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7 Days In-depth walking Safari in Kenya– Southern Circuit
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A guided partial-camping journey that’s well thought out beginning on the slopes of Mount Kenya in order to traverse Aberdare Ranges from east to west ahead of a walking safaris in Hell’s Gate and Loita Hills then emerge at the world Famous Maasai Mara National Reserve in unique fashion. A very ideal itinerary for those wishing to avoid long drives between destinations and still enjoy quality game viewing and walks among wildlife and people. It is a well balanced itinerary offering unique cultural insights and fascinating sceneries ranging from mountains, hills and endless plains.
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Day 1: We depart Nairobi and head northwards driving through agricultural rich country to Mountain Rock lodge on the slopes of Mount Kenya. We arrive at the lodge for lunch - a country styled resort nestled on the forested slopes of Mt. Kenya. After lunch we go on a culturally oriented tour through the local Kikuyu villages and farms and optional school visits during term times. Here we can arrange an overnight stay for anyone wanting to experience village life a bit more closely. The village walk offers a fascinating insight to the lives of the people who live on the mountain slopes, enhancing your Mt Kenya experience and also helping to provide an income for the locals. What’s more, the guide educates you on medicinal plants found in the forest as well as a chance to come up-close with the shy black and white colobus monkeys. Overnight at Mountain Rock Lodge.
Day 2: Leaving early we head for Aberdare National park and access it through the Tree Tops gate. In addition to having a lush montaine forest and a lot of wild game, this park houses the most dramatic waterfalls in Kenya. Our drive takes us through the forested salient section of the park adored by great numbers of highland adopted wildlife including: leopards, elephants, bushbucks, buffaloes, forest hogs, the rear Bongo among others.
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Elephants in Samburu National Park |
We then traverse the moorland section of the park and get a chance to visit the numerous waterfalls en-route and break for a picnic lunch at the beautiful Queen’s cave found underneath Chania Waterfalls – once a cold storage to preserve meat by Mau-Mau freedom fighters of the 1950’s. In the late afternoon we leave the Park through the Mutubio park gate and descend down the western slopes of Aberdares and into the Rift Valley for dinner and overnight on the shores of Lake Naivasha in a moderate standard lodge.
Day 3: We go on a walking safari in Hell’s Gate national park - cleft deep into the floor of the Rift Valley, Hell’s Gate provides inexhaustible bio-diversity. The towering cliffs and undulating grasslands provide one of the few remaining places where you can walk alongside herds of Zebra, eland, hartebeest, gazelles, giraffes and buffaloes as well as birdlife including augur buzzards, vultures, verreaux eagle, bee-eaters, and chats among others. Its spectacular scenery including the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most spectacular parks in Africa. We embark on a full day game walk in the park stopping from time to time to admire wildlife and breath-taking sceneries along the way. Overnight once again in a moderate standard lodge on the shores of the lake. |

Trekking challenge in Hellsgate National Park |
Day 4: Early morning boat ride on Lake Naivasha followed by a drive to small Maasai village at Maji Moto (hot springs) on the northern tip of the Loita hills. Loita hills and plains form the wildlife corridor between Maasai Mara and the Narok region and hosts a great deal of wildlife through out the year. Over the years we have formed a special relationship with the local people here and we camp near their villages. You get a privileged chance to visit and spend time in an authentic Maasai bomas (homestead) to witness the work and life of women and children. Here we see and learn a thing about making beadwork jewellery and offer support by buying few as souvenirs. In the evening take a short stroll for a bathe in the natural hot springs or just deep you toes in. (B,L,D)
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Day 5: Start an early morning hike led by Maasai Morans (warriors) and trek to the hills - along the way you enjoy striking views while spotting wild animals and birds and also to get to learn about healing herbs used by the locals – they have folktales on virtually all plants, animal and landmarks you come across. On return to camp we are engaged in varies warrior training activities such as body decoration, wilderness survival tactics eg. making fire from rubbing sticks, folk dances etc. If schools are in session you may visit a local school cum rescue centre for the Maasai girl child from early marriages. In the late afternoon we head to Maasai Mara with a game drive in the Siana Conservation Area. This is a wildlife dispersal area that is bordering Maasai Mara game reserve. Dinner and overnight at Mara Springs Safari Camp.
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Boat ride in Lake Naivasha |
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Game walk in the Loita Hills with Maasai Warriors as guides |
Day 6: Full day game drive in the Maasai Mara park. Maasai Mara, now the seventh wonder of the modern world, is a country of breathtaking vistas, vast rolling plains and rounded hills, acacia woodlands, dense thickets of scrub. The whole bisected by the Mara River and its tributaries margined with luxuriant riverine forests. Its vast plains teem with endless herds of game together with the associated predators. It is perhaps the only region left in Africa where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago. Here, you find the largest population of lions in Kenya, seen in their natural setting and the impressive herds of elephants. Other animals include buffaloes, hartebeest, wildebeest, topi, eland, impala, gazelles, black rhino (very rare), giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, hippopotamus, crocodile, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackals, among others. Bird species include eagles, vultures, marabou, ostrich, touracos, guinea fowls, bastards, cranes, and many more.
Perhaps the most intriguing phenomenon in Maasai Mara is the Wildebeest migration that occurs between the months of July and September. |
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Every July, millions of wildebeests and zebra move from Serengeti to Maasai Mara on their annual migration, attracting an entourage of cheetahs, lions and other predators. Dinner and overnight once again at Mara Springs Safari camp
Day 7: A pre-breakfast game drive to spot any animals and birds that have eluded us yesterday or optionally go on a hot air balloon ride at your own cost. After breakfast we journey back to Nairobi.
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Charges for a group departure with 8 pax and above on board - Euros 670 per person
Supplement for Park & Camping fees - USD. 390 per person payable locally on arrival.
Our individual/private trek costs vary with group size. Kindly e-mail us with details.
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Prices quoted include:
All transport - 4WD Land Rovers or safari vehicles
Accommodation as detailed - roomy tents when camping
Camping equipment (except sleeping bags and insulation mats)
Services of guides and porters
All National Park entrance and camp site fees
All food - breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals
A certificate of achievement.
Prices quoted exclude:
International flights
Travel and personal accident insurance
Visa, passport, vaccinations, medicines
Tips
Alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, personal items
Optional excursions/activities not detailed in itinerary
Any additional services requested |
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