foothills of the snow-capped Mt. Kenya (17,000ft.) and on to the town of Maua, having traversed the Nyambeni Mountain Range. Game drive through the park to our private camp arriving in time for a late tea and cocktails. Meal Plan: Picnic lunch en route and dinner in camp. Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp ~ Meru National Park.
Day 2
A full day of game drives exploring this semi-arid 870 sq. kms area of Kenya with its wonderful views and a real sense of wilderness. The game browse along the clear streams and surrounding country where the dominant vegetation is doum palms, fan palms, baobab and acacia trees. We can expect to see elephant, lion, impala, olive baboon, common waterbuck as well as species peculiar only to this part of Kenya such as reticulated giraffe, grevy zebra, beisa oryx, lesser kudu and gerenuk. Meal Plan: All meals in camp. Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp ~ Meru National Park.
Day 3
Another day photographing the wildlife and stunning scenery from our 4x4 safari vehicles. The bird life in Meru is particularly colourful. Hippo, Nile monitor lizards and crocodiles are occasionally seen along the rivers. In the evening we shall enjoy a ‘sun downer’ on a secret rock kopje overlooking miles of empty wilderness. Meal Plan: All meals in camp. Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp ~ Meru National Park.
Day 4
After breakfast, our friendly staff strike camp and we drive to Rob and Fleur O’Meara’s family home on the Burguret River for lunch. Rob is a renowned wildlife and landscape artist. We then ‘bimble’ across Cole’s Plains, where we may catch a glimpse of the rare Jackson’s hartebeest or patas monkey. We continue on up into the forested salient of the Aberdare National Park to spend the evening watching the shy forest animals. It was here where the movie, ‘Gorillas In The Mist’ was filmed starring Sigourney Weaver as Diane Fossey. Cape buffalo, East African bushbuck, giant forest hog, bushpig and bongo visit the floodlight waterhole of the Ark. Meal plan: Breakfast in camp, lunch with the O’Meara’s and dinner at the Ark. Overnight: The Ark Lodge ~ Aberdare National Park.
Day 5
We leave the Nyandarua Range and drive via Nyahururu (Thomson's Falls) into the Great Rift Valley with a picnic lunch en route. Weather permitting, we instead may drive over the top of the Aberdare’s, observing the equatorial alpine vegetation and visiting one or two spectacular waterfalls on the way. We pass through Naivasha town and then on to Longonot Ranch House (home of the late Martha Gellhorn), situated on the slopes of Mt. Longonot, which overlooks Lake Naivasha. We shall arrive in time for tea. Late afternoon game walk for those interested. Meal Plan: Breakfast at the Ark, picnic lunch in the bush and dinner at the Ranch House. Overnight: Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch.
Day 6
Leisurely start followed by a morning horseback ride, walk or game drive on Kedong Ranch (80,000 acres). After tea, we walk or ride to a ‘sun downer’ spot, followed by a night game drive in the early evening in search of nocturnal species, such as aardvark, spring hare, spotted hyena, white-tailed mongoose, zorilla and more. Meal Plan: All meals at the Ranch House. Overnight: Longonot Ranch House ~ Kedong Game Ranch.
Day 7
Today we drive beyond the Great Rift Valley, westwards over the Mau Range via the administrative centre of Narok and through Masailand, home to herds of plains game. We enter Olare Lamun and find our camp situated near a spring used by the Masai to water their cattle and a favourite haunt for lion. Herds of Thomson’s gazelle, white-bearded wildebeest, Coke’s hartebeest and topi inhabit the neighbouring scrubland. Late lunch in camp. Afternoon settling-in, followed by a short ride to familiarise ourselves with the horses. Dinner will be enjoyed close to the fire listening to the occasional rasp of a leopard and other intriguing sounds of the night. Meal Plan: Breakfast at the Ranch House. Lunch and dinner in camp. Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.
Day 8
After an early breakfast we saddle up and trek across the open savanna, interspersed with acacia, wait-a-bit brush and leleshwa (wild sage) woodland. We then ride along the base of Oloiburmut Hill, before returning to camp for lunch. There are a number of Masai manyattas (villages) in this area, so we will come into close contact with these fine semi-nomadic people. We will have several opportunities throughout the safari to learn about and enjoy the company of the Masai, to whom this land belongs. In the late afternoon we shall visit a nearby manyatta – a truly fascinating experience. Meal Plan: All meals in camp. Overnight: Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Lamun, Masailand.
Day 9
With a pre-dawn wake-up call, our long ride today takes us over vast rolling plains, skirting the southern end of the Bardamat Hills, out across the Koiyaki Plains and onto a picnic lunch on a small escarpment overlooking the Masai Mara Game Reserve. We are now within the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and an increase in the abundance of wildlife is immediately evident. We reach camp set up in a glade of riverine forest of the Olare Orok. A large campfire and extra vigilant syces (grooms) keep watch at night making sure the predators stay at a safe distance! Meal Plan: Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight: Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Orok, Masai Mara.
Day 10
We tarry at this camp for a day and enjoy morning and evening rides and game drives using our 4x4 safari vehicles to photograph the wildlife. We expect to see spotted hyena, cheetah and elephant. Our horses will be bathed and rested. An afternoon walk with our Masai morran (warriors) is also an option. You may like to consider a hot air balloon safari in the Mara or a winged excursion to Rusinga Island on Lake Victoria (to fish for the giant Nile Perch, visit a local Luo fishing village or Mary Leakey’s Proconsul africanus prehistoric site (optional extras)). After dinner we may go out by safari vehicle with a spotlight and search for the illusive nocturnal animal species. Meal Plan: All meals in camp. Overnight: Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Olare Orok, Masai Mara.
Day 11
Today we ride in a northerly direction up a most spectacular secret valley and then ‘bimble’ along the south bank of the Mara River, inhabited by crocodile and some large pods of hippo. The riverine forest is home to a variety of tropical birds including the rare Ross's turaco. The concentration of game, especially during the wildebeest migration (July to October) is absolutely breathtaking. We arrive in camp in the middle of the afternoon. There may be time for a short game drive or walk after tea. Meal Plan: Breakfast and dinner in camp. Picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight: Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Kiboko Bend, Mara River, Masai Mara.
Day 12
We will explore the Masai Mara by horse or vehicle, to photograph wildlife including lion, leopard, silver-backed jackal, African wild dog, and possibly black rhino, some of which we see at close quarters. We can expect another sensational day amongst the game. Meal Plan: All meals in camp. Overnight: Private Mobile Tented Camp ~ Kiboko Bend, Mara River, Masai Mara.
Day 13
We say our “good-byes” to the horses and camp staff and return by vehicle to your Nairobi hotel arriving in the early afternoon. As an optional extra, you may like to fly back to Nairobi on the scheduled charter. For those interested to do some shopping of East African gem stones, bronze sculptures, Africana jewellery and other curios, this can be arranged. Meal Plan: Breakfast in camp.
Rates:
For a quote please email us on info@helloafricatravel.com or complete the enquiry form below, telling us when you plan to travel, numbers and any other details.
Rates Include
Full board accommodation, all drinks in camp, professional guide, National Park - Game Reserve - Wilderness Concession fees, private camping fees, full compliment of safari crew (cooks, waiters, mechanics, drivers, grooms, porters and tent stewards), camp & safari equipment, horses & tack, support vehicles & trucks, 4x4 game viewing vehicles, day & night drives, cultural visits and flying doctor membership
Rates Exclude
International & local flights, bar bills outside of my camps, extra activities, visas, hotel and meals outside of the safari itinerary, insurances and gratuities.
This itinerary is only a guideline and can be amended to suit you and your group. To receive a personal quote for your horseback safari, email us on info@helloafricatravel.com or click on our booking form below.
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