Introduction

This is a real life animal safari in some of the finest game parks in the world. From late July to late October is the Annual Great Migration that starts at Serengeti in Tanzania and transverse to Masai Mara in Kenya. Recognized as one of the most spectacular wildlife events on the planet, the migration is a continuous route that is followed by an over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras, gazelles, and elands. In their never-ending pursuit of the finest grazing and watering grounds, the gnu relocates on an almost constant basis. The perseverance of these wildebeests is demonstrated in their ability to mate while on the move, and many cows are pregnant during part of the migration. Additionally, even the youngest wildebeest calves are expected to keep up with the herd. Standing and walking within minutes are critical to its survival.

With so many prey animals, Masai Mara is a veritable bonanza for large predators, such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles and other stealthy, powerful hunters. The abundance of terrestrial animals is enhanced by the presence of more than 450 winged species, including 57 birds of prey. Masai Mara Game Reserve offers visitors a chance to explore the plains landscape and see incredible animal behaviours.

We have organised 4×4 safari land cruiser vehicles with pop up tops. Every participant will have a window seat.

The Journey

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. Amboseli National Park is home to many species, including the African elephant, cape buffalo, impala, Masai lion,Tanzanian cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, plains zebra, and blue wildebeest among other African animals. There is also a host of Kenyan birds, both large and small.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Our journey starts from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and the site of its International Airport. After a goodnight’s rest in Nairobi, we will drive to Lake Nakuru national Park after breakfast. This is one of the Rift Valley Lakes. It is at an elevation of 1,754m above sea level. This lake attracts a lot of flamingos and also home to the eastern black and southern white rhinos.

Masai Mara National Park.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara and by the locals as The Mara) is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Mara Region, Tanzania. It is named in honour of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from afar: “Mara,” which is Maa (Maasai language) for “spotted,” an apt description for the circles of trees, scrub, savannah, and cloud shadows that mark the area.

It is globally famous for its exceptional population of Masai lions, African leopards and Tanzanian cheetahs, and the annual migration of zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year from July to October, known as the Great Migration.

Transport

We will be engaging 4×4 safari Land Cruisers with pop-up tops. Each participant will have a window seat. There may be a need to change vehicles in the parks.

Accommodation

Accommodation is as described. August is a peak season in Masai Mara, we will try our best to secure those hotels or lodges stated or its equivalent.

Camera equipment.

There will be lots of opportunities to shoot wildlife and birds. Long tele-lens are needed.  Wide angle lenses are also needed to take some of the human interest photos of the villages that we may visit. Generally, lenses with focal lengths ranging from 16mm to 600mm are necessary. There will be some instances where the wildlife comes close to the vehicle. It is good to have two camera bodies, one fitted with a wide angle zoom and the other a tele-zoom.

Weather

August is a rainy month with temperatures ranging from 15 to 27 degC. The weather in the higher elevation may be cooler.

Fitness level

Moderate. There will be some walking involved.

Kenya Visa

Nationals of the following countries do not need visas to travel to Kenya:

Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei-Darussalam, Burundi, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For residents of other countries, you may get a Visa on arrival at US$50 per entry. Please check the requirements with your respective Immigration Authorities.

 Itinerary

Day 1 – 21^st August (no meals)

Arrive in Nairobi

• Pick up at the airport and transfer to hotel
• Check-in hotel
• Dinner on your own.
• Free and easy

Day 2 – 22^nd August (B,L,D)

Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

• Breakfast
• Check-out hotel
• Drive from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Lions, cheetahs, buffalo, etc. can be seen at the swamp area. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet Maasai and visit a Maasai village. The park also offers spectacular views ofMount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
• Lunch at park
• Check-in lodge
• 16:00, Game drive in the park.
• Dinner at lodge
• Free & easy

Day 3 – 23^rd August (B,L,D)

Amboseli National Park

• Breakfast
• Morning, game drive in the park
• Lunch at lodge
• Rest and relax
• 16:00, game drive in the park
• Dinner at Lodge
• Free & easy

Day 4– 24^th August (B,L,D)

Amboseli to Lake Naraku

• Breakfast
• Check-out lodge
• Drive to Lake Naraku. This park supports a wide ecological diversity with Flamingos and other water birds. The ecological system supports about 56 different species of mammals including eastern black rhinos and southern white rhinos.
• Check-in lodge
• Lunch at lodge
• 16:00, game drive
• Dinner
• Free & easy

Day 5 – 25^th August (B,L,D)

Lake Naraku to Masai Mara

• Breakfast
• Check-out
• Drive to Maasai Mara National Park.
• Check-in lodge
• Lunch at lodge
• 16:00, game drive around the park
• Dinner and overnight at lodge.
• Free & easy

Day 6 – 26^th August (B,L,D)

Masai Mara

• Breakfast
• This whole day is spent with morning and afternoon game drives that lead one to some of Africa’s largest lion prides, herds of zebra, antelopes, buffaloes, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetahs, and hyenas.
• Dinner at the lodge
• Free & easy

Day 7 – 27^th August (B,L)

Masai Mara – Nairobi

• Breakfast
• Check-out lodge
• Drive back to Nairobi
• Farewell Lunch at Carnivore Restaurant
• Check-in hotel
• Free and easy
• Dinner on your own.
• Free & easy

Day 8 –  28^th August (B)

Depart Nairobi

• Breakfast
• Check-out hotel
• Depart for airport
• End of journey

Please note that the itinerary is not set in stone. We may change the itinerary to suit the weather conditions or if there is a better option available at that time.