DAY BY DAY JOURNEY

Day 1: Nairobi

JAMBO – KARIBU!! It is ‘touch down’ at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Your hosts in Kenya eagerly await your arrival in traditional African style – wet towels and bubbly. It is a tradition in Africa to present a gift as an expression of our joy and happiness – what better gift than an authentic (branded) safari hat and other safari essentials! Thereafter transfer to your hotel in Nairobi, Kenya’s colorful capital city to check in to your city hotel. Rest of the day or evening is spent at leisure.

Day 2: Mount Kenya

JAMBO – KARIBU!! Our representatives will warmly meet you upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport with our traditional, unique & special welcome (champagne, hot/cold towels and presentation of authentic safari hat and souvenirs). Our guide driver will help you load your luggage into the safari land cruiser then proceed to Mount Kenya National Park arriving at our ‘tree lodge’ to arrive in time for hot lunch. Serena Mountain Lodge is situated in the shadow of Mt Kenya, Kenya’s highest mountain. It is the only ‘tree hotel’ ever to be built on the slopes of Kenya’s legendary Mount Kenya. It offers a matchless game viewing opportunity whilst combining a glorious panorama of mountain vistas with the primordial splendours of an ancient rainforest. Floating high on the flanks of Kenya’s highest mountain and secreted deep within her largest forest reserve, the lodge offers not only the champagne-clarity of mountain air, the tranquillity of the forest and a colourful cavalcade of wildlife but also the chance of scaling the icy peaks of Africa’s second-highest mountain. You can awake to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole. Down the secret viewing hide by the water’s edge, you will experience the awesome thrill of being only meters away from some of the most massive beasts on earth – the savannah elephants. Enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 3: Samburu Game Reserve

Amka! Wake up!  After breakfast we depart north via Nanyuki for the Samburu Game Reserve set in the rugged, semi-arid northern region of Kenya, with spectacular scenic landscape. Arrive in time for lunch, a short siesta then head for an afternoon game viewing drive. The water of the great Ewaso Nyiro River, dotted with doum palms meanders through the reserve giving it an oasis setting and draws wildlife in great numbers to its banks. The verdant riverine forest is a stark contrast to the arid thorn studded plains. Samburu is visited by large herds of Elephants, drawn by the promise of water. In the dry season, the elephants use their tusks to dig deep into the dry river beds, unearthing precious water. These waterholes then become a focal point for other game. The Samburu region is the best place to find several endemic Northern species; including the Gerenuk (twiga gazelle) due to her long neck, the beisa Oryx, the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich and Grevy’s Zebra. Samburu is also an ornithological paradise, home to many birds including local species such as the Palm Nut Vulture and the Vinaceous Dove. Leopards are often seen at dusk. The Samburu culture is a truly fascinating one, sharing a great deal of ancestral and linguistic ties to the Maasai. The entire Samburu region is a place of breath taking and magical beauty, a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the doum palms along the river as a leopard emerges to hunt brings the perfect end to a day on safari. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your lodge/camp.

Day 4: Samburu Game Reserve

Amka! After an early breakfast enjoy a full day of game viewing drives in both Samburu and the nearby Buffalo Springs Game Reserves. The verdant riverine forest along the Ewaso Nyiro River is a stark contrast to the arid thorn studded plains. Packs of African Hunting Dogs are some of the animals you may see during your game viewing. Our driver guide will carefully select an amazing picnic site with a great scenic view where you will take your picnic lunch before venturing into the bush once again! Be on the look-out for the ‘special five of Samburu’: Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerunuk and the beisa Oryx, along with other wildlife and a large number of bird species. Return to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Visit to a Samburu Manyatta to see how the tribe lives in this harsh surrounding.

Day 5: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast depart south on a scenic drive towards Mt. Kenya, short game viewing enroute, arriving at your Sweetwaters Serena Camp in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, proceed on an afternoon game viewing drive within the reserve famous for plenty of plains game and the big five. It is also home to the endangered Chimpanzee and the Rhino Sanctuaries. Return to the lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Lake Nakuru

This morning after breakfast, we drive to Lake Nakuru national Park. After breakfast we depart for Lake Nakuru National Park with a brief stop at the Thompson’s Falls for a breath-taking view of the great scenery. We arrive for lunch. This afternoon we enjoy a game viewing drive. The environment here is welcoming, one of the best places to relax, to unwind, to enjoy nature’s beauty. The scenery is breath-taking; a sight of the virgin forest is re-assuring. Some of the interesting places to visit include the baboon cliff, the lion hill and the Mau escarpment. The park is one of the best game viewing parks with various animal species including prides of lion, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, wart hogs, the endangered Rothschild giraffes, the black & white Rhino, the Burchell’s zebra, impalas, and the elusive leopard among many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here too. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places to see the endangered black and white Rhino. Enjoy dinner and overnight at our Lodge.

Day 7: Masai Mara Game Reserve

After breakfast depart for Kenya’s famous game reserve. You start the day venturing through the Great Rift Valley traveling to one of the richest wildlife Game Reserves, the Masai Mara. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago. Arrive for a late lunch at your lodge/camp. Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive in this vast and expansive Reserve teaming with game. Be on the look-out for the ‘big five’ Mara is famous for and the most sought after in the early 20th century when Kenya was a hunters’ paradise. These include the lion, Cape buffalo, the savannah elephant, black rhino and the elusive leopard. The vast savannah grasslands as far as the eye can see is home to impalas, Maasai giraffes, cheetah, waterbucks, wart hogs, Thompson & grand gazelle, topis, the migrating wildebeests, thundering herds of zebra among many others. You return late in the evening to freshen up prior to dinner and overnight at the lodge/camp.

Day 8: Masai Mara Game Reserve

Amka! Wake up for an early morning breakfast and a full morning’s game viewing drive to return for lunch. Experience the friendly atmosphere where the Masai community lives in harmony with wild game. After lunch visit a traditional Masai Manyatta (off the beaten track) and experience the culture of this world famous community. The Masai still live as they did for centuries – Interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions. Continue with the afternoon game viewing as you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Today’s adventure begins just before dawn. Flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crew inflate their craft. The first, pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies and the hot air balloon fills then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a game-viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, a lion’s roar, elephants crashing through the bush, baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see something above them, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon safari. Back at Camp enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a well-deserved rest.

And/or enjoy a visit to a traditional Masai Manyatta. Experience the culture of this world famous community – the Maasai still lives as they did for centuries; interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions. Continue with your afternoon game viewing drive before returning to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Nairobi

Amka! Wake up early to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before heading off on your last trail of the African Savannah – hopefully you may spot some of the animals that may have eluded you. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and sadly you must say ‘Kwaheri’ to your wonderful lodge manager and his team, as you drive back to Kenya’s colorful capital city, Nairobi. Drop-off at your city hotel/airport.

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