Classic Safari: Cultural, Bird Watching & Wildlife in Kenya

Duration: 9 Days 8 Nights

DAY 1 | ACCOMMODATION: EMARA OLE SERENI HOTEL

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: NAIROBI

View of Nairobi National Park from Emara Ole Sereni

Begin your classic safari adventure with a warm welcome by Campo Safaris at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, followed by a transfer to the luxurious Emara Ole Sereni Hotel. Nairobi, Kenya's Capital, is a well-planned modern city of over five million inhabitants. It is described as a garden city as its broad avenues are lined with flowering plants and shrubs.

Situated at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level, it enjoys hot sunny days and cool evenings. Places of interest to the visitor include the Municipal Market, the ornate Jamia Mosque, and the National Museum with its adjacent Snake Park. There are several art galleries exhibiting work by local artists, displays of tribal dancing, theatres, a variety of good restaurants, and a wealth of fascinating curio shops. Dinner on own arrangement. Accommodation based on Bed and Breakfast (BB) at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel.

DAY 2 | ACCOMMODATION: Sopa lodge/Samburu Simba lodge

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: NAIROBI – SAMBURU.

Distance: 340 Kms. Approx. Time: 5 hours.

BREAKFAST: 0700 hrs. DEPARTURE: 0730 hrs.

The morning journey takes visitors north, past the Highlands of Kenya, one of the country's most fertile and productive areas, with its abundance of springs and rivers flowing from Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare ranges. The drive passes vast plantations of coffee and tropical fruits such as bananas, pineapples, and passion fruit; then crosses the Tana River (the longest river in Kenya, which drains into the Indian Ocean).

Descending the Laikipia Plains, dotted with extinct volcanoes, is reminiscent of the geographic origins of the area. The journey continues through Isiolo, a small Muslim trading town, where the nomadic tribes of the north meet to trade and exchange their wares. From here, an almost perfectly straight road of 40 km takes visitors to the Samburu National Reserve. Lunch at the Lodge. Game drive in the afternoon.

The landscape in the Samburu area is dry and semi-desert, except for a scattering of small bushes, and the narrow strip of greenery bordering the Ewaso Nyiro river. The appeal of Samburu lies in its wildlife, unique to the area. This includes the Grevy’s or Imperial zebra, whose stripes are finer than those of its cousin the Burchell zebra; The Gerenuk or giraffe-antelope, with its peculiar manner of feeding on leaves while standing on its hind legs; the pretty Reticulated Giraffe; the masked Beisa Oryx, and the blue-legged Somali Ostrich.

Dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

DAY 3 | ACCOMMODATION: Sopa lodge/Samburu Simba lodge

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: SAMBURU

DEPARTURE: 0630 hrs. (Coffee/tea at 0615 hrs).

BREAKFAST: 0900 hrs with an option to later visit Reteti elephant orphanage

You get to enjoy an early morning and afternoon game drive in the game reserve.  One of the park's inhabitants is the Nile Crocodile, the big boss of the river, lying camouflaged in wait for any unsuspecting victims approaching it. Visitors might chance upon some secretive leopards, lying hidden between the branches of the trees, while impalas and Grant’s gazelles innocently feed nearby. Elephants, buffaloes, and over 450 different bird species are present.

Lunch is provided.

Afternoon game drive.

Dinner and an overnight stay at the Lodge.

DAY 4 | ACCOMMODATION: Lake Nakuru Sopa lodge/Lake Nakuru lodge

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: SAMBURU – LAKE NAKURU

Distance: 400 Kms. Approx.

Time: 6 hours.

After breakfast, visitors depart for the Rift Valley, arriving for lunch at a Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park. Late afternoon game viewing and bird watching is planned. Lake Nakuru is one of the most beautiful ornithological (the scientific study of birds) paradises worldwide, and the first flamingo sanctuary to be created.

Surrounded by forests of Yellow acacia and Candelabra euphorbia, it not only gains its fame for its over 450 species of birds residing in the area but also for the mammals living in perfect harmony with the aquatic environment: waterbuck, warthogs, baboons, buffalos, giraffes, and felines such as lions and leopards. However, this small and shallow lake is more famous for its pink flamingo population, breeding along the shoreline and feeding off the lake, which gives them their characteristic pink pigmentation.

Dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

DAY 5 | ACCOMMODATION: Zebra Plains Mara Camp/Zebra River Camp

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: LAKE NAKURU – MAASAI MARA

Distance: 300 Km.

Approx time: 4.5 hrs.

BREAKFAST: 0700hrs. DEPARTURE: 0730hrs.

After breakfast, the drive commences west past the volcanic mountains of Longonot and Suswa. After crossing Narok, the principal town in the Maasai Mara area, the journey approaches the Loita Plains, where it is possible to observe the circular manyattas (Maasai villages) before finally arriving at the great Serengeti plains, in whose northern part is found the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Lunch is served at the lodge.

An evening nature walking safari and a visit to a cultural Maasai village are planned. Situated in Maasai territory, this park gets its name from the Mara River. In contrast with most of the rivers in the African savannah, the river has a permanent flow of water throughout the year, attracting a great variety of wildlife. This guarantee of water, especially during the dry season, hosts great numbers of herbivores such as zebras, wildebeest, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, hartebeest, topis, buffalos, elephants, etc, converting the park into the only region in the world with the highest concentration of wildlife.

Such a huge supply of “meat” attracts a host of predators. Visitors can see lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals hunting. The possibilities of capturing these animals – on camera, and witnessing the developments of life in the savannah are very high. However, Maasai Mara is not a zoo. It cannot be said for sure that every animal will be seen. The makes the experience of tracking and searching for animals exciting in itself.

Dinner and overnight an overnight stay at the Lodge.

DAY 6 | ACCOMMODATION: Zebra Plains Mara Camp/Zebra River Camp

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: MASAI MARA

BREAKFAST: 0600 hrs. PICNIC LUNCH BOX

GAME DRIVE: 0630 hrs. (Coffee/ tea at 0615 hrs.)

During the first hours of the morning through the wildebeest and Zebra herds, the savannah is filled with a special animation. This is when the larger predators hunt before the temperature becomes too hot for excessive physical activity. This is when the chances are highest of watching a hunt in action (also likely in the early evening). The colors of the landscape are also more accentuated, helping visitors to take great photographs.

Full-day game drives in the Mara are offered.

All meals and an overnight stay at the Lodge.

DAY 7 | ACCOMMODATION: Zebra Plains Mara Camp/Zebra River Camp

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: MASAI MARA-NAIROBI

Distance: 275 Km. Approx.

Time: 5.5 hrs.

Another early morning departure after breakfast includes a game drive along the famous Mara River to try and find the wildebeest migration. Visitors may also opt to fly over the Mara by hot air balloon for a better view of the spectacular sceneries and diverse wildlife.

All meals and an overnight stay are provided at the camp.

DAY 8 | ACCOMMODATION: EMARA OLE SERENI HOTEL

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: MASAI MARA-NAIROBI

Distance: 275 Km.

Approx. Time: 5.5 hrs.

BREAKFAST: 0700 hrs. DEPARTURE: 0730 hrs.

Paul Brockmeyer, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On this morning of your classic safari, visitors leave behind the legendary African savannah, seen so many times in films and documentaries; the endless extensions of grassland give way to bushland, and slowly, to the rich green vegetation around Nairobi. The rest of the day is free.

Lunch is on your own arrangement.

Dinner at the famous Carnivore restaurant with an overnight stay at Emara Ole Sereni hotel.

DAY 9 | DEPARTURE

CLASSIC SAFARI SECTOR: FLY FROM NAIROBI TO YOUR DESTINATION

Transfer to the International airport is provided, depending on the visitor's flight schedule.

COST US$ 3,805.00 PER PERSON SHARING A DOUBLE/TWIN ROOM.

Quotation includes:

• Arrival and departure airport transfers as per the itinerary.
• Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Nairobi.
• Lunch at Carnivore restaurant.
• Full Board accommodation in the Lodges / Camps whilst on safari.
• Transportation whilst on safari in a 6-seater tour converted land cruiser driven by an English-speaking driver/guide (exclusive use of the vehicle; window seat guaranteed).
• All Park / Reserve entrance fees.
• Bottled water while on safari.
• Nature walking safari and a visit to a Masai cultural village.
• Flying doctors evacuation cover.
• Sundowner at Masai Mara on the African savannah.

Quotation excludes:

• International flight.
• Hot air balloon $450.00 per person.
• Helicopter flight over Masai Mara $700.00 per person.
• Laundry and drinks.
• Tipping: Waiters $20 per table per night. Porters $2 per suitcase/bag Safari guide $20 per person per day.
• Anything Not mentioned in the itinerary.