10 day Kenya Exploration Safari

Day 01: Arrival in Nairobi

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International airport, you will be met by your driver and our office representative and be transferred to your overnight hotel where you will have a tour briefing. Dinner will be on own arrangement.

Overnight: Sarova Panafric Hotel or similar (BB)

Day 02: Olorgesailie Site Tour

After breakfast you will depart with picnic lunch boxes to Olorgesailie Pre-historic site. You will have a mountain hike which takes approximately 3 hours to ascend and three hours to descend. You will have your lunch and then later get to visit the museum sites. You will return to Nairobi in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Olorgesailie Site and Mountain: It is famed for having the highest concentration of hand axes in site that were used by early man in hunting and gathering hence the name ‘the factory of hand tools’. The site is in a lake basin which existed many years ago but dried up. There is the presence of a museum which has some of the artifacts that were collected but the site itself is a museum of its own as you can get to see the hand axes scattered around as well as butchering sites which can be recognized by the presence of bones of extinct animals and some hand axes which had been deposited then in the now dried up lake. The mountain can be seen in the vicinity. It takes approximately 6 hours to ascend and descend it. The mountain has cultural value as it was used in the past by the Maasai community to hold sacrifices to their God. Another attraction in the area is the baboon camp. During the evenings, you can get to see a baboon congregation gathered around the area. You may require to be accompanied by a guide during this visit.

Meals and overnight: Sarova Panafric Hotel or similar (BB)

Day 03: Nairobi-Sagana River-Aberdare

After having your breakfast, you will depart to Sagana River where your adrenaline rush will be high. You will participate in white water rafting which takes about 3-4 hours and get to experience the wild waters as you go down the river. After that you will have your lunch at savage wilderness camp then later drive to Aberdare for relaxation and dinner at your overnight accommodation.

Sagana River and Fall: The falls is the largest in Kenya in terms of volume and has a river frontage of approximately 450 meters. It is a destination that promises adventure as the establishments in that area have organized activities which one can participate in and be filled with adrenaline rush. White water rafting which you will participate in is a trip which is approximately 12km long. There are different river routes which require some technicality as you go down the stream, therefore before undertaking in the activity, a proper briefing will be given plus qualified guides will accompany you so as to be able to help you navigate smoothly on these routes. The routes have different grades of rapids ranging from flat water to grade 5 rapids depending on the season. From April- May and November- December, the water levels are at highest due to the rains. Other activities at an extra cost include: River Trekking, River Glides, River Boarding, Bungee Jumping and so much more.

Meals and overnight: Aberdare Country Club or similar (FB)

Day 04: Zaina Falls

After having your breakfast, you will be transferred by the lodge vehicle to Aberdare National Park and be met by your guide for the Zaina Falls tours. You will descend the Gakanga Valley and once at the floor of the Valley you will get to see the outstanding view of the Falls. After enjoying the scenic view and taking photographs, you begin the trek back up which is steep but rewarding once you reach at the top of the hill and look back to where you have come from.  You will be transferred back to Aberdare Country Club by the lodge vehicle where you will have your lunch. In the afternoon, with your soft overnight bags you will be transferred to The Ark by the lodge vehicle which is in Aberdare National Park for a night of game watching at the lodge terrace or at your room balcony.

Zaina Falls: It is said that the slope leading to the Falls is very steep such that if one was to go up and down for two trips, he or she would lose about 1 kilogram. Both sides of the path leading to the falls are covered by bushy vegetation and indigenous trees. It is after descending the slope that one is able to see clearly the outstanding view of the falls. At the floor of the valley are some clean water springs which have been filtered by the vegetation upstream and there is also the presence of Zaina river which is not as clean as the springs.

Aberdare National Park: has a diverse topography that includes icy rivers, spectacular waterfalls and rain forests. The flora and fauna is quite unique and is not found elsewhere in the country, you might be lucky to see the elusive Leopard among other animals like the, elephants, Serval Cat, waterbuck, reedbuck, dik dik, Rhino and the rare bongo at the floodlit waterholes of The Ark. Birdlife is also plentiful.

Meals and overnight: The Ark or similar (FB)

Day 05: Aberdare- Nakuru National Park

You will have morning tea at 0630hrs before being transferred to the base hotel for breakfast and thereafter connect with your driver guide for Lake Nakuru National Park. You will check in and have your lunch later followed by some leisure time till 1600hrs when you have an evening game drive, returning to the Lodge after sunset.

Nakuru National Park’s claim to fame is anchored on its flamingo’s and the over 400 species of birds found here. The lake itself is a soda lake on the floor of the Rift valley. The sight of the at times millions of flamingos is quite spectacular. From a distance the lake appears ringed in pink. The Lake has also earned a reputation as an important haven for endangered species- particularly the Rothschild Giraffe and the Black and White Rhino. Lions, Waterbuck, Buffalo and Baboons are all residents here.

Meals and overnight: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or similar (FB)

Day 06: Nakuru-Naivasha

After breakfast you will have a morning game drive then later you will have a leisure drive to Naivasha. You will check in and have some leisure time before lunch. The entire afternoon will be spent relaxing. Optional extra activities at an extra cost include boat ride and a tour of Crescent Island.

Meals and overnight:  Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort or similar (FB)

Day 07: Naivasha- Kereita Forest-Naivasha

After Breakfast you will drive to Aberdare Ranges to Kereita Forest with picnic lunch boxes. You will explore the Cave and the Falls found in the Forest and get to experience the wonders of nature. You will have your picnic lunch and later at leisure depart back to Naivasha for relaxation and overnight.

Kereita Forest: It has various hiking trails in the forest one of which leads to the waterfall and the cave. The trekking time is approximately 5-6 hours. The first hour of the hike is through the forest with large open clearings which were created by the shamba system as there was large scale destruction of indigenous trees some years back. As you proceed further into the forest, the vegetation gets thicker and varied with giant ferns and climbers which are competing for the little light penetrating the tall trees. The air is filled with calls of monkeys and various species of birds. By the end of 2 hours, you will have walked up and down two steep river valleys. The trail you follow afterwards will pass through an Elephant pool where Elephants come to play and enjoy themselves. By the end of the third hour you will have reached the waterfall and next to it the cave. On your way back, you will retrace part of the trail out of the valley before passing through another trail leading to a bamboo forest. The trail will lead you to the highest point of the hike which not only provides an excellent view of the surroundings.

Meals and overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort or similar (FB)

Day 08: Naivasha- Maasai Mara Game Reserve

After breakfast, you will drive to Maasai Mara Game Reserve. You will have lunch enroute in Narok Town. Later you will proceed to the Reserve and have an afternoon game drive as you proceed to your overnight accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Masai Mara Game Reserve: is the largest and most popular reserve globally especially due to the great migration that occurs July-August and October-November. It has a wide variety of wildlife i.e. Wildebeests, Giraffes, Zebras, Leopards, Lions, Cheetahs, Thompson’s Gazelle, Hyenas and so many more. Hippos and Crocodiles dominate the Mara River especially during the migration so as to feast on the wildlife that migrates in search of new pastures. There are also Maasai villages near the reserve and one may spot some Maasai men herding cattle.

Meals and overnight: Mara Leisure Tented Camp or similar (FB)

Day 09: Masai Mara Safari

You will have one full day to explore the Mara. You can opt to have a morning and afternoon game drive with meals at the lodge or alternatively after breakfast spend the entire day exploring the Mara with picnic lunch. Extra optional activities at a cost include a balloon safari and a visit to a Masai village.

Balloon Safari: You will be picked at around 0500hrs and transferred by a 4×4 jeep to the launching site. Here you will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon. It’s a dawn take off, rising as the sun rises and floats in whichever direction the winds of the morning takes you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic scenery of the wildlife below. From time to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below.

Out Of Africa Breakfast: Imagine sitting at a table under the shade of a classic umbrella tree on the Maasai Mara Plains. The table is laid with bone china and king’s silver cutlery. Moreover after the balloon safari, you get to have a glass of champagne.

Meals and overnight: Mara Leisure Tented Camp or similar (FB)

Day 10: Departure

You will depart after breakfast back to Nairobi. You will have your lunch (own arrangement). After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport in good time for your onward flight.