dossier

Contrasts of Kenya

Day 1 - Arrive in Kenya
Ben Mureithi, our guide, meets you at the airport and transfers you to the hotel (30 minutes).

Day 2 - Crescent Island (8km/5mi/3hrs)
A drive past tea plantations and banana fields brings us our first views over The Great Rift Valley, before arriving at our colonial lodge on Lake Naivasha. After lunch we walk on nearby Crescent Island where giraffe, wildebeest and zebra roam, and where flocks of great white pelican skim the waters.

Day 3 - Crater Lake Wildlife Reserve (12km/7mi/5hrs)
A walk in this private reserve takes us past whistling acacia bushes as we spot eland, Thompson’s gazelle and snuffling warthogs on our way up to the rim of the crater for a picnic with 360 degree views. Ben points out waterbuck and Colobus monkeys by the lake below, before our trail descends and swings back through camphor bushes to the Reserve gate. We return to the hotel for a swim before dinner.

Day 4 - Hell's Gate National Park (14km/9mi/5hrs)
This stunning walk brings us below the blood red cliffs of Hell’s Gate, home to huge Griffon vultures, and down into the spectacular river-carved canyon, look out for the curious black-faced monkeys! Then it’s on past hot spring waterfalls and below towering rock pillars and back to Lake Naivasha.

Day 5 - Lake Nakuru National Park
We drive west today, for our first full day game drive in spectacular Lake Nakuru National Park. Keep an eye out for leopards dozing on horizontal acacia branches as you arrive at Nakuru Lake, famed for its amazing pink halo of 500,000 flamingos. Lunch in a park lodge, (spot rhino, buffalo and Rothschild giraffe) then on to our hotel above Lake Elementaita – home for the next three nights.

Day 6 - Malewa Gorge (13km/8mi/5hrs)
A short 45 minute transfer brings us to the north rim of the Rift Valley above the River Malewa. A climb past wild hibiscus, Kei Apple and “Wait a Bit” thorn bushes rewards us with a panoramic picnic spot. it’s then a gentle descent into a verdant gorge and to clear rock pools where we can usually swim, listening our for tropical boubou, chiff chaff and rattling cisticola in the background!

Day 7 - Elementaita Lake (18km/11mi/6hrs)
Today’s walk takes us to the black volcanic shore of Lake Elementaita, where clouds of pink   flamingo are scattered by swooping African fish eagles. Masai boys shepherding cattle wave as we ascend a ridge for views to the smoky blue horizon, before an easy descent to the hotel.

Day 8 - Masai Mara Game Drive
We stop at craft markets on a long, stunning drive through the Rift Valley on our way to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. After a late lunch on arrival, the majesty of our surroundings unfolds on our first game drive along the Talek River. Look for hippos snorting in deep muddy pools, and scan for big game through your binoculars.

Day 9 - Masai Village Walk (14km/8mi/5hrs)
Ben leads an early game drive before breakfast, after which we exit the park and meet a local Masai guide. Our walk ascends an escarpment past antelope and wildebeest for a picnic with views of the rolling plains below. After lunch we descend to a traditional Masai village where we are invited into their homes. We have time for another game drive before dinner under the stars.

Day 10 - Masai Mara Game Drive
A full day safari takes us south to the Mara River. Look out for elephant, lion, zebra and buffalo. Bird life is amazing too – leopard vultures, black-chested snake eagle and secretary birds can all be seen.

Day 11 - Warrior Hill (15km/9mi/5hrs)
After an early game drive we leave the park and begin walking towards Warrior Hill where we picnic on an open plain under yellow fever trees, and return past an escarpment thick with Kenya green heart – used by locals for toothbrushes! We enjoy our last game drive this evening, before a final dinner.

Day 12 - Leave Kenya
We head back through the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we arrive for a lunch and a refreshing swim at our hotel where we have day rooms. Relax by the pool, have a pre flight snooze or enjoy shopping for souvenirs in a Nairobi shopping centre, before we take you to the airport for the flight home.


Extranights:
Sarova Camp, Masai Mara (4A)
* $429 full board with 2 game drivesincluded, singles $498 (spring 2007 departures)
* $498, singles $584(spring 2008 departures)

La Mada, Nairobi (3A)
* $120 B&B, singles$153 (autumn 2007 departures)
* $145 B&B, singles $179 (spring2008 departures)

Please note that the customer will have to pay fora special transfer in order to have these extra nights.

Roomupgrade: SarovaCamp (larger tent with seating area) $117 pppn.