10 Days Explore Kenya Safari

Day 1: Journey to Meru Park.
We depart Nairobi and head northwards driving through agriculturally rich country destined for Meru National Park with a brief lunch break En-route. Then, our journey proceeds further north past khat farms of ingembe (khat is a stimulating and intoxicating shrub grown as a cash crop for export to the Arab world). We’ll arrive in time for an evening game drive. Overnight here is in manned campsite inside the park. (L,D).

Day 2: Explore Meru Park.
We go on an extended game drive in the park where our expert nature guide and driver take us to different locations of the park to spot wildlife. Meru National park is among the most geographically diverse parks in Kenya. It’s ecosystem comprises rain forest, swamps and grassland and provides fodder and shelter to a wide variety of herbivores and predators. There is a good chance to see elephant, buffaloes, reticulated giraffes, oryx, reedbuck, eland, gazelles, impala, lion, cheetah, and crocodile among others. This park is also famous for being the former base of world-renowned conservationists Joy and George Adamson. It is here that they raised lion and leopard cubs before releasing them into the wild.  After lunch we escape the hot afternoon sun and take a break to swim. The campsite we stay at has a swimming pool. (B,L,D).

Day 3: Journey to Samburu Park.
An early morning game drive then breakfast we proceed to Samburu Park. En-route there will be a chance to stop briefly and vist a Meru farmer and tour around their farm (optional). The journey from Meru to Samburu takes approximately 2 hours arriving in time for lunch. Samburu Game Reserve for an evening game drive and overnight at Sopa lodge inside Samburu Park. Located in the semi-arid parts of northern Kenya, Samburu teems with wildlife and birds and it is a true representative of the semi-arid ecosystems of East Africa. Some of the unique wildlife species found here include the long-necked Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra and birds such as the Batelleur and Buffalo weaver. 

Day 4: Explore Samburu Park.
Full day game driving in Samburu and adjacent Buffalo Springs National Parks. Both of this parks teem with wildlife. Some of the unique wildlife species found only here or further north include oryx, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and the Somali ostrich. Picnic lunch with opportunity to swim at one of the most beautifully sited natural spring pool in the park. In the evening we return to Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Samburu cultural insights / Sweetwater’s Game reserve.
Early morning game drive, breakfast then participate in cultural activities at a Samburu village getting a unique opportunity to interact with this colourful tribal people and learn about their culture and lifestyle. Afterwards drive up the slopes of Mount Kenya to Sweetwater’s Game sanctuary and arrive there in time for lunch (on a clear day, you’ll get splendid views of the ragged Mount Kenya peaks en-route to the Equator). Sweetwater’s is a private conservancy with a higher wildlife-to-area ratio than any of Kenya’s national parks. It doubles up as an orphanage for chimpanzees that were rescued from war torn Great Lakes region of central Africa. Located on the vast plains of Mount Kenya, Sweetwater’s is home to all members of the ‘Big Five’ plus many other species of wildlife.  At the forefront of the Kenyan wildlife conservancy programme, the conservancy boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, hosts the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya, and shelters large numbers of rare and endangered species. After exhaustive game viewing sessions with a lunch break in between we drive back to Mountain Rock lodge for dinner and overnight once again. (B, L, D).
 
Day 6: Journey to Lake Nakuru park
Leisurely journey to Lake Nakuru Park, en-route we stop for lunch at a co-operatively run coffee and tea estate. The estate boosts a lush, cool forested setting where you participate in a guided bird walk and get a chance to visit the tea and coffee processing stations. You can try your hand at picking tea and coffee if you like. Then, proceed on for a short distant past Menegai crater viewpoint to Lake Nakuru Park. Late afternoon game drives in Lake Nakuru national park. Nakuru park is moderately small but spectacularly picturesque and with abundant wildlife. Here you get unmatched chances of seeing the rare rhino (both black and white species), the unusual Rothschild’s giraffe and the elusive leopard among other animals. The park has also had nearly 400 species of birds recorded within its boundaries. Dinner and overnight at lake Nakuru Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Morning Game drive / Boat ride on Lake Naivasha / Maasai cultural interactions.
 Pre-breakfast game drive in Lake Nakuru Park. Then, after breakfast, we drive for 1 hour to lake Naivasha. On arrival we go on a late morning boat ride on Lake Naivasha. This is a vast freshwater lake, famed for its hippos and birdlife particularly pelicans, fish eagles, Kingfishers Cormorants and lovebirds. There are also many hippos in the lake. Half way we’ll disembark at an animal sanctuary to walk amongst waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, impala and gazelle. After the boat ride we drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley with a Lunch stop en-route to a Maasai village on the foothills of Loita Hills for insights into the Masai people’s fascinating way of life. Overnight camp under the acacia trees, dinner round a camp fire, starlit skies and sleep to the sounds of the African night – often lions roaring in the distance. Don’t worry! Our camp is guarded by the Maasai all night. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Walking safari / Sunset over the Mara
A 2-3 hour walking safari through the Loita savanna plains for wildlife viewing with the Maasai as guides and interpreters of their lands, where you will often walk amongst giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. Drive to a natural hot spring at Maji Moto (where you can take a dip or just soak you feet in). Here we support a primary school and we can arrange visits during term times. Then on to our own relaxing tented camp in the Masai Mara and late afternoon game drive in the Siana conservation area adjoining Masai Mara. In the evening we drive partway up the nearby Naunare Hills (or hike all the way up) to watch an invariably stunning sunset over the Mara as you enjoy a sundowner snack. Overnight in our comfortable permanent tented safari camp. (B,L,D)

NB: Today, there is a chance for a short night game drive right after the sundowner, (if

weather conditions are favourable) – no extra cost but prior indication of interest necessary.
 
Day 9: Exploring Maasai Mara.
 Ecologically the Masai Mara is an extension of the great Serengeti plains and teems with a spectrum of wildlife species. We spend all today in the reserve on game drives. We are most likely see elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Rhino, cheetah, hippo, crocodile and a whole ark-full of other animals. Our expert naturalist guides and 4WD vehicles ensure you have the very best chance of seeing them all. From July to September, the Mara is home to the great wildebeest migration dubbed the new Seventh Wonder of the World. Overnight again in our Mara Springs tented camp once again. (B,L,D).
 

Day 10: Journey back to Nairobi
 Another early morning game drive in the Mara starting at 6am. then, return to camp for a late breakfast before the drive back to Nairobi arriving for lunch at our Rock House guest home. Relax around the swimming pool the rest of the afternoon or do a short hike to the Giraffe Centre close by. (B,L,D).  

(B,L,D) Refers to meals include; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.