Kenya Rhino and Ranches self drive tour

On safari with Africa Expedition Support with near extinct Northern White Rhino in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya

Duration: 13 days

Location: Kenya

Price: from USD$3200 + Local Payment

13-Day Guided Self Drive Accommodated Kenya Rhino and Ranches Safari

This guided self drive tour through 6 of the world’s greatest game parks and ranches is for the true animal lover. Meet the last 3 remaining Northern White Rhino in the incredible private conservancy of Ol Pejeta, that is after exploring the Masai Mara – the greatest game park of them all.

Meeting baby elephants at David Sheldrick elephant orphanage in Nairobi

Our journey begins in Nairobi with a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage before departing for Lake Naivasha. While there we enjoy an early morning walking safari and high tea at Elsamere, the home of “Born Free”.

We continue to the Masai Mara where we game drive at leisure with our local Masai guide stopping to watch herds of elephant, various antelope, lion and if we are lucky the elusive leopard. We continue to Lake Nakuru National Park for a rewarding game drive and a rare chance to see white Rhino before making our way to the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a private ranch and next on our list, boasting over 130 critically endangered Rhino and home to Sudan, Najin and Fatu the last 3 remaining Northern White Rhino in the world. Incredible game viewing with Mt Kenya providing a dramatic backdrop. We continue to the hidden gem of Swara Plains, another private ranch boasting hundreds of giraffe and over 450 species of birds, here we enjoy an afternoon and night game drives to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Our final park, Amboseli NP, is famous for herds of elephant with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background setting the picture perfect scene. We enjoy game driving photographing herds of elephant, zebra, giraffe, lion and cheetah!

This is an incredible safari exploring amazing game parks and ranches while staying in characteristic accommodation.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY…

We cannot believe how much we did on our safari. It is hard to say what was the highlight we loved every minute of the entire trip. We must say we loved the Rhino and glad we got to see them in their natural environment. The game driving was incredible in every park and we got some amazing photos of lions yawning and cubs playing. We loved the variety of accommodation from guest houses to tented camps to English cottages. Thank you for such an amazing time.

Safari Tour Highlights

Witness first-hand incredible elephant conservation projects
Explore Lake Naivasha, Nairobi’s first airport!
Gaze up at Giraffes as they walk by on a walking safari
Step back in history at Elsamere, the home of Born Free
Seek Black and White Rhino in Lake Nakuru National Park
Meet Sudan, Fatu and Najin the last remaining Northern White Rhinos
Explore the incredible ranches and private conservancies of Ol Pejeta and Swara Plains
Search for the Big 5 in the Masai Mara and photograph herds of elephant as they wander by Mt Kilimanjaro

Kenya Rhino and Ranches Self Drive Safari Itinerary Summary

Click here for the full-length safari itinerary

Day 1: David Sheldrick Elephant Orphange and Lake Naivasha

After our introduction to our crew and 4-wheel drive vehicles, we visit rescued orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage before driving along the edge of the Rift Valley to the idyllic Lake Naivasha.

Day 2: Green Crater Lake and Elsamere

An early morning start to Green Crater Lake where we meet our local guide and go on a fascinating walking safari surrounded by giraffe, eland, gazelle, warthogs – and many more – calmly grazing. The area is also home to a number of indigenous plants used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes; our guide will give us intriguing explanations and demonstrations. In the afternoon we venture to Elsamere for afternoon tea while overlooking Lake Naivasha.

Feast for lions during the great Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara

Day 3: Masai Mara Reserve

Departing Lake Naivasha we make our way to the world renowned Masai Mara Reserve. Arriving at the gates mid-afternoon, we embark on our first exciting game drive in the Masai Mara on our Kenya Rhino and Ranches safari.

Day 4: Masai Mara Reserve

We have the entire day to leisurely game drive through Kenya’s premium game park. During the months of June to December we are rewarded with the Great Wildebeest Migration – millions of zebra and wildebeest on their annual pilgrimage. The Masai Mara is a rewarding wildlife park any time of the year with its vast concentration of resident wildlife calling this area their home.

Day 5: Njoro

Continuing on our guided Kenya Rhino and Ranches safari, we enjoy a morning game drive before bidding farewell to the Masai Mara and making our way to the village of Njoro, a mere 20kms from Lake Nakuru National Park. We stay on a working farm characteristic of the early English colonisation period in Kenya. You will be forgiven if think you are in the English countryside rather than rural Kenya! We are taken on a guided tour of the farm and visit a remarkable women’s knitting project, Kenana Knitters.

While game driving in Lake Nakuru National Park we spot this young leopard cub as he patiently waits his mothers return.

Day 6: Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is most famous for its high concentration of black and white Rhinoceros. It will not be long before entering the game park that we spot Rhinoceros families grazing in the open plains. It is hard to believe these creatures are critically endangered. The park also boasts tens of thousands of pink flamingos, leopard, lions, rare Rothschild giraffe, bushbuck and many more.

Day 7: The Great Rift Valley

We spend the day indulging in Kenyans’ favourite activities – bartering for souvenirs at local curio markets and enjoying a traditional lunch of BBQ meat, sukima wiki (local collard), ugali (maize flour) and kachumbari (a tasty tomato and coriander salad). We arrive back at our guest house overlooking the Rift Valley in the late afternoon, we enjoy a sun-downer while gazing at the incredible view, the perfect way to end our day.

Day 8: Mt Kenya and Nanyuki

Leaving the Rift Valley we make our way to the foot of Kenya’s most famous mountain – Mt Kenya and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. We will spend 2 nights in cottages with uninterrupted views of Mt Kenya approximately 10kms from Nanyuki town.

Rhino in Ol Pejeta Conservancy Kenya

Day 9: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is world renowned for the incredible work they do on wildlife conservation and Rhino breeding. Ol Pejeta is home to the last 3 remaining Northern White Rhino in the world and we will take some time to give some words of encouragement to these gentle giants, the last of their species.

Ol Pejeta is the home to thousands of wildlife and game driving is bliss, every corner we turn there are wildlife. We will also visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary to see rescued chimps.

Back from a guided self drive safari with Africa Expedition Support all safe, sound and very happy!

Day 10: Swara Plains

We bid farewell to Ol Pejeta Conservancy and make our way toward southern Kenya to Swara Plains. Swara Plains is a private 20,000 acre wildlife sanctuary home to hundreds of various bird species and over 3000 game animals.

Arriving in the afternoon we can enjoy a game drive or simply park up next to a watering hole and see how many different bird species we can find. We will also enjoy a night game drive to seek out rare noctural animals.

Day 11: Masai Land

We enjoy a relaxing morning game drive or a sleep in and a lazy breakfast in the open restaurant in the lodge garden before continuing to our final game park on our amazing 2 week safari in Kenya.

Day 12: Amboseli NP

The large concentration of animals living in Amboseli NP is due to the rich diversity and long dry season ensuring incredible game viewing. Lake Amboseli is a seasonal lake offering a refuge and breeding ground to hundreds of bird species, the lake is fed by the cool streams from Mt Kilimanjaro.

We spend the day exploring the game park and observing wildlife in their natural environment.

Classic photo of Mt Kilimanjaro and elephant herds in Amboseli NP

Day 13: Champagne Ridge

On our final day we take back roads through the African bush passing herds of giraffe and zebra as we make our way back to where it all started almost 2 weeks ago in our guest house overlooking the Great Rift Valley.

As the sun goes down over the Rift Valley we enjoy a sun-downer and our final meal together.

This trip is great for families. Email Debs for the best rates for families.

Can’t find the right date for you? No problem. Drop us a message and tell us what dates you can travel and we will do our best to make it happen for you.

Click here for the full-length safari itinerary

Dates and Prices

DATES	LAND PRICE	LOCAL PAYMENT

9 July to 21 July 2017	USD$2,990	USD$1,300 FULL
30 July to 11 Aug 2017	USD$2,990	USD$1,300 FULL
13 Aug to 25 Aug 2017	USD$2,990	USD$1,300 FULL
3 Sept to 15 Sept 2017	USD$2,990	USD$1,300 FULL
24 Dec to 5 Jan 2018	USD$2,990	USD$1,300 FULL
14 to 26 Jan 2018	USD$2,990	USD$1,300
11 Feb to 23 Feb 2018	USD$2,990	USD$1,300
27 May to 8 June 2018	USD$2,990	USD$1,300
8 July to 20 July 2018	USD$2,990	USD$1,300

The trips costs are split into 2 sections, Land Price and Local Payment.

Land Price: Is payable in full 90 days prior to departure. This is payable in United States Dollars (USD$).
Local Payment: Is payable on day 1 of your expedition directly to the crew. This is payable in post-dated 2009 USD$ Cash only.

Tented camp accommodation is proper glamping.

Please note there is a bond of USD$1,500 per vehicle, this will be added to the invoice to be paid with the final payment. Once the vehicle and equipment has been inspected at the end of the expedition, and should there be no unreasonable damage, or claim from a third party the bond will be refunded.

Kenya Rhino and Ranches Safari Package includes:

Airport or Hotel pick-up and drop-off
1 night pre trip and 1 night post trip accommodation
Entry fees for David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Green Crater Lake, Masai Mara Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Swara Plains and Amboseli National Park
Fully equipped expedition Land Rover Defender
Meals as per indicated on the itinerary
Accommodation in a range of guest houses, lodges, hotels and cottages
Lead vehicle with experienced crew
All activities and entrance fees as per the itinerary; maps and local information.

Each vehicle is equipped with drinks cooler, first aid kit, stereo, radio contact between all vehicles, inverter to charge small appliances, camping chairs, table, tools and spare parts, spare tyres.