* Departs on Mondays
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.
TOUR 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.
