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7 DAYS SAMBURU / GREAT RIFT VALLEY LAKES AND MASAI MARA
Areas of Interest: Samburu, Lake Baringo,
Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lerochi
Plateau, Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Great
Wildebeest Migration (Seasonal).
Activity: Game Viewing, Camping, Scenery,
Trekking, Photography, Culture, and Bird Watching
Country: Kenya
Gaining popularity as a safari which covers some of Kenya’s
most admired tourist destination, this trip promises a lot.
Samburu National reserve is becoming one of Kenya's most admired
stops after the Mara with sights of the peculiarly branched
doum palms and taut thorn trees giving an unusual look to
the region. Likewise, the permanent water supply acts like
a lure for the abundant species found here, some endemic to
the North of Kenya. This trip takes you to 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 Masai Mara. Kenya’s
rift valley escarpments offer some of the most breath taking
views.
Departures: Mondays
Price: $495
Local Payment: $235
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
• Transport by special safari vehicle
• Services of an English speaking driver/tour guide
and cook
• All campsite fees
• All camping equipment including use of our three-person
tents (each tent shared by 2 people), stools, foam mattresses
except sleeping bags
• Three meals a day while on safari whether vegetarian
or non-vegetarian prepared by our safari cook
 WHAT
IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
• Gamepark entrance fees shown separately as 'local
payment'
• Personal travel insurance
• Sleeping bags [available for hire in the office at
US$15 per bag per safari with US$ 40 refundable deposit]
• Hotel accommodation in Nairobi.
• All airport/hotel/airport transfers [but can be arranged
at extra cost]
• All airport taxes and visas
• All personal expenses and toiletries; e.g. mineral
water, toilet tissue, laundry, telephones, beverages, tips,
portage, etc.
• Any other extras not stated as included above
Itinerary:
Day 1 – Samburu:
Depart Nairobi in the morning heading north via the shoulder
of Africa's second largest mountain, Mt Kenya to the Samburu
Game Reserve. Accommodation in our semi-permanent campsite
is beautifully set under a canopy of trees or we may pitch
tents o¬n the edge of Uaso Nyiro (meaning Brown in Samburu)
River. Cold showers are available which are amazingly refreshing
in the hot, dusty climate.
Day 2 – Samburu
Day spent game viewing in the park appreciating the diverse
landscape and variety of animal species.
Samburu is part of a lava plain that includes a diverse landscape
of thorn scrub, red dirt, dried river beds, broken volcanic
rock, steep hills and rocky outcroppings. The region is home
to the uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk
antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with
distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephant and crocodile
are guaranteed sightings, excellent bird watching with numerous
varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sighting
is also a special feature here.
Day 3 – Baringo
Depart in the early morning across the scenic Lerochi Plateau
(with lunch enroute) towards Lake Baringo. Arriving this fresh
water lake in the late afternoon, we enjoy an evening boat
ride in search of hippo, crocodile, fish eagle and a variety
of other birds.
Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya’s small
Rift Valley lakes; creased with papyrus and well developed
acacia forest. Hippos, crocodiles and monitor lizards are
effortlessly seen from the shore, as is a magnificent display
of water birds. This is Kenya's bird watching centre with
over 1200 different species native to the country and more
than 450 sighted here. A bird watcher's haven but beware,
this is malaria land so its best to come prepared with plenty
of mosquito repellent!
Day 4 – Lake Nakuru
A 30km drive south to the spectacular Lake Bogoria with hot
springs and geysers being the main attractions. The lake has
been called ‘the new home of the flamingo’ with
a nomad population of up to two million birds. Lunch and then
proceed for an afternoon game drive at the Lake Nakuru National
Park.
This small park (180 sq km) is home to warthogs, waterbuck,
buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White and
black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and
you will find white rhino at the southern end. The park has
also retained its reputation as an ornithologists’ delight
with more than 400 species of bird found here. We spend the
night at a campsite just outside of town.
Day 5 – Masai Mara
Heading further south towards Narok, we proceed towards
our permanent campsite on the Talek River. Here we have stand-up
tents with beds or small wood cabins for those after a touch
more comfort. If all are occupied, we pitch tents.
On clear days, the Mara offers fantastic orange tinted sunsets
and you will definitely want to capture this moment while
sipping on a sundowner back at our campsite. The Mara reserve
is 1510 sq km of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile
riverine woodland following the looping meanders of the Mara
and Talek rivers. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal;
it is typical savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife.
 Day
6 – Masai Mara
The day is spent exploring the Mara magic. Wherever you go
in the Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such
as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat eared foxes, grey
jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest.
Elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in great
numbers. It is common to see lions either basking after a
heavy meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs
and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.
The ultimate action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest
exodus in July and August when millions of these grass eaters
move north from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before
turning south again in October.
Balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the
savannah plains and the wildlife after which you come back
down for a beautiful champagne breakfast. These trips can
be arranged at our office upon booking.
Day 7 – Nairobi
We break camp and drive to Narok where Masai souvenirs can
be bought, thereafter proceeding towards Nairobi.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING ON SAFARI:
• Sleeping bag [available for hire in our office for
US$ 15 per bag per safari plus a refundable deposit of US$
40 after the safari; Tanzania/Uganda - US$ 30].
• Money for personal spending and tipping approximately
Kshs.1000 a day
• Only a small case or rucksack, as storage space is
limited [maximum 20kgs].
• A pair of long trousers and jersey for the cool mornings
and evenings in addition to plenty of light clothes for hot
days (do not forget a hat), swim suit, a pillow, good walking
and biking shoes and sweets
• Torch, sunglasses, suntan lotion, insect repellent/spray
but not mosquito coils
• Mineral water for drinking (available for sale in
our office)
• Camera, films, binoculars, maps, guide-books and also
darts for our dart board at Maasai Mara
• Toilet paper, towel, soap and toothbrush/paste
• All personal travel insurance
• It is good idea to bring any drinks you might want
around the campfire as they are not always available on route.
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