. 14 DAY / 13 NIGHT: KENYA CONNOISSEUR'S LUXURY SAFARI DAY 1 House of Waine, Nairobi On arrival in Nairobi you will be met at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by To Africa Tours and Safaris representative and taken to the House of Waine in the forested suburbs of Karen. This stylish 11 bedroomed boutique hotel is easily accessible to both airports and elegantly furnished throughout. The hotel has a heated swimming pool and is the perfect place to relax after a flight and is located near to the Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen Museum and arts & crafts shops. DAY 2 Elsa’s Kopje, Meru National Park Collected from your hotel at 6.30am you will be transferred to Wilson Airport to catch the 8:00am Air Kenya schedule flight to Meru. There nostalgia is romantically invoked by the film ‘Born Free’ and George & Joy Adamson’s’ lions. Eight cottages including one spacious double family cottage with its own separate pool are built into the kopje using natural stone and wood wherever possible. After an afternoon swim or siesta, guests may enjoy an extended afternoon game drive. DAY 3 Elsa’s Kopje Meru National Park is transected by many rivers and is renowned for its Elephant herds and rare Northern endemic species e.g. Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe and Oryx. Both Greater and Lesser Kudu live around the kopje and one can also search for big cats and the elusive Rhinos which now breed in the park. Later on in the afternoon you may try your luck with a bit of river fishing, or once the sun has set venture out on a night game drive. DAY 4 Elsa’s Kopje Take an early morning guided walk in the bush or an extended morning game drive with picnic breakfast to look for Cats, Elephants, Hippos and Crocodiles along the many small rivers. The afternoon maybe spent relaxing at the pool or enjoying a massage at the lodge. Evening sundowners out on a game drive allows you to appreciate the beauty of this seldom visited wilderness where Lions still roam. DAY 5 Sosian Ranch, Laikipia After an early breakfast, the scheduled Tropic Air flight takes you to Laikipia & Sosian Ranch in the heartland of the Laikipia plateau. This working ranch shows how wildlife and cattle ranching can still exist side by side without disruption. With 7 double cottages, a swimming pool, billiard room, tennis court, camel and horse riding, and day & night game drives, there’s plenty to see and do as well as take in the local wildlife - Elephants, Aardwolf, Eland, Oryx and Grevys Zebra. DAY 6 Sosian Ranch Exploring the plateau and surrounding plains one can walk, ride horses or game drive without restriction. More than 300 species of birds and an abundance of game including four of the big five can be found on Sosian. Spectacular waterfalls offer alternative swimming along the Ewaso Nyiro River. Excellent horse riding here gives guests commanding views across the panoramic hills and plains. DAY 7 Chui Lodge, Lake Naivasha, Great Rift Valley A morning’s private charter flight takes you to Lake Naivasha and Chui Lodge. The lodge is situated in the heart of the private and exclusive 20,000 acre Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary. 8 individual cottages overlook a busy waterhole with the Mau Escarpment as a backdrop.The Sanctuary hosts over 45 species of mammals including several non-indigenous species that were imported in order to contribute to the survival of the species. Included in these are endangered species such as White Rhino, Grevy’s Zebra, & Beisa Oryx the infrequent sighting of African Wild Dog. Other animals include Cheetah, Buffalo, Giraffe, Wildebeest, and a large number of Leopard and Aardvark. DAY 8 Chui Lodge Activities at Chui include both night and day game drives in the Oserian Sanctuary, boat trips on Lake Naivasha, fishing, explore the saline shore front on Oloidien Bay and witness hundreds of flamingos and cormorants with pods of hippo in the Lake. You may also visit the nearby Oserian Flower Farm. DAY 9 Chui Lodge Lake Naivasha is a birdwatchers fantasy. There are over 450 species in the immediate area including the highland escarpments, which surround the lake to the south and west. From October to March Palaearctic migrants generously supplement the resident bird population. DAY 10 Serian Camp, Maasai Mara After lunch, the scheduled SafariLink flight whisks you from Naivasha to the vast savannahs of the world famous Maasai Mara. This is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and is famous for its migratory herds of Wildebeest, large concentrations of predators, Elephants and diversity of large mammal species. On arrival you will be met at the airstrip and after an inaugural game drive, arrive at Serian Luxury Tented Camp. Run by one of Africa’s most professional guides and naturalists, Alex Walker, this camp combines both the traditional safari with uncompromised luxury. Eight spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot/cold running water and cedar decks overlook the swirling Mara River immediately below camp. DAY 11 Serian Camp Awoken gently at dawn with piping hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate guests can take a game drive in search of the Mara’s fabulous animals. Lion prides finishing their previous nights feast or furtive ‘hard to find’ Leopards can be seen very close to camp. A picnic lunch may often be taken out, allowing guests to spend a full day in the bush before returning back to this luxurious camp for well earned sundowners on the verandah. Dinner by candlelight is taken in the stylish designed dining room featuring a natural stone fire place, elegantly placed sofas and chairs under a permanent thatched roof. Hand carved baths made from local stone with running hot/cold water allow guests to soak away the day’s dust in privacy yet within view of the river itself below. DAY 12 Serian Camp Another early morning start may begin with a walk escorted by an armed guide. There one can appreciate the ‘Little Five’ and notice all the unique savannah flora and fauna at close quarters. Guests may find time to seek out the local Maasai customs and traditions which highlight their age old, nomadic, pastoral existence. Breakfast is often taken in the bush away from camp and late morning allows one to explore the riverbanks for Hippos, Crocodiles and resting large cats shading themselves from the midday sun. Taking an afternoon siesta may be in order followed by an evening game drive exploring another less visited corners of this expansive wilderness. DAY 13 Serian Camp Also available, but as an optional extra, is ballooning over the Mara reserve; at dawn you will climb aboard a hot air balloon and fly along the course of the Mara River and over the vast plains as the sun rises. This is a unique and incredible opportunity to witness the majesty of the African bush. The flight time is generally in the region of one hour and ends with a champagne breakfast in the open grassland within the reserve. DAY 14 Departure After breakfast and a short game drive you will connect with the 11.00am SafariLink flight back to Nairobi. On arrival you will be transferred to your Nairobi hotel or to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward departure.
Tour Cost Includes: Bed and breakfast at House of Waine Full board accommodation at all lodges/camps All drinks (except Champagne, luxury spirits & special wines) at lodges/camps All transfers & game drives & activities Guided game walks at Serian, Elsa’s & Chui Lodge Park entrance fees and Conservation fees Scheduled and charter flights as per itinerary Temporary membership to the Flying Doctors Society Laundry at all bush lodges/ camps Tour Cost Excludes: International Flights to Nairobi All drinks at House of Waine Laundry at House of Waine International flights and visa fees Any activities not included in the itinerary Gratuities to camp/lodge staff Any items of a personal nature Health & travel insurance Any statutory increases beyond our control Hotel day room on day of departure Note: Baggage restriction of 15 kgs per person in soft luggage for all small aircraft
NOTES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXTEND YOUR SAFARI ADVENTURE TO: Zanzibar or Victoria Falls or Mombasa and Lamu Islands or Seychelles Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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