Kenya Uncovered

8 Days
from AUD$ 7,121

Highlights

  • Witness the rare reticulated Giraffe, the Somali Ostrich and the Grevy’s Zebra in Samburu National Park
  • Enjoy game walks, drives and horseback game viewing at Olpejeta Private Sanctuary
  • View Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park
  • Opportunity to see the big five
  • See large numbers of elephant in Tsavo National Park

Dreaming of Africa? Experienced her beauty before and want to venture a little further?

This small group tour veers off the beaten track into the heart of Kenya’s lesser known parks for a more authentic experience. Encompassing vast grassy savannahs, mingle with Samburu tribes, bask in the sheer size and beauty of Mt Kilimanjaro peering down on you, be overwhelmed with the vast number of elephants and tick the big five off your bucket list. Discover the less visited game parks and uncover Africa’s inner soul.

Journey map

Fitness level

Easy
Moderate
Challenging
Tough

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Nairobi

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya, the heart of Africa. You will be met on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to your hotel for check in. Time permitting, our representative will go over the full itinerary or if not possible due to late arrivals, the following day before departing on safari. Dinner is included this evening. (D)

Overnight at Tamarind Tree Hotel or similar

Day 2 - Nairobi / Samburu Game Reserve

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before checking out. We will proceed to Samburu Game Reserve with a lunch stop at Trout Tree Restaurant. After lunch we head northwards and enter the reserve.

Located in the arid and rugged part of the country, north of Mount Kenya and the equator, the park is watered by river Uaso Nyiro which apart from supporting life in this dry area, is home to an impressive population of crocodiles, usually seen sunning themselves on the banks.

Along the riverbed the rare Doum Palms which dot the otherwise scrubby, dry landscape adding to the beauty of the scenery. Rolling hills form a stunning backdrop to the landscape making this a photographer’s paradise.

There are rare species of animals found only in this region and these include the reticulated Giraffe, the Somali Ostrich and the Grevy’s Zebra.

Other game include Elephant, Buffalo, Impala, Gazelle, the long necked Gerenuk, the beautiful Kudu, Dik Dik, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard and Oryx. It was in Samburu National Reserve that a Lioness adopted an Oryx baby three times protecting it from other predators and seemingly affording it motherly love. Scientists have since been investigating this strange and abnormal behaviour by this majestic beast. Birdlife in this area is prolific. Over 300 species have been identified.

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife as we proceed to the camp with a game drive enroute.

Check in and dinner will be served. (B,L,D)

2 nights at Ashnil Samburu Tented Camp or similar

Distances and journey time: Nairobi  – Samburu (330km): 5.5hrs

Day 3 - Samburu Game Reserve

Full day in Samburu Game Reserve to experience the thrills of game driving and the beauty that is Africa. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Samburu / Ol Pejeta Private Sanctuary

Breakfast is at the camp this morning before we check out. We head onto Olpejeta Private Sanctuary to arrive in time for lunch.

This is a 24,000 acre private game ranch near the Mount Kenya National Park and sitting astride the Equator. Guests to Sweetwaters enjoy magnificent views across the plains to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. In the ranch there is also a Chimpanzee Sanctuary and a sanctuary for the endangered black Rhino. The ranch boasts all the “Big 5” game – Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo. It is also home to over 400 species of birds and a host of plains game.

In this private reserve, guests enjoy many special activities not permitted in most other National Parks and Reserves such as game walks, night game drives, horseback game viewing and meals in the bush.

This afternoon we enjoy a game drive in the park which includes a visit to the Chimps and a visit to “Baraka” the tame Rhino. (B,L,D)

Overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp or similar

Distances and journey time: Samburu Olpejeta Private Sanctuary (138km): 3.5hrs

 

Day 5 - Ol Pejeta Private Sanctuary / Amboseli National Park

This morning enjoy breakfast before we check out. With packed lunch boxes, we head to Amboseli National Park. As we enter the park we have an enroute game drive to your lodge.

Situated 250 km south-east of Nairobi, this 392 sq km park is famous for its big game and its beauty. Open plains, areas of yellow barbed acacia woodland, rocky patches, lava streams, thorn bushes, swamps and marshes are some of the different eco-systems found here. Majestically dominating the area, rising above a saucer of clouds, is “Africa’s rooftop,” the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 metres). 

Here the pastoral and proud Masaai people herding their cattle have lived in harmony with the wildlife since days of the past. This was the beloved local place of Earnest Hemmingway and Robert Ruark, where the sparkling white snows of Kilimanjaro have been a picturesque backdrop to one of Kenya’s most spectacular displays of wildlife – lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and hosts of plains game – making a perfect photographer’s paradise. Swamps and springs fed by underground rivers from the melting snows of the mountain provide permanent watering places for the game while a nearby dried up lake bed produces a shimmering image in the day’s heat.

Following check in, dinner will be served. (B,L,D)

2 nights at Amboseli Serena Lodge or similar

Distances and journey time: Ol Pejeta Private Sanctuary – Amboseli (approx. 458km): 7-8hrs

 

Day 6 - Amboseli National Park

Full day in Amboseli National Park with game drives. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Amboseli / Tsavo East National Park

Breakfast is at the lodge this morning before we check out. Today we proceed to Tsavo East National Park and arrive in time for lunch inside the park. This afternoon, enjoy a game drive.

With 20,700 square kilometres, this park, divided by the Mombasa-Nairobi highway into two blocks – East and West, is one of the world’s largest wildlife sanctuaries. While considerable portions of the park have been opened and developed for tourism, a great tract to the north is still inaccessible and closed to ordinary tourist traffic.

Tsavo is an interesting mixture of extensive plains, steep rocky hills rising abruptly, a few river valleys with their fringes of tall green acacia and palm trees. Altitudes range from 300 metres in the Eastern section to 1,800 metres in the highest peaks of the Ngulia Hills.

Most of Kenya’s wildlife is represented in the two blocks of Tsavo, but the dominant one is elephant. Over 20,000 of these giants roam the area, which also happens to be a black rhino stronghold. The park is famous for its lions, descendants of the dreaded Man eaters during the construction of the Mombasa-Kampala railway at the end of the last century.

There is network of over 800kms of game viewing roads. Bird life is legion in the park and new species are often discovered. Sunbirds, hornbills, parrot, weavers, starlings, bustards and birds of prey are present in great numbers among the many species. (B,L,D)

Overnight at Ashnil Aruba Lodge or similar

Distances and journey time: AmboseliTsavo National Park (170km): 5hrs

 

Day 8 - Tsavo / Nairobi / depart

Our final breakfast together before it is time to depart for Nairobi. We return to Nairobi and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson airport for your onwards flight connections.

Distances and journey time: Tsavo – Nairobi (approx. 425km): 6hr

Don’t have time now?

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What’s included

  • Meet and greet service on arrival at Nairobi International Airport
  • Transfers as per the itinerary
  • Bed, breakfast and dinner in Nairobi
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner whilst on safari
  • Park entrance fees to all mentioned national parks and game reserves
  • Transportation and game drives using custom made 4 x 4 Land cruisers
  • English speaking driver/guide
  • Bottled drinking water on safari
  • Membership to the Flying Doctor Service (AMREF) for Emergency evacuation
Exclusions
  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • All services, meals other than those indicated above
  • Any changes to the proposed and confirmed program.
  • All items of a personal nature e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips etc

**Please note that this tour can be organised on request for private departures.

* Pricing is subject to change at anytime until full payment has been received.

* A minimum of 2 adults is required to guarantee this departure.

A non-refundable deposit of $1000 AUD per person is required to secure your place. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.

Gallery

Availability

Start Date
End Date
Duration
Availability
Price
Start Date
01st Apr 2024
End Date
08th Apr 2024
Duration
8 Days
Availability
Available
Price
$7,121 AUD