Over this one-week whirlwind tour of Kenya’s highlights, you will experience both the quintessential experiences alongside the lesser-known (but equally spectacular) corners of the country. Walk the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Bogoria and Lake Nakuru, pausing to admire the robust rhinoceros population. Head into the bush on foot guided by a Maasai Warrior, learning of the tricks and skills that have their enabled Maasai prosperity for centuries. Finally, traverse the plains of the infamous Maasai Mara as lions, cheetahs, elephants and giraffe hover around the Great Wildebeest Migration.
Upon arrival you will be picked up by your safari guide and transferred to Eka Hotel. Ideal for an overnight at the start or end of a safari, Eka Hotel is well appointed and offers great value for money. The hotel features 167 guest rooms, a swimming pool, gym and wellness centre. All rooms, from superior to executive suite, feature air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, hairdryer, iron, minibar and an en suite bathroom with rain shower. There are several dining options to choose from, including a coffee shop, the Galaxy bar and terrace and a Spur restaurant. Nairobi National Park is nearby if you have a half or full-day free for a game drive during your stay.
Set within a quiet garden oasis from the surrounding hurly-burly, Eka Hotel has a private swimming pool and gym, as well as the little services like babysitting, laundry, shuttle transfers and complimentary guest parking that enhance any stay. They have glass-enclosed en suite bathrooms and complimentary high-speed Internet access.
After breakfast, your sfari guide will pick you up at 7:30am for your road transfer to Lake Bogoria. Stopping periodically to marvel at the plunging escarpments, volcanic mountains and pristine lakes, the drive on route to Lake Bogoria will be a scenic adventure in and of itself. Midway through the drive, you have the chance to stop for a fantastic photo opportunity as you straddle either side of the equator! Marked by signs, it will be impossible to miss this global landmark. Descending into the volcanic valley after approximately five hours, you will approach the saline Lake Bogoria. Pink flamingos positively coat this shallow alkaline lake, feeding off the alga that survives – remarkably – in this otherwise challenging environment. Gazing out onto this spectacular sight, the lake’s tranquility is interrupted sporadically by exploding geysers as they leap up to five meters in the air along the shore. As flamingo’s circle overhead while others walk the sidelines, you will bear witness to one of Kenya’s lesser-known, but truly magical, places.
Watch the sunrise over the escarpment before embarking on a guided game walk along the steaming shores of Lake Bogoria. Teeming with birdlife, you will have the opportunity here to observe kingfishers, herons and pelicans in addition to seemingly millions of greater and lesser flamingos. While the shores will undoubtedly captivate your attention, be sure to look to the surrounding plains and woodlands as well; lesser kudu, gazelles, zebra and warthogs are often seen meandering around the forest edge. Those with an especially keen eye – and a bit of luck – may even spy a leopard creeping through the trees. If at all tempted to dip into one of the natural hot springs, be sure to check the temperature first since they vary greatly. Cleverly, locals have developed a genius natural thermometer that protects their hands from burns: they hang an egg in a bag off a long stick and boil it in the waters to determine temperatures. Local populations also believe that exposure to the geyser’s vapors acts as a treatment for respiratory and dermatological problems – however, caution should be exercised if attempting this. The steam is very hot.
This morning you will continue driving for three hours through the majestic Rift Valley, moving on to Lake Nakuru National Park. This park too revolves around a spectacular alkaline lake, painted pink and white by thousands of flamingos, pelicans and over 300 other species of birds, while enormous herds of buffalo graze on the shore. Woodlands surround the lake and are home to a greater diversity of mammals, in comparison to Bogoria. As you circle the lake and ascend into the forested slopes of the valley hills, you will likely happen upon some of the rehabilitated and ever-graceful black and white rhinoceros, who have successfully repopulated this park. Home to approximately 140 rhinos, most of whom live independently from the rehabilitation sanctuaries, Nakuru is a beacon of hope for African conservationists. Having suffered greatly from poaching in recent years, the rhinos in this park have been so well conserved that this park is actually over capacity for the species, and now populates other parks as well. As you observe a rhino gently scratch her back on an acacia tree against the backdrop of flamingos and hyenas, you will begin to understand the passion that fuels the rhino conservation movement. With some luck, you will also get to see a rhino run at impossibly quick speeds, given their enormous size. Dinner and overnight at the Sarova Lion hill Lodge.
After breakfast, you will begin your road transfer to Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Situated in the southwest of Kenya, covering an area of 1,510 square km (583 square miles), the Masai Mara National Reserve is a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains. The quintessential Masai Mara safari delivers many attractions, as the reserve is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game, including the more than two million wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes that make up the famous Great Migration. The reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra. Leopards are frequently encountered, endangered black rhino hide in the dense thickets and large rafts of hippo and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River. The park is also home to over 450 bird species. You will check in at the Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp.
Sprawled along the Saparingo River on the edge of the Oloololo escarpment, where riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the seasonal path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wildlife, delivered with legendary Kenyan hospitality. Set on a private concession, with abundant iconic wildlife and panoramic Masai Mara views, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp dazzles with its contemporary safari feel. With timeless interiors that are simple yet sophisticated and stylish, the Camp enhances guests’ sense of privacy and enjoyment. 12 Classic tents, 20 Superior tents and eight Superior View tents, are laid out in immaculate grounds, with leisurely groups of warthog feeding right outside the tent doors. Maasai-inspired interiors firmly entrench &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp as the unrivalled luxury tented camp of its size in the greater Mara.
Your safari adventure isn't over and after waking up in the Maasai Mara you'll enjoy a final morning game drive. Later this morning you'll be transferred to the local airstrip for a scheduled flight to Nairobi. Please note that a strict luggage limit of 15kg is enforced on these flights. Upon landing in Nairobi you'll have a full afternoon touring some of the city's unique attractions. Savor a meat filled lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, where crocodile and ostrich are among the rare things on the menu. Later on transfer to JKIA for your homebound flight.
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