8 Days in Africa – the Ultimate Safari Adventure
Ever wanted to get away from your routine and have the experience of a lifetime?
Nothing compares to the African Safari – an excursion full of wondrous sights, rich culture, and wild animals in their natural habitats.
Safari holidays aren’t just for the rugged these days; enjoy nights under the starry sky in a spacious tent with comfortable furnishings and en suite facilities (including flush toilets and showers). Imagine yourself whisked away from the mundane to the exotic on your 8 days in Africa.
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi and within 30 minutes you can be relaxing at our tranquil camp
Arrive into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. You will be met and transferred to your first accommodation, Nairobi Tented Camp – this offers a superb alternative to staying in a hotel in the busy city centre. Nestled within the lush woodlands of Karen, Nairobi Tented Camp offers a tranquil retreat where nature’s rhythms set the pace of life. Towering indigenous trees form a natural canopy and guests can relax to the calls of birds and the occasional rustle of small wildlife such as bush babies, tree hyraxes and monkeys moving through the trees.
The safari camp consists of comfortable tented rooms that each accommodate two people, with twin or double beds. Each tent has its own toilet and shower, so you can enjoy the luxury of en-suite living ‘safaris style’, with hot water heated over a log fire and brought to your shower when you’re ready.
Day 2: Take in the vastness of Mt. Kilimanjaro while watching the sun fade over the African plains.
On your second day, travel to Porini Amboseli Camp, an award-winning safari camp located in the Amboseli eco-system within the exclusive Selenkay Conservancy. That evening, enjoy scenic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro as the sun sets. At an elevation of 19,341 feet above sea level, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and located just across the border in neighbouring Tanzania. You don’t want to miss out on seeing this sight of a lifetime!
From there, head out on a night game drive to see nocturnal animals by moonlight. If you’re very lucky you might follow an aardvark as he sniffs out termites for dinner. Or watch as serval cats and caracals track their prey, such as small rodents or birds. The bat-eared fox uses his large ears to listen for termites under the night sky. The night game drive provides a completely different experience while on safari.
Day 3: Visit a Maasai village and learn about their culture and way of life.
After your afternoon tea in camp Maasai warriors escort you to the nearby village to learn about their fascinating culture and way of life. This is an authentic village where the Porini Camp staff and their families live. The Maasai people live a semi-nomadic life in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Their herds of Zebu cattle are specially adapted to live in drought prone and arid areas thus helping the Maasai to cope with climate change.
Enjoy their traditional jumping dance during your visit (and get a taste of it here). The dance, called the “adumu,” consists of a group of Maasai in a circle or semicircle. One at a time, a dancer steps out in front to jump as high as possible, never letting their heels hit the ground. These days, the dance also determines the next chief. You won’t want to miss visiting with and learning about the Maasai.
Day 4: Search the Kenyan wilds for the Big Five.
Switch things up by moving on to Porini Rhino Camp, a small and intimate eco-camp located within Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a vast 90,000-acre wildlife area between the Aberdares and the majestic Mount Kenya. The conservancy is the largest sanctuary in East Africa for the endangered Black Rhino and also provides safe haven for rescued chimpanzees.
Here you also have an opportunity to see the “Big Five:” the African Lion, the African Elephant, the Cape Buffalo, the African Leopard, and the Rhinoceros. In fact, Ol Pejeta is one of the few parks where the Big Five are regularly seen. It is also where the fastest growing population of rhino in Africa can be found. There are southern white rhino, over 90 endangered black rhino, and, in a special sanctuary, are the world’s last two remaining northern white rhino.
Day 5: Meet the World’s Last Two Remaining Northern White Rhino.
The Endangered Species Boma is a must-see for any trip to Ol Pejeta. Here visitors can meet and learn about the Northern White Rhinos, which are critically endangered – only two remain in the world. In fact, both of them are here, and visitors have the unique experience of seeing these majestic creatures up close. The Boma also has six southern white rhinos, two black rhinos, and numerous Grevy’s zebras and Jackson’s hartebeest. (A visit to the Endangered Species Boma is at an extra cost)
Day 6: Discover Maasai Mara, one of the greatest wildlife destinations on Earth.
Head out to Porini Mara Camp set in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, featuring stunning views of plains, forests, rivers. The diverse landscape adjoins the northern sweep of neighbouring Tanzania’s Serengeti plains thus forming one huge ecosystem.
The Conservancy is also home to the big cats: lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Search for the elusive leopard during a night game drive in The Mara. Or perhaps you’d like to take a guided safari walk during the day to get a different view of the African plains than from the seat of a 4×4 safari vehicle. No matter how you see it, on safari, Maasai Mara is a spectacle to behold.
Day 7: Awake to the songs of the birds at the Porini Mara camp.
Begin your morning with a peaceful concert performed by the birds around camp. Their calls intertwine and compose a different melody each dawn. After breakfast, continue your day with a relaxing stroll accompanied by Maasai warriors. Learn about the local flora and fauna from the knowledgeable guides as well as how to recognize different animal footprints (and dung!). If you’d like to add a little more excitement to the walk, try spear-throwing with the Maasai warriors.
Go on a game drive during the day to see the lions basking in the sun or try a night game drive to see a more active side to the big cats. The lion is the second-largest big cat, trailing only the tiger and is more social than others in the feline family. Prides consist of many lionesses, who do the hunting, and a few males. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most beloved safari mammals!
Day 8: Look down upon the immense vistas of Africa – from a hot air balloon!
You’ve been in Africa for over a week now, seeing the sights from the ground – it’s time to change things up and see them from the air! Hop aboard a massive hot air balloon that stands 10 stories tall for the flight of a lifetime. The balloons lift off at dawn (early morning is the best time for game viewing and the ideal time for the smoothest flights after coffee and a flight briefing. The one hour flight will give you a bird’s eye view of the best East Africa has to offer in the magnificent setting of the Great Rift Valley. There truly is nothing else like it, floating silently above immense vistas and muted colors through the crisp air. Once you land, a champagne breakfast in the bush adds to the buzz you will get from the early morning air and the sights and sounds that only an eagle ever experiences. Seeing Africa in this unique way is an experience you will never forget. ( Note: the balloon safari is an optional experience and is at an extra cost)
The above itinerary is based on our superb-value Paka Kubwa Safari special offer – click here for full details / prices.
Final Thoughts…
Africa awaits for those who long for adventure – either in big or small doses. Every so often, it is important to escape from the minute details of day to day life and take in the grandeur of our diverse world. No where else can this be seen than on safari.
Get Started …
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