Migration Discovery
7 Days: Kenya
Fully Guided Self Drive
Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha,
Hells Gate NP, Nakuru NP
Itinerary
For those with little time but a desire to experience the best of Kenya. Starting our journey in Nairobi the hub of East Africa and vibrant Capital of Kenya we drive a short distance to Lake Naivasha where we enjoy high tea at Elsamere; the home of "Born Free" and take an early morning walking safari to spot hippos, giraffe and zebra to name a few animlas. We continue through Hells Gate NP to the 7th natural wonder of the World, the Masai Mara, and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The Masai Mara is well known for its Big Cat population set amongst stunning classic African savannah landscape. We game drive through this wondrous park before departing for Lake Nakuru. We visit a working farm and local women's knitting project before entering Lake Nakuru NP, a small but rewarding park teeming with pink flamingoes, white rhino, giraffes and buffalo to name a few.
Sunday - Day 1: (driving distance 100km)
Our journey begins in Nairobi, the buzzing Capital of Kenya. We take some time to be acquainted with our vehicles and the rest of the small group before visiting the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage a short drive from our base. The baby elephants are allowed out to play every morning, an hour of entertainment watching the babies play in mud pools, kick a soccer ball and slurp massive bottles of formula. This not a zoo but a place where orphaned elephants are hand-reared before being re-educated and released into the wild. It is possible to adopt a baby elephant or rhino - the perfect gift for animal lovers back home.
After a hearty lunch we drive to Lake Naivasha at the bottom of the famous Rift Valley arriving in time to set up camp and become acquainted with our natural surroundings. We camp on the shores of Lake Naivasha, devour a large dinner expertly prepared on open fire and fall asleep as hippos graze in the distance. (Lunch and dinner included)
Monday - Day 2 (driving distance 40kms)
We start the day with a gentle walking safari around the Green Crater Lake. This is one of the very few game parks in Africa without predators making it safe to walk. A rare opportunity to stand close to giraffes, zebra, antelope, flamingos and warthogs to name a few. We return to camp for a hearty brunch. In the afternoon we drive a short distance to Elsamere and enjoy High Tea at Joy Adamson's House. Joy and George Adamson became famous for their unique work with lions, the most famous being 'Elsa'. The movie 'Born Free' was about Elsa's life. We enjoy High Tea overlooking Lake Naivasha while Colobus monkeys try to steal scones from our plates! (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Tuesday - Day 3 (driving distance 200kms)
We depart Lake Naivasha and drive into Hells Gate NP. A short game drive as we continue to the end of the Park before making our way along back roads to the town of Narok and the World Famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. Arriving in the afternoon in time to enjoy a rewarding game drive. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Wednesday - Day 4 (variable)
The Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous park; bordering Tanzania and the Serengeti; it boasts the famous Migration and the well documented Mara River crossing of wildebeest and zebras seen between July and August each year. We spend the day game viewing at leisure, taking our time to stop and watch the animals as they cohabitate together. While game driving we will stop to photograph wildlife like: leopard, wildebeest, lion, rhino, warthog, cheetah, gazelle, zebra, giraffe, elephant, buffalo plus many more. At night we camp falling asleep to the sounds of Africa. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Thursday - Day 5 (driving distance 220kms)
We rise early morning and enjoy a final game drive in the Masai Mara before departing for Njoro near Nakuru Town. We arrive in the afternoon and enjoy a steaming hot shower and home cooked meal. After dinner we can enjoy a glass of wine while sitting around the open fire telling stories of our experiences with African wildlife. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Friday - Day 6 (driving distance 80kms)
A bit of a sleep in before taking a guided tour around Kembu, a working Kenyan farm, famous for breeding thoroughbred race horses. Taking some time to visit the local women's knitting project and a spot of shopping for friends back home we depart Njoro for Nakuru Town. Nakuru Town boasts a vibrant local souvenir market worth taking some time to explore and buy extra souvenirs before heading into our last but certainly not least impressive game park - Lake Nakuru NP.
The park resembles scenes from Jurassic park - a large lake in the centre surrounded by rough sharp cliffs and dense forest. The setting is as dramatic as the game viewing. As we enter the park we are presented with thousands of pink flamingoes happily perched in the shallows of Lake Nakuru; around the edges of the Lake it is not unusual to see Rhino, buffalo, zebra, gazelles, waterbucks, families of warthogs and lone hyenas all within a short distance of one another. We spend a rustic night camping in the Park, toasting marshmallows over the open fire while listening to the many nocturnal sounds. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Saturday - Day 7 (driving distance 180kms)
We enjoy an early morning game drive to spot lion, zebra, gazelle, flamingoes, hyena, and rhino. We enjoy a cooked brunch at the top of Baboon Cliff with stunning views of the Lake and surrounding cliffs with animals wandering by - the view is breathtaking. We depart the park and make our way back to Nairobi arriving approx. 3 pm in the afternoon. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Click here to view Migration Discovery image gallery
