East Africa Conservation Safari

This morning, visit Nyumbani Children's Home, which receives support from A&K Philanthropy. Founded in 1992, Nyumbani ("home" in Swahili) gives the most vulnerable children - AIDS orphans who themselves have AIDS or are HIV positive - the best available nutritional, medical, psychosocial, academic and spiritual care. After lunch, visit Giraffe Center, founded in 1979 to help save the endangered Rothschild giraffe. Drive to the nearby Karen Blixen home where you relive a small part of Kenya's colorful history. Made famous by the film Out of Africa, Karen Blixen lived in the house from 1917 until 1931. The house still contains some of her possessions, as well as some props that were presented to the museum after the making of the film. House of Waine B L D

Fly to Kilimanjaro, where you connect to a private charter flight to Tarangire. Transfer to Swala Camp, whose large tents are built on raised decks under umbrella acacia trees overlooking the Gurusi flood plains. Sanctuary Swala B L D

Tarangire is home to the largest population of elephants in northern Tanzania, now numbering close to 2,500 individuals. A&K Philanthropy supports the Tarangire Elephant Project, started in 1993 by Dr. Charles Foley and his wife, Lara, who continually collect information on location, family group associations, and births and deaths among 32 family groups and 250 bulls. View the elephant herds accompanied by Charles and Lara and their staff for a personal introduction to individual elephants and their family relationships, as well as insights into their daily and seasonal activities. While in Tarangire, visit two other projects A&K Philanthropy supports. Gijedabung Primary School in Mamire Village has been adopted by Swala camp, which organized the construction of additional classrooms and other facilities, along with an office for the headmaster. In nearby Mwika Village, support for a beekeeping project enables families to produce a traditional foodstuff and earn income from the sale of honey, while at the same time conserving forest resources and indigenous plants needed for successful beekeeping. Sanctuary Swala B L D

Board your flight to Nairobi, and then fly to the renowned Masai Mara to visit conservation projects in the Olonana region. Transfer to Olonana Tented Safari Camp, which has an enviable position nestled on the banks of the Mara River, crossed by thousands of wildebeest during the annual migration. Running along the Tanzanian border, the Mara forms an essential part of the Serengeti eco-system. Game viewing is never dull in the Mara, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings: a pride of lion stalking its prey, a male wildebeest sparring to attract females into their harem, or even a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators. Sanctuary Olonana B L D

Spend two exciting days driving across the plains in search of the abundant game, with time for visits to several projects. These include a Maasai village where A&K Philanthropy is helping to build a biogas plant to enable villagers to convert the waste of their domestic animals into clean energy for cooking and heat. You also have an opportunity to walk with Community Scouts on a foot patrol, and observe the skills they employ as they collect and record data on wildlife and identify issues of concern. Your stay at Olonana also includes a visit to the major tree planting initiative that has been established in the region with support from A&K. Sanctuary Olonana B L D

Bid farewell to your lodge staff as you leave the Mara and transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, spend the remainder of the day shopping at Biashara Street and sightseeing. A dayroom at the Norfolk Hotel gives you the opportunity to relax before tonight's overnight flight home. Norfolk Hotel (dayroom) B L