Mombasa - Tsavo
Amboseli - Mombasa
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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 fabulaous Tembo Nightclub
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".
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.
- Day 1:
Pick up from the airport then transfer to a hotel for an overnight. - Day 2:
After breakfast a Mombasa city tour. Afternoon at leisure on the beach hotel. - Day 3:
Morning pick up from the hotel then proceed to Tsavo National Park, the biggest in Kenya. You will view elephants, lions, zebras, buffalos, giraffes, impalas and numerous species of plains game and birds that are found here. All meals and accommodation at lodge camp. - Day 4:
A pre-breakfast game drive then breakfast before departing for Amboseli National park at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro where you will view rhinos, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos in the background of Africa's highest Mountain Mt Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight at lodge/camp. - Day 5:
Full day game viewing in this park with breaks for meals. Accommodation at the lodge/camp. - Day 6:
An early morning game drive before departing for Mombasa reaching by early afternoon for an overnight in a hotel. - Day 7:
A free day in Mombasa when you do shopping preparing for the next destination. - Day 8:
Catch your flight back home.
