8 Day Essence of Kenya Safari to Sweet-waters, Shaba/Samburu , Aberdares NationalPark,Lake Nakuru National Park and Maasai Mara Game Reserve

Safari Day 1: Nairobi-Sweetwaters Game Sanctuary 

0800hrs – Pick up from your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta airport and drive to Sweetwaters Tented Camp, set in the heart of a large privately owned game reserve, enjoying magnificent views across the plains to the peaks of Mount Kenya. Each tented accommodation has a private veranda. Sitting within the quaint, original farmhouse are the dining room, bar and reception. Lunch on arrival at the Sweetwaters Tented Camp.

Later visit the Game Reserve and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Within the Sweet Waters game reserve is a 200-acre Chimpanzee sanctuary. It is 15-minute drive from Sweetwaters Tented Camp. A visit to this sanctuary – Note, this is a not a zoo but a sanctuary for the orphaned and abused chimpanzees, where they are rehabilitated and taught to live for themselves in an area similar to their natural living conditions. The sanctuary currently is a home to about 43 chimpanzees.

Dinner and Overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp

Safari Day 2: Sweetwaters-Shaba/Samburu National Reserve 

0800 hrs – Proceed north to Shaba National Reserve. You enjoy a game drive en-route to Sarova Shaba Lodge, where you arrive at around 1400 hours in time for lunch. After lunch at the lodge, you have the early afternoon free, before going for an afternoon game drive, from 1600 hrs till dusk.

Samburu and Shaba National Reserve is a wildlife haven. Here you will spot Africa’s big cats – lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. Some animals are unique to this northern Kenya park: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. The Ewaso Nyiro River, the boundary with the neighboring Buffalo Springs National Reserve, is where the elephants, buffalo and other animal species gather for a drink. You will find the scenic semiarid landscape quite dramatic. The reserve is located within the lands of the colourful semi-nomadic Samburu tribesmen.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Shaba Lodge or Similar

Safari Day 3: Shaba

Start your day with an early morning game drive starting at 0630 hrs. Return to the lodge for breakfast at 0830 hrs. You spend the period before and after lunch at leisure at the lodge. At 1600 hrs you go for your afternoon game-drive till dusk.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Shaba Lodge or Similar

Safari Day 4: Shaba -Aberdares National Park 

After breakfast checkout and head to Outspan Hotel. You relax at Outspan and lunch will be served at 1300 hrs. At 1500 hrs you will be transferred in a lodge vehicle to The Treetops Lodge, one of the famous lodges in the Aberdares National Park. NB: Excess luggage is stored at the base hotel and you will go to the tree lodge only with your hand luggage

Enjoy game viewing in the evening from the lodge’s balcony as the animals draw near to drink at the lodge’s waterhole

Aberdares National Park has a diverse topography that includes icy rivers, spectacular waterfalls and rain forests. The flora and fauna is quite unique and is not found elsewhere in the country, except on Mount Kenya. Leopard, elephant, serval, water buck, reed buck, dik-dik, rhino and the rare bongo can all be found here. Bird life is also plentiful, including the monkey eating crowned eagle.

Dinner and overnight at Treetops Lodge

Safari Day 5: Aberdares-Lake Nakuru National Park   

Transfer back to Outspan hotel for breakfast. Then proceed to Lake Nakuru in time for lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. 1600hrs, late afternoon game drive in the park.

Lake Nakuru’s claim to fame is anchored on its flamingo’s and the over 400 species of birds found here. The lake itself is a soda lake on the floor of the rift valley. The sight of the at times millions of flamingos is quite spectacular. From a distance the lake appears ringed in pink. The Lake has also earned a reputation as an important haven for endangered species- particularly the Rothschild Giraffe and the black and white rhino. Lions, water buck, buffalo and baboons are all residents here.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or similar

Safari Day 6: Lake Nakuru- Masai Mara Game Reserve 

0800 hrs- Drive to via the Great Rift Valley to arrive at Masai Mara in time for lunch at Mara Sarova Tented Lodge.After lunch, go for an afternoon game drive till dusk.

The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here. You will easily see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes and elephant. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place (between July to October). This is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti (Tanzania) in search of water and pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna- lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures.

Dinner and overnight at Mara Sarova Tented Lodge or Similar

Safari Day 7: Masai Mara Game Reserve 

0630 hrs – early morning game drive in the Mara. Return to the lodge for breakfast.
You spend the rest of the morning at leisure. After lunch at the lodge you proceed at 1600 hrs for an afternoon game drive till dusk.

In the Mara, you will easily see the Big Five- lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and elephant, not to mention numerous plain animals.

Dinner and overnight at Mara Sarova Tented Lodge or Similar

Day 8: Masai Mara Game Reserve-Nairobi 

Optional balloon safari at extra cost
0500 hrs- Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a Hot air Balloon provided at extra cost. The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience.

After breakfast return to Nairobi arriving in the afternoon/Drop off airport for your flight back home or proceed to Mombasa for beach stay, optional at an extra cost

End of your 8 Days Essence of Kenya Safari

From: Nairobi, Kenya To: Nairobi, Kenya
Number of Participants: 2-7 per vehicle

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