NAKURU - NAIVASHA
- MASAAI MARA
(4 DAYS )
Lake Nakuru is the world famous haunt of Flamingos, being a shallow alkaline lake in Kenya's Rift valley, being 62 sq km (24 sq miles) in size, lying south of Nakuru township. The National Park comprises the Lake and it's surrounds. The landscape is picturesque, areas of sedge, marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of yellow bared acacia woodland and on the Eastern perimeter rocky hillsides covered with a forest of grotesque-looking Euphorbia trees- all set against a background of Broken hilly Country. Although the National park is primarily a bird sanctuary, the number of animals to be encountered is not inconsiderable. A small herd of Hippopotamus lives among the reeds in the Northeastern corner, where springs have created a series of Hippo-pools. The Lake shore is a good place to observe Bohor Reedbuck; these animals are often flushed from high grass or sedge in which they sleep during the day. In recent years there has been a marked increase in their numbers and those of the Defassa Waterbuck in the park. Bushbuck may be seen at the edge of acacia woodland. Especially at dawn and towards dusk. Lake Nakuru is the home of a the very rare Long-eared Leaf-nosed Bat, a tiny orange-buff species with ears half the length of it's body. This mix of game animals and a brilliant suffusion of at least a thousand types of wild bird makes it a breathtaking and exciting place to visit
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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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1-7 days
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12-14 days
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14 & 22 days
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PRICE LIST
- Day 1:
Shortly after leaving Nairobi the vast panorama of the Great Rift Valley unfolds below you and there are splendid stopping places from which the photograph is entrancing spectacle. Cross the valley floor to reach Lake Nakuru National Park, worldly renown for its spectacle millions of flamingoes.
The park is rich in other bird life and there are surprising numbers of animals in this small and beautiful reserve. Here the four of the big five can easily be seen including the rare hunting dogs, black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetah and millions of Flamingoes, pelicans and cormorants. Dinner and overnight in lake Nakuru lodge or lion hill for those camping in a budget hotel in Nakuru town which is one kilometer away from the park. - Day 2:
There is a chance to view the beauty of Lake Naivasha, with its varied bird life before driving across the plains to reach for afternoon game viewing which will doubtless offer the sight of the huge black-manned lions for which the Mara is justly famous. Accommodation at the lodge or at our permanent campsite. - Day 3
Option (a)
The whole day is spent watching and photographing game in the finest reserve searching for cheetah, elephant and rhino among others with packed lunch, which you can have at the hippo pool on the shores of Mara River watching hippos and
Option (b)
Alternatively, you can have a whole morning game drive until lunch time then back to your lodge or campsite for lunch. Relax until four o'clock for your evening game drive or take a walk to the hill sides (Mara view point) or visit the Maasai homestead (manyatta) - Day 4
Early morning game drive then breakfast before leaving for Nairobi with lunch enroute arriving late in the afternoon.
