10 days Samburu - Mararal - Baringo - Nakuru - Naivasha - Loita
- masai Mara
Day 1 Nairobi- Samburu
Departing Nairobi and heading north towards Samburu, we travel
on 300 kms of good tarmac road that takes us through some
spectacular scenery. We pass pineapple plantations, tea and
coffee plantations, and of course the mountain forest of Mt.
Kenya, before reaching 3000 metres altitude at Timau. We
arrive back on the plains at Samburu. Samburu Game Reserve has a
remarkably rich variety of fauna. It's a very picturesque
reserve of semi desert savanna surrounded by the foothills of
Mt. Kenya to the south and the Matthews Ranges to the north, and
separated in two by the river `Uaso Nyiro'. The animal life is
both varied and prolific, and includes a number of species that
are not found in other areas, gerenuks, Grevy's zebra and the
reticulated giraffe. The river bank is an excellent observation
point. We camp this evening on Champagne Ridge.
Day 2 Samburu
Full Day in Samburu with morning and late evening game drive.
All meals and overnight at the campsite.
Day 3 Mararal
Afterbreakfast leave the game reserve and drive through a sandy
semi desert region with outcrops of giant granite boulders and
sandy riverbeds lined with huge acacia trees and doum palms. We
meet the Samburu herdsmen leading goats and camels to a watering
hole and the women carrying water containers to their village.
Dinner and overnight ata campsite.
Day 4 Lake Bogoria
After breakfast, descend into the Rift Valley we arrive at the
very beautiful Lake Bogoria. The Laikipia escarpment drops
sharply into the lake on the eastern side, and along the shore
we find geysers spurting steam high in the air and pools of hot
water bubbling from the ground. Millions of flamingos line the
lakeshore and are particularly concentrated around the hot
springs. The lake is highly concentrated in soda and is ideal
for the growth of algae upon which feed the flamingos. The
reserve is birdwatchers paradise with flamingos, pelicans,
avocets, ducks, cranes
and hornbills just to mention a few. Dinner and overnight at
campsite.
Day 5 Nakuru & Naivasha
After breakfast, proceed south to Nakuru national park for game
drive with picnic lunch. After lunch we continue on to Lake
Naivasha where we spend the night the camp. Lake Naivasha is one
of the few freshwater lakes of the Rift Valley and as well as
being home to huge herds of buffalo and hippos - not to mention
the birdlife - there are large exploitations of flowers and
vegetables grown for exportation and of great economic
importance to the economy.
Days 6 and 7 Loita Hills
We leave the Rift Valley lakes and head for Masai land and the
Loita Hills. Even outside national park boundaries the wildlife
is abundant. The Masai are not hunters, as they don't appreciate
the taste of game meat. So it's not unusual to pass a herd of
Thompson's gazelle or wildebeest close
to the Masai dwellings. The next day after breakfast we go
walking with some local Masai guides. The surrounding landscape
is magnificent and walking through the forest with green grassy
clearings reminds us somehow of the English countryside - but
not for long as we are brought back to reality and Africa by the
sight of a Masai armed with his spear. We pass villages and stop
to speak with the friendly inhabitants. Dinner and overnight at
the camp.
Days 8 and 9 Masai Mara
After breakfast, drive from the rolling hills onto the open
plains of Masai Mara Game Reserve. Although these people of
Nilotic origin were feared by the first explorers to the region,
the proud warriors of today spend most of their time herding
cattle in search of fresh pasturage. Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Masai Mara is a succession of undulating plains and rivers lined
with acacia trees, where we can observe an exceptionally rich
variety of wildlife. Here we find the largest lion population in
Kenya, but even more spectacular is the enormous concentration
of antelopes, zebras, and wildebeest. During the migration
period the number of animals can reach the millions. Dinner and
overnight at the camp/lodge.
Day 10 - NAIROBI
After a last morning game drive we head back to Nairobi for your
flight back home.
