Mountains lakes and Savannah Plains 12-day safari

MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND SAVANNAH PLAINS

Overview

An adventurous safari heading off the beaten track, great for both big mammals and birding, visiting several different habitat types, providing for an interesting and varied itinerary with many different activities, including a guided walk through the foothills of Mount Kenya and staying a night at a unique game viewing lodge in the Aberdares. There will also be bird spotting boat trips at Lake Baringo and Lake Naivasha where there are also crocodiles and hippos, you’ll visit the hot springs of Bogoria, where you can find hundreds of flamingoes and there will be game drives at Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara, where you will track down the Big Five!

The wildebeest migration travels through the Maasai Mara between July and November

Need to know

Parks and reserves visited: Mount Kenya, Aberdares, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Naivasha and the Maasai Mara
Accommodation type: A mix of mid-range luxury lodges and tented camps, all located within or bordering the parks and reserves
Activities: Game drives, bush walks, boat safaris
Transport: 4x4 land cruiser with lifting roof
Safari start and finish point: Nairobi
Customisation: Itinerary can be customised
Private hire: You will be provided with your own vehicle and dedicated guide for the duration of your trip
Departures: Private hire departures can depart any day

Transfers and game drives are provided in comfortable 4x4 land cruisers with lifting roofs for game viewing

Price per person for private hire dependent on season and party size:
$2,265 to $3,695 USD pp / £1,745 to £2,845 GBP pp

Request full itinerary and quotation

Day by day itinerary in brief

Day 1 – Mount Kenya, Serena Mountain Lodge
Head to the Serena Mountain Lodge, located at 2,195 meters above sea level on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, this timbered lodge offers fantastic views from its’ viewing platforms and also has a photographic hide looking onto the nearby watering hole, where you can see 130 species of bird and mountain elephants and many other animals. The next morning you’ll head out for a bush breakfast and a guided nature walk on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya.

Day 2 – Aberdares, The Ark
Spend a night at The Ark, a unique game viewing lodge, with four viewing decks and a hide overlooking a watering hole. Before dinner, the host gives an interactive talk about the local fauna and animals, which include mountain elephants and the mountain bongo.

Day 3 & 4 – Menengai Crater & Lake Nakuru, Maili Saba Camp
Spend two nights at Maili Saba camp, located on the rim of the Menengai crater with stunning views. The camp offers good comfort in their bandas and good food and is run by a foundation that sponsors education projects for the local community. The first day will be spent on a nature walk in the crater, the second day will be spent on a full day game drive at Lake Nakuru, where you can see over 400 different species of birds, white rhinos, the rare Rothschild giraffe and other plains mammals such as lion, zebra and buffalo.

Day 5 & 6 – Lake Baringo & Bogoria, Tumbili Cliff Lodge
Depart Nakuru and continue your journey onto Lake Baringo, a fresh water lake in the Rift Valley where you will find many species of birds, hippos and crocodiles. Accommodation is at the wonderfully located Tumbili Cliff Lodge, a small lodge with fantastic views across the lake. The hospitality and food here is great, each comfortable room is huge, simply but tastefully decorated, each with an en suite toilet and shower. There is also a restaurant and lounge area to relax and a nice pool area for cooling off. Spend an afternoon at Lake Bogoria where you will find hot bubbling springs, the beautiful kudu and also flamingoes.

Day 7 & 8 - Lake Naivasha, Elsamere Lodge
Spend two days at Lake Naivasha and the Elsamere lodge, located by the lake, the previous residence of the Adamsons and often has wildlife wandering around the grounds such as zebra and giraffe. You'll enjoy a boat safari across the lake where you may see hippos and many species of birds including fish eagles and pelicans, you will also stop off at Crescent Island for a guided bush walk.

Day 9, 10 & 11- Maasai Mara, Basecamp Explorer
Your final three days will be spent in the Maasai Mara, a reserve rich in biodiversity and home to a large variety of bird species and wildlife, offering fantastic game viewing and bird watching opportunities. The Maasai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and is home to the annual wildebeest migration, which involves over 1.5 million animals! Accommodation is at Basecamp’s Mara camp, a small-tented camp with just 15 tents located on the banks of the Talek river. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a solar heated hot water shower and a private terrace area overlooking the river. Spend three days on game drives where you will have the opportunity to see big cats and many other species of plains mammals including the Big Five.

Day 12 – Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll head back to Nairobi by road with a picnic lunch. End of Tour.

Accommodation

Accommodation on this safari is in a mix of mid-range luxury lodges, bandas and tented camps

Other information

Whats included?

All accommodation on full board basis
Transport in a private, safari tour vehicle with lifting roof for game viewing
Unlimited game drives
Experienced driver / guide
All park fees that are payable to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and private conservancies
All airport transfers
All excursions and entrance fees as stated in itinerary
Drinking water while on safari

What’s not included in the price?

International flights
Kenyan tourist visa
Alcoholic drinks
Soft drinks
Tips & gratuities

Optional activities (prices on request)

Maasai village visit
Hot air balloon flight
Bush breakfast / dinner
Local flights from Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Notes

Safaris are priced in US Dollars, prices quoted in other currencies will be subject to current exchange rates
Single room supplements apply
Supplements apply at Easter & Christmas
Discounts for children under 18
Group discounts available
Full terms & conditions available on request

Seasons

Low season: April to June
Mid-season: November to March
High season: July to October

Request full itinerary and quotation