Kenya Explorer - 7 days
A journey of discovery through Kenya that is more than just one wildlife park after another. Discover the contrasting scenery, wildlife environments and cultures of the Maasai savanna, Great Rift Valley Lakes, and Kikuyu Highland areas.
First
night's campsiteDay 1 Drive west from Nairobi, stopping for a breath-taking view over the Great Rift Valley, and into Maasailand. Lunch en-route and on to a small Maasai homestead for insights into their fascinating way of life. Overnight camp under the acacia trees, dinner round a camp fire, starlit skies and sleep to the sounds of the African night - often lions roaring in the distance. Don't worry! Our camp is guarded by the Maasai all night.
Maasai guided walk Day 2 Walking safari (not obligatory) along small river course and through the savannah for wildlife viewing with the Maasai as guides and interpreters of their lands, often walking amongst giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. On to lunch by a natural hot spring at Maji Moto where you can take a dip or just dip your toe in. Here we support the Enkiteng Lepa Maasai women’s project, a primary school (we arrange visits during term time), and engage in cultural activities with the Maasai. Then on to our secluded camp in the Masai Mara. Overnight in our comfortable permanent tented safari camp (beds with en-suite facilities).
Post-coital argument!Day 3 Ecologically the Masai Mara is an extension of the great Serengeti plains and teems with wildlife. Up at dawn to spend a full day in the reserve on game drives where you almost certainly will see elephant, buffalo, lion, zebra, giraffe, hippo, crocodile and a whole ark-full of other animals. Rhino, cheetah and leopard are seen on 2 out of 3 visits but our expert naturalist guides and 4WD vehicles ensure you have the very best chance of seeing them all. From July to September, the Mara is home to the great wildebeest migration. Overnight again in our permanent tented safari camp.
Our homestay hostess Day 4 Early start for another game drive, or short hike up Naumare Hill to watch the sun-rise stream over the Mara. Back to camp for breakfast and then on to a Kikuyu homestead near Lake Elementaita. Exploration of a subsistence farm here and afternoon tea with the farmer and his wife. Option for an overnight stay in a villager’s house for fascinating insights into local life, enhancing your African experience and providing an additional income for the family - no extra cost but advise us in advance please. Otherwise on to a comfortable local hotel just outside Nakuru National Park.
Coffee picking Day 5 Drive through Nakuru town, then up past the spectacular Menengai volcanic crater, to a coffee and tea estate co-operative. A delightful, cool, verdant forested setting where there will be a guided bird-watching walk, excellent estate lunch, and visit to the tea and coffee processing operations. You can try your hand at picking tea and coffee if you like (and if you don’t fancy the walk or the tea and coffee processing insights you can relax in the beautiful gardens drinking it). Return to the hotel by Lake Nakuru for overnight.
View over Lake Nakuru from Baboon Cliffs Day 6 Early start for game drive in Lake Nakuru national park. This is a small but spectacularly picturesque park with abundant wildlife and an excellent chance of seeing the rare rhino, both black and white species, lion, leopard, vast herds of buffalo and the unusual Rothschild's giraffe. It has also had nearly 400 species of birds recorded within its boundaries. After lunch a short drive to Lake Elementaita, a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, for walking exploration of the lakeside environment and afternoon tea. There are hot springs with amazing heat tolerant fish (accessible if lake water not excessively high) and thousands of pink flamingos and pelicans. Another short drive to Lake Naivasha for overnight accommodation in chalets right by the lake.
Waterbuck by Lake NaivashaDay 7 Lake Naivasha is a vast freshwater lake, famed for its hippos and bird life particularly fish eagles, love-birds and pelicans. You take an early morning boat trip to see some of them, disembarking at an animal sanctuary half way to walk amongst giraffe, zebra, impala, gazelle and waterbuck. Leave mid morning for return to Nairobi arriving around 13.00.
Some of our recent guests made blogs during their Kenya Explorer trip. These links will really give you a feel of what this safari is like:
Jen & Perry’s “Kenya safari” posting at: http://travelingchens.blogspot.com
Jen & Perry’s photos (there are lots): http://gallery.me.com/adamschen
General: Accommodation is in a bush camp (1 night fully supported), our own permanent tented safari camp with beds and en-suite facilities (2 nights), local hotel & chalets with en-suite facilities (3 nights), and an optional night in local villager's house (please request details if you’d like to know more about this). The bush camping section on this trip allows us access to a more remote area. We do not generally use the mainstream tourist lodges but neither do we compromise on health, safety or reasonable comfort. Lodge accommodation can however be arranged for private group departures if required. Equipment is carried by vehicle, you only ever carry a day-pack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and ensure good standards of hygiene. We can cater for special dietary requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments.
We can also arrange extra hotel bookings and airport transfers for before and after your trip.
| Cost for scheduled departures: | Group rates private departures: |
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| US $1,895 per person if you can join one of our scheduled departures - see When we go. We need a minimum of 2 people booked for these trips to run. Contact us for booking status if you are a single traveller. | US $1,640 per person for group of 9
-12 US $1,895 per person for group of 5 - 8 US $2,090 per person for group of 3 - 4 US $2,395 per person for group of 2 US $3,450 for single person departure |
| Prices quoted include: | Prices quoted exclude: |
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