Compare with: 17 day : Kenya & Tanzania , Add Egypt & Petra Jordan : 21 -days , 25 -Days.
23 day version with more time in Cairo and Luxor /Valley of the Kings

Start in Amman Jordan : Weekly Year Round

This is truly an experience for those who have been dreaming to see and enjoy the ultimate African and Arabian Safari at an affordable price. This combination of Petra , the lost city , cosmopolitan Cairo , Luxor : the Ancient capital of the Mighty Pharaohs for 20 centuries , and the Safari Adventure is a diverse itinerary offering an array of Arabia & Africa finest travel experiences : the wonders of the Maasai Mara and more on this remarkable journey through Kenya and Tanzania.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

DAY 1 - AMMAN Thursday

Our staff greets you at Amman International Airport, or at your international border crossing point, and escorts you to your hotel in Amman. SAS Radisson or similar .
The city is yours to explore as you like for the rest of the day.

DAY 2 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA - Friday (BD)

We drive south along the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, to Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of the Holy Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view of the Promised Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Farther on, at Kerak, we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders' castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Finally, we arrive in Petra, and settle in at our hotel: Movenpick or similar

DAY 3 - PETRA Saturday (BD)

Today the fabulous Nabatean city of Petra awaits us. Made famous in the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples, tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here, and another night.

DAY 4 - WADI RUM & AMMAN Sunday (BL)

We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit, we return to Amman. Lunch is included enroute

DAY 5 - Jerash - Amman - Cairo Monday (BD)

We drive to Jerash, among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you back to Amman, for your flight to Cairo .
Air fare is included in our rate , in economy class, tax included .

Arrive at Cairo Airport. Our ground staff will meet you at the airport. A welcome fruit basket with our compliments awaits you at your room at the hotel. Egyptian & Arabic sweets & Hot Tea or coffee. Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival for the following passports : EU , American, Australian, NZ, Canadian, and Japanese. Your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival

DAY 6 - DAHSOUR - HOME HOSTED MEAL Tuesday (cBL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.

Evening Sound and Light show by the Pyramids.

DAY 7 - Cairo -Luxor - Cairo
VALLEY OF THE KINGS Wednesday (cBLD)

Very early morning breakfast at the hotel. Fly to Luxor ( free upgrade to business class subject to availability) .

Today's tour include as well a visit to the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb , temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, and Colossi of Memnon, returning to our hotel for lunch. Following lunch , we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, returning to the airport and fly back to Cairo and your hotel

DAY 8 , Thursday / CAIRO (BLD)
American breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza and the timeless Sphinx. Only for the ones who are physically fit, a complimentary ticket on the house to enter the King's Chamber in the heart of the Great Pyramid (sometimes it 's closed for repairs, lighting or ventilation systems, in which case you will enter the Kephren Pyramid), after lunch, we tour the treasure filled Egyptian Museum. Before heading back to the hotel for dinner. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
Evening transfer to the airport to board Egyptair flight for Nairobi.

DAY 9 , Friday / ARRIVE NAIROBI:(D)
Morning arrival in Nairobi. Our tour manager will meet and transfer us to the elegant Accommodations : Nairobi Serena Hotel ( D ) The remainder of the day is at leisure for shopping, relaxation or optional city tours. Dinner is included at the hotel

Day 10 : Arrival in Nairobi. Saturday
Welcome to Africa! Look forward to a journey through majestic, unspoiled landscapes to fabulous game reserves where the dark continent’s incomparable wildlife is protected in its natural habitat. Settle into your hotel, then maybe shop for a stylish safari outfit. An afternoon orientation drive takes you through Kenya’s modern, mile-high capital to the area of Karen Blixen’s farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Visit the fascinating MUSEUM dedicated to the author of Out of Africa; feed the gentle Rothschild’s Giraffes at the GIRAFFE CENTER; finally, admire authentic African art and crafts at UTAMADUNI. Tonight a short briefing about the safari routine. Later enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Accommodations : Nairobi Serena Hotel ( D )

Day 11: Nairobi-Mount Kenya
Head north into the well-watered, fertile area where members of the Kikuyu tribe grow corn, bananas, pineapples, coffee, and tea. Settle in at the luxurious Mountain Lodge. A specially constructed viewing bunker affords a most spectacular close-up of game at the lodge's waterhole. You'll spend hours watching the forest hog, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
Accommodations : Serena Mountain Lodge ( B L D )

Day 12 : Mount Kenya-Samburu.
This morning we make our way to the northern foothills of Mount Kenya, a 17,058-foot dormant volcano with a glistening cap of ice and snow. Lunch is reserved at the renowned MOUNT KENYA SAFARI CLUB, which literally straddles the equator, and was co-founded by the late actor William Holden. In the afternoon proceed to the grassland area which forms the bridge between Kenya’s lush south and parched north. Watch out for herds of impalas, Grant’s gazelles, and African buffalo as you enter SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE.
Accommodations : Samburu Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 13 : Samburu
A full day of game driving includes outings at dawn, when animals are most active, and in the late morning and afternoon, when the light is best for photography. Return to the lodge for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Today you stay close to the Ewaso Nyiro River, where vast herds of plains game come to water, braving lions in the grass, leopards in the trees, and giant crocodiles. Stars of Samburu not easily seen elsewhere are the liver-red reticulated giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk antelope, and the elegant Grevy’s zebra.
Accommodations : Samburu Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 14: Samburu-Lake Nakuru
Visit the spectacular Thomson's Falls at Nyahururu, and then make your way down the eastern escarpment of the magnificent Rift Valley. After lunch take a leisurely drive through LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK, famous for its pink flamingos. Drive to the edge of the lake to view thousands of birds feeding in the alkaline water; see the sweeping view from the top of Baboon Rocks; then look for warthogs and waterbucks as you leave the park.
Accommodations : Lion Hill Lodge ( B L D )

Day 15: Lake Nakuru-Lake Naivasha-Maasai Mara
Lake Naivasha is the highest and purest of the Rift Valley lakes. Your boat cruise here takes you to the breeding grounds of pelicans, fish eagles, and cormorants. Spot primeval hippos lurking in the shallow water and zebras and antelopes grazing on Crescent Island. In the afternoon traverse the Rift Valley and ascend its western rim. You’re now in Maasai country, where sedentary crop farming gives way to nomadic cattle herding. Red-clad, spear-wielding Maasai warriors tend their multi-colored herds among the wild animals of the Loita Plains, admirably unimpressed by the presence of large predators.
Accommodations : Mara Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 16: Maasai Mara.
Dawn, morning and afternoon game drives in the MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, Kenya’s best and most scenic game park. At the northern extremity of the unique Serengeti ecosystem, blessed with a permanent water supply, the Maasai Mara has a thriving, permanent population of plains game, augmented in the dry season by the migration of two million gnus and zebras from the vast, parched Serengeti plains. Of the hunter’s "big five," elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard are quite common, while even the much rarer rhino might come out of the thicket for you. Hyenas are plentiful and the cheetah, a 60-mile-per-hour daytime hunter, is often seen.
Accommodations : Mara Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 17 : Maasai Mara-Amboseli
Another early morning game drive to complete your list of Kenyan sightings. Gain an overview of Africa on your plane ride back to Nairobi. Fly over the great Rift Valley, part of the rift system that stretches from the Dead Sea in the Middle East to Mozambique. After a brief refreshing break, drive over the Athi Plains, enjoy a picnic lunch, and enter AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, situated at the foot of the impressive snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 19,340 feet.
Accommodations : Amboseli Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 18: Amboseli
Famed for its scenic beauty and enormous collection of big game, Amboseli has inspired countless artists and writers including Hemingway, who described it as the essence of Africa. Search for great elephant herds rummaging in the forests, leopards prowling the salt flats, antelopes grazing the dusty plains, exotic birds nesting in green marshes, and countless other classic images of Africa.
Accommodations : Amboseli Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 19: Amboseli-Lake Manyara, Tanzania
Your best chance to spot a black rhino is on your last morning game drive in Kenya. Motor south to the border town of Namanga and meet your Tanzanian driver/guide, every bit as friendly and eagle-eyed as the expert who looked after you in Kenya. Lunchtime break at Mountain Village Lodge in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. The town is the exact halfway point between Cairo and Cape Town and set amid coffee plantations at the foot of Mount Meru.
Accommodations : Lake Manyara Serena ( B L D )

Day 20 : Lake Manyara-Ngorongoro.
Spend a full morning on a game drive in this small but attractive park squeezed between the lake and the steep rim of the Rift Valley. Its most striking feature is a dense rain forest populated by baboons, impalas, elephants, giraffes, and myriad other creatures. With luck you’ll shoot a picture of a tree-climbing lion on your drive through the forest! See the Simba River, populated by hippos and bird life. Time to eat lunch and freshen up at the hotel before ascending towards the 7,500-foot-high Ngorongoro Crater. Your overnight is at a beautiful lodge overlooking the crater.
Accommodations : Ngorongoro Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 21: Ngorongoro Crater
The NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA, part of the Serengeti ecosystem, is certainly the most famous game park in the world. The caldera, 2,000 feet below the rim and covering 102 square miles, hosts an unbelievable variety and density of wildlife. Especially exciting: you’re nearly guaranteed to observe the rare and threatened rhino. Descend to the crater floor in four-wheel-drive Land Rovers. A day in the crater is an experience you’ll treasure all your life!
Accommodations : Ngorongoro Serena Lodge ( B L D )

Day 22: Ngorongoro-Nairobi, Kenya
Scenic drive back to Arusha. After your included lunch, fly back to Nairobi. Tonight compare notes with your safari companions as you enjoy dinner at the most famous of African restaurants, the Carnivore.
Accommodations : Nairobi Serena Hotel ( B L D )

Day 23 : Depart Nairobi
If your flight leaves late, your room is available until 6 p.m.
Accommodations : Nairobi Serena Hotel (day room) ( B )

THE TOUR COST INCLUDES:

• Daily accommodations as shown in the itinerary & all hotel taxes and service charges
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast) , (L = Lunch) , (D = Dinner).
• All hotel /airport transfers as indicated
• Transportation in mini buses and / or various safari vehicles.
• All guided sightseeing, game viewing, entrance fees and park fees as indicated in the itinerary.
• Air fare in economy class : Amman Cairo Luxor Cairo , tax included
  Possible free upgrade to business class in Egypt : Cairo Luxor Cairo , subject to availability .
• Comprehensive assortment of pre-trip planning materials and amenities. Including complimentary "Lonely Planet Guide books
• Visa fee for Jordan and EGYPT is included & issued upon arrival for a limited number of nationalities : :EU,American, Australian,NZ, Canadian, and Japanese. Your passport must be valid and in order
• Jordanian Departure tax.

What's not included:

• Any airport taxes
• Air fare from/to your home country.
• Passport and Tanzania & Kenya visa fees
• Travel insurance, trip cancellation insurance, please ask for the flyer.
• Excess baggage charges, shipping charges
• Items of a personal nature such as gratuities to drivers/guides, beverages, telephone, telex or fax charges, laundry and services or meals not indicated in the itineraries.

Rates per person in USD $

DEPARTURE DATES: Tour starts weekly on Saturdays , year round ( Dec 15- 31 supplement : 20 % )

B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
Kenya Safari Tips