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Grand Tour of Kenya - 12 Days |
Areas of Interest:
Amboseli National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Aberdare Ranges,
Samburu National Reserve, Mount Kenya, Nyahururu Falls /
Thomson Falls, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru,
Nakuru National Park, The Great Rift Valley, Mau Escarpment,
Masai Mara National Reserve
Activities: Scenery, Lodge Stays, Game and Bird Watching,
Ethnic, Culture, Traditional Dances (Optional), Photography,
Relaxation, Equator Stop
Country: Kenya
Our grand tour of Kenya safari takes you to first ever National
Park in Kenya, Kenya’s fertile central highlands,
to the barren northern frontier of Samburu, to 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 Masai
Mara. Kenya’s rift valley escarpments offer some of
the most breath taking views, whilst the diversity in culture
and wildlife on this tour make it a fantastic option.
Day 1– Amboseli
National Park
We depart Nairobi in the morning and drive south through
Masai country to the plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro where
Amboseli is situated. After a stopover lunch at the lodge
we proceed into the scenic Amboseli National Park for a
game drive returning to the lodge in the evening for a sun
downer.
The waters from melted snow drain down Mt. Kilimanjaro under
lava flows and surface in Amboseli, creating a green belt
of swampland amidst dusty plains. Here buffaloes, lions,
gazelles, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, warthogs,
Masai Giraffes, zebra, baboon, hippos and waterbuck can
be seen against the backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped
mountain.
Day 2 – Amboseli
National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, we explore the park through
morning and afternoon game drives. We have sufficient time
for relaxation at the lodge, complete with the majestic
Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background.
At 329 sq km Amboseli is a small park and lacks the profusion
of animal species found in the Mara, but the landscape provides
limited cover so we have better chances of seeing some of
the larger predators.
Day 3 – Aberdare
Ranges
We leave Amboseli, viewing game as we drive via Nairobi
to the Aberdares to enjoy the experience of staying in a
Tree Hotel or lodge overlooking floodlit waterholes where
wildlife and birds regularly visit. Dinner and a well deserved
sleep thereafter.
Over 40 species of wildlife inhabit the Aberdare mountain
ranges, hiding in the heavily forested slopes and in the
upper moor lands. The Aberdares is noted as a rhino sanctuary
but keep an eye out for the elusive rare bongo, which is
best, spotted in the upper bamboo zone and hypericum scrub.
Day 4 – Samburu
National Reserve
After breakfast we proceed further north across the Equator
to the edge of the Northern Frontier. Arrival will be in
time for lunch and an afternoon game drive returning in
time for a sun downer and dinner at the lodge.
Samburu is part of a lava plain that includes a diverse
landscape of thorn scrub, red dirt, dried river beds, broken
volcanic rock, steep hills, and rocky outcroppings. This
reserve is becoming one of Kenya's most admired stops after
the Mara. Sights of the peculiarly branched doum palms and
thorn trees give an unusual look to the region.
Day 5 – Samburu
National Reserve
The whole day will be spent relaxing and leisurely exploring
the Samburu National Reserve through morning and afternoon
game drives. You may opt to do some of the activities offered
at the lodges for a small extra cost.
The light and vast openness creates a lonesome panoramic
beauty and the permanent water supply acts like a lure for
the abundant species found here. The region is home to the
uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk
antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches
with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephant and crocodile
are guaranteed sightings, excellent bird watching with numerous
varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard
sighting is also a special feature here.
Day 6- Mount Kenya
We enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Samburu
reserve then depart for the Mt. Kenya region. Arrival at
the lodge in time for you to enjoy the facilities of the
lodge, explore the Mount Kenya National Park or take an
optional tour to the nearby Sweetwaters Reserve which is
home to Chimpanzees.
Mount Kenya was shaped by volcanic action linked with the
creation of the Rift Valley and is thought to be older than
Mount Kilimanjaro; geologists believe it previously stretched
at least 1500m above its present height of 5199m (17,057ft).
The Kikuyu people settled in the central highlands some
300 years ago called the mountain “Ngai” (God)
who they believed lived on the top of Mount Kenya.
Day 7 – Lake
Baringo via Lake Bogoria
Morning drive via the Nyahururu Falls down to the shallow
soda Lake Bogoria and later to the beautiful lake Baringo
where you may enjoy the pleasure of an evening bird walk.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
The Nyahururu Falls also known as Thomson Falls was named
after Joseph Thomson who walked from Mombasa to Lake Victoria
in the early 1880s; these falls are shaped by the waters
of the Ewaso Narok River and plunge over 72m into a rift,
spraying the dark forest below.
In the spectacular Lake Bogoria; hot springs and geysers
are the main attractions. The lake has been called ‘the
new home of the flamingo’ with a nomad population
of up to two million birds. For the bird enthusiasts, Kesubo
swamp located north of the park is home to more than 200
species of birds.
Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya’s small
Rift Valley lakes; creased with papyrus and well developed
acacia forest. Hippos, crocodiles and monitor lizards are
effortlessly seen from the shore, as is a magnificent display
of water birds. This is Kenya's bird watching centre with
over 1200 different species native to the country and more
than 450 sighted here. A bird watcher's haven but beware,
this is malaria land so it is best to come prepared with
plenty of mosquito repellent.
Day 8 – Nakuru
National Park
We enjoy a morning boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile,
and fish eagle. After a sumptuous lunch, we then proceed
to Lake Nakuru and the Nakuru National Park for an afternoon
game drive.
The park covers 180 sq km and is home to warthogs, waterbuck,
buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White
and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years
ago and you will find white rhino at the southern end. The
park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists’
delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. We
spend the night at Kembu campsite just outside of town.
Day 9 – Masai
Mara National Reserve
After an early breakfast, we depart for Masai Mara National
Reserve via the Great Rift Valley arriving in time for lunch
at the lodge. We then proceed on an afternoon game drive
returning to the lodge for a delicious sundowner, and dinner
at the lodge or luxury tented camp.
The Mara reserve is 1510 sq km of incredible wide-open landscapes
and fertile riverine woodland and one glimpse is enough
to explain its appeal; it is typical savannah, with a mass
of amazing wildlife. Wherever you go in the Mara you will
see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe,
baboons, warthogs, bat eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted
hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants,
buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in great numbers.
It is also common to see lions either basking after a heavy
meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs
and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably
common.
10 & 11 –
Masai Mara National Reserve
The next two days shall be spent viewing game, in the early
morning hours and in the evenings as this is when we have
the best chances of seeing wildlife. The ultimate action
here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus in July
and August when millions of these grass eaters move north
from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before turning
south again in October.
You may also opt to do some of the activities offered by
the lodge. On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic
orange tinted sunsets and you will definitely want to capture
this moment while sipping on a sun downer back at the lodge.
Balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing
the savannah plains and the wildlife after which you come
back down for a beautiful champagne breakfast. These trips
can be arranged at our office upon booking.
Day 12 - Nairobi
After a final early morning game drive we depart for Nairobi
arriving in the afternoon hours.
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