Wildlife Tours to Kenya KENYA CLASSIC
Photo: Cheetahs (Malcolm Parker).
*Single room supplement.
(Costs are per person, full board, based on sharing twin-bedded rooms).
Tour Destinations :
- Kenya Highlands
- Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha
- Samburu/Buffalo Springs Game Reserves
- Masai Mara National Reserve
Tour Summary
Kenya Classic
This thirteen day tour is designed to embrace the best of the Central Highlands, northern bush country, Rift Valley and the Masai Mara. It provides excellent opportunities to see a large variety of mammals and birds among some exciting landscapes ranging from the temperate areas of Mount Kenya through the dry bushlands of the north and the special atmosphere of the Rift Valley Lakes to the vast rolling plains of the Masai Mara. By covering such diverse habitats within a sensible restricted mileage, we will be certain of seeing an enormous variety of mammals and birds.
Photo: Black & White Colobus (Nick Garbutt).
Itinerary
Day 1 : Overnight flight from London to Nairobi
You will depart from London in the evening on your overnight flight to Nairobi
Day 2 : Mountain Lodge
You arrive in Nairobi in the early morning and transfer from there to Mountain Lodge, passing some spectacular scenery as you climb to over 2,200m (7,200ft). The Lodge is set in a clearing in the Mount Kenya Forest. It provides superb opportunities to view a whole range of mammals and birds. The whole of our stay, including the night, can be spent viewing the waterhole and its constantly changing visitors from the comfort of the Lodge.
Days 3, 4 and 5 : Samburu Game Reserve
After an early morning walk in the forest at Mountain Lodge, you will depart for Samburu driving through the Highlands of Kenya on, for the most part, tarmac roads. The agriculture of the region provides much of interest en route, coffee and pineapple plantations contrasting with local style agriculture. Skirting the west side of Mount Kenya, the road passes through Isiolo and thence to the Samburu/Buffalo Springs Game Reserves.
You will explore the reserve on morning and afternoon game drives, whilst the heat of the day can be used to explore the wide variety of animal and bird life in the Lodge grounds. Above all, this three night stay will allow us to savour on of Africa’s most appealing habitats — dry bush lands with seasonal rivers. The pattern of wildlife behaviour is controlled by the endless search for water and, where it is found, wildlife is present in abundance. Herds of Elephant, Buffalo and species of antelope will compete for prime position for water, alert to predators which may be present. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard can all be seen here. Birds are prolific — almost everywhere you will encounter several species of shrikes, bee-eaters, babblers, barbets, hornbills, weavers, larks, doves, waxbills, sunbirds, warblers and many others, not least birds of prey, including the majestic Martial Eagle.
Day 6 : Transfer to Lake Naivasha
On Day 6 you will travel around the shoulder of the Aberdare Mountains, calling at the dramatic Nyahururu (Thomson’s Falls) en route, and arriving at Elsamere Conservation Centre on the shores of the beautiful Lake Naivasha in the late afternoon. Elsamere was the home of Joy Adamson of Born Free fame and the conservation centre has a small museum and examples of some of her artwork. It you are fortunate, you may also be lucky enough to catch sight of the hippos which regularly emerge from the lake to graze on the Elsamere lawns at night. There is also a resident troupe of Black and White Colobus Monkeys in the woodland alongside the lake.
Day 7 : Lake Nakuru
After breakfast you will make the short journey to Lake Nakuru National Park where you will spend the day circumnavigating the lake, exploring the extensive acacia woodland and the lake shore. Lake Nakuru plays host to vast gatherings of flamingos and other water and shore birds as well as many mammal species including Rothschild’s Giraffe and Bohor Reedbuck. The park also has a healthy population of Rhino. On the lake you can expect to see resident species such as Red and Yellow-billed Duck and Hottentot Teal.
Day 8 : Lake Naivasha
The freshwater Lake Naivasha provides an excellent contrast to Lake Nakuru and we have a full day to relax and enjoy the beautiful lakeside location. After breakfast, we will take a boat trip on the lake maximising the opportunity to see the wealth of birdlife which the lake has to offer. Along the shore Marsh Sandpipers and Greenshanks will mingle with Kittlitz’s Plovers, whilst the marshy fringes and Papyrus beds will abound with storks, egrets, herons and ibises. After lunch, there will be ample to explore the lodge grounds in search of more bird species.
Days 9, 10 and 11 : Masai Mara Game Reserve
On Day 9, you will depart from Lake Naivasha after breakfast, driving south via Narok to the Masai Mara. Contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, The Masai Mara National Reserve is world famous for its huge concentrations of plains game and their associated predators. Flanked by the Loita Hills in the east and the Siria escarpment in the west, these vast rolling plains, basking under a seemingly endless sky, form a breathtaking spectacle.
The plains are crossed by the Mara River and its tributaries which are fringed by dense riverine forest. The Mara River is probably the best place in Kenya for seeing Hippo, but it is the plains which will provide the most spectacular sights of Wildebeest, Kongoni, Topi, Buffalo, Warthog and Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles.
The Mara should provide memorable sightings of Lion, Cheetah, Spotted Hyaena and Black-backed Jackal. The birdlife of the Reserve is diverse. In the densely forested river valleys, you should find Schalow’s Turaco and several species of kingfisher, barbet, flycatcher, warbler and bee-eater. The open plains should provide several species of bustard, lark and local specialities such as Ground Hornbill, whilst overhead there will be large numbers of vultures, eagles and hawks.
The very special qualities of the Masai Mara and its wildlife will undoubtedly make a long-lasting impression on all its visitors.
Day 12 : Masai Mara to Nairobi.
You will leave the Masai Mara after breakfast, driving back through the park towards Narok and on to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. Day rooms will be available at a Nairobi Hotel where you can freshen up before departing for the airport and your late evening flight back to the UK.
Day 13 : You will arrive back in the UK early in the morning.