Exclusive Cultural & Safari Experience with the Maasai

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1 Your travel with us will be the most rewarding experience of any holiday in East Africa! 1

2 Experience the Maasai country and learn about local traditions and culture. Go on a traditional Safari learn about Africa s wildlife through the eyes of the Maasai. This 11- day trip includes 2 nights in Nairobi, 3 nights in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, 3 nights with the Maasai at Maasai Simba Camp, and 1 full day excursion to Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. DAY 01 Arrival & transfer to Pan Afric Hotel in downtown Nairobi. Driver and guide will meet you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Transfer to hotel and catch up with much needed rest. B&B DAY 02 FULL DAY IN NAIROBI This morning you ll have time to relax and acclimatize yourself with the local weather and time zone. Activities for the day include a visit to the Giraffe Center and a famous elephant orphanage in the outskirts of Nairobi National Park. Meet orphan elephants and learn about their life at the orphanage and in the wild. We ll have lunch at The Verandah Garden Restaurant located at Utamaduni Craft Centre. Return to the hotel after lunch and overnight. Meals in Nairobi B&B 2

3 DAY 03 DEPART NAIROBI FOR MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE Shortly after early breakfast we ll depart Nairobi for Maasai Mara Game Reserve. We ll drive through Kenya highlands and stop midway to get a glimpse of the Great Rift Valley a magnificent natural trench stretching approximately 3,700 miles from Lebanon into Mozambique in East Africa. We should arrive to Sarova Mara Game lodge in time for lunch. There will be an afternoon game drive starting at 4 pm. 3

4 DAY 04 & 05 FULL DAYS IN MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE The Maasai Mara is made of vast open rolling plains, and grasslands with seasonal river lets. The entire area of the park is situated within the enormous Great Rift Valley. The reserve is famous for the annual wildlife migration with over 1 million wildebeest and thousands of zebra crossings from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania. The reserve is home to hundreds of elephants, hippos, lions, hyenas, Cape buffalo, and thousands of other hoof stock. Over 500 species of birds including ostrich, larks, sunbirds, weavers as well as the lilac breasted roller are abundant in the reserve. The Maasai Mara's altitude is ft. above sea level, which yields a milder and damper climate different from other parts of the country. Morning and afternoon game drives will be provided each day. DAY 06 DEPART MAASAI MARA VIA NAIROBI TO MAASAI SIMBA CAMP Shortly after breakfast we ll drive from Maasai Mara and arrive to Nairobi by noon in time for lunch. Depart Nairobi after lunch and arrive to Maasai Simba Camp late in the afternoon. We ll make stops along the way when we see something interesting. Upon our arrival, we ll meet our Maasai hosts and settle into. 4

5 DAY FULL DAYS IN MAASAI SIMBA CAMP is in Merrueshi Group Ranch close to Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Chyulu Hills National Park is only 5 Kilometers (3 mi) away from the camp. The camp is a historical site formerly used by Maasai warriors for training. It has been restored and made accessible for adventure travelers seeking to have authentic cultural and safari experience with the Maasai. The entire camp is nestled under a canopy of indigenous acacia trees on the banks of a seasonal Kiboko River. The camp is made up of Hemingway style tents and rock cabins equipped with moderate amenities (flush toilets, mosquito nets, and hot water). Time in the village will be flexible and relaxing, yet full of learning experiences. Mornings will typically begin with a bush walking safari lead by the Maasai warriors. Merrueshi is a wildlife corridor between Amboseli and Chyulu Hills National Parks. Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, warthog, gazelle, impala, and over 400 species of birds roam freely in the area. 5

6 Exclusive Cultural & Safari Experience with the Maasai The Maasai know this land in a way no one else does and the warriors will interpret everything from footprints, animal droppings, animal noises, herbal medicine, and more. The walking safari offers you a unique experience with wildlife much different from the game reserves where visitors are restricted to see wildlife from the vehicle. Breakfast is ready when you return from the bush-walking safari. After breakfast we ll emerge ourselves into several activities that include a visit to local villages, schools, and the health center. Your visits with Maasai village leaders, elders, women, herbalists, teachers, and nurses will allow you to learn about every aspect of the Maasai tribal way of life. Extra fun activities include a visit to a local trading market, bead-making lessons facilitated by the Maasai Women s Cooperative, storytelling sessions by Maasai elders, and a Maasai warrior dance the night before departure. As always we ll save time for sharing within the group during dinner. Meals include BLD. DAY 09- FULL DAY EXCURSION TO AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK 6

7 After having coffee or tea, hop into 4x4 Land Cruiser and drive to Amboseli National Park, 30 minutes away from. Amboseli covers 150 square miles in southern Kenya, not far from the Tanzanian border. It is at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa standing 19,340 feet above sea level. In addition to over 1,000 elephants there are zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, lion, hippo, antelope, warthog, hyena, cheetah, buffalo, and more than 400 species of birds all gathering in the haven of the park. A full breakfast will be served on top Nomootio observation point looking at the elephants and hippos below. After breakfast we ll take a short game drive into Ol Tukai lodge for mid-day break and lunch. Our game drive will resume at 4:00pm. We will return to after game drive in time for dinner and overnight. Meals include BLD. DAY 10 - DEPART MAASAI SIMBA CAMP TO NAIROBI Shortly after lunch we ll drive from late in the afternoon to Nairobi airport. Bid farewell to your driver and guide and board your safe flight back home. DAY 11 ARRIVE BACK HOME COST PER PERSON Cost starts from $2800 per person sharing a room Children: 1-4 years FREE. Less than 12 years sharing a room with parents 75% of adult room rate. Children in own room 80% of adult room rate. Over 12 years: will pay full price. A tour leader is free of charge with 5 adult paying. 7

8 TRIP FEATURES INCLUDE: All ground transportation Bed and breakfast in Nairobi Full board at Maasai Mara Game Reserve Full board at (Maasai Village) Full day excursion to Amboseli National Park Round trip transfers from and to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport All park entry fees, service charges, and hotel taxes English speaking guides and drivers NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST International flights Inoculations or other medical expenses related to the safari Excess baggage Items of a personal nature Laundry, massages, and other personal items Tips for drivers and porters Passport visa fees Bottled water 8

9 Vehicles: we use private 4X4 Land Cruiser or Safari mini vans. All our vehicles are retrofitted to meet rough roads standards and safari needs. Each person is guaranteed window seating in each vehicle with pop-up roof for easy game viewing & photography. There will be rest stop at every 100 km for people to stretch and use the restroom. 9

10 With this trip you ll have your own safari vehicle with a driver and guide. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES- HOT AIR BALOON SAFARI OVER MAASAI MARA Hot air balloon safari offers a different photographic opportunity, champagne breakfast, and a short game drive before returning back to the camp. We had a number of clients who went on a balloon safari and they regarded it as the most beautiful balloon flight in the world. The cost for hot air balloon safari is $450. We will need to book the balloon safari in advance. Please let us know if you are interested on the hot air balloon experience and we can book it for you. 10