Day:
01
Depart Nairobi and drive through the agricultural rich country to and head northeastwards to Samburu National Reserve. You will have a stop over at Mountain Rock lodge for lunch before proceeding to Samburu. Samburu national reserve is a semi arid ecosystem which teems with a host of wildlife endemic to the northern part of Kenya chief among them being the reticulated giraffe, the grevy zebra, the oryx, the Somali ostrich, and the gazelle with the longest neck called the gerenuk, the vulturine guinea fowl among others. Apart from the above species, elephants, buffaloes, gazelles, crocodiles, impalas and dik-diks are seen in plenty as well as the elusive lions, cheetahs and leopard. Upon arrival you proceed for a small game drive on our way to the camp. Dinner and overnight at a campsite in the reserve.
Day:
02
Whole day game drive in the park where our expert guides and drivers will take you to different locations of the Samburu and the nearby buffalo springs reserves where you will have spectacular chances of spotting wildlife. You break off during the midday heat for lunch. After lunch you may visit a nearby lodge for a refreshing swim (at your own cost).
Samburu is a semi arid ecosystem which teems with a host of wildlife endemic to the northern part of Kenya chief among them being the reticulated giraffe, the grevy zebra, the oryx, the Somali ostrich, and the gazelle with the longest neck called the gerenuk, the vulturine guinea fowl among others. Apart from the above species, elephants, buffaloes, gazelles, crocodiles, impalas and dik-diks are seen in plenty as well as the elusive lions, cheetahs and leopard. Dinner and overnight at a Camp.
Day:
03
Full morning game drive in the reserve. Return back to the camp for early lunch and later depart for Kirish Camp, which is at the base of the Olololokwe Mountain (2000m). This is a sacred mountain to the Samburu a nomadic sub tribe of northern Kenya who apparently are related to the Maasai. Dinner and overnight at Bush Camp (Kirish Camp) Use this evening to sort out logistics of guides, security and donkeys. Overnight at Kirish Camp (1000m).
Day:
04
Start the hike of the Olololokwe with the donkeys carrying provisions for two days. You hike steadily traversing through the magnificent Comiphora, Cicus, juniper and podo carpus forests. Along the way we stop from time to time to chat with the Samburu herdsmen who also roam the slopes of the hill in search of pasture and water for their livestock. After a 4 hour hike we reach the base camp where we set camp and have lunch. Later in the afternoon we explore various viewpoints where we are treated to splendid views of the whole Namunyak Conservation area and the magnificent Mathew Ranges with its Warges peak standing out in defiance. In the distance one can also see the Nyambene Hills of Meru. Dinner and Overnight at Bush Camp.
Day:
05
Depart after breakfast and make a 2 and half hour descent back to Kirish camp. After saying goodbye to our Samburu guides, after that you depart for Mountain Rock lodge, a beautiful country style lodge set in the lower Mount Kenya forests reserve. Dinner and overnight at Mountain rock lodge.
Day:
06
Depart early Leave after breakfast for a cultural walk to the nearby kikuyu villages. We visit one Kikuyu homestead to learn more on the way of life of the Kikuyu ethnic group. Return to the Lodge through the forest reserve where the local guide explains to us some of the medicinal plants in that forest. We also have high chances of seeing the rare and shy colobus monkey that lives high up in the canopy of the forest vegetation. After the short walk you drive to Lake Bogoria National Reserve, famous for its hot springs and a concentration of flamingos and other salt lake birds including kingfishers, herons and an array of other birds congregate to feed. It is also possible see the rare greater kudu, gazelles, zebra and other game in the surrounding bushes. The fascinating scenery of Lake Bogoria National Reserve includes the steaming hot springs and geysers.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Bogoria Hotel.
Day:
07
Full day walking in the park to see hot springs geysers flamingos and the rare greater Kudu that is endemic to this park. Despite the soaring temperatures in Bogoria, the serenity of the park makes a walk in this a very memorable experience. Dinner and Overnight at Lake Bogoria Hotel.
Day:
08
Depart early and head for Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day game drive. Lake Nakuru is a world famous bird and rhino sanctuary where thousands of flamingos congregate to feed on Spirulina platensis, a blue-green alga that grows naturally in the lake. Found here as well are plenty of other interesting wildlife and birds such as the white rhino, leopard, lion, waterbuck, buffalo, impala, warthog, pelicans and a spectrum of other bird species. Dinner and overnight at a hotel outside the park.
Day:
09
A short visit to Nakuru Town after breakfast then we drive to Lake Naivasha. Take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha to see birds and hippos. The lake is famed for its bird life particularly fish eagles, pelicans and love birds and has many hippos. After boat ride you drive to Hell’s Gate National Park in time for lunch. Afternoon we do a short walk around the campsite. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Day:
10
Full day walk in Hell’s Gate National park. This is a small and beautiful park with plenty of plain game and spectacular gorges. This is one of the few national parks in Kenya where one is allowed to explore it foot since there are no big predators. We leave the camp on foot or we drive to Hell’s Gate park gate and walk through the park where we will have close encounters with giraffes, gazelles, impalas, zebras, elands, hartebeests among others. Upon arrival at the Rangers Post we hike to explore the gorges to see the magnificent geological formations and hot springs. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day:
11
Depart early and head for Loita Plains for cultural encounter with the Maasai. You make a short stop at Narok the major town of the Maasai people. Here you will have picnic lunch and do a short walk in the town. Later you drive to Olonganaiyo, a small Maasai homestead (“boma”) for insights into their fascinating culture and way of life. Our maasai hosts will invite you to visit their village in the evening. Overnight in a Bush camp under huge acacia trees by a small spring.
Day:
12
After breakfast you do 2-3 hour walking safari along small river course and through the savanna for wildlife viewing with the Maasai as guides and interpreters of their lands. Here you walk amongst gazelle, giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. After the walk you drive to our secluded camp in the Masai Mara and afternoon game drive. Overnight Mara Springs Safari Camp. The Mara is a 1500 sq km reserve found in the south west part of the country. Most of its landscape is open savannah grasslands dotted with acacia trees and riverine forest. This is where one has the high chances of seeing the big game in Kenya. The big five comprising of the Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhinoceros are present here plus a host of other animal and avian species. This reserve is also an extension of the Serengeti in Tanzania thus making it a home of the annual wildebeest migration in July through September. Evening game drive in the reserve.
Dinner and over night at Mara Springs Safari Camp.
