Arrival
Arrival
Day 1
A unique experience at The Ark game-viewing lodge
A unique experience at The Ark game-viewing lodge
Depart from Nairobi and head to Aberdares (a 3-hour drive), a park set in a mountain range with great views of Mount Kenya. There are many waterfalls and mist-covered, lichen-hung trees. You may see elephant, black rhino and leopard as well as long-haired colobus monkey and the mountain bongo if you are very lucky.
You will arrive at the Aberdares Country Club for lunch after which you will be transferred to The Ark, a game-viewing lodge where you will stay for a night. The Ark offers a unique game-viewing experience from the comfort of the lodge, with 4 viewing decks and a hide. Before dinner, the host gives an interactive talk about the local fauna and flora. Dinner is served from 7:30 to 9 pm. You can then continue to watch the wildlife, or go to bed should you wish. During the evening, the resident ranger stays on watch and will buzz your room if an interesting animal comes to the waterhole!
- Main Destination:
- Aberdare National Park
- Accommodation:
- The Ark
Wildlife in Aberdare NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2-3
Journey to the semi-arid Samburu with its unusual species
Journey to the semi-arid Samburu with its unusual species
After breakfast, you’ll leave The Ark and continue to Samburu, a very scenic but lesser-known reserve. It is a semi-arid area situated along the Uaso Nyiro River that attracts wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains. Samburu is rich in wildlife with its rare Northern species including the gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. It is also home to several large predators including cheetah, lion and leopard. You can also find 450 different species of birds here, including the lesser kestrel and the Taita falcon.
You’ll arrive in time for lunch at Intrepids Camp, set on the banks of the great Uaso Nyiro River. Each luxury en-suite tent sits on a raised wooden deck with a verandah overlooking the river where the elephants sometimes make an appearance or the crocodiles come out to lounge by the riverbanks. After lunch, you'll head out on a game drive and then spend the next day exploring the reserve.
- Main Destination:
- Samburu National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp
Wildlife in Samburu NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4-5
Track lions on the plains of Laikipia
Track lions on the plains of Laikipia
After breakfast, you’ll depart from Samburu and head for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located on a vast plateau. It has the highest density of large mammals in Kenya, including unusual species such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and the Lelwel hartebeest.
You’ll spend two nights at the luxury Sweetwaters tented camp, which is located inside the conservancy and has a beautiful setting and views of Mount Kenya. The camp has extensive grounds, a watering hole and night viewing bar, the tents are all ensuite and overlook the watering hole. You’ll head out on early morning, late afternoon and night game drives, go lion tracking, and participate in gathering research information needed to monitor the collared lions (it’s a great way to learn about lions and all the information gathered is passed on to the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department). When you’re not on game drives or tracking lions, you can just relax in camp and watch the wildlife at the camp’s watering hole!
- Main Destination:
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
- Accommodation:
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Wildlife in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, you’ll leave Sweetwaters for a short game drive before heading to the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha, arriving in time for lunch at the Sopa Resort. The lodge is located close to the lakeshore and has beautiful gardens. There is often wildlife wandering around such as bushbuck, zebra and giraffe. The lodge has a restaurant and a beautiful lounge and bar area with leather sofas and fireplaces for the cool Naivasha evenings. The rooms are spacious, Swahili-style chalets - either with a balcony or a glass-fronted lounge area for relaxing and wildlife viewing.
After lunch, you’ll head out on a boat safari across the lake where you may see hippos and many species of birds including fish eagles and pelicans. Towards the end of your boat safari, you will stop at Crescent Island for a guided nature walk. You’ll retire to the lodge for the evening, have dinner and watch the hippos come up from the lake to graze on Sopa’s grounds.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)
- Accommodation:
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7-9
Track all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara
Track all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara
After breakfast, you’ll leave Naivasha for the Masai Mara, a reserve rich in biodiversity and home to a large variety of bird species and wildlife. The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and is home to the annual wildebeest migration, which involves over 1.5 million animals!
You'll arrive in time for lunch at Mara Elatia located next to the Mara Triangle to the west of the reserve, the perfect location to witness river crossings during migration season! The camp is small with just 12 luxury en-suite tents overlooking the savannah grasslands of the Mara. After lunch, you’ll head out for a game drive and then spend the next 2 days exploring the savannah grasslands of the Masai Mara. Track down the Big Five, along with the many other species of mammals, reptiles and birds.
- Main Destination:
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Mara Elatia Camp
Wildlife in Masai Mara NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Transfer to Nairobi
Transfer to Nairobi
After breakfast you’ll head back to Nairobi by road (a 5.5-hour drive), stopping for lunch along the way. Alternatively, stay for lunch and fly back to Nairobi mid-afternoon (optional extra).
- Main Destination:
- Nairobi (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
