Highlights of Kenya

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by an Albatros Travel Representative and your driver guide. After a short safari briefing, you will head straight out on safari towards Amboseli National Park arriving at the Amboseli Ol Tukai Lodge in time for a late lunch. Amboseli National Park lies at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340ft). The mountain dominates every aspect of the park and you can get the best views of its snow-capped peak from Amboseli. The parks fragile ecosystem supports a variety of game and is famous for its large herds of elephant. Swamps and springs, fed by underground rivers from Kilimanjaro’s melting snow, offer a watering place for the wildlife and birds during the dry season. There is plenty to do, including game viewing, walking, visit a Maasai village or visit the Amboseli Research Centre, the longest study of wild elephants in the world.

At a time that is convenient to you, return back to the lodge for dinner and a chance to share the days’ highlights.

Spend the day game viewing with morning and afternoon game viewing drives. We suggest an early wake-up call so you can head out on a game drive to catch the animals as they wake up to start the day. The early morning is also when the animals are at their most active before the heat of the day sets in. Back at the lodge; breakfast is served with a wonderful view of Mount Kilimanjaro. After lunch, we suggest that you relax and enjoy your surroundings before your late afternoon game drive, returning to the lodge for dinner and your final evening in Amboseli.

 After an early breakfast, you will check out and head off North towards Mt Kenya.  A UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, Mount Kenya was formed some three and half million years ago and is considered sacred by the Kikuyu people, who believe it is the abode of their god Ngai. You will arrive at Aberdare Country Club, the base hotel for the Ark, where you will have lunch before proceeding to the lodge located inside the park.

This morning after breakfast, drive to the Northern area of Samburu arriving at your lodge in time for a late lunch. As you enter the reserve, you will be able to see two beautiful mountains, Koitogor and Ololokwe, which form the perfect background to your safari.  You will arrive at Elephant Bedroom in the late afternoon and enjoy your lunch before a short briefing at the reception and check in into your rooms. Thereafter, familiarise yourself with the lodge that has been inspired by the architecture of the indigenous Samburu tribe and blends into its natural environment by making full use of the local building materials.

In the evening, jump into your safari vehicle for a game drive in the reserve. Samburu National Reserve is situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River which attracts plenty of animals from the surrounding plains and various other habitats such as acacia, river forest, thorn trees and grasslands.　 Large herds of elephants, reticulated giraffes, buffalo and gerenuks and frequent spotting of big cats form part of the reserve’s large and diverse wildlife population. You will also be privileged to see the red –robed Samburu tribesmen bringing their cattle down to the river to drink. The lives of the Samburu like the Masai are centred on their livestock, their traditional source of wealth. After initiation, boys become morans and it becomes their job to protect both the humans and the livestock from predators.

Return back to the lodge for dinner and a chance to enjoy uninterrupted views of the languid river and the wildlife it attracts - which includes the numerous crocodiles that make these waters their home, from the comfort of your private veranda.

Sleep in or rise early today, but if you want to see the animals at their most active we recommend taking advantage of the cool early morning to maximise your game viewing experience. As you continue with your game drive through this wildlife rich reserve, watch out for the unique species only found north of the equator which include the helmeted guinea fowl, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra and Beisa oryx. Seek relief from the hot African sun back at the lodge where you will spend the remainder of afternoon relaxing. As the day cools, you can return to the reserve for one last game drive and enjoy a sundowner at a beautiful location, before returning to Samburu Lodge for an opulent dinner before retiring to your room.　　　　　　　　

 After a hearty breakfast, you will leave the unique species and landscapes of Samburu behind you as you set out to one of the great Rift Valley Lakes.  You will arrive at the park entrance of Lake Nakuru National park in the  afternoon and after clearing paper work, you will head straight to the Lodge for Lunch. Later in the afternoon you will go for a game drive in the park.  The lake is situated in the middle of the national park to which it gives its name. Teeming with wildlife the park has so much to offer. Lions, buffalos as well as many rhinos call this corner of Kenya home and a game drive around the park is always rewarding. If you are lucky you may even spot a leopard relaxing in a tree beside the lake.

Spend the day in the park with morning and afternoon game viewing drives. Lake Nakuru National Park is a world heritage site renowned for its amazing birdlife, with over 450 bird species. The waters of the lake also draw a great variety of game to its shores and the picturesque landscape of marshes, woodland, grassland and large euphorbia forests. The Park boasts a rhino sanctuary and regular sightings of the elusive leopard.

After a game-packed game drive, you will drive back to the Lodge in time to enjoy the sun set over the lake, before sitting down for dinner and toasting to the day’s adventures.

 Today you are off to the Masai Mara National Reserve. You will check out of your hotel after breakfast and arrive for lunch at your camp in the Mara. On arrival and check in, you will have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in your tent waiting for the late evening when the temperature cools to head out on your first Mara game drive. Masai Mara is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves.　 Acacia dotted plains, tree-lined rivers and woodlands are abundant with wildlife and an array of birdlife.　 Game viewing is spectacular year round; you may see a pride of lions stalking their prey, observe a herd of elephant and their fascinating social structure, or see pods of hippo wallowing in the rivers.　 The great wildebeest migration is one of nature’s wonders; an estimated two million animals migrate in a year-round pattern through Tanzania and Kenya, following the rain. Back at the camp, dinner is served and this gives you the perfect opportunity to look back at your day and relive all those highlights

After breakfast drive across the Mara plains in search of the big five and other plains game or engage in the optional activities on offer at the Maasai Mara. The early mornings are one of the best times to view the animals as this is when they are their most active before the heat of the day sets in. After a mid-morning of relaxation and lunch, head out into the reserve for a chance to tick off some more animals on your "must see" list. Keep your eyes peeled as you hunt for the last members on your list. Visit the Mara River and ask your guide to show you the regular river crossing routes.

You will have this full day to enjoy this wonderful park

 After breakfast and check out, you will be driven back to Nairobi, stopping beside the Rift Valley for one last photo opportunity. After lunch you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for your outbound travel.

Thank you for choosing Destinations Africa to arrange your safari!