Days 1 – 3

Our first day’s drive takes us through to Nakuru stopping over at the Rift Valley Look Out for superb panoramic views across the Rift Valley and some souvenir shopping in the markets on the way. Arriving in our first campsite we have a Departure meeting, and then enjoy a home cooked meal once our camp is set up. The campsite is famous for its chameleon population and we can take a walk to get some time with these exquisite small creatures. We can also visit the nearby local village.  

Our first experience of the wilds of Africa finds us the following night camping in Nakuru National Park, a small game park close to Nakuru town. Nakuru is particular famous for its flamingo population of greater, and more abundant lesser flamingo, usually found feeding on the lake’s edge. Hippos can also be seen wallowing in the lake amidst a myriad of other water birds such as pelican, stilts, storks and egrets. The park also boasts black and white rhino, the rare Rothschild giraffe as well as leopard and lion. Defassa waterbuck, buffalo and eland are in abundance.

Game drives take us down by the lake and through thick forests of acacia, as well as amongst the distinctive candelabra euphorbia. With a little luck we might find a leopard or lion. We enjoy breakfast in the wilds overlooking the lake at Baboon Cliffs where small hyrax peep out from the rocky ledges.  

Leaving Nakuru day three around midday we head to Lake Naivasha. Here we relax and enjoy afternoon tea on the lawns at Joy Adamson’s Elsamere under huge yellow acacia trees directly overlooking the lake, whilst enjoying the antics of the resident troop of colobos monkeys.

A boat cruise to watch hippo wallow in the lake and the stunning bird life of the region and horse riding is also available during our stay by the lake.

Days 4 – 6

A region of quite recent volcanic activity, the next day we have some choices between a few highlights in the region, to take a boat across to Crescent Island, a section of a partially submerged volcano, whilst on a cycling safari in Hells Gate (Ol Njorowa), volcanic plugs, steaming volcanic vents and dramatic cliffs of columnar basalt are on display as well as giraffe, warthog, zebra, buffalo, Coke’s hartebeest, impala and Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle that congregate at the water holes in this otherwise waterless region. The Maasai Cultural Centre in Hells Gate is also well worth a visit.

Alternatively we take a guided walk to the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, to view the beautiful jade green soda lake found at the bottom of an extinct volcano on the western side of Naivasha. The sanctuary is also home to 150 recorded bird species, giraffe, zebra and other plains wildlife.

Game drives in the world famous Masai Mara, one of the greatest wilderness areas in the world, are for many the main highlight of our safari. Leaving Naivasha we now head on the bumpy road to the Mara.

An area of gently rolling hills, woodland and acacia trees, The Mara is well watered by the Mara and Talek rivers and opens onto the Serengeti plains of Tanzania.

It is here on to the grassy plains of the Mara, that the big herds of some 500,000 wildebeest, zebra and the distinctive Thomson’s gazelle, with its black stripe along its side, regularly push on their seasonal migration from June/July onwards when the Serengeti dries out. The big herds too are regularly accompanied by hungry lions on the lookout for a kill. Crocodile are also famous for their stake outs as the herds head out on the sometimes tragic river crossings.

The Mara also boasts year round resident herds of elephant, giraffe, black rhino, buffaloes, topis, Coke’s hartebeest, impala, eland, hippos, leopard, cheetah, hunting dog, spotted and striped hyenas, as well as 540 bird species including many raptors.

We take our time then with a local guide to explore as much as we can during our 24 hours in the park and camp overnight at the edge of the park experiencing another night in the wild. There is also time to visit a traditional Maasai village during our stay.  

Days 7 – 8

Returning to Nairobi we camp up in the capital for our last two nights. Here we have a fun morning watching the adorable baby elephants at Sheldrick’s Orphanage during the feeding and play sessions. Orphaned rhino and zebra also entertain us. The young calves, left parentless by poaching, are brought here and nursed until they are believed to be out of danger then gradually released and settled back into life in the wilds in various parks.

Following our visit to the orphanage we then enjoy some time at the Giraffe Sanctuary, founded in 1978 to save the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Here we can hand feed giraffe in the traditional manor grounds. We spend our final night out together to celebrate our safari highlights in one of Nairobi’s famous restaurants.

Optionals: Hells Gate National Park, Crater Lake Sanctuary, Hippo Cruise, Elsamere for afternoon tea, Cycle hire, horse riding and a balloon ride.

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