EXPEDITION MARA TO SERENGETI

Meet your guide at your Nairobi hotel and head to the Karen district, a lush suburb on the edge of Ngong Road Forest. Visit the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife at the Giraffe Centre, where you'll learn about their conservation work and the story of Daisy Rothschild, a baby giraffe rescued from western Kenya.

At the nonprofit Giraffe Centre, observe Rothschild giraffes mingling with local warthogs in a semi-wild environment. Watch as the giraffes gather at the feeding station, extending their long black tongues to grab food.

Escape the crowds by taking a leisurely walk along a small nature trail, listening to East African bird songs and admiring the plants along the Gogo River. Keep an eye out for giraffes gracefully moving through the forest. After the hike, you'll return to your hotel at a relaxed pace.

Your experience starts with a briefing by our guides, the night before the flight and signing the waiver form. Our guide will pick you from your camp / lodge early morning (4am -5am) to arrive at our launch area by approximately 6am, giving you enough time to enjoy some hot Tanzanian coffee with homemade cookies, access to a clean toilet, and Free Wi-Fi. During this time the Pilot will brief you on the safety measures, launch & landing procedure, and what to expect. We plan take off at about 6:30am subject to weather. The basket is on its side while you board and will stand up right just before taking off.

Just after you elevate from the ground, you most probably will enjoy a great African sunrise (depending on weather). During the flight you will have a birds eye uninterrupted view of the vast plains of Serengeti, and you will understand why they call it endless plains. The pilot will try to spot wildlife for you and lower the balloon for better viewing. He may also rise the balloon for better speed / direction and also for some amazing views. The flight usually lasts 1 hour +/- 15mins depending on the weather. You can still enjoy hot coffee during the flight.

Landing really depends on the landscape of the area and the wind speeds. The basket could have few bumps before halting, and / or tip over, but most of the time it is a smooth and soft as the flight it self. Once you disembark, you will enjoy a traditional balloon celebration with a little history on how the tradition came to be.

After this you will be driven to our carefully selected bush breakfast area, warmly welcomed by our team to enjoy a scrumptious plated breakfast. Be sure to give us any dietary requirements before hand so we can cater for you.

After your breakfast, you will be issued with your certificates and then returned to the Visitors Centre or nearest airstrip to meet up with your guide to continue with your safari.

This tour provides insight on Dar es Salaam’s rich history and daily lives of people living in Tanzania. Your driver will take you through the city center and towards Mnazi Mmoja Park where you will see a replica of the Uhuru Torch Monument. The original one was erected on Mt. Kilimanjaro to commemorate freedom from colonialism that came with independence. Other famous landmarks you will spot along the way include the German-built Azania Front Lutheran Church, St. Joseph’s Cathedral , Kivukoni Fish Market, and the famed Coco Beach.

Your sightseeing drive will also have you visiting the Village Museum, Tinga Tinga Market, the Mwenge Carvings Market and the National Museum where you will be able to see historical and archaeological items, among them Louis and Mary Leakey’s findings from Olduvai Gorge. These human fossils displayed in the Half of Man include the skull of the so-called Nutcracker Man. There is also a collection of tribal ornaments, headdresses, and traditional musical instruments collected from various regions in Tanzania. Note: Guests must be aware that the museum guides are the best available. The museums are not air conditioned. Expect the weather to be hot and humid. The order of the sites may vary depending on traffic. Some of the sites are closed on Sundays, Saturdays and during public holidays. The tour starts and ends in Dar es Salaam city center.

Duration: Half day 4 Hours or Full day 7 hours

At 9:00 AM, depart from Dar es Salaam city center to Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo has played various historical roles in Tanzania. Apart from being a slave and ivory port, it was also the capital of German East Africa from the late 19th century until the end of World War I. Explorers such as Burton, Speke, Grant, Livingstone and Stanley all passed through this town. The name Bagamoyo comes from the Swahili words “bwaga moyo”, meaning “to throw down your heart”, a despair expressed by people who were captured as slaves, knowing that they faced an uncertain future. On arrival, visit the Kaole Ruins, ruins of the Shirazi trade town (13th-17th century), Old ferry on the mighty Wami River. Lunch will be served at a restaurant in Bagamoyo. (Visit the Bagamoyo School of Arts for a Ngoma (traditional dance) session may be arranged upon prior notice. Extra cost applies). The tour ends in Dar es Salaam city centre around 5:30 PM.

Former Capital of Tanganyika