Aberdares Tree hotel
Samburu -Nakuru - Naivasha
(5 DAYS )
NOT AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE
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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
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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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USEFUL INFORMATION
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The Aberdare National Park established
in 1950 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, 19Km (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 accesible 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 follwing 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.
The Samburu Game reserves
are the most accessible of the Northern frontier faunal sanctuaries, 343 km
(213 miles) from Nairobi. The reserve covers an area of 104 sq. Km (40 sq.
Miles) on the Northern bank of the Uaso river. The Buffalo springs reserve
lies on the southern bank of the river. In addition to the rugged splendour
of it's landscape the very name 'northern frontier province' conjures up an
atmosphere of mystery and adventure. It is indeed a vast and little visited
region where the traveling is rugged and the people have changed little over
the centuries. The main attractions are the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra,
Beisa Oryx, the blue necked Somali Ostrich and river crocodiles. Elephant
are plentiful and Black Rhinoceros, lion leopard, Cheetah, Gerenuk, Buffalo
and the two species of Hyena are to be seen. Among the smaller mammals the
Ground Squirrel is abundant and tame. For such relatively small area the bird
life is strikingly numerous and colourful; there is no difficulty in seeing
well over a hundred species of birds in a single day. Perhaps the most impressive
sight is the immense flocks of helmeted and vulturine Guinea fowl which make
their way each afternoon to the riverbank to drink, the latter resplendent
with white streaked necks and brilliant blue underparts. Buffalo springs,
in the reserve of that name with it's pools and streams of fresh water, is
the drinking place in the dry season for literally thousands of Sandgrouse
and doves, in addition to a galaxy of smaller birds. The tiny Pygmy Falcon
is common, the males blue-grey and white, the females with a mahogany- brown
mantle. At a distance, when perched high in some acacia tree, they distinctly
resemble shrikes. The giant Martial Eagle is often seen, usually perched high
on some vantage point, alert for Dik-Dik or guinea fowl. Accommodation with
all amenities is at the Samburu Game lodge sited on the edge of the Uaso Nyiro
River, below giant Newtonia trees and Dom palms. The lodge is built on the
camp site of the most famous of the old time Elephant hunters, Arthur Newman.
The visitor may find it fitting to take a 'sundowner', to contemplate the
austerity endured by the early hunters and explorers contrasted with the comfort
of the modern day Safari!
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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 hilly Broken 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 make sit 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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Day 1:
Drive northwards through the farmlands of the Kikuyu people to reach Mount
Kenya and the small town of Nyeri in time for lunch. In the early afternoon
drive through the forest to your tree hotel where the night is spent high
above the floodlit waterhole and saltlick. Frequent visitors are elephants,
rhino, buffalo and giant forest hog. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2:
After breakfast flank Mount Kenya and descend into the
dry and rugged semi-desert where the Samburu National Reserve is situated.
Harsh but beautiful this reserve harbours many species of animals not found
in the more lush parks to the south. Afternoon game drive with dinner and
overnight at the Lodge in the reserve.
Day 3:
The day is spent exploring this reserve. You will almost
certainly see the graceful reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, elephant (red),
Somali ostrich, the Gerenuk (giraffe impala), large crocodiles on the Uaso
nyiro river and the Oryx perhaps the origin of the legend of the unicorn.
Overnight at your Lodge.
Day 4:
After breakfast drive to lake Nakuru stopping enroute
for a brief look at the magnificent Thompson's Fall. Visiting the world famous
bird sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park noted for its huge concentration
of flamingoes. Lunch and overnight at a Lodge in the Park or proceed to Lake
Naivasha where the night is spent at Lakeside hotel
Day 5:
After breakfast leave this beautiful lake Naivasha richly
endowed with birds here you can take a walk on the shores of Lake Naivasha
until lunch time after lunch depart for Nairobi arriving late in the afternoon
