Best of Kenya in 7 days
Maasai Mara
Overview
The world re-known Maasai Mara Game Reserve is a northern extension of the Serengeti National Park which is located in Tanzania. Maasai Mara covers an area of 1510km². The Maasai Mara ecosystem is composed of rivers i.e Talek river and the Mara River which is the main water supply for the ecosystem. The Mara river is a hurdle to the wildebeest migration as the wildebeests have to cross the river from Serengeti most of them perishing in the jaws of crocodiles and big cats.
In the Western part of Maasai Mara lies the Siria escarpment, Loita plains and the rest is the Maasai pastoral land. The Maasai Mara game reserve is owned and run by the county council of Narok which is the richest county council in Kenya due to the revenue collected as park entrance fee. Part of the Maasai Mara which is called the Mara triangle is contracted out and privately run. Park fees are paid by the number of nights one spends in the Mara Conservancy.
The Maasai Mara lies at an altitude of 1500 meters to 2100 meters. It rains twice a year in the game reserve that is during the long rains that fall in the month of March and May and during the short rains that fall in the month of October, November and part of December. June and July are the coldest months and January and February are the hottest months. Temperatures during the day rarely exceed 85°F (30°C) and during the night it hardly drops below 60°F (15°C). Maasai Mara is a mosquito-prone area but the campsite is sprayed with mosquito repellents and the tents have treated mosquito nets.
Maasai Mara has a big population of wildlife. All big five can be seen in this reserve, and a large number of ungulates are also easily visible they include the wildebeest, Thomson gazelles, grant gazelles, buffalos, rhinos, impalas, topis, elands, zebras, giraffes and duikers. The common predators include lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals and foxes. Maasai Mara has over 450 identified species. Some common birds include the common ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bustard, hornbills, storks, eagles and vultures.
The wildebeest migration happens annually, this spectacle is considered one of the 7th wonders of the world. More than a million wildebeest, accompanied by topis, zebras, gazelles and elands make their journey from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara Game reserve.
Many of them perish while crossing the Mara River where crocodiles and big cats make a kill on the vulnerable ungulates. The migration happens every year during the month of July after the long rains. The grass is big and plenty and for the next three months, the wildebeests clear the lush grass of the Maasai Mara. The migration varies annually due to climate change. If the climate changes and it doesn’t rain as usual the wildebeest may delay crossing over or cross over and go back since there isn’t grass to feed on.
The Masai people who by definition speak the Maa language hence the name Maasai have held on to their culture even in these times of modernization. A Maasai’s home is called a manyatta where he lives with his wives and children. From childhood boys are obligated to look after their father’s cows while girls are obligated to do house chores, fetch water and milk the cows.
After every fifteen years, there is an initiation where boys are circumcised and they become young morans and the existing morans graduate to junior elders. The Maasai enjoy eating meat, and milk mixed with blood during rituals such as initiation and marriage. The use of herbs as medicine is still embedded in their day-to-day life. The Maasai are an attraction in Kenya since they managed to stick to their culture.
Day 1: Nairobi – Maasai Mara.
We depart Nairobi after breakfast, stopping at the viewpoint of the Great Rift Valley viewpoint. After checking in at our hotel we are served lunch. As the heat of the day subsides, we proceed for an evening game drive in this park. This is an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park as an artificial border only separates the two. Dine and overnight at the camp/ lodge.
{Meals plan = Lunch, Dinner}
Day 2: Maasai Mara –Full Day Game Drive
Early breakfast followed by a full day of game drive within the reserve. The Maasai Mara is famous for its black manned lions, elephants and buffalo that make three out of the ‘big five’ though luck is essential for spotting the other two namely park’s animal concentration and abundance are second to none. We will cater a picnic lunch at the hippo pool where with luck you may spot crocodiles basking on the rocks.
Numerous plains game including antelopes, wildebeest, zebra and Maasai giraffe can be seen as well as scavengers like hyena and vulture. In the late afternoon (at an extra cost), go for optional activities like having a nature walk, visiting Maasai villages to see the nomadic lifestyle or swimming in the nearby lodges. Rest of meals and overnight at the camp/lodge.
{Meals plan =Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner}
Day 3: Maasai Mara – Nakuru
We start the day with a pre-breakfast morning game drive at 6:00 am. After a full breakfast, depart the Mara region for Nakuru national park. We embark on the evening game drive. Dine and overnight in WCK house/ lodge.
{Meals plan =Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}
Overview
Lake Nakuru is one of the alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru is also known as “Pink Lake” or Africa Bird’s Paradise. The lake is ideally located in central Kenya within Lake Nakuru National park. The park occupies an area of 188 km2 while the lake occupies an area of 62 km 2. The lake is famous for the millions of flamingos that flock to the lake although flamingos are unpredictable birds and are not always to be found in the lake in such vast numbers. From a distance i.e. the baboon cliff, the lake looks pink in colour due to the flamingos.
The topography at Lake Nakuru is comprised of grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, acacia woodlands and a forest made up of Euphorbia trees. In the early 1960s, Tilapia Grahami was introduced to the lake and it flourished despite the alkaline nature of the lake. There are two species of flamingos namely lesser flamingos and greater flamingos, they feed on algae, which flourishes due to the warm alkaline waters of Lake Nakuru.
It is believed that flamingos consume about 250,000 kg of algae per hectare of surface area per year. The abundance of algae in the lake is what attracts millions of flamingos to Lake Nakuru. Apart from flamingos, other bird species include ducks, pelicans, cormorants, plovers, vultures, eagles, and buzzards. Lake Nakuru has over 50 animal species which include hippos, reedbucks, waterbucks, Rothschild giraffes, baboons, black and white Columbus monkey, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, lions, gazelles and impalas among others.
Day 4: Nakuru – Hells gate, Naivasha
Pre-breakfast game drive at 6:00 am, full breakfast will be served. We exit the park with a game drive en route heading to Hell’s Gate national park. We explore the features and the game in the park. We descend and hike through the spectacular Ol Njorowa canyon. This hike takes about three {3} hours. You will come across hot and cold waterfalls, hot water springs and very beautifully coloured rock strata and formations.
Optional activities include – Cycling in the park, Technical rock climbing, Horse riding, Swimming in a naturally heated swimming pool at Olkaria and a boat ride on Lake Naivasha.
We check in at Olkaria Geothermal Spa for refreshments. Proceed to our overnight camp. Dine and overnight in the camp.
{Meals plan =Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}
Overview
Hell’s Gate National Park lies to the south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, North West of Nairobi. The park which is mainly comprised of a savannah ecosystem harbours a wide variety of wildlife. There are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, augur buzzard and swifts. African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, and baboons are also common.
The park is also home to klipspringer antelope and chandler’s mountain reedbuck. Hell’s Gate National Park provides a truly panoramic picnic site, camping stopover and is also endless biodiversity which allows walking or cycling without an official KWS escort. It has spectacular scenery, despite its rather alarming name, due to its intense geothermal activity within its boundaries, including the towering cliffs, water gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes and belching plumes of natural geothermal steam.
It is a relatively small park cleft deep in the central quarter of the Rift Valley’s floor. The geothermal steam makes it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa. In the undulating grasslands, you can walk or cycle alongside herds of buffalo, zebra, giraffe, eland and hartebeest and Thompsons Gazelle. The park has a unique bird viewing hide which allows visitors to view and photograph the birds of prey at a close range. The Fischer’s Tower is a high jagged volcanic plug that remained of an ancient volcano and is named after the German explorer, Gustav Fischer.
According to the local Maasai tradition, the rock is the petrified figure of a chief’s daughter who turned around, against the dictates of tradition to take one last look at her village before leaving to be married. The Olkaria Geothermal Station also lies in this park, being one of the hottest sources of natural steam in the world with an underground water temperature of 304ºC. The KenGen Olkaria Geothermal Spa is located inside Hells Gate National Park which is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Ol Njorowa canyon – A narrow sandstone gorge that was sculpted by water and light. In some places, it can be slippery and you need to know where to put your feet. A local guide will take you around through the maze. In the event of rains, take extra care of flash floods in the narrow canyon, but there are a number of emergency exits.
Day 5: Naivasha – Amboseli
After breakfast, depart the Amboseli national park having lunch in Nairobi. We check in at our camp/ lodge before embarking on the evening game drive. Dine and overnight in the camp/ lodge.
{Meals plan =Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}
Overview
Amboseli National Park is located south of Nairobi 140 kilometres (3 ½ hrs. drive). The park occupies an area of 392 km². The ecosystem is made up of a seasonal lake called Lake Amboseli where the park derives its name from, swamps, open plains, acacia woodland, rocky outcrops, thorn bushes and marches. The landscape is dominated by the backdrop of the majestic snow-cap of Mount Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa. The snow caps are visible when the clouds are clear mainly early morning and late evenings and this scene gives one the opportunity to capture wonderful memories on camera for friends and loved ones back at home.
Amboseli national park is considered Kenya’s second best after the Maasai Mara game reserve by many tourists and is the only national park in Kenya that has the biggest population of elephants. The ecosystem of Amboseli, though small compared to other parks, sustains a large number of bird species and game. Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals because its vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. The park is considered ideal for writers, filmmakers and researchers.
The Maasai are the local habitat of this area, which they call Empusel meaning “Dusty place”. Other community tribes have moved to Amboseli in search of greener pastures. Besides game viewing and the ecstatic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, one can visit a local Maasai village to learn about their way of life and to interact with the locals.
Day 6: Amboseli – Full-day game drive
After breakfast, embark on a full-day game drive where plains game namely zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and various antelopes can be seen. You will have a picnic lunch at an observation point. You will have a great sighting of the majestic snow-capped Kilimanjaro in the morning. During a clear day’s weather from the observation hill, the panoramic view of the plains is worth yearning for. Large herds of elephants and hippos can be seen bathing in the swamp grounds whose water source is Mt. Kilimanjaro.
{Meals plan =Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner}
Day 7: Amboseli – Nairobi
We have two options:-
(a) You take a three {3} hours early morning pre-breakfast game drive at 6:00 am. After a late breakfast which is served as brunch, depart Amboseli for Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi in the early evening.
(b) On condition that the route to Meshanani gate is passable, you traverse the park doing the game drive. You exit through Namanga having done a complete circuit
Bid goodbye and proceed to the next destination after a memorable trip.
{Meal Plan = Breakfast}
Options are of course many and varied and in many cases, we can be flexible about the itinerary for accommodation facilities and the extension of the safari destinations.
