DAY 1:
OVERNIGHT: NAIROBI TENTED CAMP (HB)
Upon your morning arrival into Nairobi you will be met by our Representative at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to Nairobi Tented Camp to check in and freshen up. You will then head out to visit the Giraffe Center and then have lunch at Tamambo Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens. After lunch, proceed to Daphne Sheldrick elephant sanctuary for a private visit (at 1500hrs) before returning to the Nairobi National Park for an evening game drive, in search of the predators and wildlife. Later, drive to the camp for a hearty dinner and your first night out in the wild.
The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya – also known as the Giraffe Centre – supports environmental education programmes to help wildlife conservation efforts with special emphasis on endangered species and promote sustainable environmental conservation. Visitors enjoy feeding the giraffes and taking a leisurely nature walk.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organizations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa. The Trust embraces all measures that compliment the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife. These include anti-poaching, safe guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescuing and hand rearing elephant and rhino orphans along with other species that can ultimately enjoy a quality of life in wild terms when grown.
DAY 2:
OVERNIGHT: NAIROBI TENTED CAMP (HB)
Breakfast at the Camp. Drive to Limuru area for a tour of Kiambethu Tea Farm. Following lunch at the Farm, proceed to Brown’s Cheese Farm in Tigoni area for a tour (subject to availability on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Afterwards, drive back to Nairobi National Park for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Kiambethu Farm was bought and the land cleared for cultivation in 1910. Kiambethu means “traditional dancing ground” in Kikuyu – one of Kenya’s local languages – and in the early days of the farm enormous ‘ngomas’ and dances were held on the farm.
Brown’s Cheese was founded on a passion for delicious, fresh, additive-free cheese. Established in 1979, the family-run business is now in the hands of the second generation of Browns. The farm lies among the beautiful tea plantations of Tigoni, and is run on purely biodynamic and organic principles.
DAY 3:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI AMBOSELI CAMP (FB)
After an early breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your morning scheduled flight to Amboseli, departing at 0730hrs to arrive at 0900hrs, approximately. Upon your arrival at the airstrip, you will be met by our Gamewatchers representative who will transfer you to Porini Amboseli Camp located in Selenkay Conservancy. Enjoy a morning game drive in the Conservancy before proceeding to the camp for check in and lunch. In the afternoon, you will participate in “lion tracking” with one of the guides of the Lion Guardians program. Return to camp for a sundowner, dinner and overnight.
The Selenkay Conservancy was the first community based conservancy that was set up in this area in 1997. Selenkay Conservation Area is well off the beaten track and has not been visited by tourists until now. It lies in the heart of Maasailand and the animals are truly wild and not yet habituated to the presence of vehicles.
The Lion Guardians program was developed in 2006 by the Living with Lions project and the local communities, and was initiated in collaboration with Maasailand Preservation Trust in January 2007 on Mbirikani Group Ranch in the Amboseli Ecosystem. Their mission is to promote sustainable coexistence between people and lion using cultural values, community participation and science. The Lion Guardians are playing an important role in the conservation of lions in East Africa and for the first time in nearly a decade, the lion population in the Amboseli eco-system is growing.
The popular BBC TV series “Africa” presented by Sir David Attenborough included a feature on the Lion Guardians, filmed while Sir David was staying at Porini Amboseli Camp in Selenkay Conservancy. Sir David Attenborough expressed his stay in Amboseli as “What a marvellous example of how people and wildlife can live alongside one another. Thank you all”.
DAY 4:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI AMBOSELI CAMP (FB)
After breakfast, depart with picnic lunches and head to Amboseli National Park for game viewing drives. In the afternoon, visit the Amboseli Trust For Elephants program, founded by Cynthia Moss. The program aims to understand the lives and ensure the future of 1,500 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem fed by the waters of Kilimanjaro.
Later, proceed to the camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI AMBOSELI CAMP (FB)
After breakfast, you will go for an authentic Maasai Village visit. You will experience the Maasai culture and meet some of the leaders of the village. After your village visit, go for a game drive and return to camp for lunch. After your afternoon tea, go for an evening game drive and return to camp for sundowner, dinner and overnight.
DAY 6:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI RHINO CAMP (FB)
You will depart the camp in the morning and will transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Wilson, departing at 0905hrs to arrive at 0950hrs, approximately. Upon arrival at Wilson airport, you will then connect for your Safarilink flight to Nanyuki departing at 1020hrs to arrive at 1100hrs, approximately.
Upon arrival, you will be met at the airstrip and transferred to Porini Rhino Camp, located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in the foothills of Mount Kenya. Lunch and afternoon tea in camp and then head off to visit the Northern White Rhinos. Enjoy an evening game drive and return to Porini Rhino Camp for dinner and overnight.
In 2009 Ol Pejeta Conservancy welcomed three special new arrivals – Najin, Fatu and Sudan are the world’s last three remaining northern white rhinos. All three were translocated from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic. The transfer was aimed at providing the rhinos with the most favorable breeding conditions in an attempt to pull the species back from the verge of extinction. It is thought that the climatic, dietary and security conditions that the rhinos enjoy at Ol Pejeta will provide them with higher chances of starting a population in what is seen as the very last lifeline for the species.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is East Africa’s largest Black Rhino Sanctuary and aims to develop as a financially self-sustaining and innovative model that achieves conservation in a manner that produces tangible social benefit at both a local and national level. The conservancy will launch an unmanned surveillance drone that will help keep an eye on its rhinos and wildlife.
DAY 7:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI RHINO CAMP (FB)
Full day in Ol Pejeta with game drives, featuring a visit to the famous Chimpanzee Sanctuary where you will have an open lecture about conservation from a senior management staff. All meals and overnight at the Camp.
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1993 in a negotiated agreement between the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute. The facility was initially established to receive and provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from West and Central Africa. An initial group of three chimpanzee orphans were brought to the sanctuary from a facility in Bujumbura, Burundi in 1993. This group of chimpanzees needed to be evacuated due to the outbreak of civil war in Burundi. This was followed in 1995 by another group of 9 adult chimpanzees, followed by another 10 in 1996.
DAY 8:
OVERNIGHT: MAKENA’S HILLS (FB)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kamok airstrip in Ol Pejeta to take a private charter to the Laikipia Main Airstrip, where you will be met by a representative and transferred to Makena’s Hills. You will go through the less explored Llera or Mnarati Nne Valley OR (if time permits) visit the Museum and Labs for a short introduction of the Gallmann Mukutan Conservancy by the Ecology and Education Team. Transfer to Makena’s Hills where you may get a chance to personally meet with the famous Kuki Gallman (World renowned conservationist and author of the best seller “I Dreamed of Africa” which also became a feature film). Lunch at the lodge. In the late afternoon, you can either go for a walk or a drive to a sunset / sundowner spot with breathtaking views across Lake Baringo and the Great Rift Valley, overlooking the Mukutan Gorge.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9:
OVERNIGHT: MAKENA’S HILLS (FB)
After an early breakfast, you will walk into the Mukutan Gorge with one of the local expert ecologists (this will depend on the availability of the ecologist – ornithologist, entomologist, botanist or even a reptile specialist).
The Mukutan Gorge plunges from 6000ft to 3000ft, deep into an unusual and unique ecosystem. A valley full of tropical vines, palms, llianas and rare plants including an endemic species, recently described- Aloe Mukutanensis.
Hiking options
Option 1: A walk to the big waterfall. A magical path that tracks the river downstream past small waterfalls and rock pools and a cave with stone tools. **This walk is challenging for any level of hiker- a certain amount of hanging onto vines and climbing over rocks and fallen trees is involved but you are rewarded with a stunning drop over a 300ft waterfall and a real sense of achievement at the end. **
Option 2: A walk to the Hot Springs. This walk also takes you into the secret world of the Mukutan Gorge, filled with verdant foliage and vibrant life. However, it does not require anything too athletic. The Hot Springs are the origins of the name ‘Mukutan’ which means ‘The meeting’ and it believed that this was a sacred place for previous inhabitants of the land. The Hot Springs themselves have been purposefully left as natural as possible but it is possible to take a dip in the warm water in most seasons. Facing the hot springs is a giant rock tower covered in wild orchids. You will then return to the lodge for a late lunch and a relaxed afternoon. If still energetic, you may opt for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
DAY 10:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI MARA CAMP (FB)
After an early breakfast, you will visit the Pokot Acrobatics Peace Team and learn about the Pokot people in their village. You will have a picnic lunch by Ngobitu’s Dam in a rustic wildlife viewing hide, then transfer to the Laikipia Main airstrip and take a charter out to the Maasai Mara. You will be met by Porini staff and transferred to Porini Mara Camp, which is located in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy – one of the most beautiful parts of the Mara Ecosystem. Take an evening game drive, stopping at a scenic point for a sundowner. Dinner and overnight at camp.
DAY 11:
OVERNIGHT: PORINI MARA CAMP (FB)
Awake to the enchanting calls of the early morning birds. Stretch and enjoy a homely a cup of tea / coffee / hot chocolate and freshly baked biscuits that will be your wake up call. Get ready to leave camp for an early morning game viewing and be on the lookout for the resident pride of lions. Stop in the wild for a bush breakfast, coming back to camp later for lunch. Have the afternoon to relax and unwind. In the evening you will go on a game drive in the Conservancy, stopping for a sundowner at a scenic viewpoint, followed by a night game drive to look for nocturnal animals. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12:
RETURN TO NAIROBI
Awake at dawn to the natural sounds of Maasai Mara’s birdlife and head out for a game drive. Return to camp for breakfast. Rest of the morning at leisure. Lunch will be served al fresco style, after which you will depart Porini Mara Camp. Transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi, departing at 1615hrs to arrive at 1730hrs, approximately. Met at Wilson airport and then transferred to Jomo Kenyatta international airport for your flight back home.
End of Safari – KWAHERI AND COME BACK AGAIN!
IN SUMMARY
PRICE INCLUDES:
- 2 nights Half Board accommodation at Nairobi Tented Camp (includes soft drinks, local beers, house wine, gin & tonic)
- Visits to Giraffe Center and Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary plus lunch at Tamambo Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens on day 1
- Visits to Brown’s Cheese Farm (subject to availability) and Kiambethu Tea Farm on day 2
- 3 nights Full Board accommodation at Porini Amboseli Camp (includes soft drinks, local beers, house wine, gin & tonic)
- Lion tracking with a guide from the Lion Guardians program on day 3
- Visit to the Amboseli Trust For Elephants Program by Cynthia Moss on day 4
- 2 nights Full Board accommodation at Porini Rhino Camp (includes soft drinks, local beers, house wine, gin & tonic)
- 2 nights Full Board accommodation at Makena’s Hills ((includes soft drinks, local beers, house wine & spirits)
- 2 nights Full Board accommodation at Porini Mara Camp (includes soft drinks, local beers, house wine, gin & tonic)
- Game drives and airstrip transfers on safari in SHARED 4×4 Camp/Lodge vehicles
- Scheduled camp/lodge activities as per the itinerary
- Local scheduled flights: Wilson/Amboseli/Wilson/Nanyuki and Mara/Wilson
- Local charter flights: Ol Pejeta/Laikipia/Mara
- Park/Conservancy fees
- Airport transfers in Nairobi
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- International Flights
- Visas
- All items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities
