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Nashipai, on the banks
of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve. She is
one of the main resident lionesses in the area and the first
female identified in 2003. Her name means “the beautiful joyful
one”
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Samburu warriors and some of the Ewaso Lions scouts,
recording and collecting data on predator sightings. |
Lion conservation recently became an issue of international concern
when statistics revealed that lion numbers in Africa have plummeted
to between 16,000 and 45,000. The lion population has declined by
30%-50% in just over the past two decades, a reduction largely due
to habitat loss and conflict with humans. The lions in the Samburu
/ Buffalo Springs / Shaba ecosystem of Kenya are in an extremely
vulnerable situation as they live in or adjacent to areas inhabited
by nomadic people. Lions and their predatory behaviour have caused
great resentment among the increasing rural pastoralist populations,
and this has led to increased persecution of lions – lions continue
to be shot, poisoned and speared.
Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
Itinerary summary:
2 Nights Joys Camp, 3 Nights Sasaab Camp, 3 Nights Porini Lion Camp
This unique 9 day safari will provide you with an authentic and
close-up insight into lion research in some of Kenya’s most stunning
areas. Spend 6 days with lion expert Shivani Bhalla in the Shaba and
Samburu areas and then the last 3 days at Porini Lion Camp in the
famous Maasai Mara in an exclusive conservancy with several resident
prides of lion.
You will
have the opportunity to be involved in this crucial research and 5%
of the total safari cost will be donated to the Ewaso lions project
(www.ewasolions.org)
Your time will typically include early morning and evening game
drives when the lions are most active, participating in monitoring
and recording and can also include the following:
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Participate in Ewaso Lions tree project and
Wildlife Cinema in West Gate. This involves visiting schools
and also manyattas (Samburu homesteads) at night to show them
wildlife films
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Carnivore ‘call-ins’ at night playing a recorded
carnivore call and using speakers to call in carnivores as a
method to estimate their density.
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Engage with the community and complete
questionnaires on conflict and perceptions of predators.
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Track radio-collared lions
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Go on patrol with the Ewaso Lions scouts and help
record data on predators and identify spoor tracks.
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Help record data in the core Conservation Area
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Investigate any conflict in the area, e.g. donkey
killed by lion, etc …
 About Shivani Bhalla:
A Kenyan national working on her PhD through Oxford University,
which focuses on the lions of the Ewaso ecosystem in Northern Kenya.
Through this project, she is continuing and complementing the
research she did for her Masters’ degree (MSc) in 2003. She
currently works in Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National
Reserves and the West Gate Community Conservancy with the objective to investigate factors
influencing the lion population in the Ewaso ecosystem in Northern
Kenya. The area of study includes the 3 National Reserves (Samburu,
Buffalo Springs and Shaba) and the West Gate Community Conservancy.
This research will formulate strategies for the long-term
conservation of lions by understanding the issues and threats facing
their population, their movements in the wild and the extent of
human-lion conflict. There is a huge knowledge gap in this area and
it’s her intention to address this.
BOOK NOW [Click Here]
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Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
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Itinerary:
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Day 1
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Depart from Wilson Airport for your scheduled flight to Shaba.
The Joys Camp 4x4 and guide will meet you at the
airstrip and transfer you to the lodge. Settle into your
tent and then meet lion expert Shivani Bhalla, over
lunch, where she’ll brief you on the lions in the area,
the research and opportunities to participate over the
next few days. This luxury camp is
built on the site of Joy Adamson’s tented home in Shaba
National Reserve, made famous by Elsa the lioness.
Afternoon game drive with Shivani to learn about
the lions of the area and participate in recording data
and identifying the lions.
Overnight Joys Camp.
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Day 2
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After breakfast spend the day with
morning and afternoon game drives in the with Shivani in
the camps 4x4. Shaba
is a
perfect location for discerning guests interested in an
authentic wildlife experience, away from the crowds. Joy
Adamson produced the film " Born Free" after a lifetime
with lions right here at Shaba.
Lunch, dinner and overnight will be at
Joy's Camp.
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Day 3
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Depart
after breakfast and transfer from Shaba National Reserve
to Archers Post where a vehicle from Sasaab Lodge will
be waiting to transfer you through the Samburu Reserve
to the lodge which is in the West Gate Conservancy.
Settle into your spacious rooms overlooking the river.
Sasaab is located above the banks of the Uaso Nyiro
River, in the arid heart of Samburu land, a tranquil
setting that offers views towards the Laikipia plateau
and Mount Kenya. After lunch, relax in your room and
then take an afternoon game drive to track the resident
‘community lions’. Overnight
Sasaab Camp.
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Day 4
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Full day with guided bush
walks, lion tracking and visits to the local community
to monitor lion predation of livestock and other such
issues. Overnight Sasaab Camp.
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Day 5
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Spend the day in the Samburu Reserve with
a picnic lunch tracking lions and viewing the numerous
wildlife drawn to the river, many of which are unique to
this part of Kenya including the endangered Grevy’s
Zebra. Overnight Sasaab camp.
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Day 6
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After breakfast transfer
to the airstrip for a flight to the Maasai Mara. You
will be met at the airstrip by the Porini Lion Camp
guide and 4x4 and take a game drive to Porini Lion Camp,
located in the Olare Orok Conservancy, famous for its
numerous lion prides. Afternoon game drives in 4x4
vehicles within the game rich Mara ecosystem followed by
a sundowner before dinner and overnight at Porini
Lion Camp.
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Day 7
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Full day in the Mara with
a picnic lunch. Overnight Porini Lion Camp.
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Day 8
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*Optional Balloon Safari
and Champagne Breakfast.
After
an early breakfast, go on a morning walk in the
Conservancy escorted by Maasai warriors and a guide,
returning to camp later in the morning. In the afternoon
you will go on a game drive to explore more of the Olare
Orok Conservancy on the lookout not only for the Lion
but also elephants, buffalo, giraffe, other big cats.
Enjoy a night game drive after dinner to in search of
the nocturnal animals including Lion and the elusive
leopards which are resident in the expansive Olare Orok
Conservancy. Overnight Porini
Lion Camp
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JENERIA LEKILELE
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Day 9
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One last early morning
game drive or guided bush walk, before returning to the
camp for breakfast. Check out for transfer to the Ol
Kiombo airstrip where you will board a scheduled flight
departing at 11 a.m. to arrive at Wilson Airport in
Nairobi, at around 12.05 pm. There are connections to Mombasa,
Lamu or Zanzibar where you may opt for a few days of relaxation at the
beach.
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LION RESEARCH SAFARI III:
PRICES ARE IN US$ [Minimum 2
pax]
2 NIGHTS JOYS CAMP (SHABA), 3 NIGHTS SASAAB
(SAMBURU) & 3 NIGHTS PORINI LION CAMP (OLARE
OROK CONSERVANCY).
PRICES INCLUDE FLIGHTS: WILSON – SHABA FOR 2
NIGHTS AT JOYS CAMP. ROAD TRANSFER FROM JOYS
CAMP TO SASAAB FOR 3 NIGHTS. FLIGHT SAMBURU
– MARA FOR 3 NIGHTS AT PORINI LION CAMP. ALL
AT FULL BOARD WITH SOFT DRINKS BEER & HOUSE
WINE, BUSH BREAKFAST / LUNCH, LAUNDRY ( ONLY
AT SASAAB & JOY’S CAMP), GUIDED WALKS, GAME
DRIVES*, PARK & CONSERVANCY FEES. FLIGHT
BACK MARA – WILSON.
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5 DAYS WITH LION
EXPERT SHIVANI BHALLA. FIVE PERCENT OF
THE SAFARI COST TO BE DONATEDDIRECT TO THE
EWASO LION PROJECT .
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| *LOW SEASON RATES APPLY TO SAFARI ITINERARY STARTED
AND COMPLETED WITHIN THE APPLICABLE DATE BAND |
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JOYS-CAMP, SHABA
SASAAB, SAMBURU
PORINI-LION CAMP
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DATES FROM
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DATES TO
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PER PERSON SHARING
2 PAX
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PER PERSON SHARING
4 OR
MORE PAX
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EXTRA NITE AT PORINI LION CAMP PER PERSON
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SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
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21-Dec-09
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02-Jan-10
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$6620
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$6145
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$510
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$750
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03-Jan-10
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14-Apr-10
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$6225
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$5750
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$415
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$735
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16-Apr-10
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31-May-10
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CLOSED
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01-Jun-10*
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30-Jun-10*
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$6220
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$5740
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$385
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$750
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01-Jul-10
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30-Sep-10
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$6705
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$6230
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$485
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$750
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01-Oct-10
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31-Oct-10
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$6520
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$6040
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$485
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$750
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01-Nov-10
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30-Nov-10
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CLOSED
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01-Dec-10
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19-Dec-10
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$6220
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$5740
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$385
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$750
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Exclusive use of Vehicle included at Sasaab
& Joys Camp.
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*Night Game Drives included at Sasaab &
Porini Lion Camp.
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Children 8 – 11 years are 50% sharing with
adult and 75% in own room.
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Triple for adults: extra beds are designed
to accommodate children under 12yrs only.
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Porini Camps Closed: April 16th
2010 – 31st May 2010
Sasaab Closed: November 2009 & 2010
Joys Camp closed: May 2010
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Joys
Camp (CLICK HERE for description)
Joy’s Camp is situated in Shaba National Reserve,
which is 314kms from Nairobi. Shaba National Reserve is a semi desert with a rugged
hilly terrain, with great rocky kopjes (small hills) and lots of springs supporting
the abundant wildlife.
Sasaab
Camp (CLICK HERE for description)
Sasaab
Camp
is a new property located near Samburu,
a unique destination watered by the precious rain and snows melting down the lush
slopes of Mount
Kenya,
into this semi-desert of Kenyan northerly frontier district. Sasaab
is on Samburu community land, within the Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch also known
as the West Gate Conservancy.
Porini
Lion Camp (CLICK HERE for description)
Porini Lion Camp is located in
the exclusive 20,000 acre Olare Orok Conservancy. This expansive
conservancy, which borders the Masai Mara Game Reserve is home to
an abundance of animals including the Big Cats for which the Mara
is famous.
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