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The Complete Kenya Tour: Beach & Safari
The Regions covered: AMBOSELI - at the foot of the Kilimanjaro Amboseli National Park covers 400 km2 of plains redeemed by the stunning spectacle of Kilimanjaro towering over it. Amboseli is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. The wildlife viewing is great all year round. The name Amboseli comes from the word “empusel” which in the Maa language means “salty dust”. The area is indeed covered with dusty volcanic ash. Amboseli is nevertheless quite lush in places, because the melting snows of Kilimanjaro flow underground into the park, continually feeding water to springs, swamps and marshes. The highest mountain of Africa provides to Amboseli a special magical atmosphere at sunrise and sunset. Amboseli has always been a favourite spot for wildlife and is, like Tsavo, elephant country. There are over 1000 elephants in the park eco-system, featuring some of the largest elephants population in Africa. There is always a concentration of animals along the swamps which are permanent enough to keep hippo all year and there are large herds of elephants and buffalos and a profusion of birdlife. Lions are very rare, but cheetahs are seen fairly frequently. Good number of herbivores are present: giraffes, oryx antelope, wildebeests, zebra and gazelles. Elephant research projects have been carried out for 30 years in Amboseli with the famous conservationist Dr Cynthia Moss and has ensured the survival of the elephants as well as the Amboseli ecosystem. Ol Pejeta Conservancy Ol Pejeta is a private Conservancy offering 90,000 acres of wilderness and an incredibly uncrowded environment to enjoy quality game viewing. The Conservancy is home to Kenya's largest population of Black Rhino, large numbers of elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard and plentiful plains game. There are also a number of rarer Northern species such as Grevys Zebra, Jacksons Hartebeest and Beisa Oryx. As the biggest Black Rhino Sanctuary in East Africa, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to 74 Black Rhinos after the single largest rhino translocation ever undertaken in East Africa in 2007 There are ongoing Research Programs on the Conservancy such as the Lion Research upon which visitors are offered a unique opportunity to spend a morning with the Conservancy predator research team. Community Outreach Program focuses on the following core areas: health, education, water, roads, agricultural extension and community based eco-tourism, are central to Ol Pejeta Conservancy's mission. Visitors can be taken on visits to schools, medical dispensary's and water projects. The Maasai Mara The Masai Mara Game Reserve although not the largest game park in Kenya, is one of the most spectacular and most popular game reserves in Kenya. Rich in game, the rolling grasslands and acacia savannah have frequently been captured on film, with "Out of Africa" being the most famous. The reserve borders Tanzania and the two countries share the vast Serengeti plains, with wildlife free to roam between Kenya and Tanzania in search of food. The concentration of game in the Mara during the mass migration is mind blowing, and this is one of the few areas where you are likely to see all of the big five - buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard. In fact lions are ridiculously common and, you are quite likely to see them feeding on a kill during your visit. Other animals include cheetah, zebra, spotted hyena, black backed jackal, hippo, giraffe, eland and of course wildebeest. The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is famous for the annual migration of over one million wildebeest and thousands of zebra and gazelles. The incredible spectacle of them crossing the Mara river into Kenya happens in late July or August. Thousands of animals die in this dramatic crossing and predators and crocodiles have a field day. In October the animals return again to Tanzania. The history of this area can be traced back at least 2,000 years, when Neolithic man discarded pottery and arrow heads in the Lemek valley slightly north of the reserve. The Maasai herdsmen have occupied the area since the 17th century, living in harmony with the wildlife as pastoralists and not hunters. These proud warrior people are still here today and the men often perform an amazing dance in the lodges. The Itinerary: Day 1: Upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will immediately enter the Arrivals Lounge and you will proceed to the immigration counter where you may be asked to present your Yellow Fever vaccination Card. Should you not have your Kenya entrance visa, you may purchase this on arrival at a cost of USD $50 per person payable in cash. Each person will simply be required to provide a passport valid for at least 6 months past your arrival date, fill up an immigration entrance form and the immigration officers will do the rest. On collection of your luggage your Love Live Africa representative will meet you and escort you to your vehicle to transfer you to your hotel. This transfer will take you through the centre of Nairobi and will take, depending on traffic, approximately 45 minutes. Overnight on bed and breakfast basis at PALACINA RESIDENCES ET SUITES. Day 2: Enjoy an early breakfast before your transfer to Wilson airport for your flight to Amboseli (40 minutes flight). Pick-up and transfer by 4X4 vehicle to TAWI LODGE with game drive en route. In the afternoon, you will be able to admire the huge elephants of Amboseli and will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Day 3: The Kilimanjaro is often outstanding in the mornings and afternoons and you will be able to enjoy a full day in Amboseli. Full board accommodation and overnight at TAWI LODGE. Day 4: After an early breakfast, the Tawi Lodge representative will drive you to the airstrip for your flight to Nanyuki with a short connection in Nairobi. You will arrive around 10.00 in Nanyuki where KICHECHE driver will pick you up and drive you into the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. You will arrive for lunch at KICHECHE CAMP. In the afternoon, you will go on game drive and come back to camp for dinner and overnight. Day 5 & 6: You will choose what activities you wish to carry out at KICHECHE CAMP; ranging from 4x4 photographic safaris, bush or interpretative game walks. There is also a Lion Tracking program which monitors the lions of the area (some have been collared with receivers). As part of the program clients are able to track the lions with a portable satellite dish and remit the data to the study centre. In addition, the Wildlife Educational Centre is interesting for both children and adults alike, and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary for orphaned chimps is an excellent venue to observe the two families and learn about the perils facing chimpanzees in the wild. Day 7: 08.00 Check-out and drive to Nanyuki airstrip for a flight to Maasai Mara (09.45-11.00). The KILIMA CAMP driver/guide will pick you up from the airstrip in 4x4 vehicle and you will be in camp for lunch. After relaxing while enjoying the breath-taking views over the Mara plains, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Mara Triangle and come back to camp for dinner and overnight. Day 8 & 9: Enjoy 2 days in the Masai Mara and choose to do a full day or half day game drive, enjoy a nature walk with the camp Masai naturalist. Optional activities are balloon flight with champagne breakfast, visit of a traditional Maasai village and bush sundowner or dinner. Full board accommodation at KILIMA CAMP. Day 10: After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for flight back to Nairobi and connection with the flight to Lamu in the afternoon. The friendly staff from LAMU HOUSE will transfer you by boat to the hotel where you will stay 3 nights on bed and breakfast basis. Day 13: After another relaxing morning, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi Wilson airport. From there, your Love Live Africa representative will meet you and transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where we will bid you KWAHERI (Farewell in Kiswahili). The Lodges: Palacina Residences and suites (Nairobi) Tawi Lodge (Amboseli) Kicheche (Laikipia / Ol Pejeta Conservancy) Kilima Camp (Maasai Mara) Prices for 2009:
NB: Kicheche Laikipia is closed in April/May. We offer Sweetwaters as an alternative Inclusions
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