Upon arrival at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a vehicle waits to transfer you to Wilson Airport, where you board a scheduled flight to the Masai Mara National Reserve.rnrnYour tented suite at the opulent Bateleur Camp is a romantic blend of canvas and polished hardwood, with a generous bathroom and magnificent views from a private deck. You may well find yourself seated at the carved writing desk, pen poised above a postcard, quite lost in the splendid view of faraway rolling plains.rnrnBateleur Camp is in a private concession in the Western Mara. The plains are best explored by vehicle on early morning and late afternoon game drives when wildlife is most active. Guided nature walks provide a more intimate insight into the natural environment and spotlight night drives add a thrilling sense of adventure to the possible sighting of nocturnal species. One of the campu2019s delightful traditions is stopping at a scenic spot for refreshing sundowners during the late afternoon drive.rnrnThe Mara has a richly varied resident population of wildlife, including all the Big 5 along with rarer species like cheetah, bat-eared foxes and Roan antelope. The Great Migration occurs when the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move through the ecosystem following the rains and fresh grazing.rnrnMore than 470 bird species have been recorded here, including 60 raptors. Among the resident species that top the must-see list are vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds and African pygmy falcons. The national bird of Kenya is the aptly named lilac-breasted roller, a whimsical beauty that flashes its jewel colors against the muted tones of the savannah.

After breakfast, a short flight whisks you to the place the Masai call Siringitu: place where the land moves on forever. Tanzania’s first game reserve, the Serengeti National Park is one of the last remaining natural migration corridors and one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate, vegetation and fauna have remained mostly unchanged over the past million years. The natural instinct that drives the annual Great Migration of more than a million wildebeest, gazelle and zebra is so powerful that neither drought nor crocodile-infested rivers can halt it.rnrnThe drive to your Serengeti Under Canvas Camp whets your appetite for more. After settling into your suite, you waste no time taking your place on the afternoon game drive. There is so much to see here that the drive lasts until sundowner time, when your ranger selects a scenic spot to stop and delve into the generous picnic hamper.rnrnAfter sunset, the game drive continues with a deftly wielded spotlight seeking out the nocturnal creatures that emerge after dusk. You return to camp in time to freshen up and join your fellow explorers to dine under the stars. The emphasis at this camp is on comfortable luxury and a romantic, close-to-nature experience. In addition to daily game drives, we highly recommend an early morning hot-air balloon ride.

After an early morning game drive and a hearty breakfast a scheduled flight delivers you to Manyara Airstrip in Lake Manyara, the area Hemingway described as, u2018the loveliest I had seen in Africau2019.rnrnYour home for two nights is the enchanting Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Elegant and comfortable, the lodgeu2019s delightful tree houses are cradled in the boughs of an ancient mahogany forest. For a highly recommended treat u2013 especially on the day you arrive – book a deeply relaxing spa massage.rnrnManyarau2019s lush forests are alive with skipping blue monkeys and the joyous honking of hornbills. Where the forest gives way to plains, the eye is drawn past clouds of flamingo on the lakeshore, up to a line of pale purple volcanic. Inland from the floodplains lies a narrow belt of acacia woodland, home to tree-climbing lions, Africau2019s graceful giants, elephants, and the diminutive Kirku2019s dik-dik. Clans of banded mongoose add a comical touch to the panorama.rnrnManyara is a birderu2019s delight thanks to the combination of wetlands, woodlands and hot springs. Birds flourish here with over 400 recorded species in the area. While flamingos put on the most ostentatious show, Manyara is a haven for many large, migratory water birds, including pelicans and storks.rnrnThe Lodge offers daily game viewing expeditions on foot, safari vehicle or mountain bikes, all led by expert guides, as well as night drives that offer fascinating insights into the rich nocturnal life of the Park, and the chance to spot elusive creatures like aardvark and bat-eared foxes.

After an early game drive and delicious breakfast, you will be transferred by road from Lake Manyara to the dramatic and breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. This is a place of wonders u2013 from its miraculous terrain to the abundant fauna and flora it supports, from its status as a World Heritage Site to the harmonious coexistence of its people and wildlife.rnrnNgorongoro Crater Lodge is architecturally spectacular. Perched on the edge of the crater, every suite offers impressive views. Glamorous opulence rules this Lodge, from the chandelier-lit bathrooms to the personal butler service and fine dining.rnrnThe Crater is the worldu2019s largest intact, un-flooded caldera, formed by a massive volcanic eruption. Your route from the lodge descends over the lush rainforests of the rim, 610m down to the grasslands of the crater floor, an area of about 260 square kilometres. This haven provides a year-round home to wildebeest, zebra, eland and gazelle, along with Africau2019s densest population of lion. The rainforests shelter elephant, mountain buck, buffalo, hyena, wild dog, leopard and cheetah.rnrnSpend your day game viewing and exploring the crater floor, stopping to picnic on the grasslands amidst the grazing herds. Return to the Lodge for sundowners on the crateru2019s rim and a sumptuous feast in the domed dining area.

After breakfast, you begin your journey home. Scheduled flights take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport. A driver waits to transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. You have seen spectacular sights and created unforgettable memories u2013 simply close your eyes to feel the warmth of the African sun on your skin, catch the scent of wild sage on the cool evening air, and hear the low, spine-tingling moans of lions at dusk. All this and more you have witnessed on your East Africa safari.