East Africa big cat safari
10
daysEast Africa big cat safari
This safari to the Serengeti and Masai Mara in East Africa is all about big cats – lots of them and up close for outstanding photographsOn this safari, you'll focus on finding the big cats of East Africa – lion, leopard, cheetah, serval, and if you're lucky, caracal. You can also expect to see the predator-prey interaction. The journey requires early morning starts, late afternoons and some patience. You'll visit the two most important big cat reserves in the world, Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara, to experience the densest concentration of big cats. You'll also visit some private concessions where you can drive off-road to get closer to the animals.
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Costing tip: When comparing with other companies, remember most of them only show the low season rate. How pricing works >
What to Expect on This Safari
This popular itinerary can be customised to match your budget and travel dates by adding/removing a few days or selecting different lodges
day
1
Arusha, arrival
You'll be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Arusha for your overnight stay at Arusha Coffee Lodge, with dinner and breakfast included.
Meals: Dinner and breakfast
Transport: Included
day
2
Straight into the big cats
First thing after breakfast you'll drive to Arusha airport for your flight to Seronera airstrip in the central Serengeti. From there you'll drive to Moru, exploring the lion and leopard areas of the central Serengeti’s Seronera valley and Moru kopjes along the way. Overnight at Serengeti Pioneer Camp, with meals, drinks and drives included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
3
Focus on leopard at Seronera
Today you'll concentrate on lion in the morning, cheetah during the day and leopard in the evening. Big cats generally avoid each other and that's why they're usually active during different times of the day and night. Serengeti leopards are best seen during late afternoon or early evening as they go to water to quench their thirst after a long day’s rest. Overnight at Serengeti Pioneer Camp, with your meals and drinks included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
4
The huge prides of Klein's
You'll fly to Klein’s Camp, a private concession just outside the Serengeti’s north-eastern border. There are huge lion prides and a high concentration of leopards here because of good permanent water around Klein’s Camp and Lobo. You'll be able to drive off-road to get closer to the action and go on a night drive to see what happens after dark. Overnight at Klein’s Camp, with meals, drinks and drives included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
5
Great lion and cheetah sightings
Enjoy a walk in the morning, when you have a good chance of coming across cats within the Klein’s concession. The walking guides are well-trained and good, so expect to have an interesting time on foot, with buffalo – and therefore lion – in the area. Go on an afternoon and evening game drive to see what the nocturnal cats are up to. Overnight again at Klein’s Camp, with your meals, drinks, drives and walks included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
6
Paradise plains inside the Mara
You'll fly from Lobo airstrip via Tarime and Migori into the heart of the Masai Mara. The Mara – in particular, Paradise Plains and the Musiara Swamp – is a key big cat area with enormous numbers of lion, leopard and cheetah. You'll drive to the Mara confluence area, which is the middle of big cat country inside the Masai Mara. Overnight at Rekero Camp, with your meals, drinks and drives included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
7
Start early and eat later
You'll focus on early morning lion activity today and drive towards the woodland with its elephant pepper tree outcrops, which make good cover for lion and leopard. In the afternoon you'll concentrate on cheetah on the plains before moving back towards the Leopard Gorge area in the early evening. Overnight again at Rekero Camp on the banks of the Talek River, with meals, drinks and drives included.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
day
8
Olare Orok, off-road driving
Olare Orok Conservancy has arguably the biggest cat concentration per square kilometre in East Africa. Although this is hard to verify it does mean that it's a great place to end your big cat safari with walks, night drives and as many cat sightings as possible. You'll arrive for lunch and enjoy your first afternoon and evening on a game drive in core cat areas and anywhere there's been recent activity. Overnight at Kicheche Bush Camp, with meals and drinks included.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
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day
9
Night drives, the cats come alive
Enjoy a morning walk or we might be able to even arrange for you to go to the famous Leopard Gorge next door on the Mara North Conservancy. Leopard Gorge is so good for leopard that you're almost guaranteed to see at least one every time you go – a fitting end to an action-packed big cat safari. Overnight at Kicheche Bush Camp, with meals, drinks, drives and walks included.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks
Transport: Included
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day
10
Fly Home
Fly from Ol Kiombo airstrip to Wilson airport, from where you'll be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International for your flight home.
Safari Map
This is where you'll travel on an 10-day safari like this
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