Kenya Insights - 14 days
Discover the contrasting scenery, wildlife environments and cultures of the Maasai Mara, Rift Valley Lakes, the Abedares, Mt Kenya forests and the rugged northern game parks of Samburu and Buffalo Springs.
On the way you will experience some of the day-to-day life of the Maasai, Kikuyu and Samburu peoples - visit their villages, homes and farms and be guided by them through their lands and life. The itinerary has been designed to compliment our Kenya Explorer (the first 7 days are the same) and cover a wider range of environments, game parks and cultural experiences - all at a not-too-hectic pace.
Day 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).
Sunset over the MaraDay 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. Drive 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 times. 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.
Lion dragging a giraffe followed by hyenas
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, 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 August to
October, the Mara is home to the great wildebeest migration. Overnight
again in our permanent tented safari camp.
Coffee picking Day 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.
Flamingos at ElementaitaDay 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.
Our home-stay hostessDay 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.
Pelicans on Lake Naivasha - from our boat Day 7 After early breakfast drive to Lake Naivasha, a vast freshwater lake, famed for its many hippos and bird-life - particularly fish eagles, love-birds and pelicans - and we take a morning boat trip to see them. Afternoon and overnight spent relaxing in one of the more luxurious lodges around Lake Naivasha as a sort of mid-trip break.
Day 8 Leisurely drive to the Aberdares arriving at Mutubio Park gate for lunch. The Abedares Range towers between the Rift Valley and Mt Kenya, more than 4,000m at its highest point. It is high altitude moorland with spectacular views and much of the strange Afro/Alpine vegetation that is found high up on Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro. After visits to several spectacular waterfalls and opportunistic game viewing (lion, elephant and buffalo abound up here) we overnight at Kiandongoro campsite on the eastern side of the range.
Maasai guide and wild flower talk Day 9 Early breakfast then game drive in the Salient - this is the location of the Tree Tops lodge and waterhole - made famous when in 1952 a certain Elizabeth was staying here, and on the death of her father became queen of England. Picnic lunch then exit through Treetops Gate, drive through the local farms at Mweiga to arrive at Mountain Rock Lodge for afternoon tea. Opportunities for a short nature walk around the forest, birdwatching, medicinal plant study, search for monkeys and horse riding. Or relax in the extensive lodge grounds Overnight in the Mountain Rock Lodge.
Headteacher at our Gitero
Village School visitDay 10 An excursion into the virgin montane forest and a morning walk through the towering trees to the Mau Mau caves. Colobus monkeys crash around the branches, scarlet winged turacos flash through the forest canopy and you may see buffalo in the clearings. The Mau Mau fighters used the area for shelter during their freedom struggle from the British in the 1950's and en-route our naturalist guide will reveal their forest foods, herbal medicines and survival techniques providing an understanding of the history and ecology of these forests. Return for lunch then cultural visits to local villages and subsistence farms of the Kikuyu people living on the lower slopes of the mountain. Afternoon tea with the villagers. Overnight Mountain Rock Lodge.
Samburu
landscape - pic by Alan NewmanDay 11 Drive north to Samburu. Located in the semi-arid Northern Frontier District this area has an atmosphere of mystery and adventure amid a stark and beautiful landscape. The permanent water from the Ewaso Nyiro river ensures an abundance of wildlife concentrates in the reserves at all times. Afternoon game drive and then bush camp overnight at our well-selected site along the River.
Ewaso
Nyiro elephants - pic by Alan Newman Day 12 Full day game driving in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Parks. These parks teem with wildlife. Some of the unique wildlife species found only here or further north include the oryx, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the Somali ostrich. Picnic lunch with opportunity to swim at the most beautifully sited natural spring pool in the world - in my opinion. Return to Samburu campsite for dinner and overnight.
Samburu
camel herderDay 13 Morning game drive. Lunch, then cultural activities in a true Samburu manyatta on the edge of the reserve. An opportunity to interact with this colourful tribal people and learn about their culture and lifestyle. Drive back to Mountain Rock Lodge arriving in the late afternoon for overnight.
Day 14 After breakfast transfer to Nairobi arriving before 13.00. This is convenient for most onward travel plans; to the coast, Arusha in Tanzania, or for afternoon/evening return flights.
General: Accommodation is in a bush camps (fully supported), permanent tented safari camps (with beds and hot water showers), small bungalows, optional night in villager's house, lodges and local hotels. The bush camping section on this trip allows us access to wilder areas. We do not generally use the luxury lodges (although on this trip you have a night in one) but neither do we compromise on health, safety or reasonable comfort. Equipment is carried by vehicle and you would only ever carry a day-pack with personal gear when out on walks. Whilst camping you will not have to participate in camp chores - unless you want the experience. 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 or other 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 $3,480 per person if you can
start on one of our scheduled Kenya Explorer departure dates - see When
we go We need a minimum of 2 people for these trips to run. Please contact us for current booking status if you are a single traveller. |
US $3,340 per person for group of 9
-12 US $3,935 per person for group of 5 - 8 US $4,190 per person for group of 3 - 4 US $4,655 per person for group of 2 US $6,915 for single person departure |
| Prices quoted include: | Prices quoted exclude: |
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