 Kenya, Tanzania
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Day 1 We meet you at the Heron Hotel Nairobi on the departure date. Day one we travel through to Kembu, a working upcountry farm, nestled into the Mau Escarpment with sweeping views across the Rift Valley where we spend a night. On the way we stop to enjoy the stunning views from the Rift Valley Lookout and enjoy the curio shops here.
We have our Predeparture Meeting here and enjoy relaxed walks on the farm including some up close and personal encounters with chameleons on the property after which the farm is named.
Day 2 The soda lake, Nakuru, is our first big highlight and the following morning we are away to visit bustling Nakuru town before we enter this small gem of a park.
This Kenyan park is famous for flocks of greater and lesser flamingo and its black and white rhino populations, which have been relocated here for sanctuary. It is also home to zebra, giraffe, hyena, hippo, lion, different species of antelope including water buck, as well as bats, colobos, otter and springhares. On a lucky day we might also spy a leopard lounging in a tree. The park is comprised of dry savannah and forested areas as well as the lake which is fringed by swamp. We game drive into the late afternoon and camp overnight in the park.
Day 3 This morning we rise early for morning game drives and to enjoy breakfast and the views from Baboon Cliffs out over the lake. Here we also often see rock hyraxes, creatures that look like guinea pigs but are a near relative to elephants.
We enjoy early morning game drives on our way out of the park and head to Lake Naivasha.
We now camp on the grassy lawns at Fisherman's Camp by Lake Naivasha. This is the setting for George and Joy Adamson's home, Elsamere, where we view a video about Joy's life, Joy and George being famous for their time with Elsa and the other lions portrayed in Born Free. Afternoon tea is served overlooking the lake in the gardens under huge yellow acacia trees. A troop of black and white colobos monkeys keep us company. At night hippo come ashore to graze by the water's edge.
Days 4 to 5 A region of quite recent volcanic activity today we can either hire a boat to visit the aptly named Crescent Island, a section of a partially submerged volcano for guided game walks or spend a day in Hells Gate National Park. Cycling or on foot we can view volcanic plugs and dramatic cliffs of columnar basalt in Hells Gate as well as the zebra, buffalo, hartebeest and gazelle that congregate at the water holes in this otherwise waterless region. The Maasai Cultural Centre in the park is also worth a visit.
A hippo cruise is a fun way to while away a few hours on the lake as well, surrounded by nature at its best including the wonderful birdlife of the region.
Days 6 to 7 Taking the bumpy dusty drive to the Masai Mara, Kenya's premier game park, we enter the vast grasslands to game drive late into the afternoon camping this night in the Conservancy. The next morning we are up again to explore further. On the migration months we are looking for the big herds of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle and other antelope that are usually arriving on migration from the Serengeti from late June. Throughout the year game though can be found across the park.
We also visit in a traditional Maasai village to get a glimpse of traditional ways. This Nilo-Hamitic tribe whose origins are said to be in the Sudan is probably the best known outside East Africa.
Day 8 Leaving the park we head back to Nairobi to visit Sheldrick's Animal Orphanage. The work done here with orphaned rhino and elephant is well respected, Daphne Sheldrick being recognised for her pioneering work in developing husbandry techniques and essential milk formulas to keep young traumatised orphaned animals alive through to adulthood. Arriving about 11 am we can view a morning feeding session and all the fun of the elephant play session which is also an essential part of the program for these very social animals.
We also visit the Giraffe Park specially set up with elevated walk ways so you can hand feed giraffe, including the rare Rothschilds giraffe.
Tonight we enjoy a fun night out in one of Nairobi's famous restaurants.
TANZANIA
Day 9 Crossing the Tanzanian border at Namanga we head towards Arusha, a busy safari town beneath Mount Meru.
Days 10 - 11 Today we depart early for game drives across the vast plains of the Serengeti entering the park by lunch time. We camp the night at Seronera village deep in the park often surrounded by herds of up to 10,000 animals at certain times of the year. Game drives particularly from late November through to March on the eastern side of the park, in the Conservancy and then on southern plains from February can afford some wonderful sightings, particularly once calving commences.
We are up early again the following morning to observe a all we can in this most extraordinary environment, often surrounded by herds of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle, impala and topi who are followed by the local predators lion, leopard, cheetah, jackals, bat eared foxes and spotted hyena. The park is also home to warthog, baboons, giraffe, some elephant and a small population of black rhino.
Our morning game drive takes us across the famous Serengeti plains where from December to May during 'the wet' the herds disperse and then mass preparing for the migration west and north. Heading south you will see the famous rock kopjees of granite where lions can be often found basking in the sun and on the look out across the plains. Cheetah also may be seen pacing through the grasslands around Simba Hills and leopard lounging in the acacia and sausage trees around Seronera.
Leaving the park at Naabi Hill Gate we head for the Olduvai Gorge Museum which records the work of Louis Leakey who uncovered the traces of early man here. The finding of a 1.75 million year old australopithecus jawbone in 1959 was the first conclusive evidence that hominids had existed for over a million years and that they had evolved in Africa. Next stop is a visit to the Longooku Maasai boma (homestead) where we can also watch traditional Maasai dances.
Day 12 Early in the morning we break camp to descend in small safari vehicles into the Ngorongoro Crater. The name comes from the Masai word, Ilkorongoro, the name of a particular group of warriors who defeated the previous occupants in the area, the bells worn to battle, sounding like 'koh - rohng - roh'.
Game in the Crater is concentrated. The edge of Lake Magadi can be pink with flamingo, hippo lounge in the mud and in the pools, flocks of crested crane gobble seed from the grasses. Across the plains rhino, elephant, wildebeest, buffalo, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle as well as zebra browse. You may also see ostrich and hyena. Lions pose nonchalantly whilst keeping a watchful eye on all who pass.
After lunch we head for Mto Wa Mbu and some haggling for bracelets and carvings in the extensive curio markets before driving through to Arusha late afternoon to enjoy a barbecue meal and say our goodbyes at the conclusion of our safari.
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