Table of Contents
Kenya
Day One
The first full day in Kenya (ignoring the middle-of-the-night arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was a study in constrasts, going through the busy urban chaos of Nairobi's rush hour, to a small airplane out into the Mara, to a full day of wildlife viewing and arriving at our lodge, Saruni Mara.
Day Two
Our second day in Kenya was so packed that it's split into three posts.
It started with waking up really early to go for a balloon ride in Maasai Mara National Reserve, followed by brunch.
It continued with a game drive through the national reserve, until we rendezvoused with our guide from Saruni Mara.
Then we continued the game drive back in the Mara North Conservancy, with a stop for lunch, and an extraordinary list of creatures - zebras, hares, monitor lizards, baby lions, a gazelle being born, giraffes fighting, a massive pile of hippos, and a family of elephants.
Day Three
Our third day was spent visiting the black rhino sanctuary, more landscape, more lions, and a trip into town.
Day Four (Leaving Kenya)
The fourth day in Kenya was primarily occupied with getting to Tanzania. We had breakfast, packed up, and went on a combination game drive/drive to the airstrip.
Getting from the Mara to Tanzania took two flights - a SafariLink flight back to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, and another small plane flight from there to Arusha, followed by a drive to Kambi ya Tembo, our first accomodations in Tanzania..
Tanzania
Day Four (Arrival in Tanzania)
Arrival in Tanzania & Kambi ya Tembo
Day four continued, with landing in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and a drive through dramatic landscape to our lodgings.
Day Five
Day five was an all day excursion to do the five hour Shira Plateau hike on Kilimanjaro, which we did in four hours.
Day Six
Arusha, Tarangire, arriving at Ngorongoro Farmhouse resort
Day six consisted of leaving the Kilimanjaro region, passing through the larger city of Arusha, touring Tarangire National Park, and ending the day at Ngorongoro Farmhouse.
Day Seven
Day seven was an all-day game drive down into the Ngorongoro crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, which is full of wildlife.
Day Eight
Travelling from the Ngorongoro region all the way to the Western edge of Serengeti National Park.
Day Nine
Exploring the Western Serengeti more, and flying to Zanzibar.