JTS113 – Whitesands Holiday 50/50 – 15 Days Nairobi, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Samburu, Mt Kenya, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Mombasa

Day 01 : NAIROBI

On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and greeted by our customer service representative and transferred to Hilton Garden Inn  for overnight – Bed & Breakfast

Day 02 : NAIROBI – MASAI MARA

Pick up from Hilton Garden Inn at 6.3am in the morning and drive to  the world famous Masai Mara Game (Wildlife) Reserve. This is Kenya’s number one park and is always on every tourist “Must see list”. Full of life with various types of animals and birds, Masai Mara crown’s the climax of every safari in Kenya. Its rolling grasslands and acacia Savannah have time and again been captured on film with the movie “Out Of Africa” being the most famous.

Masai Mara is home to the “Big Five” (Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Rhino) and over 450 bird species. Apart from the big five, the Masai Mara is most famous for the spectacular annual migration of over a million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle etc from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania crossing the Mara River into Kenya in search of fresh feeding grounds, which takes place in late July or August. During this crossing, hundreds of animals are swept away by the first moving Mara River and others are killed by the ferocious African Crocodiles. This crossing gives true meaning to the phrase “Survival of the fittest”.

Lunch to be served at the luxurious Sarova Mara Camp set in the African bush, on an elevation between two streams, the camp is a combination of luxury and adventure. After lunch you can take time out to read a book, novel, sunbathe, take a refreshing dip in the pool, or simply sit back and relax under the tent. All luxurious tents have permanent roofs, electricity, and en-suite bathroom facilities. The grounds are beautifully laid out with trees and flowers inhabited by a collection of exotic birds and butterflies.

In the afternoon head out with your driver guide in search of the shy and elusive leopard, other wild animals and over 450 species of birds of which 57 species are birds of prey. As the sunset starts to edge dip into the African horizon it will be the perfect opportunity for you to capture the beautiful Mara landscape on film. After dinner, enjoy the warmth of the roaring log fire before going to bed under the star filled African sky. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge

Day 03 & 04 : MASAI MARA

We start the day off with an early morning game drive before dawn, followed by breakfast upon your return to the camp. After breakfast you can go swimming in the pool under the African sun or just sit back and relax for the rest of the day. In the afternoon we return to the bush in search of wildlife, such as Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelle, elephants, lions, and the solitary and ill-tempered Rhino, among others (All meals and overnight at  Mara Sopa Lodge)

Day 05 : MASAI MARA – LAKE NAKURU

Today after an early breakfast, our safari will be destined for a brief stopover at Lake Naivasha, the only freshwater lake in the Rift Valley. From the top of the Rift Valley escarpment, you can see the lake sparkling under the sun thousands of feet below you. The lake is home to a large colony of hippos and it’s also a Mecca for bird watchers and researchers since over 400 different species of birds have been recorded here. An optional boat ride will be a good ideal.

After a brief stopover at the lake, we travel in a northerly direction to your next destination lake Nakuru, which is usually dotted with pink flamingos (birds) lining its shores.

After checking in and having lunch at the lodge at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge from where you will have great unforgettable panoramic views of the lake and pink flamingos.

In the afternoon we shall go for a game drive where you can expect to see leopards, lions, giraffes, a million or so of pink flamingos as well as the short sighted and ill-tempered rhino. Dinner & overnight at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Day 06 : LAKE NAKURU – SAMBURU

After an early breakfast, bid farewell to lake Nakuru as we drive heading eastwards and we make a brief stopover at Thomson Falls, still known to many as Thomson’s falls for its 237ft cascade. After the stopover, we drive northward through Nanyuki town , crossing the northernmost foothills of Mount Kenya, until we reach Isiolo town and then down into the thorny landscape of Samburu county. This area boosts of unique northern species of wildlife which are not found in any other part south of equator, here you will find the Grevy zebra, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, the long necked gerenuk, herds of elephants and their predators abound. The life-giving Uaso Nyiro River plays a major role in the ecosystem of this region.

Your new home for the next two nights will be at Samburu Sopa Lodge. It’s located at Samburu Reserve. The lodge beautifully incorporates the existing natural springs as one of its special features. An open-air restaurant overlooking the river, swimming pool, curio shop, bars, and its location at an oasis make it a perfect base from which to explore the Samburu Reserve, as well as its sister reserve – Buffalo Springs to the west. Overnight Samburu Sopa Lodge

Day 07 : SAMBURU

Before dawn we head out in search of Africa’s wild cats. From the game drive we return to the lodge for breakfast and some R&R “rest and relaxation”, read a book/novel, sunbathe or perhaps go for a refreshing dip in the uniquely designed swimming pool before heading out again on your afternoon game drive. All meals & overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge

Day 08 : SAMBURU – Aberdares 

After an early breakfast, bid farewell to Samburu as we drive south through Isiolo, crossing the northernmost foothills of Mount Kenya, until we reach Nanyuki town and then a short distance to The Ark Lodge in Aberdares, which comes alive at night with the various sounds of animals, is one of the exotic “Tree Hotels” situated in the heart of Aberdares’s forest reserve. All of the en-suite rooms have balconies from which you can look beyond the trees to observe the endless parade of wildlife. You can watch these animals from the safety of your room or from a specially built viewing bunker connected to the lodge by a tunnel, which affords you an amazing up-close view of the animals as they visit the water hole . Dinner and overnight at The Ark Lodge

Day 09 : Aberdares – AMBOSELI

After an early breakfast we head to Amboseli with lunch on the way . After lunch, we proceed to Amboseli National Park through the statan lava plateau. Beautifully situated beneath the foot of Africa’s highest mountain Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895m), the park is well renowned for its huge herds of elephants and various types of other Savannah wildlife such as Giraffes, Bushbuck’s, Kudu, Warthog’s, Zebra’s and over 425 species of birds recorded here.

The snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above white clouds dominates every aspect of Amboseli and forms a backdrop to an impressive display of wildlife attracted to this location by swamps and springs fed by underground rivers from Kilimanjaro’s melting snow. With an airstrip at Empusel Gate, the park is also home to the Masai people, those tall, brave, and proud nomads who live in close harmony with the environment and the wildlife that surrounds them. Amboseli was the location around which such famous writers like Sir Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark tailored their stories of big game hunting in the wilds of Africa.

Enjoy a game drive en-route, as we arrive in time for your lunch at the Oltukai Lodge , situated deep in the heart of the world famous Amboseli National Park. The lodge itself draws on a subtle Maasai cultural motif, featuring natural woodcarvings, traditional artefacts and a glowing selection of local art. Sensitively located and built from ecologically sympathetic materials, its architectural shapes, style, textures and colours reflect the true essence of the African bush. They also enable it to blend effortlessly into the landscape. Dinner and overnight at Oltukai Lodge

Day 10 : AMBOSELI

A dawn game drive will be the perfect time for photographing the humbling and magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa. We return to the lodge for breakfast and some R&R “rest and relaxation”, sunbathing, swimming or for those of you reading enthusiasts, you can read the day away in the well-stocked library with a relaxing view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, before heading out for an afternoon game drive. All meals and overnight at Oltukai Lodge

Day 11 : AMBOSELI – TSAVO

After an early morning breakfast, we depart Amboseli National Park through the statan lava plateau , to the legendary land of the “Man-Eaters” – Tsavo National Park. The 21,000 sq km park is one of the largest in the whole world. Due to its enormous size, this animal and plant haven was divided into two parts Tsavo East and Tsavo West, for easy administration and management. This wilderness is home to over 1000 plant species, 400 bird species and more than 60 major mammal species such as lions, huge herds of buffalo, the solitary and ill-tempered Rhino and at least 7000 elephants. The park is the location of Africa’s most famous adventure story “Man eaters of Tsavo”, in which two lions were responsible for eating over 500 workers who were building the Uganda railway also known as the “Lunatic Line ” by its opponents in the British Parliament in 1898. The story was made famous in the 1996 movie “The Ghost and the Darkness.”

Enjoy your lunch at Severin Safari Camp . Conveniently located in the heart of the park, the lodge offers captivating views of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills. Only 100m from the main building, is a water hole where animals come to quench their thirst. Each of the 53 rooms has a private shower, toilet, and a verandah (Patio) overlooking the waterhole and Africa’s highest mountain, snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Dinner & overnight at Severin Safari Camp

Day 12 : TSAVO – MOMBASA

After breakfast, you will drive through Nairobi Mombasa Highway to end your safari at Southern Palms Beach  Resort – All Inclusive basis

Day 13&14 :

Spend the days at own leisure or do an half day city tour of Mombasa -All inclusive basis at Southern Palms Beach Resort or  Diani Sea Resort or Baobab Beach Resort

Day 15:

After breakfast -transferred to Moi International Airport to connect your flight home.