13 days - Nairobi - Tsavo - Amboseli - Mt. Kenya - Samburu - Sweetwaters - l. Baringo - L. Nakuru - Masai Mara
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Itinerary Summary Day 01: NAIROBI Day 02: NAIROBI – TSAVO Day 04: AMBOSELI Day 05: AMBOSELI – KENYA Day 06: MT. KENYA - SAMBURU Day 07: SAMBURU Day 08: SAMBURU – SWEETWATERS Day 09: SWEETWATWERS – LAKE BOGORIA/LAKE BARINGO Day 10: LAKE BARINGO – LAKE NAKURU Day 11: LAKE NAKURU – MASAI MARA Day 12: MASAI MARA |
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 01: NAIROBI
Your safari adventure begins with a warm welcome by our customer service representatives upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You will be driven to the luxurious NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB HOTEL where you will relax in your air-conditioned suite. Nairobi Safari club, formerly a private club for members only is the ideal place to be. All the rooms in the hotel are suites, six of which are Presidential Suites. Here you can enjoy the clubs sauna, gym, swimming pool, various bars and other amenities. Spend the afternoon at your own leisure. Overnight at NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB.
Day 02: NAIROBI – TSAVO
After breakfast, your driver/guide will drive you through the North Great Road, to the legendary land of the “Man-Eaters” – Tsavo National Park. The 21,000 sq km park is one of the largest in the whole world. Due to its enormous size, this animal and plant heaven was divided into two parts Tsavo East and Tsavo West, for easy administration and management. This wilderness is home too over 1000 plant species, 400 bird species and more than 60 major mammal species such as lions, huge herds of buffalo, the solitary and ill-tempered Rhino and at least 7000 elephants. The park is the location of Africa’s most famous adventure story “Man eaters of Tsavo”, in which two lions where responsible for eating over 500 workers who where building the Uganda railway also known as the “Lunatic Line “ by it’s opponents in the British Parliament in 1898. The story was made famous in the 1996 movie “The Ghost and the Darkness.”
Enjoy your lunch at KILANGUNI SERENA LODGE. Conveniently located in the heart of the park, the lodge offers captivating views of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills. Only 100m from the main building, is a water hole where animals come to quench their thirst. Each of the 53 rooms has a private shower, toilet, and a verandah (Patio) overlooking the waterhole and Africa’s highest mountain, snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro. With it’s own airstrip nearby, Kilanguni lodge is the place to be. Dinner & overnight at KILANGUNI SERENA LODGE (BLD).
Day 03: TSAVO – AMBOSELI
After an early morning breakfast, we proceed to Amboseli National Park through the statan lava plateau. Beautifully situated beneath the foot of Africa’s highest mountain Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895m), the park is well renowned for its huge herds of elephants and various types of other Savannah wildlife such as Giraffes, Bushbuck’s, Kudu, Warthog’s, Zebra’s and over 425 species of birds recorded here. The snowcapped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above white clouds dominates every aspect of Amboseli and forms a backdrop to an impressive display of wildlife attracted to this location by swamps and springs fed by underground rivers from Kilimanjaro’s melting snow. With an airstrip at Empusel Gate, the park is also home to the Masai people, those tall, brave, and proud nomads who live in close harmony with the environment and the wildlife that surrounds them. Amboseli was the location around which such famous writers like Sir Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark tailored their stories of big game hunting in the wilds of Africa
Enjoy a game drive en-route, as we arrive in time for your lunch at the OL-TUKAI LODGE, situated deep in the heart of the world famous Amboseli National Park. The lodge is camouflaged in a forest of fever trees, yellow barked acacia trees, palms and well designed cottage style accommodations, which spread out on either side of the main lodge. Each room offers a breathtaking view of the magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro and the surrounding wetlands. Ol-Tukai lodge blends perfectly well into the African savannah and it will bring out your natural instincts. You can go for a dive in the Acacia tree shaded swimming pool, or for those of you reading enthusiasts, you can read the day away in the well-stocked library with a relaxing view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. After your afternoon game drive you can spend some time in the open-air bar, which is open until the last guest retires, so if you’re the “night owl type” this is the perfect opportunity for you to stay up all night Dinner & overnight at OL-TUKAI LODGE (BLD).
Day 04: AMBOSELI
A dawn game drive will be the perfect time for photographing the humbling and magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa. We return to the lodge for breakfast and some R&R “rest and relaxation”, sunbathing, swimming or for those of you reading enthusiasts, you can read the day away in the well-stocked library with a relaxing view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, before heading out for an afternoon game drive. All meals and overnight at OL-TUKAI LODGE (BLD).
Day 05: AMBOSELI – KENYA
After an early breakfast we head for Nairobi “The City Under The Sun” for an early lunch. Heading further north, we drive through coffee plantations to MOUNTAIN LODGE. The Lodge, which comes alive at night with the various sounds of animals, is one of the exotic “Tree Hotels” situated in the heart of Mt. Kenya’s forest reserve. All of the en-suite rooms have balconies from which you can look beyond the trees to observe the endless parade of wildlife. You can watch these animals from the safety of your room or from a specially built viewing bunker connected to the lodge by a tunnel, which affords you an amazing up-close view of the animals as they visit waterholes and saltlick. Dinner & overnight at MOUNTAIN LODGE (BLD).
Day 06: MT. KENYA - SAMBURU
After breakfast, we drive further north to SAROVA SHABA LODGE. It’s located high above the banks of the life-giving Uaso Nyiro River in the Shaba Game Reserve (Filming location of the Hit CBS Survivor III, series). Shaba lodge is composed of 85 luxury thatched-roof bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, all of which are facing the river. Each room is furnished with local stone and off-cut timber, a Presidential Suite with a separate bedroom, lounge, and private Jacuzzi is also available, as well as 4 junior suites. The lodge beautifully incorporates the existing natural springs as one of its special features. The 1989 movie “Born Free”, a true-life story of George and Joy Adamson was shot in the Game Reserve and some of the scenes were shot at the lodge. An open-air restaurant over looking the river, swimming pool, curio shop, bars, and it’s location at an oasis make it a perfect base from which to explore the Shaba Reserve, as well as its sister reserve - Buffalo Springs to the west.
Lunch will be served at the lodge, where spring water flows throughout the lodge to form beautiful water cascades and sparkle into the Uaso Nyiro River. You’re also able to view crocodiles in the river below from the safety of the viewing platform located on the lodge grounds. Apart from being the only location in Kenya where you will find Gerenuk, the reserve is renowned for its unique collection of other species of animals, such as Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy Zebra, Cheetah, and Lions. After Enjoying an afternoon Game (wildlife) viewing in the reserve filled with scenic beauty, we return for dinner and overnight at SAROVA SHABA LODGE (BLD).
Day 07: SAMBURU
Before dawn we head out in search of Africa’s wild cats. From the game drive we return to the lodge for breakfast and some R&R “rest and relaxation”, or perhaps read a book/novel, sunbathe and go for a refreshing dip in the uniquely designed swimming pool before heading out again on your afternoon game drive. All meals & overnight at, SAROVA SHABA LODGE (BLD).
Day 08: SAMBURU – SWEETWATERS
After breakfast, we will travel to the exquisite SWEETWATERS TENTED CAMP in the secluded heart of the Ol Pejeta Ranch and Rhino sanctuary. Built within a private ranch, the camp is a “Rhino heaven” which also supports a wide variety of other wildlife such as elephants, giraffes etc, it is only here that you can have a night game drive at extra cost. 25 of the 30 luxurious tents overlook the water hole and some are built on stilts to offer you a better view. Each luxurious tent comes with en-suite facilities, a patio (verandah) and is set under a thatch roof. A visit to the Chimpanzee sanctuary should not be missed and remember to pack your swimming gear because the camp has a swimming pool, table tennis, board games and satellite television. Lunch will be served at the Camp. Dinner and overnight at luxurious SWEETWATERS TENTED CAMP (BLD).
Day 09: SWEETWATWERS – LAKE BOGORIA/LAKE BARINGO
After breakfast, we proceed to the jewel of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Bogoria. Described as the “Most beautiful view in Africa” by Bishop Hannington, the lake is well known for its Hot springs and geysers, which are spread out along its southern shores. The hot sulfur water gushing out of the ground is known to have therapeutic values. These natural spas and their steam are Mother Nature’s version of a bath & sauna. After a relaxing walk around the lake, your lunch will be served at LAKE BOGORIA HOTEL.
After lunch we drive further to Lake Baringo one of the leading ornithology lakes in East Africa, more than 470 bird species call this area home. We check-in at LAKE BARINGO COUNTRY CLUB a superb and compact hotel set at the shores of Lake Baringo. A relaxing boat ride on the lake will be the feature of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at LAKE BARINGO COUNTRY CLUB (BLD).
Day 10: LAKE BARINGO – LAKE NAKURU
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Lake Baringo as we travel southwards to Lake Nakuru, shimmering with a pink color due to the thousands of beautiful pink flamingos lining its shores. Lunch will be served at LAKE NAKURU LODGE, which, is situated in the south ecological niche of the park. The lodge with its friendly and competent staff is an oasis of comfort that provides first class customer service and offers commanding views of lesser flamingoes dotted with the greater flamingoes. It blends in perfectly well with its natural surroundings and animals often patrol peacefully close to the lodge adding to its captivating magic. For some R&R (Rest and Relaxation), the spacious logged and inviting Mamma Nikki’s bar, the cool upstairs Rhino Paddock Cocktail bar overlooking the Lake and the enticing blue pool can be tremendously inviting.
An afternoon game drive around the lakeshore will be the main feature for the afternoon, dinner & overnight at LAKE NAKURU LODGE (BLD).
Day 11: LAKE NAKURU – MASAI MARA
Soon after breakfast we will drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, the longest rift in the crust of the Earth, to Masai Mara Game (Wildlife) Reserve the unspoiled Savannah. This is Kenya’s number one park and is always on every tourist’s “Must see list”. Full of life with various types of animals and birds, Masai Mara crown’s the climax of every safari in Kenya. Its rolling grasslands and acacia savannah have time and again been captured on film with the movie “Out Of Africa” being the most famous. Masai Mara is home to the “Big Five” (Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Rhino) and over 450 bird species. Apart from the big five, the Masai Mara is most famous for the spectacular annual migration of over a million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle etc from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania crossing the Mara River into Kenya in search of fresh feeding grounds, which takes place in late July or August. During this crossing, hundreds of animals are swept away by the first moving Mara River and others are killed by the ferocious African Crocodiles. This crossing gives true meaning to the phrase “Survival of the fittest”.
Lunch will be served at the excellent MARA SOPA LODGE your new home for the next two nights. “Sopa” means welcome in the Masai language and true to its name, the lodge and its staff offer first class customer service and accommodations under a welcoming atmosphere. Set in the Oloolaimutia valley the lodge blends in perfectly well with its surrounding hillside landscape. The 77 rooms, 12 suites, and 1 Presidential Suite are all equipped with en-suite bathrooms, mini bars and elevated verandahs (patios) from which guests can sun bathe, relax and enjoy the view of the valley and it’s resident wildlife and birds. The lodge has direct-dial telephone services, satellite television and video services. P.S don’t forget your swimming costume for a midday or night swim under the star filled African sky.
After lunch and some time for relaxation, or sunbathing and going for a dive in the pool, your driver/guide will take you for an afternoon game drive in search of the shy and elusive leopard, the solitary and ill-tempered Rhino, lions, buffalos, and many others. As the sun starts to edge its way dip into the African horizon it will be the perfect opportunity to capture the beautiful Mara landscape on film or video camera. Dinner & overnight at, MARA SOPA LODGE (BLD).
Day 12: MASAI MARA
An early morning game drive before dawn is the perfect start of another unforgettable and memorable day in Africa. In between the morning and afternoon game drives you can sunbathe, take a refreshing dip in the pool, read a book or novel, or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the ambiance at your lodge and the natural flora & fauna surrounding it. All meals and overnight at, MARA SOPA LODGE (BLD).
Day 13: MASAI MARA – NAIROBI - AIRPORT
After breakfast, we drive back to Nairobi arriving in time for lunch at TOONA TREE RESTAURANT where you can enjoy some good Italian food. In the afternoon enjoy a tour of Nairobi “The City Under The Sun”, followed by a complimentary dinner hosted by our company at the world famous CARNIVORE RESTAURANT considered “Africa’s greatest eating experience” (if you love barbecue it doesn’t get better than this), and home to the “Simba Saloon” one of the cities most popular night clubs. Thereafter you will be transferred to the Airport for your international connection for a safe journey home. (BLD)
Price includes
-Airport transfers in Nairobi where applicable
-All Park entrance fees
-Accommodation as in itinerary at full board
-Meals as in itinerary.
-Bottled water for use during the safari
-2 Game drives per day in an exclusive safari vehicle
Not included:
- Expenses of personal nature such as visas, tips etc