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.
Local Maasai guide 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.
Hosts at our first camp Day 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.
Sunset over the MaraDay 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).
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. 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 pickingDay 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.
Flamingos on Lake Elementaita 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.
Pelicans on Lake Naivasha - from our boat Day 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. Afternoon spent relaxing by the pool and in the extensive grounds of the chalet/lodge accommodation.
Karura waterfall in the Abedares 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.
Samburu 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 bush campsite for 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 bush camps fully supported (4 nights), our own permanent tented safari camp with beds and en-suite facilities (2 nights) local hotels and lodge, chalets (7 nights), and optional night in local villager's house (please request details if you’d like to know more about this). The bush camping 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 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 $3,490 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 $3,145 per person for group of 9
-12 US $3,470 per person for group of 5 - 8 US $3,790 per person for group of 3 - 4 US $4,290 per person for group of 2 US $6,365 for single person departure |
| Prices quoted include: | Prices quoted exclude: |
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