sunrise is one of Africa's most photographed images. Watch for large buffalo herds, hippos wallowing in the swamp margins, cheetah hunting on the open short-grass plains, lions and hundreds of bird species. All meals and overnight at Amboseli Lodge.

Depart Amboseli and drive north through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kenya's most celebrated parks. The alkaline lake is famous for its flamingo flocks that can number in the millions, turning the entire shoreline vivid pink. The park also protects a thriving population of both southern white rhino and critically endangered black rhino, making it one of the best places in Africa to see these prehistoric animals at close range. Rothschild's giraffe — one of the world's most endangered giraffe subspecies — wander the yellow fever acacia woodland. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru to catch the flamingos at their most active before breakfast at the lodge. Depart for the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve — the greatest wildlife reserve in Kenya and the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem. The Mara is world-famous for the Great Migration's most dramatic Mara River crossings between July and October, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra plunge into the crocodile-filled river. Afternoon arrival and game drive through the Mara's vast open grasslands. Dinner and overnight at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

A full day in the legendary Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Africa's highest lion density means resident prides are encountered almost daily — hunting, resting on kopjes and raising cubs on the open plains. Cheetah families are a fixture of the Mara's grasslands, while leopards rest unseen in the riverine fig trees along the Mara River until they descend to hunt at dusk. Elephant herds, buffalo wallowing in the Mara River, hippo pools and the vast plains game complete an experience that consistently ranks among the world's top wildlife destinations. All meals and overnight at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Morning game drive in the Mara before breakfast, then drive west to Lake Victoria — the world's largest tropical lake and the source of the Nile. At 68,800 km², Lake Victoria borders Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Afternoon boat safari on the lake exploring the papyrus-lined bays and islands, spotting Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, enormous hippo pods and the spectacular birdlife: African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher and the extraordinary prehistoric-looking shoebill stork. Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Hotel.

After breakfast, cross the Kenya-Tanzania border and enter Tanzania. Drive through the dramatic Grumeti River corridor — the western approach to the Serengeti ecosystem, home to enormous Nile crocodiles in the river pools and year-round resident wildlife including hippos, topi, kongoni and elephant on the open Grumeti plains. Afternoon arrival in the Northern Serengeti and your first Tanzanian game drive through the Kogatende area near the Mara River. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Tented Camp.

Full day in the Northern Serengeti exploring the Kogatende and Lamai areas along the Mara River — site of the Great Migration's most dramatic wildebeest crossings and some of the best big cat territory in Tanzania. Resident lion prides in the north are large, well-habituated and frequently encountered. Leopard sightings in the riverine forest along the Mara River banks are among the finest in Tanzania. Between July and October the wildebeest crossings here rival those on the Kenyan side of the river. All meals and overnight at Serengeti Tented Camp.

Drive south through the Serengeti to the legendary Seronera Valley — the year-round big cat capital of the world. The Seronera River supports a permanent concentration of prey and predator: the famous Seronera lion prides, leopards in the sausage trees and fig trees along the river, and the cheetah families of the Serengeti Plains — among the most studied cheetah populations on Earth. Afternoon game drive through the kopjes and open grassland. All meals and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge or Thorn Tree Camp.

Morning game drive through the Seronera area before driving east to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater — the world's largest intact volcanic caldera — for an afternoon game drive on the 265 km² crater floor. This closed ecosystem permanently supports approximately 25,000 large mammals: enormous lion prides, critically endangered black rhinoceros grazing the short-grass plains, massive hippo pools, cloud-darkening flamingo flocks on Lake Magadi and vast buffalo herds. Ascend to the crater rim for a spectacular sunset over the caldera. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

A leisurely morning on the crater rim with spectacular views down into the caldera before a final short crater drive or a walk along the rim. Continue to the fertile Karatu highlands — a lush agricultural area in the shadow of the Ngorongoro massif, known as "Tanzania's Little Switzerland" for its green rolling hills. Afternoon at leisure in the highlands. Dinner and overnight at Country Lodge Karatu or similar.

After breakfast, descend from the Ngorongoro Highlands to Lake Eyasi in the Rift Valley. Visit the Hadzabe bushmen — Africa's most ancient culture, hunter-gatherers who have lived unchanged in the bush around Lake Eyasi for over 10,000 years. Join the men on a morning hunt using traditional hand-crafted bows and poison-tipped arrows, tracking game on foot through the thornbush. Learn about wild plant medicines, fire-making and the extraordinary knowledge of the natural world that the Hadzabe carry in their oral tradition. This intimate cultural encounter brings profound perspective to the entire safari experience. Return to Arusha for dinner and overnight.

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward international flight. Fourteen days, two countries, nine extraordinary destinations — the Kenya Royale safari comes to an end. This safari can be extended with a Zanzibar beach escape, a gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda, or a Kilimanjaro climb — ask our team for extension options.