7 Days Kenya Safari tour – Samburu, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara

NB:

·         Rates are Per Person Sharing in a double / Twin room.

·         Christmas / Festive/ New Year rates available on request.

·         East holiday rates available on request.

·         Children / Infant rates available on request.

·         The safari program can be customized to meet your needs i.e. you can always add an extra night at a discounted rate.

·         Optional safari extras are available at a discounted rate. Kindly liaise with us.

·         Clients staying at hotels located in private wildlife conservancies will pay extra park fees to do game drives at Masai Mara Game Reserve (Please inquire with us)

·         Rates are subject to change without prior notice. Please consult with us prior to making your booking.

Tour Package Includes

·         7 Days Ground transportation in a clean customized Safari vehicle with open roof hutch for game viewing.

·         Services of an English-speaking driver / guide

·         Extensive Game drives in Kenya

·         Pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi.

·         Park Entry Fees.

·         Mineral water during game drives.

·         Exemplary services of our driver/guide.

Tour Package Excludes

·         Items of personal nature

·         Pre and Post safari accommodation in Nairobi which can be arranged at an extra cost.

·         All Items of personal nature.

·         Lunch on the last day.

·         Tips

SAMBURU, BUFFALO SPRINGS, AND SHABA NATIONAL RESERVES

(An oasis of wildlife):

On the banks of the palm-lined Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba Reserves lie in an arid region in the remote north of Kenya.

Shaba National Reserve is one of two areas where George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, made famous in the film Born Free. The wildlife in all three reserves depends on the waters of the river to survive, and many species are specially adapted to the parched conditions, Special Five of Samburu: Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy zebra; Somali ostrich; Beisa Oryx, and gerenuk,

A top attraction in Samburu National Reserve are the Sarara Singing Wells, local watering holes where Samburu warriors sing traditional songs while hauling water for their cattle to drink.

Accommodation options in Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves:

·         Elephant Bedroom Camp

·         Samburu Game Lodge

·         Saruni Samburu

·         Samburu Sopa Lodge

·         Samburu Simba Lodge

·         Sarova Shaba Game Loge

·         Elephant Watch Camp

·         Larsens Tented Camp

·         Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp

·         Ashnil Samburu

·         Sentrim Samburu

ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK

(Majestic Peaks, Moorlands and Intriguing Falls)

Picturesque, steep forested ravines and open moorland characterise the Aberdare National Park. The park provides a habitat for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings include those of the Giant Forest hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker. Visitors can indulge in picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands. Bird viewing is rewarding, with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, Sparrow hawks, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers.

Attractions

·         Game animals easily seen in the park during game viewing include; African Elephant, black rhino, leopard, spotted hyena, olive baboon, black and white colobus monkey, sykes monkey, cape buffalo, warthog, common zebra (North Aberdare), bushbuck, reedbuck.  Rare sightings include those of Giant Forest hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat, blue duiker.

·         Very beautiful sceneries of Aberdare include magnificent waterfalls with the main ones being Karuru waterfalls which fall in three steps, 1st step 117M, 2nd step 26M and 3rd 130M, making a total of 273M, Chania waterfalls and may other smaller ones.

·         Adding to the beauty of Aberdare are many ridges and river valleys which attract mountain scenery photographers.

·         A recent marked attraction in Aberdare is the 400Kms electric fence which was completed – final post on 28th August, 2009.  The fence protects the whole Aberdare ecosystem from human pressures and contains wildlife, preventing human/wildlife conflict.

·         Visitors can also indulge in picnics, trout fishing (in the past the rivers were stocked with brown rainbow trout) in the rivers and camping in the Moorlands.  Bird viewing is rewarding with about 290 recorded bird species, including the Aberdare Cisticola that is critically endangered and the Jackson’s francolin, which is regionally endemic, sparry hawk, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers

Hotel Options at Aberdare National Park:

·         Aberdare Country Club

·         The Ark Lodge

·         Outspan Hotel

·         Treetops Lodge

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

(Ornithologist’s paradise):

LakeNakuruNationalPark, in Central Kenya, is famous for its rhinos, endangered Rothchild Giraffe, Out of Africa View point, flocks of pink flamingos (the numbers recently reduced due to water levels).

The park has more than 450 species of birds have been recorded here, as well as a rich diversity of other wildlife. Lions, leopards, warthogs, waterbucks, pythons, and white rhinos are just some of the animals you might see, and the landscapes range from sweeping grasslands bordering the lake to rocky cliffs and woodland.

The park also protects the largest euphorbia candelabrum forest in Africa. These tall, branching succulents are endemic to the region and provide an interesting textural element to the arid landscapes.

Accommodation options inside Lake Nakuru National Park:

·         Sarova Lionhill Game Lodge

·         Lake Nakuru Lodge

·         Flamingo Hill Tented Camp

·         Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.

MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE:

Masai Mara National Reserve is considered a “must see” for any visitor traveling on safari in Kenya. It is on the “to do” list of most Kenyan visitors because the park is graced by a wide variety of unique and exquisite wild life and birds.

Masai Mara is the best place to see all of the “Big Five” animals (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo) together. The famous wildebeest migration also takes place at the Mara.

Masai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara or The Mara) is situated within the Great Rift Valley in the southern part of Kenya. Measuring approximately 1510sq. kilometers (approx. 938sq. miles) in size, this unfenced savannah grassland is roughly 150 miles southeast of Nairobi.

Maasai Mara derives its name from the indigenous people of Kenya – the Maasai tribe – and the Mara River that cuts through the park. The Masai Mara provides the best view of the famous wildebeest migration as the animals cross the Mara River between July and August.

The Mara is also home to the richest concentration of wildlife, including the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo), zebras, antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests, hippos, crocodiles and others.

The park has the largest concentration of African lions, including the black-maned lion. Birdlife is as plentiful as wildlife at the Masai Mara, which boasts over 400 different birds species.

The park experiences a hot and dry climate with a regular rainfall season twice a year. The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees along the southeastern area of the park.

The Mara and Talek rivers grace the rolling plains of the reserve. Myriad seasonal rivers appear during the rainy season but dry out once the rains are gone.

What to see and Do:

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. Game drives are a great way to experience the park and they take place all year round. If the big cats are what you’re looking for on your Kenyan safari, you are guaranteed to spot them at the Mara.All of the “Big Five” animals (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo) can be spotted here. However, the population of black rhinos is severely threatened with only 37 black rhinos left as of 2000.

Herds of plains zebras are found throughout the park, as well as Masai giraffes, common giraffes, jackals, white-bearded gnus, Oribis, warthogs, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, hartebeests, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, rare Topi antelope and beautiful rone antelope, as well as hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River.

Accommodation options at Masai Mara game reserve:

(Please note some safari lodges / Tented Camps are located in Private wildlife conservancies where safari minivans are not allowed to do games. For such options we will use only 4×4 Safari Landcruisers /Jeeps)