The Stanley dates back to 1906, and is Nairobi's oldest and beautifully refurbished hotel. The shopping arcade has a curio shop, newsagent, gift shops and a chemist. Same-day laundry service is available, as well as a bureau of currency change. A fully equipped health club has a sauna, steam bath, swimming pool and daily fitness classes.

The Thorn Tree Cafe open-air café has been the meeting point of east Africa since the time of Ernest Hemmingway. Messages are left by travelers around an Acacia tree. Open from early morning to late night, the café serves buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch and dinner, as well as snacks. The elegant Zen Restaurant is a fusion of flavors from the Pacific, with uplifting décor to create a relaxing and unique ambiance. The Pool Deck restaurant features healthy food served buffet style, with a vast array of salads. Room service is available 24-hours a day. The comfortable and relaxing Exchange lounge bar overlooks busy Kenyatta Avenue.
Dinner is not included.

DAY 02: NAIROBI / AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before heading south on our overland drive to Amboseli National Park, situated at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The snowcapped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, rising above a saucer of clouds, dominates every aspect of Amboseli Park which covers 1513 square miles.

We will arrive in time for lunch at Amboseli Serena Lodge. Short time for rest before our late afternoon activities begin. Relax by the pool or go for a jog on one of the several protected jogging trails.

The, get ready to enjoy an afternoon game drive in Amboseli, where wildlife is concentrated and inevitably picturesque against the massive backdrop of the snow-clad 19,340 ft mountain. All the "Big Five" - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - are to be found here, which makes the park a photographer's paradise. With its dried-up salt lake and weird mirages, there is ample opportunity for spectacular photographs against the impressive backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Park is home to many species of heron, stork, duck and geese, including uncommon Madagascar Squacco and Black Herons. African Marsh Harrier, Bateleur, Pygmy Falcon, Long-toed Plover, Spotted Thicknee, Tow-banded Courser, Common Pratincole, Grey Hornbill, White-necked Raven, Pangani Longclaw, Long-tailed Fis cal, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Beautiful Sunbird and Taveta Golden Weaver.

Accommodations: Amboseli Serena (Meals: B,L,D) At your doorstep rises one of the most beautiful mountains in Africa. The unsurpassed snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the sight of which made the early European explorers gasp with wonder and disbelief. Set in the heart of Amboseli National Park the lodge is almost camouflaged in the surrounding bush as it is built to resemble a Maasai 'manyatta' or homestead. All bedrooms, with en suite bathrooms, view either the majestic mountain or the expansive Amboseli plains, which are home to herds of elephant who feed on the large, delicate, feathery acacia trees. Early morning game drive where one hopes to see the 'big five'; elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and cheetah, are followed by hearty breakfasts in the lodge or on the sun terraces near the swimming pool.

DAY 03: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
An early morning game drive is scheduled in Amboseli at dawn, an excellent time for game viewing, when the peaks of Kilimanjaro are normally at their most panoramic view. Lunch is followed by an afternoon of game activities.
Accommodations: Amboseli Serena Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

DAY 04: AMBOSELI / ARUSHA / LAKE MANYARA
After breakfast this morning, you will begin your journey to the Tanzania border post. After customs/immigrations, we will change vehicles and drive to Arusha for lunch. Your safari continues as you drive to Lake Manyara, offering a glimpse of the diversity of the region. You will arrive in time to relax and enjoy pre-dinner drinks, before gathering with other guests for dinner.

Accommodations: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge (Meals: B,L,D) The Lake Manyara Serena Lodge has a dramatic setting overlooking both the Great Rift Valley and the beautiful soda lake of Manyara and the Manyara National Park with its lavish supply of birdlife and famous tree climbing lions. It is the bird life which has provided one of the main inspirations for this Lodge which, due to its unique location, allows observation of the many large colorful bird's lazy circles and spirals in flight.

Lake Manyara Serena's facilities include 63 luxury rooms, a swimming pool and bar, spacious and comfortable public areas and restaurants which all take advantage of the breath-taking view. The decor reflects the surroundings and local artistic traditions, from the patterns in the reception area, resembling bird migration paths, to the soft geometric designs in the bedrooms.

DAY 05: LAKE MANYARA / SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Early morning departure on a wildlife drive to find animals not seen on previous game drive. Then, you will return to the lodge for lunch before we continue on to the Serengeti plains to enjoy an overview of the spectacular wildlife viewing in the days ahead.

Accommodations: Serengeti Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D) The Serengeti Sopa Lodge is located in the Nyarboro Hills in the south west of the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania. The Nyarboro Hills were previously a protected area and have only just recently been opened up to tourism.

The Serengeti Sopa Lodge offers sophisticated comfort that the early explorers only dreamed about. The lodge has direct-dial satellite telephone facilities as well as satellite television and wildlife-video-film options. A number of lodge electrical generating systems provide 240volts, 50 cycles 24 hours a day. The water supply comes from nearby springs but guests are advised not to drink from the taps. Instead, complimentary bottled mineral water is provided in the mini bars while further stocks are available for sale in the main bar. The Lodge welcomes kids of all ages and can provide both special meals at convenient times and baby sitters on request. The guest shop stocks a wide selection of curios, gift items, clothing, film, sweets, postcards, personal requisites and toiletries, while the other offers gemstones, jewellery and other more unusual items. The double size pool offers a refreshing interlude between game drives as well as wonderful views over the rolling plains of the Serengeti.

DAY 06: SERENGETI
Early morning departure to witness the splendor of an African sunrise. Negotiating roads and tracks, your guide slowly transports you to a world of primordial savagery combined with unrivaled scenic splendor, revealing sights and sounds of astonishing realism.

SERENGETI: Between the Ngorongoro Highlands, Lake Victoria and Tanzania's northern border with Kenya stretches one of the world's last great wildlife refuges - the Serengeti. The name comes from the Maasai siringet, "endless plains". The Serengeti's 14,763 square km contains about three million large animals, most taking part in seasonal migrations, unparalleled in nature.

Twice a year, triggered by the rains, 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle gather to undertake the long trek to new grazing lands. The migration of the herbivores roughly defines the boundaries of Serengeti National Park, which is the central zone of the Serengeti ecosystem, an area that also takes in Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Maswa Game Reserve in the west. Within this 25,900 square km of varied landscape live thirty-five species of plains game and 500 bird specie the very name fires the imagination and is derived from the Masai Language meaning "endless plains". The Serengeti offers the greatest concentration of plains animals in Africa. More than two million wildebeest, half a million Thompson's gazelle and a quarter million zebra gather for annual migrations, attracting a great deal of predator attention from lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. Your days are filled with game viewing activities, morning and afternoon, when the animals are most active.

A lion relaxing, temporarily satiated after his morning hunt, contented elephant carefully guarding their young as they traverse the bush, a startled warthog running with tail erect, the ungainly and seemingly endless herds of wildebeest quietly munching grass in company with the zebra - these are some the images you will collect and preserve on film. As the day progresses, your guide continues to use his obvious experience by leading you to locations of outstanding natural beauty where you are able to observe the wildlife quietly and at your leisure. Game drives end just before dusk when you are transferred to the familiar surroundings of your lodge. Relax with after dinner drinks on your verandah watching the many species of game grazing in close proximity to the lodge. The atmosphere is amazingly peaceful. The night enfolds you, leaving you with thoughts of this diverse and wonderful country.
Accommodations: Serengeti Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

DAY 07: SERENGETI / NGORONGORO CRATER / MAASAI VILLAGE
We will depart after breakfast and drive back across the Serengeti plains, viewing game en route, and arrive at Olduvai Gorge, site of the Leakey's archeological excavations. Their treasures include fossils of some of Man's earliest known ancestors, many of which are now displayed in the small museum overlooking the gorge. Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing your journey: the road climbs higher as you proceed to the Ngorongoro Crater, where the next two nights are spent at a lodge on the crater rim.

Accommodations: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D) Situated on the eastern rim of the crater, the 92 rooms of the lodge are built in the traditional African rondavel style. Very comfortable, they all have twin queen-sized beds, fitted carpets, modern, fully tiled bathrooms, private lounges with mini-bars and enclosed solariums with rocking chairs. There is a beautifully designed dinning-room, a bar, a well-stocked gift shop and a swimming pool. Picnic lunch and in the afternoon we will visit a Maasai Village.

DAY 08: NGORONGORO CRATER
This morning, you will descend to the crater floor some 2000 feet below the rim for several hours of exploring in this extinct, collapsed volcano. Within the 100 square miles of the crater is one of the densest concentrations of game to be found in Africa. Acclaimed as one of the wonders of the Natural World, the Crater is a veritable haven for wildlife.

This spectacular area is known as one of the eight wonders of the natural world and is host to a dazzling array of wildlife. Chances are high for seeing leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, and a host of plains' game - Game drives have been limited to 5-6 hours due to conservation efforts in the area. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 2286 sq km and encompasses the volcanic area around the Ngorongoro Crater- including the still active volcano of Oldonyo Lengai and the famous Olduvai Gorge. Its centerpiece, the Ngorongoro Crater, is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and the first sight of it is breathtaking. The floor of the crater is only 100 sq miles but is home to around 30,000 animals with a high concentration of predators.

The crater supports up to 25,000 large mammals. Grazers dominate: zebra, wildebeest - accounting for almost half the animals - gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and wart hog. Giraffe, for example, stay away because there is insufficient food at tree level, topi because they compete directly with wildebeest. An odd feature of the crater elephants is that they are almost exclusively bulls. Breeding herds - comprising large numbers of females and young with a few attendant older males - are probably unable to find sufficient quality food in the crater. Ngorongoro has carnivores in quantity, drawn by the large herds of prey animals. It has the densest population of large predators, mainly lion - about 100 - and more than 400 spotted hyenas, living in eight clans of up to eighty individuals. Both lions and hyenas will scavenge from each other, depending on weight of numbers and of course, hunger. Most of the bird wildlife in Ngorongoro is seasonal. Also influencing the variety of bird species on display is the ratio of soda to fresh water is the largest expanse of water on the crater floor, Lake Magadi. The lake is alkaline due to deposits of volcanic ash thrown out by surrounding volcanoes.

Elephants amble along well-worn tracks while large prides of lion jealously guard their territorial domain. Gazelle quietly gaze, surrounded by zebra and wildebeest, whilst the endangered rhino, ever vigilant, feeds not far from the lake. Lake Magadi, the permanent water source with Ngorongoro Crater, often seems to be tinged pink when the throngs of flamingo congregate for food. Ngorongoro bird-life matches the animal population for variety and species.
Accommodations: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

DAY 09: NGRONGORO CRATER / ARUSHA
Breakfast and drive to Arusha and check-in at Serena Mountain Village. Afternoon at leisure with meals.

Accommodations: Mountain Village Lodge (Meals: B,L,D) Nestling in the heart of a coffee estate, with a view of Kilimanjaro, the Mountain Village Lodge is the perfect location before setting out to explore Tanzania. Located on Lake Duluti near Arusha, the magnificent scenes from the terrace are unparalleled with panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Duluti and Mount Meru. The accommodation, thatched with banana stems, is in rondavels in groups of semi circles around tropical shade trees. The rooms are custom decorated with extensive use of local artifacts and Maponde carvings.

DAY 10: ARUSHA / KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Your East Africa safari draws to a close today as you enjoy a final day in Tanzania. There is time for shopping this afternoon before the evening transfer to the airport at Kilimanjaro, where you will board your flight to Europe.