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AVC 5 – 7 DAYS SAMBURU/ RIFT VALLEY LAKES & MAASAI MARA

Departs on Mondays
The ‘Kenya Wildlife Trail’ as many would refer it as, this safari takes you first to the North via the high western shoulder of Mountain Kenya to the Game Reserve of Samburu where the three big cats can be found – The Lion, Leopard, & the Cheetah. It also takes you through the world famous Bird Sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru, then south over the Mau Escarpment to Kenya’s greatest concentration of game - the Maasai Mara.

Day 1 – Samburu:

Depart Nairobi in the morning, passing through the rich agricultural farmland on the slopes of Mountain Kenya to the mainly dry scrub land and open Savannah plains of Samburu Game Reserve. Here the Ewaso Nyiro River supports a wide variety of game among them elephant, buffalo, cheetah leopard, lion, grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, oryx and the long necked gerenuk. Accommodation in our permanent campsite, beautifully set on the edge of the river under a canopy of trees or pitch tents,

Day 2 – Samburu:

Day spent game viewing in the park and a dip in Buffalo Springs during the hot afternoon may be refreshing.

Day 3 – Baringo:

Leaving Samburu in the early morning, we make a scenic drive to the west across the Lerochi Plateau, (lunch enroute) and later descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Baringo in the afternoon. This is a fresh water lake which supports a great variety of birds as well as hippos and crocodiles. Indeed, the lake is reputed to be the bird-watching centre of Kenya.

Day 4 - Lake Nakuru:

Early in the morning we head south via Lake Bogoria which is a shallow soda lake with a beautiful scenery and also home to a sizeable number of flamingoes and other species of birds. The highlight, however, is the boiling hot springs and geysers which also contribute to the beauty of the lake. After lunch, we proceed to Lake Nakuru in the south - another shallow soda lake which has been described as “an ornithologist’s paradise and one of the world’s most magnificent sights”. Here one has an opportunity to see up to two million flamingoes besides tens of thousands of other birds if lucky. Lake Nakuru also has rhino sanctuary and also harbors lions, warthogs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippo and many other animals. Dinner and overnight in a campsite outside town.

Day 5 - Maasai Mara:

We head further south to Narok, camping in our permanent campsite on the Talek River which is at the edge of the park by afternoon. Accommodation is in large stand-up tents with beds, if available, or we pitch tent. Showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dining mess or in the open.

Day 6 - Maasai Mara:

From the base camp, we explore the Mara region, packed with the elephant, zebra, rhino and all kinds of game throughout the year with the spectacular wildebeest migration from Serengeti occurring mainly in July and August. Being at Maasai Mara is “as if you found yourself in the New York of the natural world according to some authorities”. Indeed, you have the best opportunity of seeing all the big five.

Day 7 – Nairobi:

We break camp and drive to Narok where Maasai souvenirs can be bought and then proceed to Nairobi.

End of travel arrangements

Tour Highlights:

• Mt. Kenya (can be seen on a clear day on your way to Samburu)
• The ‘Big Cats’ of Samburu (Lion. Leopard & Cheetah)
• The Maasai Mara Game Reserve (endless plains!)
• The Samburu and the Maasai people (cousins! - Culture!)
• The ‘Big Five’ (Lion. Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and the Elephant!)
• The Great Rift Valley (the bird sanctuaries of Lakes Baringo, Bogoria & Nakuru – Land Scape too!)

Summary: Wildlife, Birdlife, culture, landscape, the great wildebeest migration, the Great Rift Valley, Mt. Kenya

Optional Activities Possible on this trip:

• A balloon flight with champagne breakfast over the Mara
• A Samburu / Maasai Village (Manyatta) cultural visit

**All these can be arranged through our offices – kindly enquire at the time of booking.

COSTS:

• Itinerary cost: Euro 430 per person
• Local payment: US $235 per person

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