AFRICAN SAFARI WITH MUSCAT & DUBAI
A Cultural tour of Kenya, Oman & UAE

A rare and contrasting combination that has been artistically tailored to offer the best of the world’s wildlife and game in the natural habitats of, amongst others, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli at the foot of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro with the Middle East’s most interesting cultures at Muscat &  Dubai. Exploring the wildlife in the green, green pastures followed by the striking desert scenery and culture, this 14 days journey aspires a wonderful experience in small group journeys – one that will never be forgotten.

Day 01 Sunday: Depart home city for Nairobi
Today, we start off on our Afro – Middle Eastern safari-journey.

Day 02 Monday:  Arrive Nairobi
Jambo Bwana and we are cordially welcomed as we arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and are transferred to our hotel in Nairobi. Balance of the day is free. Optional visit to the world famous Carnivore restaurant and get a feel of the game before the game actually starts.
Overnight: Nairobi Safari Club (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 03 Tuesday: Nairobi / Kilimanjaro / Amboseli (drive)
After a short pre-safari briefing and introduction to your safari guide/driver, we take a photogenic drive over the Athi Plains. Before we enter the Amboseli National Park we get an outstanding view of the Kilimanjaro (subject to weather). The Uhuru Peak at 19340 feet makes Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa. Lunch at the lodge followed by our first  afternoon game drive. Amboseli is famous for its vast herds of elephants and stunning views of Kilimanjaro on clear days.
Overnight: Kilima Safari Camp (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 04 Wednesday: Amboseli
Morning and afternoon game drives to view wildlife against the backdrop of mt kilimanjaro. The park offers a wide variety of wildlife but the principal attraction is its vast herds of elephant within the park. The bull elephants here have some of the largest tusks in kenya. Other game includes: zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, leopard, caracal and serval cat. The park boasts a rich bird life such as ibis, egret, avocet, common and saddle-billed stork, secretary bird, heron, vultures, ducks, and geese. (B, L, D)

Day 05 Thursday: Amboseli / Lake Nakuru
We drive a short distance to the beautiful Lake Nakuru and start with a morning game drive at the Lake Nakuru National Park.  It is a home to many animals including waterbuck, leopards and Rothschild giraffe. The park is also a sanctuary for black rhinos. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon is another game drive.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 06 Friday: Lake Nakuru / Great Rift Valley / Masai Mara (drive)
We traverse the Great Rift Valley and ascend its western rim into the Masai land. Red-clad, with spear Masai warriors tend their herds of cattle among the wildlife, admirably unmoved by the presence of large predators. You find the Masai giraffe in this park. Afternoon gamedrive in the Mara, famous for the Wildebeest and Zebra migration and its abundance of wildlife.
Overnight: Mara Sopa Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07 Saturday: Masai Mara
Early Morning and afternoon game drives in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s best and most scenic game park. At the northern extremity of the unique Serengeti ecosystem, blessed with a permanent water supply, the Maasai Mara has a thriving, permanent population of plains game, augmented in the dry season by the migration of two million gnus and zebras from the vast, parched Serengeti plains. Of the hunter’s "big five," elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard are quite common, while even the much rarer rhino might come out of the thicket for you. Hyenas are plentiful and the cheetah, a 60-miles-per-hour daytime hunter, is often seen. Besides being the setting for the ancient and often tragic spectacle of the Great Migration, other marvels of the Masai Mara include  giraffe, elephant, red-tailed monkeys and a host of antelope. Twice-daily interpretive game-drives led by our highly trained and experienced rangers, bird watching with resident guides and naturalists reveal the wonders of the Mara . Optional excursions at an additional cost include: Bush walks, Maasai community visits and hot air ballooning. (B, L, D)
        
Day 08 Sunday: Masai Mara / Nairobi  / Muscat (Oman)
After our Kenyan Safari we take a leisurely drive to Nairobi where we get a day room at the hotel and time to rest. Evening, before our departure flight we will be transferred to the airport bidding farewell to Africa at it’s best. We continue for our flight to Muscat (B)

Day 09 Monday: Arrive Muscat
As we arrive in Muscat, the pearl of the Gulf region, we are warmly received and transferred to our hotel.  Evening is free to enjoy the beach area.
Overnight: Park Inn, Muscat (2 nights) (B)

Day 10 Tuesday: Muscat
After breakfast we start a half day Muscat city tour. A unique blend of the ancient and the modern, Muscat is a beautiful clean city, which lies in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains, lulled by the Arabian Sea. The city has undergone dramatic development in the past two or three decades, however it has never lost its pride in its heritage & culture. Our visit will start with a tour of the Grand Mosque, which is an architectural marvel and is perhaps the new landmark of the city. We will continue our drive through the ministries area where you can see a number of modern buildings with touches of Islamic architecture. We will visit the fish market and the Muttrah souq with its narrow covered alleys where the exotic smells of mounds of spices, coffee, ancient remedies and enticing perfumes fill the air. We will visit the Bait Al Zubar Museum (or another prominent museum), which has a fine exhibit of Omani history and culture. You will have a photo stop at  the magnificent  Al Aalam Palace (the official residence of Sultan Qaboos) flanked by the twin Portuguese forts of Mirani & Jalali. Afternoon is free at leisure. (B)

Day 11 Wednesday: Muscat / Jabreen / Bahla / Nizwa / Dubai (UAE)
After breakfast drive to Dubai via Nizwa. The trip includes the tour of Nizwa Forts and castles, the Oman’s most striking cultural landmarks. The towers and city walls historically were used as defensive bastions and look-out points. It is estimated that there are over 500 forts, castles and towers in Oman. Today we will visit a few of them which are most remarkable and striking in their architecture and style. The ancient capital of Oman, Nizwa was the seat of learning and the birthplace of Islam in Oman. The 17th century round fort and the souq famous for silver jewelry are the major attractions of Nizwa, not to mention the popular & interesting cattle auction, which takes place every Friday. Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. We move on to Bahla famous for its handmade pottery. Bahla is listed in UNESCO’s world heritage sites list; however the fort is now under renovation and is not open to public. Built as a defensive stronghold, the Jabreen is perhaps the finest among the Omani castles. The castle has dudgeons, passages, rooms and ceiling decorated with fine carvings & paintings. Al Hota Cave is a magnificent underground cavern & a lake system, a 2,7 km tunnel, which runs in a north-south direction through the Hajjar Mountains. The main chamber of Al Hota Cave is around the size of a large hotel ballroom and contains some magnificent cave formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, which have evolved over millions of years. You will be guided by an expert thought the tunnels for an unforgettable experience.
Overnight: Novotel Diera City Centre, Dubai (3 nights) (B)

Day 12 Thursday: Dubai
After breakfast we will have a half day city tour of Dubai, a wonderful opportunity to discover the modern and the traditional city of Dubai. Our excursion starts with the magnificent Burj Al Arab Hotel for photos, then onward to Jumerah mosque. On the way to Bastakia, the old part if the city, we pass impressive palaces of the ruling family of Dubai, and the old wind-towered houses (traditional air-conditioning). Near by, we visit Dubai Museum in the Al Fahidi Fort, which is almost two centuries old and today is a living monument of Dubai’s illustrious and prominent past. Abra, the local water taxi takes us across the Creek to the fascinating souks of gold and spices. In the afternoon at 3:30 pmstarts the desert safari. To experience a real taste of Bedouin life, join our safari tour to Ali Baba’s Bedouin village deep in the desert. Our experienced safari drivers will take us through the magnificent sand dunes to feel the thrilling excitement of dune bashing. Just before sunset, we reach our campsite equipped with traditional tents furnished with carpets and pillows. Take a camel ride on the golden sands, then relax by the bonfire and enjoy the Henna designs followed by belly dancing. The delicious barbeque dinner will be served under the stars accompanied by authentic Arabic music entertainment. Later on you will be taken back to your hotel. (B, D)

Day 13 Friday: Dubai
Day free. Optional tour of Abu Dhabi the thriving capital of the UAE. (B)

Day 14 Saturday: Dubai / home city
After experiencing the best of East African safaris and the cultures of Oman and Dubai, we are transferred, with lots of memories, to the airport for our return flight back home arriving same day or join one of Bestway other tour journeys within the region. (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Please call for details - 1-800-663-0844 / 1-604-264-7378
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include International air fare from NYC Airport taxes (approx $ 190) Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Insurance & Visas Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner) Tips & gratuities Game park fees   All sightseeing and transfers   Services of local English speaking guide   Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Dates Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 Please call for details - 1-800-663-0844 / 1-604-264-7378
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is included in this tour
NOTE: International airfare ex New York has been calculated as per current airfare at US$ 1500 and may be subject to change. Airport taxes have not been included in the above price.
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 07 participants.
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.