Mombasa - Tsavo - Amboseli Aberdares - Samburu - Baringo - Naivasha - Maasai Mara - Mombasa

(14 DAYS )

NOT AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE

The coastal city of Mombasa is one of Africa's major tourist destinations, with some of the best beaches in the world. Located on Kenya's Eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean, Mombasa has become popular for its exotic beaches, diverse marine life, world-class hotels and friendly people. Mombasa's history dates back to the 16th century, and it has been ruled by the Portuguese, Arabs and British-which have all influenced the town's culture and the attractions that still exist including historical ruins such as Fort Jesus and the Old Town. Mombasa's beaches offer a host of activities for kids and adults alike such as deep-sea fishing and water sports. Tours of the town, safaris in game parks, and camping can all be planned through travel agencies within the city. Hotels also incorporate these activities as part of their entertainment, with the aim of making the trip to Mombasa the ultimate holiday experience!
Complementing its diverse culture, Mombasa's restaurants offer an array of tastes sprinkled across the town. Delicacies include freshly-caught seafood-made to order on a dhow while you watch the sunset and hear the live band playing your favourite Abba song. Nightlife in Mombasa is always exciting, and the clubs and casinos can keep you going all night long. Including the fabulous Tembo Nightclub

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Tsavo is the largest game reserve in Kenya by a very long way; it is in fact one of the largest game sanctuaries in the world. In area it covers more than 20,000 sq km; to put this into perspective the 2 parts of the park (Tsavo East and Tsavo West) are larger than Israel and about the size of Wales. Off-road driving is strictly forbidden in the park and only a small part is open to the public, however a 'small part' of Tsavo covers a lot of land! The Tsavo soil is a very rich, red colour and this gives rise to the rather interesting (though somewhat confusing) sight of 'pink elephants' strolling across horizon! Among the rarer mammals that can be spotted here are Klippspringer. Usually these shy animals stay high up on rocky escarpments but in Tsavo they can be seen amongst the lava boulders in the rather lunar landscape in the Chyulu area. The bird life is as varied as the landscape, from the conspicuous flocks of Golden-breasted Starlings around most of the park to the dull, skulking Evergreen Forest Warbler in the Chyulu hills. Tsavo is home to both species of Kenyan Ostrich with the Common Ostrich present in Tsavo West and the Somali Ostrich in Tsavo East. Hartlaub's Bustard is found in both parts of the National Park. Despite being fairly small (just over 150 sq miles) Amboseli is home to over 50 species of mammal and 400 species of birds many of which live in and around the swamps. These are fed all year round by underground rivers from Kilimanjaro, unlike Lake Amboseli which, though large, is seasonal. The dry lake does however provide a fairly spectacular site; there is an extremely convincing mirage which shows an expanse of water, complete with birds and animals drinking from and reflected in it. We'd have been quite happy to go birding along the lake shore before we were told it was a mirage. Probably the most famous inhabitants are the elephants. These have been the subject of a long running study by Cynthia Moss whose work was featured in the BBC film "Echo of the Elephants".

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The Amboseli National Park is justly famous for it's big Game - Elephants, Lions and Cheetahs are the main attractions - and for it's great scenic beauty. The 3,810 sq Km (1,259 sq Miles) of this park and game reserve embody five main wildlife habitats, plus a generally dry lake bed, Lake Amboseli, from which it takes its name. These are open plains; extensive stands of yellow Barked Acacia woodland; rocky, lava strewn thornbush country; swamps and marshes; and at the Western end of the reserve, above Namanga, the Massif of Oldoinyo Orok rising to over 2,760 m (8,300 ft) and still for the most part zoologically unexplored. The area is dominated by the backdrop of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest Mountain which frames the wild region below with its nomadic tribes rear their cattle as they have done for centuries. The main game viewing area lies in the Eastern half of the park, in the vicinity of Ol Tukai, here a network of roads opens up a wild life paradise. Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Masai Giraffe and Buffalo may all be encountered during a single mornings drive. White Bearded Gnu, common Zebra, Eland, Coke's Hartebeest, Common Waterbuck, Impala and Thompsons and Grant's Gazelles can also be found. In the dry bush country towards Namanga and in the arid area en route to Emali two especially interesting antelopes are to be found; the long necked Gerenuk and the Fringe Eared Oryx. Smaller Mammals always in evidence include Black Faced Vervet Monkey and Yellow Baboon, Black Backed Jackals, Spotted Hyena and Bat Eared Foxes. Bird Life is equally abundant, especially in the vicinity of the lakes and swamps. The Madagascar Squacco Heron turns up at regular intervals and the Long Toed Lapwing is a resident in small numbers. Three species of Sand Grouse, Yellow throated-Chestnut Bellied-and Black Faced, water in hundreds during the dry season. Birds of prey are well represented with no less that 47 different kinds, rarities such as the Taita Falcon and Southern Banded Harrier Eagle.
Around the Lodges you may see flocks of Yellow Weaver Birds, however the bird which will quickly draw your attention because of its brilliant plumage and fearless behaviour is the Superb starling, which pecks crumbs from your plate as you eat.

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Established in 1950, the Aberdare National Park comprises 590 sq kms (28 sq miles) and includes moorlands and a portion of the forest of the Aberdare Mountains which are part of the central highlands of Kenya and in altitude range up to 3,930m (12,900 ft). The famous Treetops Hotel, 19 Km (12 Miles) from Nyeri, is situated in a salient of the Park which extends down the eastern side of the range to the lower edge of the forest. The Ark, which is also accessible from Nyeri via the Aberdares country club and lies in the forest above a swampy glade. The mountain slopes are covered with heavy forest and are crisscrossed with deep ravines through which hidden trout steams flow and waterfalls cascade. The lodges are built overlooking a salt lick and waterhole. From the game viewing balconies and hides we can watch forest animals like elephants, buffalo and giant forest hog come to drink. Even at night game scouts are on constant lookout and will wake us, if requested, when anything interesting appears at the waterhole. In the forest are Red Duiker, suni, bushbuck, elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, leopard and colobus monkey. Eland (the largest of the antelopes) occur on the open moorlands as do serval. Mobile game viewing can be difficult in such thick vegetation and so the lodges within the park overlook well-visited water holes. The hour or so immediately following dawn is the most rewarding time to look for game and it is then that one has the best chance of suddenly coming upon that shy and elusive animal the Bongo. A service is provided to wake you in the night should a nocturnal species in which you have an interest come to drink. Birdlife is abundant and varied, perhaps the most conspicuous group is the Sunbirds of which four species can be seen: Tacazze Sunbird, brilliant metallic violet and bronze with a black belly; Golden winged Sunbird, scintillating coppery-bronze with yellow edged wings and tail; the emerald green Malachite Sunbird and the tiny Double-collared Sunbird with metallic green upperparts and throat and a scarlet chest band.

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Lake Baringo, one of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes, North of Nakuru, possesses two major Ornithological attractions. These are - Gibraltar Island with the largest nesting colony of Goliath Herons in East Africa and - the escarpment immediately West of Campi Ya Samaki on the western side of the lake. This is the home of Verreaux's Eagle, the rare Bristle-crowned Starling and Hemprich's Hornbill. Birds are generally abundant in the Acacia woodland bordering the lake and include, Curly-crested Helmet Shrikes, Silverbird, Grey-headed Siverbill, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Northern Masked Weaver and West Nile Red Bishop. Many people enjoy water-skiing on the lake in spite of the Crocodiles and Hippo !

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Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake, only 80 Km (50 Miles) from Nairobi. It is a bird watchers paradise. It is also the most beautiful of Kenya's Rift valley lakes with it's fringing banks of feathery headed Papyrus, secluded lagoons and channels, blue water lilies and the Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Waterbirds exist in great variety and abundance.
Fish Eagles and Ospreys are resident, Herons and Egrets are well represented, Lily Trotters, Purple Gallinules, Red Knobbed Coots and Black Crakes are common. African Marsh Harriers and the three migrant Harriers are often seen sailing along just above the reed beds, hunting the little tree frogs which form a bulk of their diet.

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The Mara Game Reserve, as it was originally known, an area of some 1,812 sq Km (700 sq Miles), was establish din 1961. It's Southern boundary is contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, and it is divided into two sections. The inner reserve has been developed on the lines of a National Park, no intrusion or Human settlement have been allowed, while the outer remains and undeveloped area where local Masai are permitted to pasture their cattle but which is otherwise undisturbed.
The reserve extends from the edge of the Loita hills in the East to the Mara triangle and the base of the Siria escarpment in the West. The inner section, with it's network of roads specially constructed for Game watching, embraces the area around the Keekorok Lodge and Westwards to the Mara River. Everything in the Mara is Big. It is a country of breathtaking vistas, a panorama of vast rolling plains and rounded hills, of intermittent groves of acacia woodlands and thickets of scrub. The whole is bisected by the Mara river and it's tributaries which are margined by luxuriant riverene forests. And in every direction, there are seemingly endless herds of game animals.
Mara possesses the largest population of Lions to be found in Kenya, it boasts large herds of Topi and a small population of Roan antelope, animals not found in many Kenya parks or reserves. Elephants are fairly common and a traveler may sometimes be held up by 'Elephants on the road'. The numerous large beasts to be found here include; Buffalo, Black Rhino, hippopotamus, Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Coke's Hartebeest, White Bearded Gnu, Warthog and Thompsons and Grants Gazelle. The Bird life is as profuse as the mammalian fauna. Orange-Buff Pel's fishing Owls, Bustards, Crested Guinea Fowl, Hornbills, secretary Birds and at least 53 species of bird's of prey.
Accommodation is provided at the Mara Serena Lodge, sited on high ground in the west of the Park overlooking the Mara river and two luxury campsites sited on the Eastern bank of the Mara river near the old Mara bridge and the Governors camp. From the Lodge it possible to see the Hippos at play from the viewing platform, arguably the best place in Kenya.

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ABOUT THE LOCATIONS

EXCURSIONS AROUND NAIROBI

SHORT SAFARIS
1-3 days

INTERMEDIATE SAFARIS
1-7 days

LONG SAFARIS
12-14 days

EXTENDED SAFARIS
14 & 22 days

SAFARIS FROM THE COAST

BIRD WATCHING

MOUNTAINEERING

AIR TRIPS

LAMU ISLAND Eco-Tourism

SEE OUR NEW EXTRAS SECTION
(gorilla trips to Uganda, day trips in and around Mombasa, flying visits to Zanzibar, Safaris to southern Tanzania around Selous)

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BROCHURE Also available on CD-Rom by request (telephone now)

USEFUL INFORMATION

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Booking your flights both internal and external

PRICE LIST

Day 1:
Arrive at Mombasa checking in a hotel at half-board.

Day 2:
Full day spent at leisure visiting places like fort Jesus, walking through the old town with its narrow alleys and carved doors and overhanging balconies> you will visit the Old Dhow harbor where Arab dhows can be seen before proceeding to the Akamba Handicraft industry where there is a great variety of wood carving. Accommodation in a hotel.

Day 3:
After breakfast leave for Tsavo arriving in time for lunch. Later drive to the park for an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4:
A pre-breakfast game drive then breakfast before proceeding to Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro checking in at the lodge for lunch. Afternoon game viewing then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5:
A full day game viewing in this park searching for lions, cheetahs, elephants, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and numerous species of plain's game. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 6:
After breakfast depart for the Aberdares country club arriving in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon proceed to the 'Ark' tree hotel for overnight game viewing.

Day 7:
Breakfast then leave for Samburu arriving in time for lunch arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. There is an afternoon game viewing this reserve famous for its reticulated giraffes, Somali ostrich, Grevy's zebras and many leopard. All meals and accommodation at the lodge.

Day 8:
Full day viewing in a minibus with pop-up roof searching for animals. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 9:
A pre-breakfast game drive before departing for lake Baringo arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon there is an optional boat trip of the lake to view the many birds which inhabit the lake. Meals and overnight at the lodge.

Day 10:
After breakfast drive to lake Naivasha richly endowed with birds. After lunch spend the afternoon relaxing watching and photographing birds before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11:
After breakfast drive across the plains to reach the Maasai Mara for an afternoons game viewing which will doubtless offer the sight of the huge black-manned lions for which Mara is justly famous for. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 12:
Full day game viewing in a minibus with pop up roof searching for elephants, cheetahs, buffalos among other plains game. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

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Day 13:
Another full day game viewing with a long drive to the Mara river where you view hippos and crocodiles. Afternoon of leisure where we have an optional visit to a Maasai village. Accommodation at the lodge.

Day 14:
Morning game drive returning to the lodge for breakfast before returning to Nairobi arriving by the early afternoon. Later you will be transferred to the Railway station to catch your train back to Mombasa

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