A safari to the north via the high shoulder of Mt Kenya to the Game Reserve of Samburu, then the world famous Bird Sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes of Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru. This tour is excellent for those who wish to combine wildlife viewing with bird watching at panoramic sites in Kenya. Attractions include thr Great Rift Valley, Rift Valley Lakes, Mount Kenya, wildlife at the northern Kenya park of Samburu with its peculiar species that include the gerenuk(antelope giraffe), Beisa’s Oryx, Somali Ostrich, Grevy’s Zebra and the Reticulated Giraffe.
The Itinerary

Day 1 – Samburu

Depart Nairobi in the morning passing through the rich agricultural farmland on the slopes of Mount Kenya to the mainly dry scrub land and open Savannah plains of Samburu Game Reserve. Here the Ewaso Nyiro River supports a wide variety of game among them elephant, buffalo, cheetah leopard, lion, grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, oryx and the long necked gerenuk. Accommodation in our semi-permanent campsite beautifully set on the edge of the river under a canopy of trees, or pitches tents nearby.

Day 2 – Samburu

Day spent game viewing in the park.

Day 3 – Baringo

Leaving Samburu in the early morning, we make a scenic drive to the west across the Lerochi Plateau, (lunch enroute) and later descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Baringo in the afternoon. This is a fresh water lake, which supports a great variety of birds as well as hippos and crocodiles. Indeed, the lake is reputed to be the “bird-watching centre of Kenya.”

Day 4 – Lake Nakuru

Early in the morning we head south via Lake Bogoria, which is a shallow soda lake with a beautiful scenery and also home to a sizeable number of flamingos and other species of birds. The highlight, however, is the boiling hot springs and geysers, which also contribute to the beauty of the lake. After lunch, we proceed to Lake Nakuru in the south – another shallow soda lake that has been described as “an ornithologist’s paradise and one of the world’s most magnificent sights”. Here one has an opportunity to see up to two million flamingos besides tens of thousands of other birds if lucky. Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and harbours lions, warthogs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippo and many other animals. Dinner and overnight in a campsite outside town.

Day 5 -Nairobi

After breakfast, we proceed to Nairobi arriving in the late afternoon.

Talk of Southeastern Kenya and think of Amboseli on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Tsavo East and West National Parks, then onto the Coast to enjoy at leisure the beautiful sunny beaches of Mombasa, Malindi and/ or Lamu (drop off only in Mombasa with cost of stay at the coast not included in the package deal we can arrange this extension for you).

DAY 1: Amboseli
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive via the Kenya / Tanzania border post of Namanga to Amboseli. Lunch will be served en-route and we will enter the park in the afternoon and enjoy a game drive as we head to our campsite for dinner and overnight

DAY 2: Amboseli
Day spent exploring this park with the magnificent snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. The waters from melted snow drain down the mountain under lava flows and surface on the Amboseli plains, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains. Here elephant, buffalo, lion, cheetah, wildebeest, hyena, jackal, zebra and the Maasai giraffe are likely to be seen. All meals and overnight as above

DAY 3: Tsavo West
We break camp and leave soon after breakfast for Tsavo West National Park. Visit the Chyulu Hills and the Mzima Springs, which are favourite haunts of both the hippo and crocodile that can be seen from an underwater observation chamber if time permits. Dinner and overnight at a campsite.

DAY 4: Tsavo West
Day spent exploring this park famous for its ?Man-eating Lions’ (so named following numerous killings of slaves during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway line that passes through the park). All meals and overnight as above

DAY 5: Tsavo East
Early in the morning we drive to Tsavo East. This park once famous for its great herds of elephant still has these beasts usually covered in red dust and a variety of game and fine scenery. We visit Lugards Falls, Mudanda Rocks and Aruba Dam as we view game if time permits.

DAY 6: Mombasa:
An early morning game drive is followed by breakfast and thereafter, proceed to Mombasa arriving there in good time for clients to find their way to their hotels and the tour ends

The ‘Kenya Wildlife Trail’ as many would refer it as, this safari takes you first to the North via the high western shoulder of Mountain Kenya to the Game Reserve of Samburu where the three big cats can be found – The Lion, Leopard, & the Cheetah. It also takes you through the world famous Bird Sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru, then south over the Mau Escarpment to Kenya’s greatest concentration of game – the Maasai Mara.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Samburu

Depart Nairobi in the morning, passing through the rich agricultural farmland on the slopes of Mountain Kenya to the mainly dry scrub land and open Savannah plains of Samburu Game Reserve. Here the Ewaso Nyiro River supports a wide variety of game among them elephant, buffalo, cheetah leopard, lion, grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, oryx and the long necked gerenuk. Accommodation in our permanent campsite, beautifully set on the edge of the river under a canopy of trees or pitch tents,

Day 2 – Samburu

Day spent game viewing in the park and a dip in Buffalo Springs during the hot afternoon may be refreshing.

Day 3 – Baringo

Leaving Samburu in the early morning, we make a scenic drive to the west across the Lerochi Plateau, (lunch enroute) and later descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Baringo in the afternoon. This is a fresh water lake which supports a great variety of birds as well as hippos and crocodiles. Indeed, the lake is reputed to be the bird-watching centre of Kenya.

Day 4 – Lake Nakuru

Early in the morning we head south via Lake Bogoria which is a shallow soda lake with a beautiful scenery and also home to a sizeable number of flamingoes and other species of birds. The highlight, however, is the boiling hot springs and geysers which also contribute to the beauty of the lake. After lunch, we proceed to Lake Nakuru in the south – another shallow soda lake which has been described as “an ornithologist’s paradise and one of the world’s most magnificent sights”. Here one has an opportunity to see up to two million flamingoes besides tens of thousands of other birds if lucky. Lake Nakuru also has rhino sanctuary and also harbors lions, warthogs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippo and many other animals. Dinner and overnight in a campsite outside town.

Day 5 – Maasai Mara

We head further south to Narok, camping in our permanent campsite on the Talek River which is at the edge of the park by afternoon. Accommodation is in large stand-up tents with beds, if available, or we pitch tent. Showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dining mess or in the open.

Day 6 – Maasai Mara

From the base camp, we explore the Mara region, packed with the elephant, zebra, rhino and all kinds of game throughout the year with the spectacular wildebeest migration from Serengeti occurring mainly in July and August. Being at Maasai Mara is “as if you found yourself in the New York of the natural world according to some authorities”. Indeed, you have the best opportunity of seeing all the big five.

Day 7 – Nairobi

We break camp and drive to Narok where Maasai souvenirs can be bought and then proceed to Nairobi.

This safari gives you an opportunity to explore the world famous Bird Sanctuaries of Lakes Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru before heading South over the Mau Escarpment to Kenya’s greatest concentration of game – the Maasai Mara.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Lake Baringo

We leave Nairobi in the morning and drive down the escarpment (stopping enroute to view the spectacular Great Rift Valley), past Lakes Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru and Bogoria to arrive at Lake Baringo by mid afternoon. Lunch will be served en-route. Lake Baringo is a world famous bird sanctuary- you will be taken on a boat trip to see these and also the hippos and crocodiles, natives of this fresh water lake! Dinner and overnight at Roberts Camp

Day 2 – Lake Nakuru

We break camp after breakfast and drive to Lake Bogoria, a spectacular spot with [very] hot water springs / geysers / shooting fountains – Don’t fall in! Flamingos live here and you can only explore the park on foot due to the volcanic activities. Lunch here, or continue to have it at Lake Nakuru National. Enjoy an afternoon game drive of this small park rich in both birdlife and wildlife.

Lake Nakuru National Park: Located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, this park has a great concentration of wildlife including waterbuck, gazelle, buffalo, rhino, the rare Rothschild giraffe, and if lucky, you may see lions and Leopard. The lake and National Park, which is also a bird sanctuary is famous also for its great concentration of birds, in particular the colourful flamingo and the Pelican, which seasonally feed off the abundant algae in the shallow waters of this soda lake. The park was gazetted the first Rhino Sanctuary in the country and boasts of both the White and black Rhino. The park is also home to a large / great Euphorbia forest, which compliments the beauty of the acacia forest on the shores of the Lake – a ‘mini-paradise’ as described by many who have toured here! Overnight in a campsite outside town – Kembu campsite.

Day 3 – Maasai Mara

Continue across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, past the Maasai Town of Narok to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Lunch will be served on the way and we will enter the park through the Eastern park gate of Sekenani by mid afternoon. Enjoy a short afternoon game drive before heading out via Talek gate to your campsite. The camp is a semi- permanent one on the Talek River, which is at the edge of the park. Here we have stand-up tents with beds for use, if not occupied, otherwise we pitch tent. For those in need of more comfort, there are wooden cabins with beds for use at a minimal extra charge. Hot showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

Days 4 & 5 – Maasai Mara

From this comfortable base camp, you will explore the park’s amazingly high concentration of game – two full days in the Mara with game drives (upto two game drives a day each of approx. 3 hrs)

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s most celebrated game park, it offers the possibility of seeing “the big five” and many other species of game. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a spectacle to behold for any would be visitor to Kenya mainly in July and August of each year. We drive straight to our Permanent campsite along the Talek River, which borders the reserve. Accommodation is in large stand-up tents with beds. Showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

All meals and overnight as above

Day 6 – Mara / Nairobi

Depart Camp and drive through the northern part of the reserve viewing game as you proceed to the main Narok road. On reaching Narok, we halt to give you a chance to buy souvenirs, or just to have a cup of tea. Lunch will be served on the way and we arrive back in Nairobi by late afternoon.

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s most celebrated game park, it offers the possibility of seeing “the big five” and many other species of game. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a spectacle to behold for any would be visitor to Kenya mainly in July and August of each year. We drive straight to our Permanent campsite along the Talek River, which borders the reserve. Accommodation is in large stand-up tents with beds. Showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Maasai Mara

We depart in the morning at 0930 hrs and drive down the Escarpment (stopping en-route to view) into and across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, past the Maasai town of Narok to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Lunch will be served on the way and we will enter the park via the Eastern park gate of Sekenani at approx. 1530 hrs. Enjoy a short game drive as we head to our campsite next to the North-eastern park gate of Talek. Here we have stand-up tents with beds for use, if not occupied, otherwise we pitch tents.

Day 2 – Maasai Mara

From this comfortable base camp, you will explore the park’s amazingly high concentration of game – a full day game drive with picnic lunch! The rolling grasslands of the Maasai Mara offer ideal game viewing and photographic opportunities and the grassy plains are broken by rocky outcrops which are favorite midday resting places for Lion. This is where millions of Wildebeest cross the Mara River from the Serengeti National park of Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve of Kenya – an annual spectacular event, which brings along thousands of plains game and predators to the Mara, making the park a beehive of ‘wildlife activities’. Some other animals that could be found here include elephant, black rhino, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. Hippo and crocodile abound in the muddy brown waters of the rivers, which traverse this reserve. Dinner and overnight camping as above

Day 3 – Mara / Nairobi

Depart Camp and drive through the northern part of the reserve viewing game as you proceed to the main Narok road. On reaching Narok, we halt to give you a chance to buy souvenirs, or just to have a cup of tea. Lunch will be served on the way and we arrive back in Nairobi by late afternoon.

The rolling grasslands of the Maasai Mara offer ideal game viewing and photographic opportunities and the grassy plains are broken by rocky outcrops, that are favorite midday resting places for Lion. This is where millions of Wildebeest cross the Mara River from the Serengeti National park of Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve of Kenya – an annual spectacular event, which brings along thousands of plains game and predators to the Mara, making the park a beehive of ‘wildlife activities’. Some of the other animals that could be found here include elephant, black rhino, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. Hippo and crocodile abound in the muddy brown waters of the rivers, which traverse this reserve.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Maasai Mara

We depart in the morning at 0930 hrs and drive down the Escarpment (stopping en-route to view) into and across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, past the Maasai town of Narok to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Lunch will be served on the way and we will enter the park via the Eastern park gate of Sekenani at approx. 1530 hrs. Enjoy a short game drive as we head to our campsite next to the North-eastern park gate of Talek. Here we have stand-up tents with beds for use, if not occupied, otherwise we pitch tents. For those in need of more comfort, there are wooden cabins with beds for use at a minimal extra charge. Hot showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

Rhino, endangered species

Day 2 & 3 – Maasai Mara

From this comfortable base camp, you will explore the park’s amazingly high concentration of game – two full days in the Mara with game drives (upto two game drives a day each of approx. 3 hrs)

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s most celebrated game park, it offers the possibility of seeing “the big five” and many other species of game. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a spectacle to behold for any would be visitor to Kenya mainly in July and August of each year. We drive straight to our Permanent campsite along the Talek River, which borders the reserve. Accommodation is in large stand-up tents with beds. Showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

All meals and overnight as above

Day 4 – Mara / Nairobi

Depart Camp and drive through the northern part of the reserve viewing game as you proceed to the main Narok road. On reaching Narok, we halt to give you a chance to buy souvenirs, or just to have a cup of tea. Lunch will be served on the way and we arrive back in Nairobi by late afternoon.

For those with an urge or desire for adventure, then, this rugged 1,800-km expedition in either a 4 WD Land cruiser or a purposely-built truck takes you up into the heart of the Northern Frontier District. You will traverse along some of Africa’s worst roads; see beautiful mountain forest surrounded on all sides by hot dusty deserts, eventually arriving at your camp on the shores of the Jade Sea (Lake Turkana). The camp is the only camp situated right on the beach of the lake with spectacular views of the South Island It comprises of traditional Turkana palm leaf huts, a dinning/lounge, kitchen, showers and toilets. There is a 20-seat boat based her, which is available for sunset cruises and exploring the surrounding area, which will give you a chance to see a great variety of tribes. Kindly note that, during the rain, the Chalbi desert becomes an enormous shallow lake, making it difficult to cross over hence; the route may be altered accordingly should such occur.

The Itinerary:

Day 1 – Samburu

We leave Nairobi in the morning (@ 0930 hrs) and head North via the western shoulder of Mt Kenya onto Samburu Game Reserve. Lunch on this day will be served on the way (preferably on the slopes of Mt. Kenya) and you will arrive in Samburu late in the afternoon. Enjoy a short game drive as you head to your campsite. Accommodation is in a semi-permanent campsite beautifully set under a canopy of trees or pitch tents on the edge of Uaso Nyiro River inside the Samburu Game Reserve.

Day 2 – Samburu

A full day in Samburu with two game drives (one at 0630 hrs and the other at 1530 hrs), each of approx. 3 hrs. Here, you will have a chance to search and see great herds of Elephants, The big cats – Lion, cheetah and Lepoart and other animals unique to this area of the country – the reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, grevy’s zebra and oryx among others. All meals and overnight as above.

Day 3 – Marsabit

Breakfast at your campsite. Thereafter, we continue further North along the Trans-African highway to Marsabit, a town located on the slopes of an extinct volcano heavily forested on its upper slopes. There are some very steep hills, which are impassable if wet and weather permitting, we would enter the park, or else camp at the park gate. After setting up camp, we will visit the lodge inside the National Park (this will however depend on the weather as indicated above). You may see elephant, buffalo and kudu as the lodge is situated on the edge of a water-filled crater. As long as the park is dry we drive through thick forest to the famous Lake Paradise.

Day 4 – Kalacha

After breakfast, we break camp and visit Marsabit town and another volcanic crater before making our way back into the desert and lava flows. We arrive at Kalacha, a small settlement on the edge of the Chalbi Desert in the early afternoon and in time for lunch. The rest of the day is spent relaxing – there is a plunge pool, a perfect break from the scorching heat of the desert! Dinner and overnight at your campsite.

Day 5 – Lake Turkana

We depart early crossing the Chalbi Desert. The desert cannot be crossed if wet but there are alternative roads around the North and South. We arrive at our semi -permanent beach campsite just outside Loiyangalani soon after lunch. Here we have our traditional Turkana Huts with a cool breeze blowing from the lake for use. If booked up, we pitch tents in an alternative campsite (rarely!). This is indeed a perfect place to relax protected from the scorching sun and heat characteristic of the harsh climate of this remote area. Lunch and dinner will be served at the campsite.

Day 6 – Lake Turkana

We spend the day relaxing and bathing only interrupted by a short boat excursion to visit the surrounding areas. In addition, we visit Loiyangalani and the community settled there while in the evening we may visit one of the Turkana Manyattas [optional] for traditional dances under a star studded sky at an extra cost if clients wish – An unforgettable experience! All meals and overnight at your campsite

Day 7 – Maralal

We leave after shortly after breakfast and journey via South Horr and Baragoi to Maralal, another forested area. Here, the Samburu abound in their red-ochre. Dinner and overnight camping

Day 8 – Nairobi

Heading south again via Laikipia Plains and Thompson Falls (Nyahururu) we drive back into Nairobi by mid-afternoon (lunch will be served on the way).

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Aberdares and Mt. Kenya region
• Samburu Game Reserve famed for its high numbers of the ‘Big Cats’ and other game unique to the area (The Gerenuk, The Oryx, The reticulated Giraffe, The Grevy’s Zebra and the Somali Ostrich among others)
• Lake Paradise and the rain-forested Marsabit
• The Chalbi desert
• Lake Turkana
• Thompson falls
• The Great Rift Valley (on which you travel back!)

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES POSSIBLE ON THIS TRIP

• Visits to the local villages both in Samburu and Turkana
• A walking / hiking tour to Mt. Kulal from Turkana
• A visit to the Crocodile Island and the Elmoro village ex Turkana
• A camel trek (can be arranged – to drop off the trip on day 07 of the itinerary above)
• All these can be arranged through our offices – kindly enquire at the time of booking.