11
DAYS SAFARI: MASAI MARA / NAKURU / AMBOSELI / MOMBASA
DAY
1: NAIROBI
Arrive
Nairobi. Welcome to Nairobi. Once little more than a watering hole
for Masai tribes, Nairobi City is now the largest city between Cairo
and Johannesburg. This is a very cosmopolitan place, lively, interesting,
pleasantly landscaped and a good place to get essential business
and bureaucratic matters sewn up.
Nairobi
has very good places of entertainment such as films on big screens,
bookshops, discos, restaurants, cafes and bars full of travelers
from all over the world, offices where you can have things done
quickly and efficient post services. The city is also the first
destination for travelers going to northern Tanzania.
If
arrival is in the morning, then in the afternoon we drive to Karen
Von Blixen's former home, now a museum. Continue to the Giraffe
Center where you can feed and photograph giraffe from an elevated
platform. Return to the hotel early this evening.
**
Complimentary dinner at The Carnivore Restaurant**. Nairobi
has many restaurants offering a variety of exotic and African cuisine.
However, none beats Carnivore for its uniqueness: It is for carnivorous.
It is the only place you can get a variety of game Meat served in
one meal. Its succulent steaks and barbecue dishes are recommended
for every one especially as a welcome or a farewell Dinner/Lunch.
Overnight at Panafric hotel
or similar.
DAY
2: NAIROBI / LAKE NAKURU
Depart from the hotel at 09.00hrs after breakfast. A brief stop
over at The Rift Valley View point for a panoramic view of the Great
Rift Valley escarpment. Continue to Lake Nakuru, world famous as
the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth.
A shimmering
hot-pink glow emanates across the lake, created by millions of flamingos.
Pelicans, cormorants and Marabou storks also feed on the abundant
algae in the warm, shallow alkaline water. Your lunch is at the
Lion Hill Lodge in an open-air floral setting overlooking the lake.
Lake Nakuru
National Park is a sanctuary for endangered black rhinos and Rothschild
giraffes. Waterbuck are common here, as are their predators, lions
and leopards. All meals and overnight at Lake
Nakuru Lodge or similar.
DAY
3: LAKE NAKURU / MASAI MARA
Leave early after breakfast, climbing out of the Rift Valley, to
enter the Masai Mara Reserve, part of the Serengeti ecosystem. After
lunch, be ready to experience so me of the best game viewing in
Kenya's most exciting game reserve. All meals and overnight at Mara
Sopa Lodge or similar.
DAY
4: MASAI MARA
A full day in the Mara affords time for morning and afternoon game
drives. You might want to consider starting the day off with an
optional balloon safari. All meals and overnight at the lodge.
DAY
5: MASAI MARA
Full day game viewing coupled with exploring this spectacular Park.
The Mara is the land of African legend: Lion are abundant throughout
the park, as are the elephants, giraffes, and a variety of gazelle
species and zebra. Cheetah and leopard are also regularly seen and,
less commonly, rhino.
The annual wildebeest
migration, one of nature's few remaining wildlife spectacles, occurs
in the Mara from July to September where the big animals and their
predators are to be present in abundance during the time frame of
this trip. Several species of Bee-Eater, the flying rainbow that
heads the list of the Mara's birds, occur in the reserve.
As well as wildlife,
the Maasai Mara is also home to many members of the colorful Maasai
tribe who may be seen around the borders of the park - Morans (warriors)
loping across the plains, young boys herding goats, or elders grouped
under a tree discussing matters of the day .A visit to a Maasai
boma (homestead) reveals this outstanding culture and customs. All
meals and overnight at the Mara
Sopa lodge
DAY
6: MASAI MARA / NAIROBI
After breakfast, leave lodge for the last game drive and return
journey to Nairobi. Picnic lunch enroute and arrive Nairobi in the
afternoon or early evening. Overnight at
Panafric hotel or similar
DAY
7: NAIROBI / AMBOSELI
Early breakfast then depart for Amboseli national park. This is
a 392 sq. km park with a spectacular background of Africa's highest
peak; Mt. Kilimanjaro which broods on the southern end of the park.
Game are easy to spot in this park and you stand the best chance
of seeing the black rhino.
Amboseli also
has a large concentration of elephant and such other game as lion,
buffalo, gazelle, cheetah, wildebeest, hyena, jackal, monkey, Masai
giraffe, zebra and baboon. Game are seen on much of the route to
the park, which crosses archer plains where Masai tend their cattle
in an age-old tradition. All meals and overnight at Amboseli Sopa
lodge or similar.
DAY
8: AMBOSELI / TSAVO WEST
The main attraction centers in this park are the Kilaguni and Ngulia
lodges. Animals seen here are; elephant, lion, waterbuck, ostrich,
Oryx, marabou stork, mongoose, zebra, baboon, rock hyrax, impala,
hyena, Ostrich and other variety of birds. Mzima springs, situated
near Kilaguni lodge are a popular spot for Hippos, crocodile and
fish.
The underwater
viewing chamber gives you a spectacular view of the hippos' submarine
activities. Another attraction is the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, at
the base of Ngulia hills .It is a 70 sq. kilometer surrounded by
a meter-high electric fence and is home to 30 black rhino.
In addition,
the black lava flow outside the chyulu gate and climbing the chaimu
crater makes an experience at Tsavo west a memorable one. All meals
and overnight at Kilaguni
lodge or similar.
DAY
9: TSAVO WEST / MOMBASA
Breakfast at the lodge then drive to Mombasa.
The City of Mombasa provides an interesting experience with the
old Portuguese Fort Jesus, Old Town, Markets and Shops. An extensive
variety of excursions are available to sample the local culture
and the famous Kenyan wildlife. Check into Mombasa Beach Beach Hotel
for dinner and overnight.
DAY
10: MOMBASA
Full day own leisure in Mombasa. Accomodation at Mombasa beach Hotel
on half board basis.
DAY
11: MOMBASA / NAIROBI
Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport for flight back
to Nairobi. You will then check in for your international flight back
home.