14 Days The Hemingway Wing Safari Tour Package

Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Priced From: $8,315 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Ju - Dec, Jan - Jul

 

To begin with, the Hemingway takes the road less travelled, journeying to the remote and dramatic Samburu region in Kenya’s old northern frontier. It also offers both Kenya and Tanzania in a neat package of exactly two weeks, without ever rushing or sacrificing the quality of the experience to do so. To the contrary, in fact. All of East Africa’s legendary game parks are included, as well as a few hidden gems. Moreover, luxurious tented camps will be our lodgings in two locations instead of the usual one, not to mention the superb Serena lodges elsewhere. And four flights expedite travel between locations while providing aerial panoramas over the lush mosaic of East Africa’s villages, farmlands, escarpments and endless plains below.

All great safaris throughout history have been staged from the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi and ours is no exception. The spirit of past  adventurers such as Teddy Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway—the namesake of this safari—lingers romantically in the air and particularly on the Delemere Terrace where explorers and locals alike have gathered for drinks and safari tales for generations.

We step back in time again in Samburu National Park at Larsens Camp with its impeccable safari bloodline and casual colonial elegance. Samburu is also one of Kenya’s most beguiling areas; its semi-arid landscape is home to such unusual species as reticulated giraffes and Beisa oryxes. The Grevy’s zebras found here, a highly endangered species with no more than 2,000 animals remaining, are reason alone to tarry.

The crescendo builds in the Maasai Mara, whose magnificence has been extolled to the point of cliché. Yet the praise is well deserved. Its rolling, open grasslands are home to an astonishing collection of wildlife and, indeed, perfectly embody the Africa of our fondest imagination. In this fruitful location, our time is well divided between leisurely game drives and visiting the Maasai, the pastoralist Nilotic people who lead a life untouched by the modern era. And our journey culminates one evening, high upon the escarpment, gazing at the sun setting over endless gamelands, nestled into a camp chair around a bonfire, enjoying the birdsong that heralds twilight, sipping a glass of wine and sampling Kenyan cashew nuts. How splendid! Such are the joys of Bush Sundowners.

The Serengeti too offers the archetypal African savannah landscape of waving golden grasses, flat-top acacia trees and the sweeping majesty of the big herds. It is also the last place on earth where these great herds of mammals—millions of them—still travel their ancient paths in timeingrained cycles. We too will feel part of the circle of life as we set out in our game vehicles every morning with dawn streaking the sky, witnessing the herds on the move and the predators on the prowl. Our days are spent in active pursuit of the chase, and in leisurely pursuit of pleasure, perhaps around the swimming pool with its vanishing horizon and uninterrupted views.

Day 2
Europe – Nairobi
Touching down in Nairobi, we are whisked to the Norfolk Hotel, the legendary starting point for grand safaris since the days of the earliest explorers.

Day 3
Nairobi
The name alone conjures up images of dashing characters and romantic adventurers, and today we feel the intrigue that has seduced travellers for centuries. Of interest will be a talk by a Maasai warrior and lunch at a tea plantation hosted by descendants of the original settlers. The stories of these Kenyans of widely divergent worlds will begin to weave the remarkable tapestry of Africa. As will a tour of author Karen Blixen’s home and a visit with endangered Rothschild giraffes. After a busy day in foreign surroundings, the warmth of their home will make you feel exceptionally welcome and well taken care of—indeed, at home in Africa.

Day 4
Samburu National Reserve
This morning we travel by light aircraft to Kenya’s northern frontier.Wild and rugged, Samburu is fiercely beautiful with its arid savannahs watered by the lovely Uaso Nyiro River. It is also one of Kenya’s most protected areas and home to species only found north of the equator, from the reticulated giraffe to Grevy’s zebras and beisa oryxes. We also enjoy Larsens Tented Camp, our luxurious hostelry set beneath a canopy of acacia trees along the banks of the river.

Day 5
Samburu National Reserve
Dawn breaks in golden bands as we start our day in the bush by scanning the river from our tent’s veranda with a cup of steaming coffee in hand. Before the dew is off the grass, we’re off in pursuit of the elephants, lions, leopards, and cheetahs that thrive in the reserve’s grasslands and acacia woodlands. And so the day is spent in alternating pursuits of exploration in the bush and relaxation in our cozy camp.

Day 6 – Day 7
MaasaiMara
Excitement and expectations build as we fly to the Maasai Mara with its myth-like stories of bountiful wildlife. And we shan’t be disappointed. Our game drives are rousing exploits in the company of guides who regale us with bush lore, educate us on conservation and entertain us with tall tales. Here we also experience such adventures as a Maasai village visit, so foreign and yet so welcoming, and a Bush Walk to indulge all of our senses. And the climax? Bush Sundowners —a unique joy of safari life, where one savours the exotic contradiction of a civilised cocktail party staged in the untamed wildness of Africa. Our Mara Safari Club accommodations provide delightful nights under canvas.

Day 8 – Day 9
Serengeti
Bush flights are a pleasure in themselves and we wing our way to another legendary safari setting where the vast ecosystem plays host to the planet’s most awesome wildlife spectacle. So unique, in fact, that the Serengeti is a World Heritage Site and listed as an International Biosphere Reserve. Its arching landscapes embody quintessential Africa…golden and endless. Long peaceful days at the Serengeti Serena Lodge bring the rewards of excellent game viewing and utter tranquillity.

Day 10
Ngorongoro Crater
The Great Rift Valley is called the “Cradle of Mankind” thanks in part to the discoveries of the Leakey family at Olduvai Gorge, where human fossils date back almost two million years. We explore this remarkable site before continuing to the next remarkable site, Ngorongoro Crater.
Unofficially the “eighth wonder of the natural world,” this ancient amphitheatre forms a unique haven for wildlife with over 20,000 animals thriving in its near perfect conditions. We stay at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion hugging the crater’s rim with vast vistas over its shimmering reaches.

Day 11
Ngorongoro - Lake Manyara
As sunrise streaks the early sky, we head into this magical two-and-a-half-million-year-old caldera. With landscapes unchanged since the dawn of time, the sheer number of species here is incomparable. The afternoon brings a change of ecosystems as we drive the spectacular descent from the escarpment to the ancient soda lake of Manyara and check into the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, standing high on a bluff above a flamingo-frosted expanse of gleaming water.

Day 12
Lake Manyara
The game in this petite park is plentiful and the magnificent birdwatching will make a devotee out of even the most reluctant. It is also one of the very few places in Africa to see tree-climbing lions, which we may declare our day’s quest, being so thoroughly sated with the big herds of preceding parks. Manyara’s great shock of pink flamingoes will also delight.

Day 13 – Day 14
Nairobi – Departure - USA
We spend a last morning in the bush admiring unspoilt Africa, preparing to return to civilization. A mid-afternoon arrival in Nairobi, dayrooms for relaxing, then we fly home later that night, arriving stateside on Day 14.

Contact: Travelwizard.com
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