Day 1

Arrive in Nairobi where you are met and transferred to your hotel for overnight. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 2. Nairobi – Masai Mara

After breakfast, leave Nairobi and drive south to reach game abundant Masai Mara in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive introduces you to the giant herds of plains game and the numerous predators that have made the reserve so famous. Dinner and overnight at the campsite / lodge

The World Re Known Maasai Mara Game Reserve is a northern extension of the Serengeti National Park which is located in Tanzania. Maasai Mara cover an area of 1510km². The Maasai Mara ecosystem is composed of rivers i.e Talek river and Mara river which are the main water supply for the ecosystem. The Mara river is a huddle to the wildebeest migration as the wildebeests have to cross the river from Serengeti most of them perishing in the jaws of crocodiles and big cats. The Western part of Maasai Mara lies the Siria escarpment, loita plains and the rest is the Masai pastoral land.

The Maasai Mara game reserve is owned and run by the county council of Narok which is the richest county council in Kenya due to the revenue collected as park entrance fee. Part of the Maasai Mara which is called the Mara triangle is contracted out and privately run. Park fees are paid by the number of nights one spends in the Mara conservasy.

The Maasai Mara lies at an altitude of 1500 meters to 2100 meters. It rains twice a year in the game reserve that is during the long rains that fall between the month of March and May and during the short rains that fall on the month of October, November and part of December. June and July are the coldest months and January and February the hottest months. Temperatures during the day rarely exceed 85°F (30°C) and during the night it hardly drops below 60°F (15°C). Maasai Mara is a mosquito prone area but camp site are sprayed with mosquito repellants and the tents have treated mosquito nets.

Maasai Mara has a big population of wildlife. All big five can be seen in this reserve, a large number of ungulates are also easily visible they include the wilderbeeast , Thomson gazelles, grant gazelles, buffalos, rhinos, impalas, topis, elands, zebras, giraffes and duikers. The common predators include the lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals and foxes. Maasai Mara has over 450 identified species. Some common birds include the common ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bustard, hornbills, storks, eagles and vultures.

The wildebeest migration happens annually, this spectacle is considered as one of the 7th wonder of the world. More than a million wildebeest, accompanied by topis, zebras, gazelles and elands make their journey from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara Game reserve. Many of them perish while crossing the Mara river where crocodiles and big cats make a kill on the vulnerable ungulates. The migration happens every year during the month of July after the long rains. The grass is big and plenty and for the next three months the wildebeests clear the lush grass of the Maasai Mara. The migration varies annually due to the climate change. If the climate changes and it doesn’t rain as usual the wildebeest may delay to cross over or cross over and go back since there isn’t grass to feed on.

The Maasai people whom by definition speak the Maa language hence the name Maasai have held on to their culture even in these times of modernization. A maasai’s home is called a manyatta where he lives with his wives and children. From childhood boys are obligated to look after their fathers cows while girls are obligated to doing house chores, fetching water and milking the cows. After every fifteen years there is an initiation where boys are circumcised and they become young morans and the existing morans graduate to junior elders. The Maasai enjoy eating meat, milk mixed with blood during rituals such initiation and marriage. The use of herbs as medicine is still embedded in their day to day life. The Maasai are an attraction in Kenya since they managed to stick to their culture.

Day 3: Masai Mara

Spend the day game viewing in the Mara where all the Big Five as well as a variety of antelopes and lesser kudu may be observed. Overnight at Mara campsite / Lodge

Day 4: Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru

Depart very early and drive to Lake Nakuru. After lunch, take an afternoon game drive along the shore where you may spot the elusive leopard, the recently introduced Rotschild’s giraffe and many species of birds. Overnight at campsite / Lodge

Lake Nakuru is one of the alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru is also known as “Pink Lake” or Africa Bird’s Paradise. The lake is ideally located in central Kenya within Lake Nakuru National park. The park occupies an area of 188 km2 while the lake occupies an area of 62 km 2. The lake is famous for the millions of flamingos that flock the lake although flamingos are unpredictable birds and are not always to be found in the lake is such vast numbers. From a distance i.e. the baboon cliff the lake looks pink in color due to the flamingos.

The topography at Lake Nakuru is comprised of grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, acacia woodlands and a forest made up Euphorbia trees. In the early 1960’s Tilapia Grahami was introduced to the lake and it flourished despite the alkaline nature of the lake.

There are two species of flamingos namely lesser flamingo and greater flamingos, they feed on algae, which flourishes due to the warm alkaline waters of Lake Nakuru. It is believed that flamingos consume about 250,000 kg of algae per hectare of surface area per year. The abundance of algae in the lake is what attracts millions of flamingos to Lake Nakuru. Apart from flamingos other bird species include ducks, pelicans, cormorants, plovers, vultures, eagles, and buzzards. Lake Nakuru has over 50 animal species which include hippos, reed bucks, water bucks, Rothschild giraffe’s, baboons, black and white Columbus monkey, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, lions, gazelles and impalas among others.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru – Amboseli

This morning after breakfast, drive to Amboseli National Park and the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro. Home to the proud and brightly painted Masai tribe, the acacia woodlands and grasslands of the park shelter an abundance of game including buffalo, lion, cheetah, hyena, zebra and wildebeest. A game drive follows a lunch in the park. Overnight at campsite/Lodge.

Day 6: Amboseli

Morning and afternoon game drives. All meals and overnight at campsite / Lodge

Amboseli National Park is located south of Nairobi 140 kilometers (3 ½ hours drive).The park occupies an area of 392 km2. The ecosystem is made up of a seasonal lake called Lake Amboseli where the park derives its name from, swamps, open plains, acacia woodland, rocky out crops, thorn bushes and marches. The landscape is dominated by the backdrop of the majestic snow-cap of Mount Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa. The snow capes are visible when the clouds are clear mainly early morning and late evenings and this scene gives one the opportunity to capture wonderful memories on camera for friends and loved ones back at home.

Amboseli national park is considered Kenya second best after Maasai Mara game reserve by many tourist and is the only national park in Kenya that has the biggest population of elephants. The ecosystem of Amboseli though small compared to other parks sustain a large number of bird species and game. Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals because its vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. The park is considered most ideal for writers, filmmakers and researchers.

The Maasai are the local habitant of this area, which they call Empusel meaning “Dusty place”. Other community tribes have moved to Amboseli in search of greener pastures. Beside game viewing and the ecstatic views of Mount Kilimanjaro one can visit a local Maasai village to learn their way of life and to interact with the locals.

Day 7: Amboseli – Nairobi

Pre breakfast game drive. After breakfast, drive or fly back to Nairobi. After lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. In the event of a late night flight out, an optional day room can be reserved for you to relax and freshen up before you depart.