20
days program
Day 1: Nairobi - Masai Mara
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your Nairobi hotel and
leave for the Masai Mara Game Reserve, eating lunch en route. The
drive takes us past the viewpoint over the Great Rift Valley. Arrive
in time for an afternoon game drive in this pristine, unequalled
‘big game country’.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge /camp-site.
Day 2: Masai Mara
After an early breakfasat, you will spend the day tracking game
with your guide, after an early breakfast. The Masai Mara’s
landscape is scenic savannah grassland on rolling hills, which
enables the reserve to attract sufficient rainfall to maintain
and support a large population of herbivores, together with the
predators that follow. Elephant, lion and buffalo can be seen
with relative ease, although luck is a necessary factor for spotting
rhino and leopard – the animals that complete the big five
- as there are few of them, and they are very timid. Common sights
include plains game, such as wildebeest, zebra and Masai giraffe,
as well as hippos and a wide variety of antelopes. We will cater
for a picnic lunch at the hippo pool.
At around 4:30pm you will get to choose between between a game
drive, nature walk escorted by our armed Masai guides or a visit
to a local Masai village to see their nomadic lifestyle; the Masai
are famous for their bravery, as they have co-existed with the
animals over the years.
All meals and overnight at the lodge or camp-site.
Day 3: Masai Mara – Naivasha / Hell's Gate
After breakfast, choose between a nature walk escorted by our
armed Masai guides or visit to a Masai village. Early lunch at
the lodge or camp-site. After lunch, we will leave Masai Mara
for Lake Naivasha, designated a Wetland of International Importance.
A papyrus-lined freshwater lake, it is surrounded by fever tree
acacias. Animal sightings commonly include hippos, giraffe, buffalo
and colobus monkeys. The lake also boasts over 400 species of
bird. Hell's Gate national park is one of the only two parks in
Kenya where you can walk or cycle without a ranger.
Night in Lake Naivasha
Day 4: Naivasha / Hell's Gate – Nakuru
Morning game drive or nature walk/cycling. In the afternoon proceed
to Lake Nakuru for dinner and night.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge / budget hotel
Day 5: Lake Nakuru - Aberdare
Early morning game drive in the 188 square kilometre park, which
is famous for its pink flamingos. Other water birds that breed
here in the lake’s salty water include white pelicans and
marabou stork. It is also possible to see white rhino as well
as the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, cape buffalo and other
plains game. In the afternoon we depart for Aberdare National
Park.
Dinner and overnight in a lodge or in a camp-site
Day 6: Aberdare - Bogoria
In the morning you can take a game drive in Aberdare National
Park, which is rarely visited by tourists despite its populations
of elephants, lions, rhinos, black leopards and the beautiful
but elusive bongo antelope.
After lunch we drive to Bogoria, where there are many medicinal hot
springs. Dinner and overnight at a budget hotel / lodge.
Day 7: Bogoria – Baringo
After lunch, you will visit Lake Baringo, taking an hour-long
boat trip to see various species of birds and ancient caves.
Dinner and overnight at a budget hotel / lodge.
Day 8: Baringo - Samburu
After breakfast we will depart for Samburu Game Reserve via the Thompson
Falls, named for Joseph Thompson, who walked from Mombasa to Lake
Victoria in the 1880’s. We will have lunch in Nanyuki. Arrive
in time for a short evening game drive. Dinner and overnight in a
lodge or in a camp-site
Day 9: Samburu
Morning and afternoon game-viewing sessions tracking the rare drought
resistant animals only found north of the equator; these include the
reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra, the gerenuk or giraffe-gazelle,
Beisa Oryx and the blue shanked Somali ostrich. Running down from
the Aberdare ranges is the Ewaso Nyiro River, affording a good chance
of spotting crocodile in a natural environment, although its water
level varies seasonally. You can take a lunch and leisure break in
the mid afternoon. Rest of meals and overnight at a lodge / camp-site
Day 10: Samburu - Marsabit
After breakfast depart for Marsabit National Park via the singing
wells of the Boran people, who form a long chain and sing and ululate
as they fetch water and water their livestock. We will arrive in Marsabit
in time for an afternoon game drive in the park. Elephants, buffalo
and kudu can be seen next to the Marsabit Lodge at the water filled
crater. Marsabit is an oasis and extinct volcano, densely forested
on the upper slopes while the lower slopes are scorched and dry. The
park is home to jumbo elephants and was home to Ahmed, whose statue
stands outside the National Museum in Nairobi and who was one of the
largest elephants ever seen in Kenya. Access to some parts of the
park is hampered by extensive dense forest and undergrowth. All meals
and overnight at the campsite.
Day 11: Marsabit - Kalacha
After breakfast we will make our way past the lava flows to Kalacha,
a small settlement at the edge of the Chalbi Desert where you will
camp for the night.
Day 12: Kalacha - Lake Turkana
After breakfast, we cross the Chalbi Desert, heading for Loiyangalani,
the name used for the south-eastern shore of Lake Turkana, arriving
in the mid afternoon. The desert cannot be crossed in wet weather
as it becomes a shallow lake but alternative roads are available around
the north and south. Rest of the day at leisure, dinner and overnight
at the campsite.
Day 13: Lake Turkana – Maralal
You can spend this morning relaxing on at the lake, or visiting the
village of the El Molo tribesmen who are said to be the smallest tribe
in Africa. Drive to Maralal, which is the administrative centre for
the Samburu people. Lunch will be served en route. Dinner and overnight
at in Maralal.
Day 14: Maralal – Nakuru or Laikipia – Thikka
Depart very early, making a quick visit to Laikipia National Park.
Lunch en route. Arrive in Thikka in the evening. Dinner and overnight
Day 15: Thikka - Amboseli
Early in the morning drive to Amboseli National park. Amboseli contains
swamp grounds in which elephants and hippos in abundance. A visit
to the observation hill will follow where you will look out for Mt.
Kilimanjaro’s peak if weather conditions permit. A variety of
plains game, antelopes and birds can be also be seen. You will have
a lunch and leisure break at the lodge in the mid afternoon. Rest
of meals and overnight at a lodge / camp-site.
Day 16: Amboseli – Tsavo West
After breakfast, proceed for another game drive in the park. After
lunch we depart for Tsavo West.
Dinner and overnight in a lodge or camp-site
Day 17: Tsavo West
Day 18: Tsavo West - Tsavo East
Day 19: Tsavo East - Chyulu Hills National Park
After breakfast, game drive will follow during which you may see
plains game, zebra, antelope, lesser kudu, ostrich and large herds
of elephant. Lunch will be taken en route to the undisturbed Chyulu
Hills National Park, which shelters a variety of indigenous vegetation
and wildlife. The park affords breathtaking views from the Chuylu
hills and there are opportunities for cave exploration.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge / camp-site.
Day 20: Chyulu Hills - Nairobi
Spend this morning at leisure in the park. Lunch will be taken en
route back to Nairobi where we will arrive in the evening.
|
