African Safari Adventure

Experience the Wildlife of Africa in Luxury

Few places on earth can lay claim to such superlative natural wonders as Africa. The timeless savannahs of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, the famed “Eighth Wonder of the Natural World.” Our Olivia safari is superbly organized and crafted to perfection with the finest operators, guides, hotels, lodges, and tented camps. We have been running African Safari tours to Kenya and Tanzania with Micato since 2007. Our safaris are a wonderful way to experience East Africa in luxury, up close and personal with the animals and culture, truly making for the trip of a lifetime.

Our last 4 Safari programs sold out in 2019, 2022, and 2024, so we encourage you to book early!

World’s Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter
Travel & Leisure Magazine
Voted Trip of a Lifetime
Travel & Leisure Magazine
Voted Best Outfitters on Earth
National Geographic Adventure Magazine

Activity Level: Moderate
This trip requires a certain level of mobility, including longer walks to accommodations, stairs and some uphill terrain to reach rooms/platform tents and staging areas for vehicles and airplanes, walking on rocky, and sometimes uneven terrain, and the ability to get in and out of vehicles that require big steps. We regret that wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on this terrain. All guests must be ambulatory and able to walk up and down stairs, walk long distances from ¼ mile and up to 1 mile without assistance. If you do have limited mobility that requires assistance, you are required to travel with someone who can assist you. Please contact us with any questions.

Your Curated Experiences

Option to visit and participate in an AmericaShare project, Mukuru slums
Meet a Maasai elder
Visit to the Giraffe Center
Visit to the Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi (as seen on "Oprah")
View elephant feeding
Lunch and shopping after visit to Elephant Orphanage
Bush luncheon in the Ngorongoro Crater (subject to approval by park authorities)
Museum visit and lecture at Olduvai Gorge
Maasai village visit
Sundowners set-up on last evening (one complimentary, other drinks billed to room based on consumption)

What's Included

Accommodations for 10 days/9 nights in the finest hotels, lodges, and tent camps
Airport group arrival transfer and departure transfers on days of program (November 10 and November 19) with personal VIP “Meet and Greet” upon arrival at your gate and assistance through immigrations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Baggage handling is included.
Private day-use rooms at the Nairobi Villa Rosa Kempinkski on the day of departure until 6 pm, November 19
All meals from November 11-19
Water, coffee, tea and soft drinks, local wine, and local beer are included at lunch and dinner. At Four Seasons, house wine, well spirits, and local beer is included in Kulu Restaurant, Maji Br, and Boma. Waitstaff gratuities are included.
Safari briefing conducted by your Micato Safari Director
Olivia representative to accompany the group

View More Inclusions
- Three flights with all transfers and safaris to enhance your comfort and minimize lengthy drives:
  - Private charter flight from Nairobi to Lake Manyara, via Arusha
  - Private charter flight from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara via Musoma
  - Scheduled flight from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi
- Laundry credit of $50 per room, per night at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge. Laundry nominal fees at other Safari lodges
- On safari, we will seat a maximum of 6 guests in our 9-passenger vehicles guaranteeing a window seat and access to pop-up roof hatch for each guest
- Each vehicle is equipped with ice chests with complimentary beverages, binoculars, and safari library with wildlife books
- Services of the Flying Doctors’ Society, an emergency airborne medical unit
- An authentic safari hat and wooden animal necklace as a welcome gift
- An Olivia safari vest (be sure and let us know your size)
- All entrance fees to parks (fees subject to increase)
- Government taxes, VAT, and service charges for accommodations and included meals
- All porterage throughout
- All gratuities, including the Driver Guides, Safari Director, and Micato Concierge staff
- Micato’s concierge service at all hotels.
- Hospitality Desk, fully staffed throughout the day in Nairobi and on safari

What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Alcoholic beverages at the Villa Rosa Kempinski (except where indicated)
- Beverages outside of meals
- Laundry
- Transfers for guests arriving prior to November 10 or departing after November 19
- Cost of obtaining necessary visas
- Travel insurance & personal incidentals

Itinerary

Day 1NairobiArrivalMonday, Nov 10, 2025
Welcome to Nairobi. The largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg, Nairobi is a modern, cosmopolitan capital. Graceful jacaranda and bougainvillea line the main streets, and parks and gardens occupy large areas in the centre. Located in the fertile highlands at 5,000 feet, it has a delightful climate, with warm sunny days and cool nights. The city has undergone a dramatic expansion in its recent past. Today, you will see a thriving business centre, with the modern Kenyatta Conference Centre and Parliament Building, first-class restaurants and hotels. The traditional architecture still survives in colorful wooden buildings with tiled roofs and arcades from the colonial era. Your Olivia-Micato Safari Director will meet you after you pass through customs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and you will be transferred to the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. A dedicated Airport Team will coordinate and handle all the arrivals. Olivia-Micato porters will expedite luggage at the airport for you. Enjoy a cool drink in the vehicle while you transfer from the airport to the hotel, where you will be pre-registered for check-in. You will be greeted with a welcome drink and a welcome package. Overnight at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel.
Day 2NairobiTuesday, Nov 11, 2025
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, your Olivia Staff and Olivia-Micato Safari Director will give you a Safari Briefing where you will have a chance to ask all the questions you have about your upcoming safari. You will also be properly welcomed with an authentic safari hat and a hand-carved animal necklace. (B/L/D)
- Visit to Giraffe Centre: The Giraffe Centre, resting within 120 acres of primeval forest, is only eight miles from Nairobi. It is home to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), devoted to the preservation of endangered Rothschild giraffe. The centre raises and relocates the giraffes to the wild. In addition to a multitude of other good works, AFEW brings thousands of African school children, many of whom would otherwise never see a wild animal, to the centre for educational programming. You will have the rare treat of hand-feeding these gentle giants while facing them eye-to-eye from an elevated viewing platform.
- Visit the Dame Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage: Featured on Oprah, it was established by Dame Daphne Sheldrick adjacent to her home on the edge of Nairobi National Park. An engaging world-class conservation figure, her late husband was the first Game Warden of Tsavo National Park and in his memory, she initiated a memorial foundation and animal orphanage. Mrs. Sheldrick is the premier authority on the successful raising of milk-dependent infant elephant and rhino orphans, and their re-releasing into the wild. Out visit will coincide with the animals’ 11 am feeding.
- Lunch and Shopping: Enjoy lunch and optional shopping in the Karen area of Nairobi. We will visit a shop with a little bit of everything from carvings, belts, beads, paintings, t-shirts and so much more. We return in the late afternoon for free time. Dinner and overnight at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel.
Day 3Nairobi / Ngorongoro Conservation AreaWednesday, Nov 12, 2025
After an early breakfast, you’re off on safari! A flight will take you to Kilimanjaro Airport in northern Tanzania. After clearing immigration formalities, you will continue with a charter flight to the airstrip at Lake Manyara. Enjoy lunch at the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge before driving two hours to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There’s something rather magical about Ngorongoro—beginning with the bewitching name itself. N-go-ron-go-ro we go, way up to the volcanic highlands of Tanzania. And then suddenly, look, the enormous crater formed more than two million years ago when a mountain as big as Kilimanjaro exploded and collapsed. The wonder of it all, this world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, is ours to explore from the most magnificent homebase of Ngorongoro Lodge Melia. Our home-from-home has been designed with all respect due a World Heritage Site, with the sustainable, self-sufficient bells and whistles we expect (including solar-powered electricity and on-site bottling plant). We’ll sleep accompanied by the sounds of nature, and wake to a natural oasis excitingly inhabited by the major predators, including the Big Five.

The new and pleasingly boutiquey Ngorongoro Lodge achieves a sense of soothing sanctuary—pale wood and hand-woven rugs amid splashes of colorful local artwork and traditional African motifs. Its rooms are decorated with uplifting Maasai artwork, minimalist roomy en-suite bathrooms, and show-stopping panorama windows onto the verdant caldera. There are plenty of outdoor spaces to relax and soak up the Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s endless landscapes (and, if you’re inclined to share with the folks at home, there’s wifi throughout). Don’t be surprised if you see rainbows over the crater as we always do! Dinner and overnight at the Melia Ngorongoro Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 4Ngorongoro Conservation AreaThursday, Nov 13, 2025
Journey in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle into one of the world’s largest calderas—nine miles in diameter and 2,500 feet deep. Spend the morning tracking animals on the floor of the crater. Declared a sanctuary in 1928, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area contains within its borders 30,000 mammals, including the last population of black rhino in northern Tanzania and all the “big five” game animals. Diverse habitats of forest, swamp, grassland and lake make it an exciting area to explore. After a day of adventure and a privately catered picnic lunch on the crater floor (subject to the approval of park authorities), return to your lodge. Then relax on the terrace, cocktail in hand, while the fiery sun makes its dramatic exit and spreads its glow over the crater. Overnight at the Melia Ngorongoro Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 5Ngorongoro Conservation Area / Serengeti National ParkFriday, Nov 14, 2025
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park. Stop en route to visit Olduvai Gorge, where for more than 50 years the Leakey family has been uncovering fossils of humans and animals, including the fossil of Homo habilis (handy man), the first tool user, thought to have lived 1.75 million years ago. The area has yielded abundant specimens dating back at least two million years, including the remains of prehistoric elephants, giant horned sheep and enormous ostriches. With its vast rolling plains, flat-topped acacias and huge herds of animals, the Serengeti is just what you expect Africa to be. It is an amazing wildlife spectacle, with herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle covering the plains from horizon to horizon. The Serengeti is the first, largest and most famous of Tanzania’s national parks. An estimated three million large animals inhabit 5,700 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut. Stop for a picnic lunch, and then continue on your game drive. Here, most ostrich and Grant’s gazelle are semi-migratory. Topi, hartebeest, impala and African buffalo are resident woodland creatures. Giraffe browse alone or in small groups wherever they find trees and shrubs. Bohor reedbuck and waterbuck restrict themselves to the dense vegetation near watercourses. We may even see the end of the wildebeest migration. You’ll arrive at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in the late afternoon. Nestled in the Central Serengeti for the best wildlife observation, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti ensures your peace of mind with strategic fencing and an expert security team of local Maasai who are familiar with life in the Serengeti. Elevated wooden walkways keep you safely above the animals while providing a superior viewing perspective. Highlights include being able to take a dip in their infinity pool while watching over the watering hole where local wildlife frequent! All Horizon rooms are well appointed. This is luxury at its best while on Safari. Dinner and overnight at the Four Seasons Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 6Seregeti National ParkSaturday, Nov 15, 2025
On morning and afternoon game drives, explore the vast Serengeti in depth. The open woodland and plains are ideal places to observe large predators. Lions are plentiful, and spotted hyenas even more so. Golden jackals and bat-eared foxes are the most abundant canine species. Cheetahs are regularly sighted pacing the plains, and at dusk or dawn you stand the best chance of seeing nocturnal felines such as civet, serval, genet and African wildcat. The wealth and diversity of birds is just as staggering as the mammal population. Ostriches, secretary birds and bustards wander the plains; vultures and eagles are abundant; and the sunbirds, king fishers and bee-eaters are well-represented. Perhaps the most distinctive small bird is the lilac-breasted roller, an exquisitely-colored creature often seen perched on trees along the roadside. All meals and overnight at the Four Seasons Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 7Serengeti National Park / Maasai MaraSunday, Nov 16, 2025
Following breakfast this morning, transfer to the airstrip for your private charter flight to the Maasai Mara, via a stop in Kisumu for customs and immigration formalities. Continue to the Maasai Mara. (Please note we may have to switch planes in Kisumu). Arrive in the early afternoon and transfer to your tented camp. This is the Africa of your imagination, where panoramas are vast. It is a country of rolling grasslands, dense thickets of scrub, groves of acacia woodland, and even luxuriant forest, which grows along the Mara River and its tributaries. The Maasai Mara is considered the finest game sanctuary in the country, home to an astonishing number and variety of animals. According to the season, hundreds of thousands of migratory wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra move back and forth between the Mara, the plains and the woodlands to the south. Overlooking the Talek River—at the very confluence of the Mara’s four game and bird-viewing areas, with large local populations of plains game, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and all the Big Cats—Mara Intrepids Camp enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world’s best-known wilderness. Luxury tents, with four-poster king size beds, ensuite bathroom, porch to listen to the sounds of the hippos in the river below and free wifi in the public areas. The Mara Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where you will find some of the world’s finest game viewing. In 2004, some 75% of the footage for the BBC’s famous Big Cat Diary was shot in the vicinity of the camp. After lunch and some free time, you will have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the Mara Intrepids Tented Camp. (B/L/D)
Day 8Maasai MaraMonday, Nov 17, 2025
The brilliant orange sun is up at 6 am, and so are you. As soon as you are ready, it’s off into the bush. The dew is fast disappearing and the predators are on the prowl. Your driver sets off in pursuit of the great herds. This is true big game country, where prides of more than twenty lions, including the majestic black-maned male, are not uncommon. Other inhabitants of the Mara include elephant, giraffe, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, hyena, topi, gazelle and black rhino, and hippos can be found along the Mara River. This morning there is an optional hot air balloon excursion available. This optional excursion will have more information and pricing 11 months prior to the trip.
Overnight at the Mara Intrepids Tented Camp. (B/L/D)
Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari (participation limited): cost TBA
For the adventurous, a wonderful option is available today: You leave camp before dawn—the sky is clear, the air is brisk, and the conditions are perfect. As the sun rises over the Mara plain, your balloons lift off one after the other, and the scene takes on a party air as these bright splashes of color rise into the blue. Watch as a stunning panorama unfolds below you, and the balloon’s basket becomes your lookout post for a bird’s-eye view of the beauty of Africa. Float silently just a few hundred feet above herds of wild animals. Gazelle and impala watch curiously with their tails flagging—a warning to others that you are approaching. A pride of lions stalks an unsuspecting herd of wildebeest. Giraffes poke their heads out of the forest where they have been nibbling tender leaves. The tranquillity of the experience is interrupted only by the occasional “whoosh” of the air heaters. You will go aloft with one of Africa’s finest ballooning companies. Baskets of 12-18 and 20 seats are available. Their excellent professional pilots and ground crews assure your safety and pleasure both during the flight and at a celebratory champagne breakfast upon touch down in the middle of the bush. Return to the camp for lunch and a midday rest.
Day 9Maasai MaraTuesday, Nov 18, 2025
Today you have a choice of a morning game drive or an optional Hot Air Balloon* excursion. Return to Intrepid Camp for lunch and enjoy a leisurely afternoon watching the hippos along the river, reading or napping. This afternoon enjoy your final game drive of the week! On your final evening on safari, savor the romance of the African plains during a special last night “Sun-Downers” on the Maasai Mara plains at sunset. Overnight at Mara Intrepids Tented Camp. (B/L/D)
*Day of Hot Air Balloon option is subject to change.
Sundowners: A private, safe and secluded area on the Maasai Mara game reserve is set up for farewell Sundowners. As the sun swiftly sinks over the plains, we toast and share highlights of a memorable week together.
Day 10Maasai Mara / NairobiWednesday, Nov 19, 2025
After breakfast enjoy a short morning game drive on the way to the air strip where you board your flight to Nairobi crossing the Great Rift Valley. You will be met at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and have the opportunity for an *optional visit to a few projects sponsored by AmericaShare. You are then transferred to the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel for lunch where a private dayroom has been reserved for you. (Dayrooms are included and available from 12 pm to 6 pm). Your luggage will be in your rooms with plenty of time to shower and repack before dinner and your evening flights home. Should guests have flights that depart the following day and wish to stay in rooms later than 6 pm, a special price to turn the day room to an overnight room is available. *Those opting not to go to the AmericaShare projects will be transferred directly to the hotel. Rooms may not be ready to occupy until 2 pm.
After dinner at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B/L/D)
AmericaShare Visit: As part of Olivia’s Safari, you have an opportunity to connect personally with the people of an AmericaShare project and see first-hand how lives are changing. AmericaShare is the non-profit arm of Micato Safaris. Your excursion will take you to visit the community centre, Harambee House, an oasis in the heart of the Mukuru slum. You can hear about the lives of the young people as well as laugh, play, and share photos and stories. Every interaction seems to bring a smile to the faces of the kids and to the Olivia travelers who visit them. Each guest is invited to take part in this visit, and many mark it as the highlight of their trip. Olivia will once again provide you with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the places we visit. Perhaps you will even be motivated to sponsor a child for boarding school for a year.

5-Star Accommodations

Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel: Nairobi, Kenya
A serene, smart, and entirely refined luxury urban retreat, Villa Rosa is well located in the midst of bustlingly vibrant Nairobi, capital of Kenya. Here, the best of African hospitality and European luxe awaits — perhaps a few laps in the heated outdoor swimming pool and a soothing massage at the spa, or a civilized drink in the buzzing Balcony Bar followed by dinner in one of a quartet of fine restaurants. (Naturally, room service is available 24/7, too.) Rejuvenation and relaxation — whether following the rigors of a flight or the soul-stirring joys of safari — the Villa Rosa is an intelligent choice for a sophisticated Nairobi stay. Elegant classical décor and soothing cool tones make for restful nights and equally rejuvenating days. King-size beds, bright airy bathrooms, and all the conveniences such as high-speed wifi, in-room safe, and room service are in place.
Melia Ngorongoro Lodge: Ngorongoro, Tanzania
There’s something rather magical about Ngorongoro, beginning with the bewitching name itself. N-go-ron-go-ro we go, way up to the volcanic highlands of Tanzania. And then suddenly, look, the enormous crater formed more than two million years ago when a mountain as big as Kilimanjaro exploded and collapsed. The wonder of it all, this world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, is ours to explore from the most magnificent homebase of Ngorongoro Lodge Melia. Our home-from-home has been designed with all respect due a World Heritage Site, with the sustainable, self-sufficient bells and whistles we expect (including solar-powered electricity and on-site bottling plant). We’ll sleep accompanied by the sounds of nature, and wake to a natural oasis excitingly inhabited by the major predators, including the Big Five.
The new and pleasingly boutiquey Ngorongoro Lodge achieves a sense of soothing sanctuary – pale wood and hand-woven rugs amid splashes of colorful local artwork and traditional African motifs. Its rooms are decorated with uplifting Maasai artwork, minimalist roomy en-suite bathrooms, and show-stopping panorama windows onto the verdant caldera. There are plenty of outdoor spaces to relax and soak up the Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s endless landscapes (and, if you’re inclined to share with the folks at home, there’s wifi throughout).
Four Seasons Safari Lodge: Serengeti, Tanzania
Your Sanctuary in the Savannah! Join us deep in the heart of the world’s most celebrated wildlife reserves, where the Big Five – the lion, the leopard, the buffalo, the elephant, and the rhinoceros – run free on the endless, untamed landscape. Perched on a series of elevated platforms and walkways, our Lodge sits next to an animal watering hole, where you can watch a family of elephants stop for their morning drink as you sip your own out on your room’s private balcony. Each of these spacious accommodations features a balcony with direct views out across the horizon. The Lodge’s spacious rooms include four-poster beds and are furnished with local textiles and artwork.
Mara Intrepids Tented Camp: Maasai Mara, Kenya
Overlooking the Talek River, at the very confluence of the Mara’s four game and bird-viewing areas, with large local populations of plains game, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and all the Big Cats. Mara Intrepids Camp enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world’s best-known wilderness. Luxury tents, with four-poster king size beds, ensuite bathroom, porch to listen to the sounds of the hippos in the river below and free wifi in the public areas. The Mara Intrepids is a short drive from the Mara River, where you will find some of the world’s finest game viewing. In 2004, some 75% of the footage for the BBC’s famous Big Cat Diary was shot in the vicinity of the camp.

Pricing

EARLY-BIRD PRICE EXPIRES 4/30/2025

Prices shown reflect all current discounts. Prices are per person (PP) based on double occupancy. Pricing does not include airfare, insurance, fuel surcharge, or nondiscountable amount (NDA). Per-person NDA of $599 (subject to change) covers taxes, fees, and gratuities.

WaitlistTour Space - Double OccupancyFrom $16,499 per personBook Now

WaitlistTour Space - Single OccupancyFrom $21,999 per personBook Now

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Payment Plans

Two payment plan options are available when booking online or through a Travel Consultant:

1. Olivia Interest-Free Payment Plans: Olivia payment plans must be paid in full six months or 180 days before your trip. If a reservation is made at the six-month mark or less, payment in full will be required unless otherwise noted.

2. Flex Pay Loans: Need to extend your payments over more time? Apply for a Flex Pay loan!

How To Book

You can book online at any time or speak to a Travel Consultant, Monday through Friday: 8:30am-5:30pm PT.

U.S.A.: 800.631.6277 | INT'L: 1.415.962.5700 | Email: [email protected]

Please note that the following must be booked with an Olivia Travel Consultant by phone: Solo Room Shares; Group Travel Discounts; Sisters Travel Discounts; Military Discounts; Vacation Stretchers; Travel Insurance Transfers; ADA Rooms/Cabins; Reservations intended as a surprise gift; Requests for Waitlisted Trips or Categories.

We accept Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

Book Online Now!

Cancellation Policy & Travel Insurance

Unexpected events can cause you to cancel your vacation. Because we are committed to this charter, we must strictly adhere to our cancellation policy as outlined in our Olivia Terms & Conditions. Transfer funds are nonrefundable and nontransferable from the point of sale forward.

Olivia recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your trip investment against the unexpected. Visit our Insurance page at olivia.com/travel-insurance for more information. For a travel insurance quote, more information or to purchase a protection plan, please call Olivia at 800-631-6277 and select option 1 for a Travel Consultant. You may also purchase insurance online after your checkout.

Cancellation Fees

365 days or more prior to trip date: on or before 11/10/2024
Cancellation Penalty: 50% of trip cost
0-364 days prior to trip date: 11/11/2024-11/10/2025
Cancellation Penalty: 100% of trip cost (no refund)

Vacation Stretchers

To help with your planning, we are offering four different options for hotel stretchers to accommodate 1, 2, and 3 pre-night arrivals, and a 1 post-night stay. The 1-night post simply extends your already included 12 pm-6 pm dayroom on November 19 to an overnight room with checkout at 11 am on November 20 — (this is why you’ll see the pricing listed so much less expensive than the 1-night pre).

You can also reserve an optional Balloon Ride in Masa Mara.

Learn More

DEADLINE TO RESERVE SPACE IS AUGUST 1, 2025 OR UNTIL SOLD OUT.

You cannot book Stretchers online, but our Travel Consultants will be happy to assist you! Our Travel Consultants can be reached at USA or CANADA: 800.631.6277; or INTERNATIONAL 415.962.5700, option 1.

Traveler Information

About Our Destination
Climate
The East African climate in November ranges from 55°F-75°F (13°C-24°C) in Nairobi (Kenya) and 63°F-86°F (17°C-30°C) in the Serengeti (Tanzania) and Maasai Mara (Kenya). The temperatures tend to drop in the evenings and can be about 10 degrees cooler on the Ngorongoro crater rim with an altitude of 7500 feet, so pack a fleece or sweatshirt. There may be light rain during the day, so be sure to pack a waterproof jacket and umbrella in case of wet weather. Check www.weather.com for the most current weather.
Currency
Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling, and Tanzania uses the Tanzanian shilling. All East African countries have stringent exchange regulations; their currencies are not interchangeable. We recommend that you carry as little local cash as possible. We suggest cashing about $50 per person to use for tipping room service or buying small items along the way. Ask for smaller $50/$100/$1000-shilling bills. There is no need to bring Tanzanian shillings, and most places accept U.S. currency. We do suggest bringing smaller bills. ($1, $5, and $10).
Languages
The national language of Kenya and Tanzania is Swahili, but English is widely spoken. There are also approximately 78 tribal dialects.
Before Your Trip
Celebrations — Birthdays, Anniversaries, Honeymoons, and more
If you will have a birthday or celebration during your vacation and have not already informed your Olivia Travel Consultant, please let us know as soon as possible, but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.
You can register at Olivia Honeymoon Wishes for your honeymoon, anniversary, or other special celebration; browse through the selections and let your friends know just how easy it is for them to purchase a gift for you.
Connect with Other Guests — Join the Facebook Group
If you'd like to chat with people who are going on the trip, join Olivia’s official 2025 African Safari Adventure group on Facebook.
Passport and Visa
A valid passport is required for citizens of all nations. Your passport must be valid for six months after travel. All visitors to Africa are required to have a minimum of two blank pages in their passport book, so that there is space for entry visas and stamps. If there is insufficient space in the passport, entry into the country will be denied.
Kenya: As of 1/25/24, Kenya no longer requires a visa. In lieu of a visa, citizens from all nations outside Kenya and the East African Community partner states must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to arrival in Kenya. This should be kept on your person or in the hotel safe deposit box.
Tanzania: A multiple-entry visa is required for Tanzania for US citizens.
For non-US citizens, please check with your consulate for specific requirements.
More specific information about how to obtain the eTA and Tanzania visa will be sent no later than 3 months prior to the trip. The visa and the eTA cannot be obtained any earlier than 90 days prior to the trip.
Specific Needs: Dietary, Medical, Mobility, and Other
If you have any medical, mobility, dietary, or other special requirements that you haven't yet shared, please reach out to [email protected] as soon as possible. To verify if we can accommodate your needs, kindly do so at least 90 days before your trip.
Vaccinations
No immunizations are required to enter Kenya if arriving from the United States, Canada or Europe. However, Tanzania does require proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), as you’ll be asked to present it upon entering Tanzania as proof that you have received the vaccination. Any Yellow Fever vaccination you have had, even over 10 years ago, is good for your lifetime.
If for medical reasons you cannot receive a yellow fever vaccination, you must carry a valid waiver certificate along with a signed and dated exemption letter on a physician’s stationery. The letter must clearly state the contraindications to vaccination and bear the stamp used by the yellow fever vaccination centers to validate the International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever. Your entry and departure dates from each country on your itinerary should also be indicated in the letter. If you do not have this valid waiver certificate and signed and dated letter on a physician’s stationary, you will not be allowed into Tanzania.
Additionally, your routine immunizations should be up-to-date, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends a malaria prophylactic, such as anti-malaria pills. While the odds of contracting malaria are generally low, travelers should nonetheless take precautions: mosquito repellent with a high DEET content should be applied to exposed skin between dusk and dawn (when mosquitoes are typically active), and long sleeves, socks and long trousers should be considered for evenings.
Please contact your physician well in advance of your departure to discuss these suggestions. You may also wish to review the CDC guidelines at www.cdc.gov or by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
Travel and Arrival
Air Travel
Airports: You will need to fly into and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi, Kenya (NBO). We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays. An optional pre-trip one-, two– and three-night pre hotel package on November 7-10, 8-10, and 9-10, 2025 with VIP meet and greet transfer will be available to add-on approximately 11 months prior to trip.
Airfare Discounts
United Airlines: The United Airlines discount code: Z Code: ZPTZ and Agreement code: 877055 are good for up to 10% off and applies to flights in and of Nairobi (NBO). Dates of travel are November 4 to November 25, 2024. Airfare can be booked no earlier than 11 months before the trip. This reservation can be completed by visiting united.com/meetings(enter the Meeting Code ZPTZ877055 in the Promotions and Certificates box). Or by calling the United Reservations Meetings Desk at (800) 426-1122 and providing the Z code and agreement code (a service fee will apply). You can also choose to book through your preferred travel agency and provide the discount program information. Discount level applicable based on 1st letter of published tariff fare purchased.
Flight Arrival and Departure Times: Please plan to arrive anytime on November 10. 2025. Your departing flight on November 19, 2025 must be after 10 pm.
In order to take advantage of the Olivia transfer from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the Fairmont Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, your flight should be scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on November 10, 2025. Most flights arrive in the evening, and some after midnight. Your departure flight should be scheduled out of Nairobi after 10 pm on November 19, 2025. Transfers are not included from the domestic Wilson airport or for any flights arriving or departing on non-program dates unless a pre-trip hotel package is purchased through Olivia. We encourage you to contact the airlines directly to confirm your flights, baggage allowance, and seat assignments prior to departure.
Luggage Allowances: On light aircraft flights in Kenya and Tanzania, the baggage allowance is 33 pounds, excluding camera and video equipment. Please pack a soft-sided “safari bag” (a small duffle bag with or without wheels) as they are much easier to load onto small planes. All excess luggage can be stored at the hotel in Nairobi. Luggage and personal effects are at owners' risk throughout the tour and we advise you to obtain baggage insurance. For your flight to Kenya, please contact your air carrier for the latest baggage requirements and allowance.
Transfer and Meeting Up with Olivia
Your Micato staff will provide you a VIP meet and greet service. She will meet you at customs and assist you through customs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and you will be transferred to the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. A dedicated Airport Team will coordinate and handle your arrival and your Micato porters will expedite your luggage at the airport. You will be transferred from the airport to the hotel, where you are pre-registered for check-in. Should you have any queries, your Micato Safaris Concierge staff will be at their desk in the lounge to answer all your questions.
During Your Trip
Electricity
The voltage is 220, which is the same as in Europe. However, the plugs are shaped differently than in America and most parts of Europe. You will need 3-prong square adapters. As outlets sometimes vary, if you plan to operate electric appliances, we suggest you travel with a set of international adapter plugs as well as a voltage converter. Most camera batteries, cell phones and computer chargers have the 110/220-V converters built in, but double check this. With the proper adapters, you can easily re-charge your batteries at all of the accommodations on safari, including the tents. Please note that lodges in the game parks sometimes turn off their generators during the day, which means no electricity is available during that time.
Excursions
All Safari vehicle excursions are included in the cost of your trip. Normally there is a morning and an afternoon safari available. There will also be an optional Hot Air Balloon excursion that you may book at an additional cost. Please visit our Vacation Stretchers page for more information.
Gratuities
Gratuities, including your hotel staff (except for room service and laundry delivery), porter, driver/guide, hostesses, and Safari Director are included. If you received exceptional service from someone, you are welcome to give an additional gratuity. If you take an optional balloon excursion, in is appropriate to tip your balloon guide.
Internet and Email
Complimentary wifi is available at the hotel in Nairobi and the safari lodges/camp in Tanzania and Maasai Mara. The wifi works best in the public areas but is not always dependable.
Laundry Services
Laundry, pressing and dry-cleaning service is available at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. Other camps and lodges provide Laundry and folding for nominal fees. Under-garments are not accepted at these lodges due to their culture, however they are accepted for laundry at the Four Seasons. The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti provides each room with a $50 laundry credit. No self-serve laundry is available.
Medical and Recreational Marijuana
Though Marijuana has become a legal substance in many states, it is not legal in Kenya or Tanzania, even if it is medicinal. Please do NOT bring any form of marijuana or edibles with you to Kenya or Tanzania.
Medical Services
We utilize the services of the Flying Doctor's Society, an elite, airborne medical unit. Should you require emergency medical assistance, they will be dispatched. If necessary, they evacuate travelers to Nairobi, where excellent medical facilities are available. Medical treatment is available for a fee.
Plastic Bags are Illegal
Both Kenya and Tanzania have made plastic bags illegal. Any type of plastic bags. It is their attempt to rid of so much waste that was polluting their streams and rivers, and it really is making a big difference! Heavy fines will be imposed if authorities decide to search your luggage and find them. There’s no specific list of what is allowed, and what is not. It is usually up to the individual authorities that do a search. To be safe, we highly encourage you to use reusable bags for storing items, holding your medications, or in placing things in you don’t want to leak into your luggage. Several options can be found on Amazon.
Phone
Most lodges do not have readily available phones; in an emergency, you may be contacted through Micato Safaris offices in Nairobi. We suggest you check with your carrier about cell phone service in Kenya and Tanzania. Many do offer international coverage for $10 US/day. Complete information about emergency contact information will be available in your final documents, which will be emailed to you 3-4 weeks in advance of the trip.
Smoking Policy
Please refrain from smoking in safari vehicles and other enclosed places where it may affect others.
After Your Trip
Transfers to the Airport
After the trip, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport in time for your evening flight home on November 19, 2025. Most flights depart between 10 pm and 12 am. Everyone will be given a private day room at the hotel to use from our arrival until 6 pm to shower and re-pack before their evening flights home. If your flight departs in the early morning after 3:30 am or later November 20, and you would like to extend your dayroom into an overnight room on November 19, we will offer a stretcher package that will extend your dayroom into an overnight room.