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Safari Tour of Kenya: Masai Mara (Lions) + Amboseli (Elephants) + Tsavo + Beach

Grand Kenya Tour: Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Diani
KYK12N

12 NIGHTS

FROM $3,705

Per person sharing

Flights quoted separately

Safari Tour of Kenya Masai Mara Lions Amboseli Elephants Tsavo Beach

This Grand safari tour of Kenya explores this wonderful country in an escorted small group. Visit the open plains of the world famous Masai Mara with its lions, leopards, cheetah & plains game, explore Amboseli in the foothills of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, known for its elephants, Tsavo National Park & Taita Hills. Then relax on glorious Diani Beach on the Mombasa south coast.

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• Safari Tour of Kenya	• Masai Mara	• Lions	• Lake Naivasha
• Amboseli	• Elephants	• Mount Kilimanjaro	• Tsavo National Park
• Taita Hills	• Diani Beach

▲

• Safari Tour of Kenya	• Masai Mara	• Lions
• Lake Naivasha	• Amboseli	• Elephants
• Mount Kilimanjaro	• Tsavo National Park	• Taita Hills
• Diani Beach

Day 1

You will be met at Nairobi Airport and transferred to your hotel in this bustling city.

Check in and relax in your warm and friendly African surroundings.

Day 2

This morning we visit the Giraffe Centre. Founded by Betty & Jock Leslie-Melville to save the endangered Rothschild Giraffe from extinction, this centre plays an important role in educating Kenyan school children on the country's wildlife and environment. It also allows visitors to come into close contact with the world's tallest species, including the opportunity to feed a gorgeous giraffe.

We then visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (open only from 11 to 12 noon). It took Daphne Sheldrick 28 years of trial and error to perfect the milk formula and complex husbandry required to rear orphaned African elephants, during the period that her husband was warden of Kenya's largest elephant sanctuary in Tsavo East National Park. Since then this sanctuary has gone on to save the lives of many orphaned elephant calves.

Afterwards enjoy a game drive in Nairobi National Park. This was the first national park created in Kenya and, despite its relatively small size and close proximity to the skyscrapers of the city, it boasts a large and varied wildlife population. Animals migrate to this park during the dry season, as it offers them a permanent source of water. You can hope to see lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino - but not elephant as the park is not large enough to sustain them. You can also see giraffe, zebra, eland, impala, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, warthog and ostrich in the woodlands and open plains, and hippo in the Mbagathi Athi River which is lined with fever and acacia trees. The park also has a very successful rhino sanctuary. A picnic lunch is included today.

Note: Visits to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage can only be booked 90 days in advance and are subject to availability (maximum 100 visitors per day).

Day 3

We leave Nairobi early this morning and drive 5-hours across the scenic Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara, travelling in a safari jeep (with pop-up roof for game viewing and guaranteed window seat).

We pass through Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the rift escarpment on a road built by Italian prisoners during World War II. Look for the charming chapel they built at the foot of the escarpment. We pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station and head across the valley to Narok, before reaching the Masai Mara in time for lunch.

Masai Mara National Reserve is named after the Maasai people and the Mara River that divides the park. It is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest from the adjoining Serengeti National Park. This phenomenon occurs every year from July to October (although exact timings cannot be guaranteed), when game migrates along a circular route from the plains of the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and back again in search of fresh pastures, followed by hungry predators - most notably lions and hyena.

Check into your lodge in this magnificent wildlife sanctuary and enjoy an afternoon game drive.

Note: Due to limited space in the vehicle, rigid suitcases are not suitable. Luggage needs to be packed in soft side bags (sports bags are ideal) not exceeding 15 kg and 65 x 46 cm. On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of similar quality.

Day 4

Today is dedicated to game viewing on the open plains of the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve.

We set off early each morning, when game viewing conditions are at their best, to view the abundant wildlife of this region. Return to the lodge to rest in the heat of the day, before setting off again in the late afternoon for another game drive.

Nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley, the Masai Mara is famous for its many prides of lions, packs of hyena and other predators - as well as huge herds of wildebeest, which number over one million, zebra and giraffe. All the Big Five can be seen here, as well as numerous other species including the Thomson's gazelle, topi, kongoni, impala, roan antelope and hippo. The nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely found elsewhere in Kenya, also inhabits this park as well as the endangered cheetah and black rhino.

Bird watching is also excellent with over 450 different species. These include the Marabou stork, Secretary bird, Crowned crane, Ostrich, Brown snake eagle, Black-chested snake eagle, Bateleur, Martial eagle, African paradise flycatcher, Red-fronted & White-headed barbet, Black-faced go-away bird, Woodland kingfisher, Violet-backed starling, Black cuckoo-shrike and various species of larks, cisticolas, vultures, hornbills and so much more.

Note: Optional early morning Hot Air Balloon ride on request.

Day 5

Today we travel 5-hours from the Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in the heart of the spectacular Great Rift Valley.

We drive across the "breadbasket" of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley cover the landscape towards Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. As we traverse the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keep an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle, before we head up towards Mai-Mahiu and on to Lake Naivasha.

We arrive at the lodge for lunch and a siesta before heading out for an afternoon boat ride on the lake, with the opportunity to see hippo and some of the 400 different bird species found here.

Day 6

After breakfast we leave Lake Naivasha and travel 5-hours to Amboseli National Park.

Along the way we stop in Nairobi, where more guests may join our tour, before continuing to Amboseli. Situated in southern Kenya, if the weather is clear this national park offers magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania.

We arrive in time for a late lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. Amboseli is best known for its great herds of elephant - you'll often find many of them standing knee deep in the water, spraying themselves to keep cool - but there is a lot of other game here including cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, many types of gazelle and other plains game. We return to our lodge as the sun sets.

Day 7

After an early breakfast we leave Amboseli and drive 4.5-hours to Tsavo National Park, game viewing along the way. The road passes the rugged Chyulu Hills with their striking landscapes of ancient volcanic craters and cones and 60-mile (100 km) Shetani lava tube - the longest in the world.

Tsavo National Park is divided into an eastern and western section by the railway line and road that bisect it and is one of the oldest and largest wildlife conservation areas in Kenya. As the park is unfenced, animals migrate freely across both sectors. We arrive at our safari lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon we depart on a game drive, including a visit to Mzima Springs with its underwater viewing holes, returning as the sun sets.

Day 8

After an early breakfast and a game drive en route to the gate, we leave Tsavo West and continue to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary arriving in time for lunch at Taita Hills Safari Resort. This private conservancy is situated between Tsavo West and Tsavo East national parks.

After lunch we transfer to our lodge for a short siesta and another game drive, returning in the late afternoon.

The evening is at leisure to view game from the lodge's underground hide or from the lodge balcony.

Day 9

After breakfast we leave Taita Hills and travel 5-hours to Diani Beach on the south coast, where you will be dropped off at your resort.

Check into your hotel situated on the shores of the sparkling Indian Ocean and relax in your warm beach surroundings.

Days 10 To 12

At leisure to relax and soak up the sun on warm Diani Beach.

Enjoy the lush tropical gardens of coconut trees, fan-shaped travellers palms and the vibrant blooms of hibiscus, bougainvilleas and frangipani - as well the splendid coastline. Various watersports are available, as well as many optional activities such as a snorkelling trip to Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island, Mombasa city tour, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and golf.

Note: Please be aware that there will be 'beach boys' on the beach, trying to sell you excursions and trinkets. Don't be taken in by them and simply say 'No' very firmly. They are not allowed in the grounds of your hotel.

Day 13

Transfer 2-hours by road and local ferry to Mombasa Airport for your flight home.

Note: All inclusive programmes stop after check-out at 10 am, so you will need to pay for any food or drink consumed after this time.

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