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, Kikuyu Lake areas and the
Great Rift Valley.
First
night's campsiteDay 1 Drive west from Nairobi, down 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 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 Optional 2-3 hour walking safari along small river course and through the savanna for wildlife viewing with the Maasai as guides and interpreters of their lands, where you will often walk amongst giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. On to a natural hot spring at Maji Moto (where you can take a dip or just dip your toe in). Here we support a primary school and we can arrange visits during term time. Then on to our secluded camp in the Masai Mara, local market visit and late afternoon game drive. Or option to hike all or part-way up nearby Naumare Hills to watch an invariably stunning sunset over the Mara. Overnight in our comfortable permanent tented safari camp (beds with en-suite).
Post-coital argument!Day 3 Ecologically the Masai Mara is an extension of the great Serengeti plains and teems with wildlife. We spend all today in the reserve on game drives and this is where you can see elephant, buffalo, lion, rhino, cheetah, leopard, zebra, giraffe, hippo, crocodile and a whole ark-full of other animals. 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 (beds with en-suite).
Coffee pickingDay 4 After another morning game drive in the Mara (to spot any animals you may have missed yesterday) we drive up and over the forested Mau Escarpment, and descend to Nakuru, past the spectacular Menengai volcanic crater, to a co-operatively run coffee and tea estate. This is a delightful, cool, verdant forested setting where there will be a guided bird-watching walk and visit to the tea and coffee processing operations. You can try your hand at picking tea and coffee if you like. Overnight here in the old colonial estate house.
Watching fish in the hot spring Day 5 After early morning finishing with the farm activities (and if you don’t fancy a walk or the tea and coffee processing insights you can relax in the beautiful gardens drinking it) we take a short drive to Lake Elementaita. This is a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and here we explore the lakeside environment. There are hot springs (with amazing heat tolerant fish) and we’ll visit nearby Kikuyu farms and homesteads. Overnight in small bungalows right by the lakeside with hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos just a few metres away.
View over Lake Nakuru from Baboon Cliffs Day 6 Early start for short drive to 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, vast herds of buffalo and the unusual Rothschild's giraffe. It has also had nearly 400 species of birds recorded within its boundaries. Return to bungalows again at the Elementaita lakeside for overnight. Option tonight for an overnight stay in a Kikuyu villager’s farmhouse for fascinating insights into the life of a local, enhancing your African experience and providing an additional income for the family - no extra cost but advise us in advance please.
A long lens but our boat still moved gently off Day 7 After early breakfast drive to Lake Naivasha, a vast freshwater lake, famed for its bird life particularly fish eagles, love-birds and pelicans. There are also many hippos and we take a morning boat trip to see some of them. Leave mid morning for return to Nairobi arriving around lunchtime.
One of our recent guests made a diary during her safari - you can see her blog (with pics, sound and video) here and it will really give you a feel for what the trip is like.
Bungalow accommodation by L. Elementaita General: Accommodation is in bush camp (fully supported), permanent tented safari camps (with beds and hot water showers), small bungalows and optional night in local villager's house. The bush camping section on this trip allows us access to wilder areas. We do not generally use the luxury lodges but neither do we compromise on health, safety or reasonable comfort. Lodge accommodation can be arranged for private group departures if required. Equipment is carried by vehicles or local porters, you only carry a day-pack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. 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 $1,795 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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