10 days Camping and Culture in Kenya
Samburu - Mararal - Lake Baringo - Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha - Loita Hills - 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 Mount 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 at 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 Lake Nakuru and Lake 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.