9 Day Beyond Equator Safari - Mount Kenya National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Meru National Park, Sweetwaters, Lake Nakuru National Park & Masai Mara
Day 1: Nairobi - Mount Kenya
You will be picked from either Airport or your Hotel in Nairobi and depart to Mt.Kenya with a stopover on the way for a short break.Arrive at Mountain Serena Lodge for checking in and lunch.Relax for one hour and then have a Nature walk.
Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya National Park, established in 1949, protects the region surrounding Mt Kenya. Initially it was a forest reserve before being announced as6 a national park. Currently the national park is within the forest reserve which encircles it. In April 1978 the area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The national park and the forest reserve, combined, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Government of Kenya had four reasons for creating a national park on and around Mount Kenya. These were the importance of tourism for the local and national economies, to preserve an area of great scenic beauty, to conserve the biodiversity within the park, and to preserve the water catchment for the surrounding area.
The national park has an area of 715 square kilometers, (276 sq mi), most of which is above 3000 metres (9,800 ft)contour line.The forest reserve has an area of 705 square kilometers (272 sq mi). Combined this6 makes the area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 1,420 square kilometers (548 sq mi).
A small portion of this park's borders near heavy populations have electrified fences to keep the elephants out of the surrounding farmland. Volcanic sediment in the surrounding region's soil and the huge volume of fresh water coming down the slopes makes the area particularly favorable for agriculture.
At lower altitudes Colobus and other monkeys and Cape Buffalo are prevalent.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers, and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and Alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.
WILDLIFE
Include Lion, Leopard, Cape hares, Hunting dogs, Spotted Hyena, Bongo, Rhinos, Bufallos, Elephants, Eland, Colobus monkey, Baboons, White-throated guenon, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Suni, Steinbock,
BIRDS
340 bird species have been recorded, of which 230 are forest dependant,while 110 are forest specialist.Dinner/Overninght (Mountain serena lodge)
Day 2: Mount Kenya - Samburu National Reserve
Wake up for the full breakfast and depart to Samburu national reserve with a stop over at the Equator line for photos and experiment.Proceed to Samburu national reserve.Arrive at the gate and make a game drive enroute to the camp for check in and lunch.Relax till 1600hrs and make the evening game drive till sundown.Dinner/Overnight:Ashnil samburu Camp.
Day 3: Samburu National Reserve
Wake up for the a cup of Tea or Coffee and make the early morning game drive till 9pm .then drive back to the Camp for the full breakfast,then continue with your game drive till lunch time.Relax after lunch till 1600hrs then time for your evening game drive up to sundown.Dinner/Overnight Ashnil Samburu Camp
Day 4: Samburu National Reserve - Meru National Park
Wake up for the full breakfast and depart to Meru National park,drive direct to Ikweta Safari luxury Camp for checking in and lunch.Relax till 1500hrs and begin your evening game drive till sundown.Dinner/Overnight Ikweta Luxury Camp
Day 5: Meru National Park - Sweetwaters Game Reserve/Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Wake up in the morning and depart to Ol pajeta Ranch(Sweetwaters).Arrive at the gate and begin a game drive to the Camp for Checking in and lunch.
Ol Pejeta conservancy is a 364sq km wildlife conservancy established in 1988 situated between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Abedares. Ol Pejeta has a colorful list of previous owners including Lord Delamere, an early and influential settler from Britain, Ol Pejeta's game-to –area ration tops the Kenyan Park and reserve league. It is the only park where the big 5 and chimpanzees can be seen and is also where the fastest growing population of Rhino in Africa can be found. Among this, is a very healthy number of about 80 endangered black rhino. The rhino share the space with an almost unimaginable 10,000 other large mammals. Safari by vehicle is not the only option at Ole Pejeta. Game walks, Horse rides and even camel rides are available, as are nocturnal Game drive. The conservancy is keen to educate as well and has an Environmental and Conservation Centre that welcomes around 100 Kenyan schools through its doors annually. The centre focuses on teaching ecology, culture and the importance of sustainable wildlife management to safeguard the future of the conservancy. Visitors can also learn about local culture and traditions by meeting the peoples of the Samburu, Turkana, Pokot and Maasai.
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee sanctuary.
Within Ole Pejeta is the member of the Pan Africa Sanctuary Alliance whose 18 member sanctuaries care for over 800 orphaned or confiscated chimpanzees in 12 African Countries. The Jane Goodall institute and the Kenyan Wild life Services joined forces to establish the Kenyan Sanctuary in 1993 at sweetwaters as a refugee for orphaned chimps evacuated from a facility in Burundi due to the outbreak of civil war there and is the only place in Kenya where non-indigenous chimpanzees can be seen.
The chimpanzees inhabit an island divided into two by a river. The older chimps occupy one half, the younger chimps the other. Acces to see the chimpanzees is by boat. Sweetwaters sanctuary's aim is to provide a permanent refuge for the chimps in as natural an environment as is possible . The 40 or so chimpanzees are looked after by a dedicated fully –qualified staff or 16 who are on duty around the clock. Unfortunately, the continuing decimation of the West Africa rain forests and the demand for bush-meat means that the need for the sanctuary remains undiminished and it continues to take in and give a home to abused and orphaned chimps. The sanctuary offers 'adoption packages' to visitors as a means to raise money to pay for the necessary 24hrs care of the animals.Relax till 1600hrs and begin a game drive with visiting the Rhino orphanage Center and Chimps Sanctuary.proceed with your game watch up to sundown.Dinner/Overnight (SWEETWATERS SERENA TENTED CAMP)
Day 6: Sweetwaters Game Reserve/Ol Pejeta Conservancy - Lake Nakuru National Park
Wake up for the breakfast and depart to Lake Nakuru National Park with Stopovers at The Thomson falls, Subukia Great Riftvalley View Point, Tea plantation. Drive to the lodge for checking in and lunch.
Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift valley soda lake at an elevation of 1754 m. above the sea level its lies to the south of Nakuru Town in the Rift valley of Kenya and its protected by lake Nakuru National park which is managed by K.W.S and the park is electric fence to avoid the wildlife and human conflict .The park covers an area of 188 km2 of which the inner circle is covered by the lake which is 40 km2. The lake is aboundance of algae attractors the vast quantity of millions Flamingoes and pelicans that famously line the shore. Other birds also florish in the area as do wathog ,baboons, and other large mammals .Black and white Rhinos have also been introduced nakuru means "Dust or Dusty place " in the Masai language .
The park was established 1961 .major attraction includes :grassland savanna acacia forest ,eurbian candelarbar ,makalia falls ,cliffs eg:baboon cliffs and the vicinity of maountains,other animals includes Rothschild giraffes water /caffer buffaloes ,Thomson gazelles ,leopards cheetah ,lions common Zebras etc.But unfotunatly there is no elephants at all.Relax till 1800 hrs and start your evening game drive up to sundowner /Dinner/Overnight .Lake Elemtaita serena Luxury Camp.
Day 7: Lake Nakuru National Park - Masai Mara National Reserve
Wake up for the full breakfast and depart to the wild paradise wonders with a stopover on the way for short break.Arrive at the gate and begin your game drive enroute to the Camp
Masai Mara National Reserve (also spelled Maasai Mara known by the local as the mara)is a large game reserve and rich in wildlife in the south western Kenya.which is effectively the northern continuation fot he Serengeti national park in Tanzania .Its named after the Masai people (the traditional in habitants of the area ) and there description of the area when looked from a far .Mara which is Maa (Masai language ) for sported an apat description for the circle of trees ,scrubs,savanna and cloud shadows that marked the area its famous for its exceptional population of big cats. Of which make the the Big cats exploration &Safaris more easier to sport them in style .Game and annual migration of zebra,Thomson gazelles and willdbeast from the Serengeti every year from july to October a migration so immense that is called the Great migration.
The Reserve is only a fraction of the greater mara Ecosystem , it is the harbour of Africas most esteemed wildlife unforgettable experience .The writer described Masai mara with its breath taking scenery and unique wildlife is a home of animal paradise ,quality ,comfort and attention to detail the prensence of the wilderness silence .(tranquility variety of style ,attractions refreshing magical .Area 1,882 Km2 ,Gazatted in 1961 and its managed by Narok county council.
Topographic and major attraction are:mara river and its attributes which include the water catchment of the Mau forest ,Talek river ,woodland and grassland savanna ,the endless plain,bushes ,hills and the undulating escapment.
It's home to the Big five (lion ,elephant ,leopards, buffalos and black Rhinos ) others include zebra common ones ,Masai giraffe wild beasts ,antelopes ,gazzels , cheetah ,topi ,hippos ,crocodiles ,hyenas etc .500 birds species have been recorded Massai mara have attracted over 5 millions visitor from all over the world .It was voted as the 7th wonders of the world and BBC big cat diary was filmed in this game reserves. Many journalists ,researchers ,guides nature lover do have opportunity to enjoy their vacation dreams .Relax till 1600hours and make a game drive up to sundowner .Dinner/overnight Ashnil Mara Camp
Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve
Wake up early in the morning for a full breakfast and start the game drive up to lunch hour then back to the camp for lunch or another option (make a full day game with a picnic lunch visit mara river where you have chance to see the hippos and crocodiles then back to the camp for dinner /overnight Ashnil Mara Camp
Day 9: Masai Mara National Reserve - Diani Beach/Mombasa
Wake up early in the morning for your full breakfast and depart to Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant for lunch and then you will be transferred to your Destination choice or you may fly from Masai mara after lunch to either Mombasa or Nairobi at your special request
Price Per Person
Jeep safaris for special requests
The price includes
- Transport MinVan
- Driver /guide
- Park fees
- Full board accommodation
- Mineral water
- Insurance cover
- Extra lunch
- Game arrive
Extra costs: Beers/personal expenditures