Day 1: Nairobi

Land only tours starts in Nairobi this morning. Arrival Nairobi. Met and greeted with our ‘traditional welcome’ and escorted to the hotel in the heart of the city by our representative. You will be assisted with chec k in procedures. Rest of the afternoon is spent on a Nairobi orientation sight-seeing featuring visits to Nairobi buildings, and the capital hill to have a panoramic view of Nairobi. Situated in the Central Highlands at an altitude of 6,130 feet, Nairobi enjoys a mild climate. Overnight stay at Crowne Plaza hotel.

Day 2: Nairobi-The Aberdare (Tree Hotel)

Our safari begins with the thrill of overnight game viewing in the comfort of a Tree Hotel. The lush hills of Aberdare National Park are covered by Kenya’s densest forest and form the eastern flank of the Great Rift Valley. Outside the park itself we pass many ranches, coffee plantations and early European settlements. We leave our main luggage at the base hotel and continue with just our overnight bags to one famous ‘’Tree Hotels’’, deep in the Aberdare forest. On our journey to the lodge we hope to see typical forest-dwelling animals such as the black and white Colobus Monkeys. A special feature of the lodge where we stay is the floodlit watering hole where we can watch from the lodge itself throughout the night as a great variety of animals come down to drink. Different species of animals are active during the night compared to during the day and many shy species such as rhinos will only approach the lodge at night. It is fascinating to watch their behavior around the watering hole as they take turns in drinking from the watering hole and eating the salt which is put out for them at the ‘Salk Lick. In the morning we hope to have spectacular view towards jagged outline of Mt Kenya. There is also excellent bird watching from the lodge terrace into the surrounding trees. Overnight at the Treetops Lodge.

Day 3: Aberdare –Samburu Game Reserve

Driving north we pass Mount Kenya. Africa’s second highest at 17,000 feet. The massive size of this mountain and its gleaming and eroded snow-covered multiple peaks means that Mount Kenya dominates the surrounding countryside and even affects local climate. This is also the traditional homeland of the Kikuyu people to Samburu Game Reserve in a Semi-desert area of Kenya. Samburu is located on the Ewaso Nyiro River. In this dry land, the forested riverbanks are excellent areas to see wildlife, as all animals congregate here to drink, especially at dusk and early in the morning. This afternoon we take a game drive in the park. Dinner and overnight at the Sopa lodge.

Day 4: Samburu Game Reserve

Early morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu Game Reserve, which covers 40 square miles.Ololokwe table mountains forms a dramatic backdrop to our game viewing today. In Samburu we are sure to see elephants, warthogs, and buffalo which can’t be seen in many of Kenya’s parks, but we should also see animals not found on other parks. These include Grevy’s zebra, which has much narrower and more numerous stripes than the common (Burchell’s) zebra. Samburu is also a home of to the third of Kenya’s giraffe species-the reticulated giraffe. This is also our best chance to see the blue-legged Somali ostrich, the long-necked gerenuk gazelle and the straight-horned Beisa Oryx antelope. Down by the river we hope to see crocodiles and hippos, as well as many beautiful birds. All meals at the Sopa lodge.

Day 5: Samburu Game Reserve-Mount Kenya (Chimpanzee Sanctuary)

We drive back south from Samburu to the Equator and the slopes of Mount Kenya. Although situated on the equator, Mount Kenya is permanently covered in glaciers and snow. Here we stay at the Sweetwaters Game Reserve. This very special 23,000 acre wildlife sanctuary was originally established to protect and breed highly-endangered Black rhinos. In 1994 the Jane Goodall Institute established the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary within the game reserve and moved a large group of chimps here from the unstable situation in their native West Africa. This afternoon we have a game drive in the reserve and tour the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Optional Camel ride or a Night Game drive. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 06 – Aberdares Country Club – Rift Valley Lakes (Lake Nakuru)
This morning we drive across the equator and descend the Nyandarua Escarpment into the Great Rift Valley and visit Thomson Falls. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon we take a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park often described as the world’s biggest ornithological spectacle. This lake is famous for its flocks of over one million Greater and Lesser Flamingoes. The abundance of these birds is due to the alkaline mineral salts in the water, which support vast blooms of the blue-green algae and diatoms on which the flamingoes feed. As well as seeing many large game animals such as zebras, elephants and gazelles, this is one of our best chances of seeing rhinos. These highly endangered animals are the second largest land animals in the world. Lake Nakuru National Park was the first place in Kenya selected as a rhino reserve. Here is one of the few places where we can see Rothschild’s giraffes. Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 07 – Lake Nakuru – Lake Naivasha – Maasai Mara (East)
After a morning game drive, we leave for the Maasai Mara located further south into the Great Rift Valley. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Driving south along the Great Rift Valley we come to Lake Naivasha. Even though this lake is on the floor of the Valley, it is still situated at about 6,200 feet (1,890 meters) above sea level. Naivasha presents a mystery – even though the lake has no apparent outflows, its waters are fresh. The other lakes of the Valley also have only way of losing water, by evaporation, but they are very alkaline. Because it is one of the largest sources of fresh water in Kenya, Lake Naivasha attracts a huge variety of birds in large numbers. It is a bird-watchers’ paradise. After lunch, we make our way to Kenya’s premier wildlife park – the Maasai Mara. This is the northern section of the Serengeti Plain, which is home to the greatest concentration of game animals in the world. Dinner and overnight at the Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 08 – Maasai Mara Game Reserve (West)
The vast, open grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara are home to over 3 million large mammals. These include over 1.4 million wildebeest, which migrate in an enormous, straggling herd each year between the southern part of the Serengeti to the northern part and back again. With them move other herbivores such as gazelles and zebra, also looking for the best grass. Along the way they provide food for big predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. Here we learn about and see firsthand the intricate web of dependency that binds the different species together. Each animal has adapted to its own niche and to the other animals that surround it. Here we see Nature at its most subtle and, sometimes, most cruel as each animal struggles to survive and reproduce. On our morning and afternoon game drives in the Maasai Mara we have a very good chance of seeing all the major Plains animals including lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, hyena, cheetah, jackal, warthog and many species of antelope. Dinner and overnight at the Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 09 – Maasai Mara Game Reserve (West)
We continue to explore this miraculous area on our morning and afternoon game drives. This open grassland is home to almost every species of East African wildlife including lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. This is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Today we also encounter and learn about the Maasai, a proud tribal people struggling to preserve their traditions in the face of modernization. At sunset we will visit a section of the Mara River where we hope to see many hippos. Dinner and overnight at the Mara Sopa Lodge

Day 10 – Drive Back to Nairobi and Depart
After breakfast, say ‘Kwaheri’ – a Swahili word for bye to Maasai Mara and leisurely drive back to Nairobi, arriving at around mid-day and in time for lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant. Day rooms have been reserved until 1800 hrs. For your comfort at the city hotel. Optional Dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant – time permitting. Later we transfer you to the airport for your home bound/ departure flight having seen Kenya probably for the first time!

BASED ON 2 PAX

BASED ON 6 PAX

Inclusions

• Airport transfers and assistances
• Accommodation on full board basis on safari
• Extra meals as indicated
• Complimentary bottle of mineral water provided in our vehicle on safari , per person per day
• Our assistances
• Use of a safari minibus with open pop-up roof, seating up to a maximum of 7 persons
• The services of an English speaking driver-guide
• Park fees for the driver-guide and minibus , fuel
• All game drives and visits as indicated on the program

Exclusions

• International flights and Visa fees & Departure taxes if applicable
• Park entrance fees
• Tips and porterages
• Drinks and Laundry
• Extra visits not indicated