KENYA EXPLORER

“Mzima,” meaning alive in Kiswahili, is a peaceful oasis at the heart of red-dusty Tsavo and this magical place is not to be missed. The pure water of the three Mzima pools filtered by the porous sponge-like soil of the Chyulu and the Shetani lava flow brings life to a unique ecosystem at only 40 kilometres away from the Chyulu Hills. With a daily supply of more than 250 million litres of fresh water, the pool provides an oasis of green. It’s a haven for fishes, birds, monkeys, crocodiles and hippos. The main attractions are the two nature trails leading to an underwater viewing tank built to allow visitors to watch hippos!

Once climbed, the Roaring Rocks will give you magnificent panoramic views, usually only seen by the eagles and buzzards that fly around these cliffs. Over the plain called Rhino Valley and the Ngulia, the Roaring Rocks, located near the Rhino Sanctuary, has long been an observation point for the protection of black rhinoceros and the fight against poaching. The eerie Roaring Rocks are named after the buzz of cicadas that inhabit them and the howl of wind that hits the bare rocks.

A black lava flow of eight kilometres, 1.6 kilometres wide and five meters deep, is the remains of volcanic eruptions. They were subject of tales among local communities who named the flow "shetani," meaning evil in Kiswahili, after it spewed from the earth when it was just 240 years old. Climbing the flow isn’t an easy task as the thick, black soil is composed of uneven chunks of solid magma.

Experience the daily drama that unfolds in the Kenyan Savannah!

Tsavo National Park consists of a diverse ecosystem where numerous species of wildlife are spotted on any game drive. From the tenacious elephant herds to buffalos and the big cats, a game drive in Tsavo is a must-have experience! Both night and daytime game drives are possible to give guests the opportunity to view both diurnal and nocturnal animals.

The watering hole is located adjacent to the main building, where you can wine and dine while taking in the great view of the green Chyulu Hills and watching a spectacular wide range of wildlife stop by to quench their thirst.

The ‘sun-downer’ is an essential part of safari life and dates back to the time of the great safaris of the 1920s when elegant cocktails were always served while watching the spectacle of the African sunset. Timed to begin as the sun starts its descent, the Sundowner opens with a gentle evening game drive, arriving at the site just as the evening sky turns a gold-pink.

Experience the thrill of Amboseli National Park with our expertly guided game drives. Choose between our captivating day game drives and the exciting night game drives, each lasting approximately two hours. Witness the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes that make Amboseli a unique safari destination.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in the breathtaking natural environment of Amboseli National Park. Immerse yourself in the midst of wildlife for an experience that offers mental, physiological, and psychological rejuvenation. Delight in the pleasure and joy of physical activity while discovering the beauty of our natural flora and fauna.

Enjoy an exclusive one-hour birdwatching safari in Amboseli National Park, guided by our expert Naturalist. Discover the park's diverse bird life with a comprehensive bird species list provided to enhance your experience. This is the perfect opportunity for both novice and seasoned bird enthusiasts to explore the avian wonders of Amboseli.

Encounter the marvels of the best-kept Cultural Heritage from the Natives. Join our Culturalist as he ponders what it takes to be a Maasai. After a detailed lecture, you can join the warriors for a dance, test your jumping skills, photo session or just relax and watch.

Echo of the elephants is a documentary about a family of elephants in Amboseli National Park. It unravels the informative ecological and biological intrigues in the ever-elusive elephant’s world: but this time about this particular family led by Echo.

Amboseli Serena has taken a leading role in environmental protection and preservation with a comprehensive action programme, the Re-forestation Programme. This conservation scheme encourages guests at the Lodge to participate and plant “their” own trees. All the trees planted are indigenous species that consist of specifically drought resistant species such as Acacia spp., Mellia, Croton and Commiphora.

This is the highlight experience! Soysambu Conservancy is entwined with a marching history reflecting back to 1890s. It is a home of the endangered Rothschild Giraffes and Black and White Colobus Monkeys. The conservancy hosts a good standing population of the three of the big five family namely Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes. Morning or evening game drives offers our guests the exceptional chance of getting out of the vehicle and walking in the wild, in designated areas. Our road master land cruiser, driven by our experienced naturalists ensures comfort and optimum game viewing experience throughout the drive.

The natural settings in the wild vary adversely. Individual animals are diurnal (active during the day), nocturnal (active at night) or even Crepuscular (active in twilight i.e. dawn and dusk). A uniquely specialized activity, a night game drive is the ultimate safari luxury. Night is the domain of such hunters as leopards and lions (Conservancy’s big cats), and the only time you may catch a glimpse of such elusive nocturnal creatures as Aardvarks, spring Hares, Porcupines,White-Tailed Mongoose etc. Typically, our Camp’s safari vehicle is equipped with a powerful spotlight, which can be used to sweep the bush for likely sightings.

An Ornithological Haven

The only way to get close to nature on foot. Led by an experienced Naturalist, the one-hour walk begins right at the camp, through the sprawling Acacia thickets right to the Lake shore. This is one of the rarest opportunity to walk designated Ramsar and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Unlike the drives, nature walks captures all the desired attention of natural happenings like identifying tracks and signs of wildlife, geology, native plants identification and their traditional medicinal values or uses, one on one interaction on birding with an expert, more thrilling, how these birds find their way all from Europe and Asia into Africa during winter! The cover of diverse habitats ensures maximum content achievement.

This is an experience designed to immerse our guests into the wild on a horse back. Our experienced jockeys ensure the guests are taken through the whole concept and even more informing on how horse sports have evolved from time immemorial up to date. Sight-seeing, birdwatching, wildlife viewing from a horse back is incredible and a must try.

The Conservancy plays host to 450 bird species, and birding experts report up to 60 species of birds a day – a birder’s paradise including the flamingos and the endangered Great White Pelican. The guided bird walks along the lake, are conducted by the resident naturalist, and tools such as the binoculars and a birding list are provided.

Savor a delightful sundowner cocktail perched atop the cliff, commanding stunning views of the serene lake below. Witness the graceful pelicans and flamboyant flamingos in their natural habitat from this privileged vantage point. Keep an eye out as buffaloes leisurely graze along the picturesque lake shore, adding to the enchanting ambiance.

Game drives offer a unique opportunity to spot wildlife including the curious-looking aardvark and elusive leopard.

The Maasai are undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on earth. In fact, the Manyatta are usually a circular encampment of long, low, rounded houses, created by daubing cattle dung over a framework of sticks. Visiting a Manyatta is a good way to learn more about the Maasai culture and everyday life. Many ceremonies involve the ritual slaughter of cattle or goats with meat being distributed among the community, according to social rank.

At other times, live cattle are bled by opening a vein on the neck or flank with the point of an arrow. The blood is collected in a gourd and the wound closed with ashes. Then the blood is either drunk immediately while fresh or mixed with milk. Even at slaughter, blood is collected and mixed with milk to be drunk later. Sour milk is also considered a delicacy.

Ololoolo escarpment forms the western boundary of the Mara triangle running along a geological fault line forming the edge of a granite plateau that rises to a height of 400 meters from the bottom.

The escarpment receives more rain than the rest of the Mara triangle and lots of fresh water streams radiate from its face disappearing into the ground only to reappear in swamps lower down. As a result of the rains a growth of thick vegetation is found to be growing along the escarpment This terrain of the escarpment ranges from rocky crags, boulders strewn slopes and well-watered wetlands. The icing on the cake has to be the ability to enjoy the endless plains of grass of the Mara Plains which are a site to from atop the escarpment.

There are several tracks along the escarpment used by the Germans during WW1. These tracks create an edge for adventure seekers.

The hiking trail starts at the Ngira-re rangers outpost (1645m) and gently ascends up for 4 km to a height of 1935m to reach the top (vertical height 290 Metres). The hiking takes 1- 2.5 hours ascending and 1 hour descending.

Guests leave the lodge after breakfast (7:30am) and drive for 1 hour to the foot of the escarpment. The entire hike takes approximately 3 hours and guests are driven back to the lodge for lunch.

Recommended Attire includes;
- Long trousers
- Hiking boots/sports shoes/safari boots
- Hat/cap
- Water (provided by the lodge)Walking sticks (provided by the lodge).

Float above the Mara plains in a dimension of unsurpassed tranquillity and beauty. The hot air balloon lifts you into the clear blue sky at dawn and gives you an eagle’s view of the wildlife pageant below. You will glide over the treetops with the early birds and be wafted gently over the plains, above the bustle and bumps of the ground below, but cruising close to enjoy the spectacular scenery.