In a bask of crocodiles, the oldest is the most respected and has first access to food and the best places to sleep in the sun.
An old crocodile effortlessly slides down the bank into the river. His body and tail undulate swiftly in the current, disappearing into its murky depths. Bubbles float to the surface, evidence of his direction. The water is his hunting ground.
You’ll glass the surface, looking for his movements but see nothing. The wildebeests are crammed together at the water’s edge and look suspiciously into the river. Several timidly step into the shallows and drink. This bravery with no consequences gives the herd courage, and they crowd forward.
The old crocodile lunges from the water with a great splash and snaps his razor-sharp teeth around a wildebeest’s leg. The herd stampedes and leaves the wildebeest struggling in the crocodile’s jaws. This gains the attention of the other crocodiles. They slip into the river until only their knobby snouts and eyes show above the surface.
The Mara River crossing is the deadliest stage for the great wildebeest migration. Besides the crocodile-infested waters, they are ambushed along the river banks by predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards…
Are you prepared for the circle of life?
You have “exclusive use” of a bush plane. This allows you to fly daily within your itinerary’s locations.
Your pilot, Captain Ryan Outram with Rift Valley Aviation, is at your beck and call. His extensive knowledge of the African bush will take you to extraordinary places that only an African bush pilot can deliver.
Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO) and be met by one of our owner guides.
They’ll handle your luggage and escort you to Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages, a luxury boutique hotel in Karen. Each room has a fireplace, a wonderful place to recoup from long international flights and multiple time zones.
Captain Ryan planned a 3-hour scenic flight to the Maasai Mara, starting with a flight over the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Baringo, known as the Lakes of the Rift Valley. There is plenty of opportunities to photograph flamingos and other wildlife from above.
You’ll land at a bush airstrip near Mara Ngenche Safari Camp, in a spectacular area in the heart of the Mara National Park. It’s a small, intimate, luxurious camp on high ground offering extraordinary views of the confluence of the Mara and Talek Rivers as they merge into one.
Dine overlooking a busy hippo pool as wildlife is drawn to the river. In addition, each luxury tent has a river view and a private plunge pool. A game drive with premium sundowners is before dinner.
A 2-hour morning flight explores the Sand River as it splits from the Mara River that undulates through the Maasai hills like a snake slithering through the grass.
Captain Ryan looks for wildebeest herds crossing the river and circles around them for amazing photos from above. He’ll fly into Lake Magadi’s airstrip for coffee before flying to Nguruman Hill’s dramatic forests.
He’ll fly low while dropping off the escarpment’s edge and down into the Great Rift Valley for a scenic flight along the Kenya-Tanzania border and back to the lodge by mid-morning.
Melt in an hour-long Swedish massage per person after the day’s game drive before a memorable bush dinner overlooking the Mara River beside a campfire.
An early morning balloon safari with Balloon Safaris Ltd. is over the Mara. They include champagne and a made-to-order hot breakfast by their Chef. If you spot some cool wildlife action from the air, let us know once we pick you up, and we’ll head that way.
Afternoon and evening game drives explore Mara’s savannahs. All game drives and flights are on your schedule, which we discuss the evening before, along with the routes. Sundowners are during every late afternoon-evening game drive.
Experience a local Maasai manyatta (village) and watch the moran warrior’s traditional jumping dance called adumu, which means jumping in a competitive dance. The higher the jump, the stronger the moran is perceived to be. Thus, he gains more respect, admiration, and attention from the women.
Your last day in the Mara starts with breakfast at the river before a game drive along the Kenya-Tanzania border. The Mara and Serengeti are one ecosystem with no borders.
An evening sundowner flight is across the Mara and onto the Kericho tea plantations.
Take to the morning skies as we fly along the Mara River and over the border into Tanzania, where you’ll clear customs in Kisumu and Musoma. The flight is two hours, with an hour at each customs stop. Your destination is Seronera’s airstrip in the heart of the Serengeti.
One Nature Nyaruswiga, Serengeti is an ultra-luxury safari camp with a fireplace and wonderful savannah views from your room. Observing nearby wildlife makes this an excellent place to set up a tripod.
Your 90-minute One Nature Signature Massage per person will be divinely welcomed after the flight from the Mara to the Serengeti.
Yes, you’re doing two balloon safaris, one in the Mara and the other in the Serengeti, as the terrain and wildlife are varied in each park. This provides an inclusive African balloon safari experience.
An early morning balloon flight with Serengeti Balloon Safaris includes sparkling wine and a full English breakfast in the bush. After your flight, the savannah is yours to explore at your own pace.
Captain Ryan planned an exceptional sundowner flight over the southern part of the Serengeti for 1 ½ hours.
A long flight is scheduled, starting at dawn over the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and along the top of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, meaning “the mountain of God” in Maasai. Lengai is an active volcano located in the Gregory Rift, south of Lake Natron.
The Captain flies along Lake Natron’s red volcanic waters, often described as having a desolate and lunar beauty. It is the most important breeding ground worldwide for millions of lesser flamingos.
The flight continues over northern Serengeti along the Kenya border and back in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive with sundowners offers extraordinary light from the setting sun to photograph wildlife.
A morning walking safari with an armed guide observes wildlife up close and personal. And you’ll be taught some tracking.
After the afternoon game drive, relax by the campfire in the bush with sundowners during one of Africa’s magnificent sunsets as the Chef prepares a culinary delight to be remembered.
Lions wake up at dusk, look for a place to drink, and get their bearings for their next meal. You want to be there when this happens…
A French Champagne bush breakfast is on your last morning before Captain Ryan flies you to Kilimanjaro International Airport to go home. *
* If you want to end your holiday on Zanzibar Island in the Indian Ocean, we can arrange to fly you there with Captain Ryan (not included).
If your safari lodge or camp is sold out, we use a comparable property in location, price and services. Alternate dates are helpful.
