12 Days Grand Tour of Kenya:
Areas of Interest:
Amboseli National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Aberdare Ranges, Samburu National Reserve, Mount Kenya, Nyahururu Falls or formerly Thomson Falls, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Nakuru National Park, The Great Rift Valley, Mau Escarpment, Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya grand tour activities include sightseeing, scenery, Lodge Stays, Game and Bird Watching, Ethnic, Culture, Traditional Dances (Optional), Photography, Relaxation, Equator Stop and optional hot air balloon ride in Masai Mara.

Country: Kenya
Our grand tour of Kenya safari takes you to first ever National Park in Kenya, Kenya’s fertile central highlands, to the barren northern frontier of Samburu, to the world famous Bird Sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru, then South over the Mau Escarpment to Kenya’s greatest concentration of game - the Masai Mara. Kenya’s rift valley escarpments offer some of the most breath taking views, whilst the diversity in culture and wildlife on this tour make it a fantastic option.

FULL ITINERARY
Day 1: Amboseli National Park
Pick up from your hotel in Nairobi at 8am. Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive south through Masai country to the plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro where Amboseli is situated. After a stopover lunch at the lodge we proceed into the scenic Amboseli National Park for a game drive returning to the lodge in the evening for a sun downer. The waters from melted snow drain down Mt. Kilimanjaro under lava flows and surface in Amboseli, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains. Here buffaloes, lions, gazelles, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, Masai Giraffes, zebra, baboon, hippos and waterbuck can be seen against the backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped mountain. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, L,D.

Day 2: Amboseli National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, we explore the park through morning and afternoon game drives. We have sufficient time for relaxation at the lodge, complete with the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. At 329 sq km Amboseli is a small park and lacks the profusion of animal species found in the Mara, but the landscape provides limited cover so we have better chances of seeing some of the larger predators. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 3: Aberdare Ranges (Aberdare National Park
We leave Amboseli, viewing game as we drive via Nairobi to the Aberdare to enjoy the experience of staying in a Tree Hotel or lodge overlooking floodlit waterholes where wildlife and birds regularly visit. Dinner and a well deserved sleep thereafter. Over 40 species of wildlife inhabit the Aberdare mountain ranges, hiding in the heavily forested slopes and in the upper moor lands. The Aberdares is noted as a rhino sanctuary but keep an eye out for the elusive rare bongo, which is best, spotted in the upper bamboo zone and hypericum scrub. Dinner and overnight at Treetops Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 4: Samburu National Reserve
After breakfast we proceed further north across the Equator to the edge of the Northern Frontier. Arrival will be in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive returning in time for a sun downer and dinner at the lodge. Samburu is part of a lava plain that includes a diverse landscape of thorn scrub, red dirt, dried river beds, broken volcanic rock, steep hills, and rocky outcroppings. This reserve is becoming one of Kenya's most admired stops after the Mara. Sights of the peculiarly branched doum palms and thorn trees give an unusual look to the region. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 5: Samburu National Reserve
The whole day will be spent relaxing and leisurely exploring the Samburu National Reserve through morning and afternoon game drives. You may opt to do some of the activities offered at the lodges for a small extra cost. The light and vast openness creates a lonesome panoramic beauty and the permanent water supply acts like a lure for the abundant species found here. The region is home to the uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephant and crocodile are guaranteed sightings, excellent bird watching with numerous varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sighting is also a special feature here. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 6: Sweetwaters Tented Camp

After breakfast drive South to this private game sanctuary. Afternoon game viewing is offered but there are optional activities as walking safaris, camel rides and night game drives. A sheltered oasis, clustered around a waterhole and set in the pristine calm of its own private reserve, Sweetwaters Tented Camp is in a class of its own. Abounding with wildlife, unfettered by the more rigorous strictures of the Kenyan National Parks and designed to offer a charming blend of under canvas ambiance and uncompromising luxury, it has long been the preferred retreat of wilderness and safari lovers alike. One of only four private game reserves in Kenya, it also allows such unforgettable pleasures as night game drives, guided bush walks and both horse or camel riding across its game-teaming plains. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp, B,L,D.

Day 7: Lake Baringo via Lake Bogoria
Morning drive via the Nyahururu Falls down to the shallow soda Lake Bogoria and later to the beautiful lake Baringo where you may enjoy the pleasure of an evening bird walk. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. The Nyahururu Falls also known as Thomson Falls was named after Joseph Thomson who walked from Mombasa to Lake Victoria in the early 1880s; these falls are shaped by the waters of the Ewaso Narok River and plunge over 72m into a rift, spraying the dark forest below. In the spectacular Lake Bogoria; hot springs and geysers are the main attractions. The lake has been called ‘the new home of the flamingo’ with a nomad population of up to two million birds. For the bird enthusiasts, Kesubo swamp located north of the park is home to more than 200 species of birds.  Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya’s small Rift Valley lakes; creased with papyrus and well developed acacia forest. Hippos, crocodiles and monitor lizards are effortlessly seen from the shore, as is a magnificent display of water birds. This is Kenya's bird watching centre with over 1200 different species native to the country and more than 450 sighted here. A bird watcher's haven but beware, this is malaria land so it is best to come prepared with plenty of mosquito repellent. Dinner & overnight at Lake Baringo Country Club, B,L,D.

Day 8: Nakuru National Park
We enjoy a morning boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile, and fish eagle. After a sumptuous lunch, we then proceed to Lake Nakuru and the Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park covers 180 sq km and is home to warthogs, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and you will find white rhino at the southern end. The park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists’ delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. We spend the night at Lake Nakuru Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 9: Masai Mara National Reserve
After an early breakfast, we depart for Masai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. We then proceed on an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge for a delicious sundowner, and dinner at the lodge or luxury tented camp. The Mara reserve is 1510 sq km of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodland and one glimpse is enough to explain its appeal; it is typical savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife. Wherever you go in the Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in great numbers. It is also common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.  Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

10 & 11: Masai Mara National Reserve
The next two days shall be spent viewing game, in the early morning hours and in the evenings as this is when we have the best chances of seeing wildlife. The ultimate action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus in July and August when millions of these grass eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of lush grass before turning south again in October. You may also opt to do some of the activities offered by the lodge. On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic orange tinted sunsets and you will definitely want to capture this moment while sipping on a sun downer back at the lodge. Balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the savannah plains and the wildlife after which you come back down for a beautiful champagne breakfast. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

 

Optional Masai Village visit: US$ 25 per person and US$ 425 per person for hot air balloon ride.

Day 12: Nairobi
After breakfast,  we depart back to  Nairobi arriving in the afternoon hours where the tour ends, B.

 

 

12 Days Grand Tour of Kenya | Amboseli Park | Mt Kilimanjaro | Maasai Mara tour

Rongai Route This remote and less frequently used route is the second easiest route to Kilimanjaro. The approach to the mountain is from the less-forested north side and the descent is by the Marangu Route. There are several variations, the one described below is a longer route taking in Mawenzi Tarn. More details....

Umbwe Route The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach. It is probably the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. More details....