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Why an East Africa Luxury Safari Should Be No. 1 on Your Bucket List
When it comes to must-do travel experiences, serious travellers agree that an East Africa safari belongs at the top of the list. Kenya and Tanzania power the beating heart of a spectacular continent, a place home to breathtaking savannas dotted with acacia trees and towering mountains, the red-shawled Maasai people, Big Five wildlife and the incredible Great Migration, the largest terrestrial movement of mammals on the planet.
Where to start and how best to do it all? We asked the Africa safari experts at A&K for the best highlights to experience on a luxury East Africa safari. From morning to night, here’s a look at everything you won’t want to miss.
By Nina Kokotas Hahn, A&K Staff Writer | August 18, 2020
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Explore East Africa on an A&K Safari
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Wildebeest grazing across Kenya’s grassy plains are the stars of first-light sightings in East Africa. Another star: Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent and something to see from Amboseli National Park.
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Morning game drives mean an abundance of wildlife activity in East Africa, where your chances of seeing elephants and other Big Five animals are excellent. A&K travellers are at an advantage in custom-made vehicles with unobstructed views from every seat.
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A&K safari guides have no equal when it comes to their super keen ability to track wildlife and depth of first-hand knowledge. In no time at all, you’ll understand why they’re an essential part of an incredible safari experience.
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The African bush takes on a jaw-dropping perspective from the air. In Kenya, opt for a hot air balloon flight at dawn over the Masai Mara followed by champagne and breakfast on the plains of the reserve.
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First encounters with predators like the cheetah give “thrilling” a new meaning in Serengeti National Park. Amplify the experience on a luxury safari that follows the Great Migration, when abundant prey set the stage for the dynamic circle of life.
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Exceptional for its abundant wildlife, the Serengeti becomes even more memorable for A&K safari goers, who can enjoy an elegant picnic lunch, served under trees at an ideal location in the wilderness.
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Afternoon game drives in Kenya and Tanzania can lead to massive hippos pools, a surprisingly thrilling sight to behold as these creatures stretch their mouths open to show they are also keenly aware of you.
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Action-packed days in the bush require time to relax and soak it all in. Count on it with luxurious accommodations with pools and amenities perched right above popular animal watering holes.
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No African safari is complete without a classic tented camp experience. Also primly located in the heart of the African bush, accommodations like those at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp set right in the rim valley conjure up a more stylish version of Ernest Hemmingway’s Africa.
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It’s possible to see the lion and all of Africa’s Big Five in the lush “Lost World” known as Ngorongoro Crater. A&K safari guides with their incredible tracking skills put the odds increasingly in your favor.
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In the Masai Mara, take a moment to positively impact the local community with A&K Philanthropy when you visit a local school and take part in the LifeStraw program, which provides access to clean drinking water for students there.
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The nomadic Maasai warriors have a long history in East Africa. Spend time with this beautiful tribe in Kenya and enjoy a walk with a Maasai healer in the Ngorongoro forest.
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The ritual of the sundowner originated in late 19th century colonial Africa as a way to mark the transition from day to night. Partake in the tradition and sip a chilled cocktail set right on East Africa’s grassy plains.
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A&K travellers seeking luxury safari lodge accommodations in the famed Masai Mara game reserve find it at Sanctuary Olonana, where 14 contemporary glass-sided suites overlook a private stretch of the Mara River.
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The best way to cap off a whirlwind East Africa safari? Magical nights under African skies and around a campfire, swapping stories with family and new friends that you will stay with you for a lifetime.
A&K's Recommended Luxury Journeys to East Africa
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Luxury Expedition Cruises Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyages led by A&K’s Expedition Team.
Cruising the Seychelles & Coastal Tanzania 2025-26
14 days | Limited to 148 guestsFrom $16,995 per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
The Great Migration Safari in Style 2025
14 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $18,495 including internal air, per person was $19,995 -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Great Migration Safari 2025
14 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $23,795 including internal air, per person was $26,295 -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safari 2025
12 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $12,495 including internal air, per person was $14,495 -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Kenya & Tanzania 2025
12 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $14,795 including internal air, per person was $16,795 -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya & Tanzania: A Great Migration Safari Adventure 2025
10 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $17,595 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Family Kenya & Tanzania Safari 2025
12 days | Limited to 24 guestsFrom $15,595 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya Safari in Style 2025
8 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $10,395 including internal air, per person was $11,395 -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Tanzania Safari in Style 2025
8 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $10,295 including internal air, per person was $11,295 -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Tanzania 2025
8 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $11,995 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Climb Kilimanjaro: Summiting the Machame Route 2025
9 days | Limited to 12 guestsFrom $8,995 per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Uganda: Gorillas & Beyond 2025
11 days | Limited to 16 guestsFrom $17,495 including internal air, per person -
Wings Over the World Small-group luxury journeys with privately chartered flights between destinations
Wings Over East Africa 2025
11 days | Limited to 16 guestsFrom $43,595 per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Short Escape: Kenya
7 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $15,470 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Kenya: Family Safari
10 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $15,320 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
5 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $9,560 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Uganda: Realm of the Primate
9 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $12,990 per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Rwanda: Gorilla & Chimp Trekking Adventure
8 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $19,930 per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park
4 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $11,595 per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Custom, private journeys designed to your interests and schedule
Tailor Made Tanzania: Ruaha, Nyerere & the Serengeti
11 days | Private journey designed for youFrom $18,590 including internal air, per person -
Private Jet Journeys Around-the-world adventures by private jet.
Africa: Across a Continent by Private Jet 2025
23 days | Limited to 48 guestsFrom $149,950 per person -
Private Jet Journeys Around-the-world adventures by private jet.
Ancient Kingdoms & Dynasties: A Journey by Private Jet 2025
25 days | Limited to 48 guestsFrom $147,950 per person -
Private Jet Journeys Around-the-world adventures by private jet.
Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet 2026
25 days | Limited to 48 guestsFrom $169,950 per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Kenya & Tanzania 2024
12 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $16,790 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Great Migration Safari 2024
14 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $30,290 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safari 2024
12 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $13,790 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Family Journeys Inspiring small-group adventures designed for families
Family Kenya & Tanzania Safari 2024
12 days | Limited to 24 guestsFrom $15,365 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya Safari in Style 2024
8 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $10,150 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
The Great Migration Safari in Style 2024
14 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $22,490 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Kenya & Tanzania: A Great Migration Safari Adventure 2024
10 days | Limited to 16 guestsFrom $19,615 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Small Group Journeys The ultimate luxury small-group travel experience
Tanzania Safari in Style 2024
8 days | Limited to 18 guestsFrom $12,335 including internal air, per person -
Luxury Tailor Made Travel Ready-to-book, private journeys with local guides, perfect for 2-4 guests
Private Tanzania 2024
8 days | Ready-to-book, private journeyFrom $13,335 including internal air, per person
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