Destinations: Nairobi | Samburu |Ol Pejeta | Lake Nakuru | Maasai Mara
ITINERARY
| Day 1: Arrival – Nairobi |
Jambo and welcome to Kenya! On arrival at the airport, our experienced guide and the regional Manager will meet you. After a short briefing, you will be transferred to your city hotel. The guide will give you an insight on the wonderful adventures ahead of your safari.
Overnight: Double Tree by Hilton / Tamarind Tree Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
| Day 2 : Nairobi – Samburu game reserve |
After breakfast, our guide will meet you at 0700hrs and you begin exploring this beautiful country. You will drive to the North, past vast vegetation and agricultural fields in what used to be called the ‘white highlands’. As you drive, you will notice different climatic conditions; warm, cold then hot as you approach the Northern corridor. Arriva at your Camp in Samburu game reserve right on time for lunch. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive.
Samburu game reserve is a unique reserve; in the sense that it is home to Five special rare species like gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra commonly known as ‘Samburu special Five’. These are only found in the Northern part of Kenya. Other animals found here includes the elephants, lion, leopard, impalas, cheetahs, civet Cats, African wild dogs, hippos. Kamunyak the famous Lioness that adapted six baby Oryx’s is a resident in the reserve. Samburu is in fact one of the better locations in Kenya to spot Leopard. Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique protected area and Birdlife is abundant with over 450 recorded species.
After the game drive, return to your Camp for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Samburu Sopa / Ashnil Samburu Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D)
| Day 3 : Inside the Samburu game reserve |
Spend the entire day inside this beautiful reserve that is locally owned by the local community and managed by the local government.
Enjoy the undulating landscapes in this reserve located at the banks of Ewuaso Ng’iro River, the warm and sometimes hot weather, the friendly local residents and immense wildlife. Mid-morning, you will visit one of the Samburu villages and get to learn about their unique lifestyle. The Samburu’s are Maa speakers who are cousins to the Maasai people. For ages now, they have preserved their culture and up to date their traditions still count. Their beadwork, songs and dance and different colorful ceremonies makes them one of the most conservative tribes of Kenya. They are commonly referred to as ‘The butterfly people’ due to their colorful beadings.
Samburu game reserve is one of the two regions where Joy Adamson raised and nurtured Elsa the lioness who featured in the best-selling book and movie of ‘Born Free’.
Enjoy the full day game drives.
All meals will be served at your Camp.
Overnight at Samburu Sopa / Ashnil Samburu Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D)
| Day 4: Samburu – Olpejeta Conservancy, Nanyuki |
After breakfast at your Camp, you will drive down to the foot of Kenya’s highest mountain, Mt. Kenya. Here you will experience drastic weather changes as it gets colder towards the mountain. You will be able to see the highest peak on a clear day. Arrive in time for lunch at Olpejeta Conservancy.
This conservancy is the home to the last remaining Northern white rhinos in the world and the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. Although it is unfortunate that SUDAN, the only remaining Northern black rhino Male died on 19th March 2018 due to age complications, there are still Two female that are heavily guarded within the conservancy at an endangered species Boma. It is also the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the black market. You will have the once in a life time experience of getting up close and personal with them, and listen to their story. Other animals to see are the lions, Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra, wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, serval cats, mongooses, spotted hyenas, black-backed jackal and chimpanzees among others.
Dinner and Overnight will be at the Camp.
Overnight at Sweetwater’s Tented Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D)
| Day 5: Ol Pejeta – Lake Nakuru National Park |
After a sumptuous breakfast at the Camp, you will drive down past Kenya’s highest mountain, Mt. Kenya. You will pass through the equator and some beautiful landscape down to one of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley fresh water Lakes; Lake Nakuru. Arrive in time for lunch.
The park offers excellent bird-watching and game viewing, with slightly over 400 bird species recorded with which colonies of Flamingoes lives on the shores. The other bird species include but not limited to African Fish Eagle, Slender-billed greenbul, Long-tailed widowbird, Rufous-throated wryneck, Montane white-eye, Red-capped lark, Northern puffback, Rüppell’s robin-chat, Shining sunbird and many more. It is a habitat to over 100 endangered Rhinos distributed between the Eastern black and Southern white rhinos; it is also home to the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe and other 50 or more animal species that include buffalos, waterbucks, lions, impalas, Rock pythons, gazelle and baboon among others. There are hundreds of lesser flamingos which dominate the lake and make it more attractive. Visit the baboon cliff and have a great view of the entire lake.
After enjoying the afternoon game drive, you will have an overnight at a Lodge inside the Park.
Overnight at Flamingo Hill Camp / Sarova Lion Hill
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D)
| Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara National Reserve |
After a leisurely al fresco breakfast, you will now drive to the extraordinary destination of the Maasai Mara. The journey by road takes you past the floor of the Great Rift Valley. You will notice recent fissures caused by the tectonic movements that are suspected to have been aggravated by the heavy rainfall in April 2018. These cut huge and long trenches along people’s farms, roads and even buildings for several kilometers. Arrive to the Maasai Mara Reserve for Lunch.
After lunch you will have a rest, and then at about 1600hrs, you will have an evening game viewing drive.
Scenically, it epitomizes the Africa of childhood imaginings: the lone Acacia tree against the cobalt sky, rolling plains that positively heave with life, the sluggish curves of the Mara River choc-a-bloc with hippo and crocs and the odd red “shuka” of a Maasai herdsman who carry on their normal pace of life, largely oblivious of all the commotion around them. The Mara is the Seventh world wonder; it obtained the title by the natural animal crossing that happens every year between July-Oct. Millions of wildebeests and zebras crosses the Mara River from the greater Serengeti plains in Tanzania. The dramatic movement unites all animals both herbivores and carnivore as everyone tries to get some food. The crocodiles in the river tries their luck as the gnus are crossing, on the other side, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals and many others wait for their catch as the vultures eyes the kill by the carnivals. It’s all about survival here.
You will arrive in time for lunch at your Camp. After lunch, you will rest a little before embarking on an evening game drive till late at about 1800hrs. Return for Dinner and overnight at your Camp.
Overnight at Ashnil Mara Camp/ Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D daily)
| Day 7 & 8: Inside the Maasai Mara Game Reserve |
These Two days, you will have an early wakeup call; then you will have an early game drive at this vast reserve. This time you are likely to see more wildlife as this is their most active time. Return for breakfast, then mid-morning at leisure.
The Mara is known for its big five of elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Other wild life that features includes Maasai giraffes, elands, topis, black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, Thompson’s gazelles, hippos, crested porcupines, dwarf mongooses, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, waterbucks, wild dogs and over 500 bird species. Besides the wildlife, the Mara features a stunning kaleidoscope of wild and rugged landscapes, very warm, loving and welcoming people. It is full of life to say the least.
After lunch, you will have another game drive till late in the evening. Return then for Dinner and overnight at your Lodge.
Overnight at Ashnil Mara Camp/ Zebra Plains Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board (B, L, D daily)
| Day 9: Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Nairobi – Depart |
You can have an early game drive, and then return for breakfast at the Camp. After breakfast, you will depart back to Nairobi. Lunch will be on your own account en-route and thereafter, you will be dropped at the airport for your departure flight; at least 3 hours before estimated time of departure.
NB// you will always have some time for shopping in the city (if need be) before departure and if time allows. Also there are always some stop overs in some curios if you need to buy some arts.
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What is included:
- Transport in a safari mini bus
- Transfers to and from the airport
- Accommodation on Full Board in the bush and BB in Nairobi
- Park entry fees and Conservancy fees
- Services of a professional English speaking guide
- Bottle of drinking water daily
What is Excluded
- International Flights
- Visa and Visa fees
- TIP’s and gratuities
- Items of personal use
- Extra activities e.g Maasai Village (US$ 30 p.p), Balloon rides (US$ 450 p.p) or horse rides
- 4×4 Land cruiser (Supplement of US$ 570) – The max number of pax is 6
- Easter supplements
- Extra lunch on the last day