6 Days Kenya Lodge Safari, Samburu,
Aberdares and Maasai Mara
This 6 days
Kenya Lodge Safari will take you to
Samburu National Reserve,
Aberdare
and Masai Mara,
Samburu National Reserve lies 325 kilometers north of Nairobi in the
hot and arid fringes of the arid northern region of Kenya. The Reserve is
within the lands of the colourful Samburu people, close relatives of the
Maasai, and boasts a number of wildlife species rarely found elsewhere.
These include the Grevy zebra, the reticulated giraffe and the Beisa oryx
all species found only north of the equator. The long-necked gerenuk is a
graceful antelope, which spends much of its time in a bi-pedal stance
seeking succulence among the withered scrub, which dots this harsh terrain.
Other animals commonly seen are elephants, lions, cheetahs, gerenuks,
buffalos, grants gazelles, dik diks and waterbucks. There are over 350
varieties of birds. These include the famous Somali Ostriches (distinguished
by their unique purple/blue legs during mating season), kingfishers, humming
birds, eagles, guinea fowls and vultures.
Scenically and faunally dramatic, for most of the year, Samburu National
Reserve is under the unsympathetic equatorial sun. But relief comes from the
wide swathe of the Ewaso Nyiro River which flows for some hundreds of
kilometres to
the west on the foothills of the Aberdare ranges and which vanishes beyond
Samburu in the recesses of the Lorian swamp. The river is at its best in the
Reserve, broad and sluggish with a large population of crocodile seen on
sandbanks at almost every bend.
In the lower reaches, where permanent pools have formed as a tributary joins
the river, are hippos. The river is fringed with giant acacias, figs and
doum palms all of which provide shade and sustenance to the wildlife, which
comes to water here. Elephant roam the gaunt hills, which punctuate the
scrubland and where occasional clusters of the vividly coloured desert rose
challenge the arid surroundings. These elephant seek solace and contentment
in the shallow waters of the river and from time to time a visitor finds
herds bathing and drinking in a spectacle of unconscious pleasure.
Day 1 Nairobi - Samburu
Depart Nairobi in the morning for Samburu National reserve arriving for
lunch. Samburu is at rugged semi-desert region but so beautiful with species
of wild game rarely found elsewhere. Afternoon game drive is taken.
Dinner and overnight at a lodge.
Day 2 Samburu
Full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drive, have an
opportunity to see the unusual reticulated giraffe, gravy zebra, Somali
ostrich, beisa, oryx, vulturine, guinea fowl among others. Meals and
overnight at a lodge.
This reserve is located around the life-giving Uaso Nyiro River, is home to
the rare, beautiful and resident wildlife species like The Reticulated
Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Beisa Oryx and the blue-necked Somali Ostrich that
are rare elsewhere in the country
Day 3 Aberdares
(Treetops lodge)
Depart Samburu after breakfast and proceed to Aberdares through the
ranchland before reaching the foot hills of Mt.Kenya. Lunch at Outspan
Hotel. Afternoon game drive is taken with chances to see the elusive Bongo
among others.
Dinner
and overnight at treetops lodge.
The Aberdare National Park covers the higher areas of the Aberdare Mountain
Range of central Kenya of 766sq km and the Aberdare Salient to their east.
Aberdare National Park is located in Nyeri / Nyandarua District and was
created in 1950. The Park covers an area of 766Km2 and occupy the volcanic
range that form the eastern wall of the rift valley. The Aberdares range is
dominated by two peaks separated by a saddle of moorlands. The Northern Ol
Donyo Lesatima (3,999m) and the southern peak Kinangop (3,906m). Other
significant elevations in the park are Chebuswa( 3364m), Table
Mountain(3791), Maratini Hill (3698m) and the Elephant (3590m). The terrain
of the park is diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested
eastern and western slopes with numerous clear streams and waterfalls.
Animals easily observed include the lion, leopard, baboon, black and white
Colobus monkey, and Sykes monkey. Rarer sightings include those of the
golden cat and the bongo – an elusive forest antelope that lives in the
bamboo forest. Animals like the eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats
can be found higher up in the moorlands. The Aberdare National Park also
contains a large population of the black rhino. Visitors can also indulge in
walking, picnics, trout fishing in the rivers and camping in the moorlands
and even bird viewing due to the presence of over 250 species of birds in
the park, including the endangered Aberdare Cist cola, Jackson’s Francolin,
sparry hawk, goshawks, eagles, sunbirds and plovers.
The lodges are one of the main attractions of the Aberdares. Both Treetops
and The Ark are built above the ground beside floodlit waterholes with salt
licks. Visitors must book in advance and cannot make their own way to the
lodges in private vehicles. Instead check-in is at the Aberdare Country club
for The Ark and the Outspan Hotel for Treetops, from where guests are bussed
to their respective lodges.
Day 4 Maasai Mara
Depart Treetops after breakfast and proceed to Maasai Mara stopping for
lunch at lake Naivasha Arriving Maasai Mara early evening.
Dinner
and overnight at a lodge.
Masai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara or The Mara) is
situated within the Great Rift Valley (a fault line some 3,500 miles
(5,600km) long that extends from the Mediterranean Sea through Kenya,
Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and to South Africa)in the southern part of
Kenya. Measuring approximately 1510sq. kilometres (approx. 938sq. miles) in
size. The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in
the whole of Africa. The reserve's topography is mainly open savannah
(grassland) with clusters of acacia trees along the southeastern area of the
park. The Mara and Talek rivers grace the rolling plains of the reserve.
Myriad seasonal rivers appear during the rainy season but dry out once the
rains are gone.
Wildlife and Game Viewing in The Masai Mara National Game Reserve
The Mara is also home to the richest concentration of wildlife, including
the "Big Five" (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo), zebras,
antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests,
hippos, crocodiles and others. The park has the largest concentration of
African lions, including the black-manned lion.
Birdlife is as plentiful as wildlife at the Masai Mara, which boasts over
400 different birds species. In the Mara and Talek rivers you'll find
crocodiles as well as
Then of course there is Wildebeest and Zebra migration which has made the
Masai Mara famous. The trek happens with a fair share of animal drama as the
migrating herds attract the attention of hungry predators - the hyenas and
lions that prey on the lame and sick animals along the way. The Masai Mara
Wildebeest and Zebra migration last for four months (July-October) towards
the Mara. The months of July and August are the best times to see what is
truly the world's most spectacular wildebeest migration and the dramatic
sights that occur during the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River
Day 5 Maasai Mara
Full day in Maasai with early morning, mid morning and afternoon game drive.
Have the chance to explore Mara which has great herds of wild game which are
found in Kenya. You can visit the Maasai Villages-Manyattas at a small fee
paid separately and get an insight to their culture.
Meals
and overnight at a lodge.
Maasai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary. It
is the most famous and most visited game reserve in Kenya. The film ‘Out of
Africa’ was made to a great extent in this reserve. Virtually every type of
wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A spectacle worth seeing is the annual
migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from Serengeti plains
across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Maasai Mara grazing
fields from late June. The dramatic crossing of the river and the preying on
the migrants by predators can be viewed from early July to August.
Day 6 Nairobi
Early morning game drive before breakfast. After breakfast depart for
Nairobi arriving by 1400 hours.
Safari Cost on request
Included in the Safari Cost:
- All
game drives in minibus
-
Services of a well-trained safari driver guide
- All
Park entry fees
-
Full board accommodation
-
Pick up from hotel to safari destinations and back to hotel
- 2
bottles of water per person
Not included:
- International air transportation to and from Nairobi
- Expenses of personal nature such as visas, travel/baggage insurance,
laundry, beverages, tips etc.
- Christmas, New Year and Easter supplements.
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