A Million Animals, A Multitude of Friends

Upon arrival in Kenya, you will be met at the Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to your hotel.

For some, this will be the arrival day, for others who arrive early we can do some initial exploring while we wait for later arrivals.  At the Giraffe Centre - an education and breeding center for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe - we can feed these magnificent creatures, who might just try and kiss you with their incredibly long tongues. We may also have the opportunity to visit the elephant and rhino orphans of the The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at nearby Nairobi National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Stanley or similar

Depart for the four-hour drive to the Amboseli National Park/Selenkay Conservation area, part of the greater Amboseli National Park eco-system.  Upon arrival at Amboseli, we will take and afternoon/early evening game drive. 

Meals: 1 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Lodging: Amboseli National Park

This morning we will have another game drive in the park before driving to Selenkay Safari Camp, a community-based, eco-camp run by the Masai, who are custodians of these lands.  During our time here there will be opportunities to walk, observe village life, watch some of the many birds and animals, and enjoy a demonstration of village crafts, music and dance.   There might also be the opportunity to hike, ride camels or help the locals graze their cattle, milk them and even participate in house building. 
In the evening we will have fireside conservation talks with the locals.  The Masais are proud of their culture and are happy to welcome you to their houses. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Selenkay

Drive two hours to Mbitini to visit your guide Makau’s village and family home. Our JOURNEYS family has the privilege of joining Makau's family at their annual celebration.
On the way, stop at the Akamba Peace Museum in Machakos, the first administration center in Kenya. Enjoy the interesting artifacts found in the museum, as well as a performance by traditional dancers. During your stay in this region, you will have the opportunity to visit the local hospital and, possibly, help the villagers work on rebuilding the local school's library and computer classroom.
You will also visit some of the women and pioneer groups, where the local women help each other during the preparation for planting and have projects to support themselves, such as basket weaving.  For every participant, a donation of US$ 150 is channeled to help this village project through Kinengo Initiative.

Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
Lodging: Miryama Hotel or Village Stay (camping)

Today we head to Lake Nakuru, where we will spend the next two days on game drives amidst the great bird spectacle.  Besides being home to the many pink flamingos, for which the lake is famous, there are approximately 400 other species of birds visiting the lake. There are also many species of game, including the introduced Rothschild’s giraffe, waterbuck, lion, buffalo, leopard, baboon, and a wide variety of  plains game. Lake Nakuru National Park was designated as Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary and has both black and white rhinos.  While here we have the possibility of taking a hike in the Menengai Crater, the second largest volcano caldera in Africa.  Dinner and overnight at Kembu Cottages, or similar.

Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
Lodging: Kembu Cottages (or similar)

Continue driving along the Rift Valley to the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. Have lunch at the Mara Siana or similar. In the afternoon, go for a game walk and for the young ones, go for an outdoor wildlife class. On the walk, learn how to identify the animals through their prints and learn about medicinal plants. In the evening, go star gazing where you will learn about the constellation in the southern hemisphere.

On days 9 & 10, the Masai Mara will offer you the best opportunity to spot the Big Five - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. In August and September, the the great Serengeti herds of wildebeest and zebra, numbering as many as one million animals, tend to move toward concentrating on the rich grasslands of the Mara.  Predators like lion, cheetah, hyenas and jackals are in abundance.

At Siana Springs, your children will engage in numerous activities with the Siana Springs Adventurers' Club. From planting a tree to casting big cat tracks from the real thing, your kids will be learning whilst having tons of fun.

If you are interested in an early morning ballon ride, please let us know.
 

Meals: 3 Breakfast, 3 Lunch, 3 Dinner
Lodging: Mara Siana & Asnil Tented Camp (or similar)

Drive back to Nairobi. Visit the Karen Blixen museum (based on the movie "Out of Africa") and have a bit of time to explore before dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant. Transfer to the airport after dinner for your flight or extension.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner