7-Day Hidden Gems: Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Naivasha & Mara

Wake very in the morning to have simple breakfast, get boxes of your packed full breakfast, and later be taken to the park for an early morning game drive, a lot of wildlife is best seen early in the day, as they feed or hunt. There are many water holes and salt licks with shady areas that attract the wildlife this park, and you will be taken to these spots for the best game viewing so be ready to catch up with several animals and your camera should always be ready. Have a short break to enjoy your full breakfast and proceed with your game drive safari till it is time to have lunch. Lunch will be served in the park in the form of a picnic, which will maximize your exposure to the animals. After the lunch break, you will continue with the game viewing and photographing of the enormous array of animals to be encountered. Samburu has many predators, and watching these animals hunt and catch their prey, is quite a common sight for visitors. In the evening, drive back to your lodge to refresh, spend some time at your leisure till it is time to be served dinner and an overnight.

• Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodges
• Meal Plan: Full Board

After your breakfast, you will depart to the privately-owned 24,000-acre reserve, Ol Pejeta Conservancy where your drive ends and another adventure begins at your luxurious tented camp with magnificent views of Mt. Kenya. Arrive in time for check in and lunch at the Sweetwaters Serena Camp followed by an afternoon at leisure before going for an evening game viewing drive.

During your stay here, you will also visit the 200-acre Chimpanzee Sanctuary that has been set up here. Although chimps are not indigenous to Kenya, the aim of the project, initiated by Lonrho East Africa, Kenya Wildlife Services and the Jane Goodall Institute, was to set up a colony where chimps could be introduced, rehabilitated and taught to fend for themselves in an area similar to their natural living conditions. Priority is given to orphaned and abused chimps. The Sanctuary currently has 33 chimps, including two babies born in the Sanctuary. There is also a new Visitor’s Information Center at Morani’s Boma. While here, you will be treated to a guided walking safari. At an optional cost, you can enjoy camel safaris and horse-back riding.

• Overnight: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
• Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, you will depart for the Lake Naivasha where you will arrive in time for check in and a late lunch at the Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp. You will then spend the afternoon at leisure before going for boat ride on the lake and a visit to Crescent Island Park, where you walk with the animals! There are no fences to allow the wildlife on the mainland to come in as they lose their habitat to development and the ever-increasing population. Hippo graze all over us at night then sleep under the acacia or rest in the water by day. The giraffe who was born on the island return to give birth; sometimes you see three generations at a time. Hyena come to hunt at night but are not resident on the island, the many pythons who do live here can be seen occasionally with a kill. Groups of buffalo come and go but they are always monitored.

• Overnight: Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp
• Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, depart to Masai Mara arriving in time for check in and lunch at the Mara Sopa Lodges. Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive before returning to your camp later as the sun sets for dinner and overnight. The Masai Mara National Reserve is in the south-western part of Kenya and forms part of the greater eco-system that encompasses the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most visited reserves in Africa. The park is surrounded by concession areas and tribal lands of the Masai tribes’ people.

These are unfenced from the Mara and act as a buffer zone for the National Park and form part of the migration area. The Masai Mara consists of open savannah, rolling grasslands and undulating hills. July to September sees the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle coming from the plains of the Serengeti. Driven by dry conditions in the Serengeti and led by the lightning and thunder to the north, huge herds of mammals cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Mara’s grasslands.

• Overnight: Mara Sopa Lodges
• Meal Plan: Full Board

You will have one more day of wildlife-viewing opportunities in the Masai Mara Reserve, also known as the “Jewel of Africa” – site of one of the largest and the most spectacular animal migrations in the world. The reserve is inhabited by many of Africa’s most popular wild animals, including lion, cheetah, elephant, leopard, black rhino and hippo. There are also over 500 resident species of birds in the park including ostrich, larks and sunbirds as well as the lovely lilac-breasted roller.  Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a hot air balloon (extra cost). The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience.

• Overnight: Mara Sopa Lodges
• Meal Plan: Full Board

You will go for an early morning game drive; when you return to your camp for breakfast, you will then check out and depart for Nairobi with a brief stop is in Narok town where you can take lunch at an extra cost at a coffee house. You then proceed with the drive to arrive later in the afternoon for your transfer to Nairobi airport. At an extra cost, you will have the option of going for dinner at the renowned carnivore restaurant.

Say goodbye to the wonderful country and promise to join us on another expedition!