EXCLUSIVE KENYA SAFARI

Transcription

1 EXCLUSIVE KENYA SAFARI Explore the remote wilds of the Kenyan bush in private game reserves, flying from camp to camp and gaining broader understanding of this vast country and its diverse wildlife. This is the best way to have an intimate wildlife experience without all of the traffic of the National Parks. Fill your days with game drives, walking safaris, horseback rides and retire to hand-selected boutique lodges and camps with of the best service and atmosphere in East Africa. On arrival in Nairobi, begin your Safari right from the airport as our private entrance into the Nairobi National Park leads you on a game drive to your first charming camp. Then venture to Ol Donyo Lodge and their private reserve in the Chyulu Hills of Southeast Kenya for endless skies, stunning vistas of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the best horseback riding in all of Kenya. Flying North to the Laikipia region, search for the unique arid adapted species of Northern Kenya including gerenuk, greater kudu, reticulated giraffe, and grevy s zebra in the lands of the Samburu people at the stunning Ol Malo Lodge. Finish this exquisite itinerary in the private reserves of Mara Plains Camp adjoining the famed Maasai Mara, exploring the national reserve as well the private Olare Orok Conservancy which is known for excellent big cat sightings. Evenings are filled with sundowners overlooking serene landscapes, candle-lit dinners prepared with fine local ingredients and the best star gazing in the world. Whether sleeping under thatch, canvas or the African stars, these ten nights are sure to be some of the most memorable you ll experience.

2 Itinerary Overview DAY DATE OVERNIGHT HOTEL MEALS HIGHLIGHTS 1 NAIROBI The Emakoko D Arrival in Nairobi 2 CHYULU HILLS Ol Donyo Lodge BLD 3 CHYULU HILLS Ol Donyo Lodge BLD 4 CHYULU HILLS Ol Donyo Lodge BLD 5 LAIKIPIA Ol Malo Lodge BLD 6 LAIKIPIA Ol Malo Lodge BLD 7 LAIKIPIA Ol Malo Lodge BLD 8 MAASAI MARA Mara Plains Camp BLD 9 MAASAI MARA Mara Plains Camp BLD 10 MAASAI MARA Mara Plains Camp BLD 11 DEPARTURE Ole Sereni BL Fly to Ol Donyo Wuas via Nairobi, afternoon activities Game drives, walking, biking &/or horseback riding Game drives, walking, biking &/or horseback riding Fly to Laikipia, transfer to the lodge Game drives, walking, swimming, &/or village visit Game drives, walking, swimming, &/or village visit Fly to the Maasai Mara & sundowner drive Game drives and walking Game drives and walking Fly to Nairobi, day use room and airport transfer for international departure -2-

3 Itinerary in Detail DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI Upon arrival in Nairobi, head directly out on Game drive through the Nairobi National Park to spend the night at The Emakoko, a newly constructed lodge in the Mbagathi River Valley on the border of Nairobi National Park. [D] DAYS 2, 3, 4: CHYULU HILLS, SOUTHEAST KENYA Fly this morning to the Chyulu Hills and Ol Donyo Lodge, located on a 275,000 acre Maasai-owned conservancy between Amboseli, Chyulu Hills, and Tsavo National Parks. This area serves as a migration corridor for game moving between Amboseli and Tsavo and is habitat for elephant, buffalo, eland as well as specialist species such as gerenuk, oryx, and lesser kudu. Predators are present including lion, leopard and cheetah, and this area is home to one of the last Kenyan populations of black rhino. Because it is a private concession the number of vehicles on game drives is limited to just the guests at the lodge you re unlikely to see another vehicle. Just over the border in Tanzania Mt. Kilimanjaro stands over this entire area, serving as a stunning photography backdrop and quiet guardian. Activities in the area include game drives in open land rovers; night game drives to see nocturnal species; walking and mountain biking with Maasai guides and horseback riding. The lodge also has a hide made from a collection of heavy logs in front of a waterhole. It s a great place to safely see elephants at close range. Dinners and breakfasts are often served al fresco in the middle of a game drive and sundowners are a splendid way to cap off a day in the bush. In partnership with the surrounding communities Ol Donyo Lodge has assisted in the construction of local schools and a health clinic, and during your stay you ll have opportunities to visit these projects as well as meet some of the resident Maasai. Overnights Ol Donyo Lodge. [BLD] DAYS 5, 6, 7: LAIKIPIA, CENTRAL KENYA After an early breakfast, take a short flight back to Nairobi and then continue North around the flanks for Mt. Kenya to the Laikipia region. Your home for the next few days is at Ol Malo Lodge on a private conservancy. Not bound by National Park regulations and with only a few guests at any one time, one can explore this semi-arid area not only by vehicle but also on foot or camelback. The Laikipia Plateau is home to a great diversity of wildlife, from elephants, reticulated giraffe and beautiful kudus to leopard, lion and hyena. Cool off in the heat of the day with an inner tube float on the Uaso Nyiro River or simply relax with a fishing pole. This is also the homeland of the Samburu, with opportunities to visit a preschool or the Ol Malo workshop where women bead while children paint. Spend an afternoon visiting with local people; they are always just as curious about your culture as you are of theirs! Overnights Ol Malo Lodge. [BLD] -3-

4 DAYS 8, 9, 10: MAASAI MARA RESERVE Return to the airstrip for a flight to the Maasai Mara (connects through Nairobi). No other place on earth compares with the multitudes of wild animals found in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, part of the vast Serengeti ecosystem spanning Kenya and Tanzania. During the summer months (approx July September) the Great Migration comprised of 1.5 million wildebeest and several hundred thousand zebra make the Maasai Mara their home. These enormous congregations of animals provide sustenance to a myriad of predators including lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. Visit the Mara or the Talek River to see pods of hippos and huge crocodiles, and if you re lucky watch as a herd of wildebeest and zebra tries to run across the river, avoiding the snapping jaws of hungry crocodiles within. Plains Camp. [BLD] Your base is Mara Plains Camp, located in the Olare Orok Conservancy, which shares a border with the Maasai Mara Reserve. The Olare Orok Conservancy is an initiative that addresses both local community initiatives and wildlife conservation on Maasai owned land on Maasai Mara Game Reserve s northern border. Explore the private conservancy and the greater reserve area through game drives in 4WD land rovers and walking safaris. To maximize the activities of each day you ll set out early and have a picnic breakfast in the bush followed by a game drive. During the afternoons, when wildlife is least active, rest up at camp and enjoy the serene surroundings. In the late afternoon head out again on game drive, culminating with drinks around the fire and a sumptuous dinner. Overnights Mara Optional activity: Maasai Mara Hot Air Ballooning Before dawn you ll be picked up for the drive to the launch site where you ll meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon. Take off at dawn, rising with the sun. Float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. The balloon ride offers a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. The flight is about one hour depending on wind conditions. Celebrate after landing in the traditional manner with champagne before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in Out of Africa style with bone china, linen table cloths, and King s silver. We suggest you book in advance, as space is limited. Price: $475 per person DAY 11: DEPARTURE Fly from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi this afternoon where you have a day room at Ol Sereni before your evening departure flight. [BL] END OF SERVICES Actual routes and activities may vary. Local trip coordinators reserve the right to change accommodations to similar quality alternatives. -4-

5 PRICING: 2013 SEASON PER PERSON SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Low Season $9750 $1200 Mid Season $9900 $1865 High Season $11,185 $2500 Low Season is Jan 3 Feb 28. Mid Season is Mar May, June 1-30, and Oct 1 Dec 19. High Season is Jul Sept, Dec 20 Jan 4. A 20% non-refundable deposit required to confirm this itinerary. INCLUDED SERVICES Shared game drives with other lodge guests in open-sided 4WD vehicles English-speaking naturalist guides Bush walks, biking, camel and horseback riding (where available) Airport-hotel transfers, land transportation 10 nights, 1 day use hotel accommodation as indicated Internal flights Meals as indicated [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner] Drinks with meals including alcoholic beverages. Premium brands excluded. Laundry service Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre-departure services NOT INCLUDED SERVICES International airfare Tips and gratuities Kenyan visa Airport departure taxes Personal expenses for extra services, optional activities, or changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control Travel insurance for trip cancellation, medical services, or evacuation (proof of medical travel insurance is required by the lodges so you must purchase travel insurance) Any other items not mentioned above 33 LB. (15KG) PER PERSON BAGGAGE WEIGHT LIMIT ON DOMESTIC AIRPLANES There is a 33 lb. per person baggage weight limit for transportation on domestic airline flights within your itinerary. The airline operator enforces this limitation on your checked baggage for safety reasons. Please keep your luggage at 33lbs or less. Carry-on space is not available, so all of your luggage will be counted as check luggage. Cameras or binoculars that are around your neck or in a small bag will not be included in this limit. -5-

6 Accommodations EMAKOKO HOTEL, NAIROBI Situated on 15 acres of land on the Emakoko River bordering Nairobi National Park, the 20 room Emakoko is surrounded by majestic fig trees. A large variety of bird life can be seen around the lodge, from Green wood pigeons to two resident eagle owls who keep a beady eye on the other residents. There is also a resident hippo, who can be seen grazing on the lawn outside the rooms in the early evening or the morning. The Emakoko allows guests to start their safari in a wildlife environment. Whether you are enjoying cocktail in the viewing area or simply a coffee by the pool overlooking the river, relaxation is assured. OL DONYO LODGE, CHYULU HILLS Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge consists of ten expansive guest suites in six stand-alone villas. No two are the same design but all have a dramatic view of the plains and Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. Each suite has a rooftop star-bed accessed from the verandah via a winding stone staircase. The star-beds are a fabulous sleep-out option, with utter privacy and all the amenities of the suite just below. All rooms include a lounge, verandah, indoor and outdoor showers, double washbasins, flush toilet and bath. The infinity pool, lounge, and dining area faces the lodge s famous waterhole where resident wildlife often congregate and elephants wallow. OL MALO LODGE, LAIKIPIA On the northern edge of the Laikipia plateau, Ol Malo is nestled into a rugged escarpment with each room having an expansive view of the watering hole and salt lick below, as out into the wild Northern Kenya landscape. Comfortable and accommodating sitting and dining rooms provide shady terraces for protection from the sun and open fireplaces for the cooler evenings. Each double room has its own veranda and complete privacy. Large picture windows frame a wild, constantly changing landscape clouds scud across the sky, stately eagles wheel and glide on thermals above the plains. An infinity pool adds to the beauty as well as the amenity of this place. MARA PLAINS CAMP, OLARE ORAK CONSERVANCY MAASAI MARA The camp opened in 2008 in an extraordinary location on the Ntiakatek River, with views of the surrounding plains and the cooling canopy of the riverine forest. The camp has been designed to be as low impact as possible while still providing a luxury safari experience. The camp caters for only 14 guests in seven uniquely designed octagonal canvas rooms. Each is raised on decks, and opens on three sides to the outside. Floor to ceiling net walls and the marquis ceiling make for very open-air environs. The rooms have a dressing area as well as private verandahs with seating and exquisite views. The en suite facilities consist of a double basin vanity, flush loo and shower with hot water 24 hours a day. -6-