10-DAY AMAZING KENYA HOLIDAY
Africa has a long history of capturing the imagination of travelers; a continent of dramatic contrasts that gives you an unforgettable and remarkable experience. Take a trip as you traverse some of the best-known wildlife parks and game sanctuaries in Kenya. Enjoy amazing safari, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife. This Kenya package trip covers Amboseli and its Mt. Kilimanjaro backdrop, the chimpanzees at Sweet-waters within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the flamingos at Nakuru National Park, sunset boat ride and walk on Crescent Island at Lake Naivasha, and finally, the remarkable Masai Mara. This tour is one of the most popular of the Kenya package trips.
As the safari progresses, you find it amazing that the guide finds something new and interesting to explain each time you see the same animal. He does not overload you with a book full of giraffe facts at the very first sighting. On daily guided game viewing and many different giraffe sightings, the guide has something new and unique to share about the giraffe each time you see one. Just before sunset, the guide stops alongside a old skeleton of a big animal and asks if you can identify what animal it was.
It turns out to be an elephant carcass and he explains the different threats to an elephant’s life. Fortunately this one died of natural causes. As you drive on, the discussion turns to elephant and rhino conservation and what can be done to combat poaching. By the time you finally reach your camp or lodge, you’ve seen so much it feels like you have been on safari for days already. Each time you stop somewhere, the guide takes time to explain where we are, where the rest rooms are, how long we plan to stop for and what is going to happen next. You’re never left wondering about what, why or when something is happening.
Arrival
You’ll be collected from the airport (or hotel).
Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1: Nairobi / Amboseli
Your 10-day Kenya holiday package begins with an arrival at Nairobi airport from where you will be met and assisted and driven to Amboseli National Park (270 km – 4 hours) . Arrival in time for lunch and a few minutes relaxing at your room before we embark on an afternoon game drive. Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close. In the late afternoon one is likely to see a lion or cheetah make a kill. Ideal photography opportunities with Mount Kilimanjaro highest mountain in Africa providing a beautiful back drop. Amboseli National Park provides the classic Hollywood image of Africa. Set in rolling savanna scenery it is dwarfed by the presence of the pink-tinged, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5896 meters, is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Against this magnificent backdrop roam vast wildlife herds of elephant accompanied by the lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, baboon, gazelle, hippo, and wildebeest. There are also over 400 species of birds, all manner of reptilian, flora and fauna and some of the most soul-searing views in Africa. Enjoy great game viewing and the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro on an Amboseli safari. As the sun sets, we return to the lodge / camp for dinner and overnight.
Activities: Afternoon game viewing. Dinner and overnight stay at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.
Main Destination: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Amboseli NP
Day 2: Amboseli
Full day in Amboseli with game drives in the morning and afternoon to explore the park and have magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. View the large herds of elephants known to be residents of this evocative park. Amboseli is popular with breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and reliably good elephant viewing. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulfur springs, the savanna and woodlands. You can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture. Animals to be found here include the leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, crocodile, mongoose, hyrax, dik- dik, lesser Kudu, and nocturnal porcupine. There is also a prolific bird life featuring 600 species. All meals and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.
Main Destination: Amboseli National Park
Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Amboseli NP
Day 3: Amboseli / Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha past Nairobi (320 km – 4 hrs 30 minutes) to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake located on the Great Rift Valley Floor. It is located northwest of Nairobi with the town of Naivasha on its north. You will arrive in good time for lunch and siesta. You will then enjoy a scenic sunset boat cruise to see the hippos and walk on Crescent Island among wildlife, herbivores only. The waters draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, buffalo wallow in the swamps and colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the lake’s large hippo population sleep the day out in the shallows. Set in one hundred and fifty acres of grassland studded with Acacia bushes and trees, the Sopa Resort is home to resident giraffe, water-buck and both Vervet and Colobus monkeys. It is also a night stop for the hippos when they leave the lake every night to come and trim the grass on the expansive lawns.>Optional: Take a 1 hour boat ride to see the Hippos and different species of birds amongst other wild game. Lake Naivasha gives you access to the unique Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. There is also possibility to access it by road passing through the “Horse Riding Complex” A wide variety of wildlife, birdlife and flora lives quite freely out there and as there are no predators to be found, quite happily as well.Crescent Island Game Sanctuary is a peninsula or island on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha. Crescent Island was created in 1988, when Lake Naivasha level dropped sufficiently to allow Crescent Island to become part of the mainland.
On the eastern end of the island sailing is possible at a private boating club.The terrain is flat, making it easy for walkers of all abilities to enjoy themselves.There is a lot of easy to see game e.g. giraffes, waterbucks, elands, wildebeests, zebras and impalas. It is also a heaven for birds with +200 species recorded. The lake has a lot of hippos, which you can easily spot from the island. Among the resident birds are fish eagles, ospreys, lily-trotters, black crakes and a variety of herons. Hippos also live in the lake. A number of mammals can be seen grazing in the surrounding lake environs, such as zebra, impala, buffalo, giraffe, Kongoni and, at night, hippos.Hell’s Gate National Park, characterized by diverse topography and geological scenery. The park is home to a profusion of plains game and birdlife. Walking is permitted, making it ideal for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Excursions in Lake Naivasha
1 hour Boat ride (Lake Naivasha) ———————————————USD 30 Per person
Boat ride and a walking safari on Crescent Island Sanctuary: USD 50 Per person
Walking /biking safari at Hell’s gate national park —————-:USD 60 Per Person
Main Destination: Lake Naivasha
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha sopa lodge
Mid-range lodge located in or near Lake Naivasha
Day 4: Lake Naivasha / Aberdares national park
After breakfast, check out drive north to Straddling the equator, the Aberdare Mountain Range and Mount Kenya exhibit lush forest environments to arrive in time for lunch and afternoon game drive and other optional tours and activities offered by the lodges. The famous tree-lodges are located here, elevated above ground level with game viewing from balconies, decks and ground-level bunkers. Aberdare National Park offers many activities and tourist attractions, as well as wildlife safaris. See African elephants, lions, rhinos, black leopards and bongo antelope as well as many other animals native to Kenya. Bird watching is good here, with over 250 species of birds recorded in Aberdare National Park one of the best Kenyan hidden tourist attraction through “Kamuyu” shopping center. For those interested in hiking, it takes 3 hrs up and down to the falls hence ideal for beginners/novice hikers. A non-observant visitor may let pass the richness of the Gakanga Valley in Zaina. Trout fishing in the ice-cold Guru Karuru and Chania Rivers is another popular activity. You can also take time to admire Lesatima and Kinangop peaks or walk through the moorland and visit the magnificent waterfalls.
Do a nocturnal animal viewing from The Ark or Treetops lodges. In fact, it was while vacationing at the Treetops lodge that Princess Elizabeth of Great Britain learned her father had died, thus making her Queen. After enjoying lunch at either Aberdare Country Club, you will be transferred with your overnight bag to The Ark in the Aberdares National Park. At The Ark, there are optional activities to choose from including game drives, walking safaris and guided bird walks – or you can just enjoy the views from one of the three viewing decks. After dinner, settle in and enjoy viewing the procession of animals at the waterhole. Night time is particularly spectacular, when it is possible to spot many animals which are nocturnal or shy animals that can elude you during daytime game drives. All Meals and overnight at the Ark Lodge or Aberdares Country Club
Main Destination: Aberdares national park
Accommodation: Aberdare country club
Mid-range lodge located in Aberdares national park
Day 5: Aberdares / Olpejeta Private Conservancy
After breakfast, check out and driver further north on the Equator in the Laikipia Plateau and Mt. Kenya region to arrive at Olpejeta private Conservancy for lunch and afternoon game drive. Olpejeta conservancy is a 364sq km wildlife conservancy situated between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares and its game-to-area ratio tops the Kenyan park and reserve league. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya has over 10000 large mammals and it is the only park where the big 5 and chimpanzees can be seen. It is also where the fastest growing population of rhino in Africa can be found There are southern white rhino, about 80 endangered black rhino and in a special sanctuary there are two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino. You visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a charming haven established by the Jane Goodall Institute to provide sanctuary to orphaned chimps, and the specially protected and fenced refuge of black rhino with its stunning forty specimens! Enjoy a game drive in the park where one could see reticulated giraffe common, or Burchell’s, zebra, African elephant, Cape Buffalo, warthogs, Water-bucks, Jacksons, Hartebeest, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Steinbok, Striped Hyena, Suni, Thomson’s Gazelle and Impala. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded including the Ostrich. Safari by vehicle is not the only option at Ol Pejeta. Safari game walks, horse rides and even camel rides are available, as are safari night drives at an extra fee. Since being established in 1988 Ol Pejeta has had a colorful list of previous owners including Lord Delamere, an early and influential settler from Britain, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis’ father Roussel and the arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. It was set up originally as a cattle ranch but herds of migrating elephant regularly destroyed the fenced enclosures making intensive cattle farming impracticable hence Cattle still plays a role in Ol Pejeta today but as a managed livestock within the conservancy and is used to maximize the bio-diversity of the land making Ol Pejeta an integrated wildlife and livestock area. Enjoy an afternoon game drive at this private game ranch. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the only sanctuary for rehabilitation in Kenya of these widely abused chimpanzees with two groups living in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The site is also a dedicated black rhino breeding area.Dinner and overnight stay at Sweet waters Serena Camp, B, L, D.
Main Destination
Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
Day 6: Olpejeta / Lake Nakuru national park
Early morning game drive in Olpejeta. This provides you with ample time to explore this impressive wildlife park and sanctuary as you marvel at the magnificent sight of the snow-capped Mt. Kenya peaks in the background. Game drives at Sweet-waters are indeed a pleasure. We return back to the lodge for breakfast before driving on to Lake Nakuru national park to arrive in time for lunch before we disembark on an afternoon game drive to Enjoy your afternoon game. It is a shallow alkaline lake where visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity with varied habitats that range from the lake itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Here, game viewing drive is the main activity. Foragers, grazers, hunters and scavengers all play their roles in the natural existence of sanctuary.The park also has over 450 birds species including the flamingos. The national park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic and game drives. The lake is famed as one of the world’s greatest ornithological spectacles. Lake Nakuru National Park is also home to zebras, gazelles, Rothschild giraffe, impala, black and white rhino sanctuary and other large mammals.The park has three famous viewpoints from where you can get a picturesque aerial view Lake Nakuru landscape i.e. Lion Hill, Baboon cliff and Out of Africa Hills (Enasoit, Lion Hill ridge etc. Our naturalist driver guide will also take you through the 550 different plant species in the park including the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa. Afternoon enjoy some siesta and then continue with an afternoon game drives and overnight at your magnificent resort, B, L, D.
Main Destination:
Lake Nakuru National Park
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru lodge
Mid-range lodge located inside Lake Nakuru NP
Day 7: Lake Nakuru / Masai mara
After breakfast, this Kenya tour and holiday safari tour drives through the Great Rift Valley escarpment to the magnificent Masai Mara (270 km – approximately 5~6 hours). You will have lunch and siesta. Take an afternoon game drive. Masai Mara National Reserve is a pristine wilderness of haunting beauty, it promises its visitors a profusion of wildlife, prolific bird life and the unprecedented opportunity of catching up with all the members of the ‘Big Five’ in one game drive. Masai Mara is one of the best-known reserves in the whole of Africa, and is globally renowned for its exceptional wildlife. Despite comprising only 0.01% of Africa’s total landmass, more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found here. Across the vast plains of the Masai Mara visitors are able to witness lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and an infinite variety of other species in their natural habitats. This area is known for its predator population, particularly lions, hyenas and cheetahs. Cheetahs are severely endangered, and it is quite magnificent to see them take down kills at 110km/h on the savannah plains.
Main Destination:Masai Mara
Accommodation: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Masai Mara NR
Day 8 / 9: Masai mara
Spend the day with morning and afternoon game drives. You can also opt to take a hot air balloon flight ($450 per person) to have the best aerial game viewing with a champagne breakfast in the bush upon landing. Masai Mara National Reserve offers one of the best opportunities to see cheetah and lions in Africa. A visit to this wildlife reserve in July will allow you the best chance to witness and watch firsthand as thousands of wildebeest migrate across the swollen crocodile-infested Mara River. This is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles, the wildebeest migration. The sheer number of wildebeests arriving in the area is staggering. The migration is a dramatic mass movement of almost two million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles in a seasonal annual cycle driven by rainfall. In order to reach the reserve’s fresh grazing, wildebeests make dramatic river crossings, facing enormous crocodiles to feast on the Mara plains and regain their strength. Renowned for its magnificent Big Cat population that hunt the wildebeest, zebra and other plains game that dominate the Mara, it has even been nicknamed the Kingdom of the Lions. Finding a pride of lions (there are some 400 lions resident in the reserve and neighboring conservancies) is normally relatively easy – and high on most visitors’ must-see lists. Leopards are also seen increasingly often, and good sightings of cheetahs can be expected.
Other predators regular seen throughout the reserve and conservancies include fascinating spotted hyenas (rarely bothered by human observers and compelling in their social interactions) black-backed and side-striped jackals, and cute pairs of bat-eared foxes. With luck, you may also see a Serval – a lanky, striped and spotted cat of tall grass and bush, adept at catching small mammals and birds.
The most rear predator of the Maasai Mara, the wild dog, is a beautiful, nomadic pack animal. At one time almost extinct in the region, one or two packs (and what appear to be smaller scouting parties of two or three individuals) are being seen in many areas, though still not on a regular basis. Our safari expert guides takes you through the stunning African bush until sunset when we return to the lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination:Masai mara
Accommodation:Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Masai Mara NR
Day 10: Masai mara / Nairobi / Departure
Early morning game drive in Masai mara to see and experience this unique park atleast one more time. See the sunrise over the African bush horizons, or experience early morning siesta like a Lion making a kill can be witnessed, or a leopard in a tree enjoying the meal he has dragged up to avoid disturbance and detection. This reserve has hilly savanna, rolling grasslands, gallery forest on the Mara River and its tributaries. In many game reserves, leopards are notoriously hard to find. They are well-camouflaged and elusive, and apart from luck it takes some skill and bush knowledge to spot them. However aside from abundant bird-life the Maasai Mara is a Big 5 National Reserve meaning it has Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Black Rhino which permanently reside here. It also has Cheetahs, Serval Cats,Hyenas, many species of Antelope and resident herds of Zebra and Wildebeest which don’t migrate to Tanzania and therefore can be seen all year round as well as the plains wildlife there is also some stunning scenery and rivers including the Mara, Talek and Sand River which are home to Hippos and Crocodiles. Return to the lodge for breakfast before the tour takes us back to Nairobi which marks the end of the safari. Transfer to your pre-booked hotel for overnight or to the airport to catch your flight back home
Main Destination: Nairobi
Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour
Included
• All Park fees (For non-residents) unless mentioned as optional tour or activity
• All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
• A professional English speaking driver/guide
• All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Round-trip airport transfers on arrival and departure.
• Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinking water (On all days)
Excluded
• International or Local flights (From/back home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
• Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)