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Kenya Wildlife Safari

T R I P  I N F O R M A T I O N

Year-round Departures (Except April and May)
Depart virtually any day of the week

Kenya offers one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth along with rich Blend of tribal cultures. On this special safari, you’ll observe wildlife in five of the finest game parks in Kenya. You’ll also experience, firsthand, the cultural richness of the Masai and Samburu peoples.

Highlights of your “private” safari will include hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara; phenomenal wildlife viewing in Samburu and Lake Nahuru National Parks; a heart-warming visit to an animal orphanage where elephants and rhinos are reared and rehabilitated; hiking or horseback riding through a game sanctuary near Aberdare National Park; observing chimps up-close at Jane Goodall’s Chimp Sanctuary; visiting Samburu and Masai villages; and bushwalking or camel riding at Sweetwaters. These are but a few of the experiences you’ll never forget!

Consider concluding your Kenya safari with an extension to Tanzania, Malindi or the Seychelles Islands! Call for details.

Note: All adventures are elective and low-intensity. Choice of optional lecture(s) from the topics listed below. Delivered by a regional specialist, this lecture will supplement the information conveyed by your top-notch guide. Some lectures may not be available on certain departures.

— Wildlife Lecture on Mammals or Ornithology
— Body Ornamentation
— Kenyan Peoples and Cultures
— Spiritual Beliefs of the Masai People
— Rehabilitation of orphaned Elephants and Rhino

I T I N E R A R Y

Note: We will gladly customize an itinerary to meet your preferences.

Note: If you would like to shorten this itinerary by one day, you may skip the Nairobi touring altogether and proceed immediately to your safari. Land cost would drop by $150pp.

Morning drive to Aberdare National Park, situated in the central highlands region and one of Kenya’s only virgin forest reserves. Views in the park are spectacular and you may well see leopard, elephant, bongo, buffalo, rhino, serval, colobus monkeys, and a host of other animals. Stop to enjoy lunch at the Aberdare Country Club.

This afternoon, you'll enjoy a guided hike or horseback riding excursion through a game sanctuary!

Late afternoon transfer to The Ark, a lodge situated beside a waterhole that is frequented by a wide variety of animals. Throughout the night, animals come out of the forest to drink; if you so choose, the staff will notify you when your preferred animal arrives at the hole! The waterhole is illuminated.
The Ark (B,L,D)

Today you’ll drive to Sweetwaters Reserve, a private 24,000 acre sanctuary for chimpanzees, the endangered rhino, leopard, elephant and zebra. The reserve is situated within the sprawling Ol Pejeta ranch with magnificent views across the plains to the peaks of Mount Kenya.  A variety of plains game is found within the reserve and the big cats may also be seen.  As Sweetwaters is a private reserve, it is possible for visitors to enjoy activities such as escorted bush walks, night game drives and camel riding.  Orphaned rhino and warthog (one of which was the model for Pumba, from the movie the Lion King), which have been reared by hand, provide a wonderful treat for children, as does the chimpanzee sanctuary.  The sanctuary hosts chimps mainly from the Jane Goodall Institute in Burundi, where a great many were placed after being rescued.  The sanctuary is a non-profit venture, which aims not only to cover the investment and operating costs of the sanctuary, but also to channel funds into the Jane Goodall Institute for conservation projects for chimpanzees in the wild throughout Africa.

In the afternoon, take a camel ride, game drive or bushwalk through the reserve for more wildlife viewing.  After dinner you’ll enjoy a night game drive!                          Sweetwaters Tented Camp (B,L,D)

Note: If you would like to shorten this trip by one day, you may fly directly from Sweetwaters to Masai Mara and eliminate this day. Subtract approximately $220 from land cost.

Morning drive to Nairobi, where you will have lunch and then fly to the Masai Mara, one of the finest game reserves in the world. An extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the Mara is famous for its vast herds and wide variety of animal species. For the next two days, you’ll explore this marvelous region in a private safari vehicle, and you may also have an opportunity to go for a bushwalk along the Mara or Telek rivers to look for hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birds. Another option (not included) is to view the plains and wildlife from a hot air balloon! Floating over the plains, peering down at the abundant wildlife, is an unforgettable experience.

Each year, approximately two million wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra (as well as pursuing predators) move from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara as dry weather sets in. Migratory wildlife is concentrated in the Mara from July-October, and is found in the Serengeti from November-June. However, the plentiful quantity of resident wildlife makes the Masai Mara very special year round. Serena Lodge or Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp (B,L,D)

Extensions to Amboseli, Malindi, Tanzania and the Seychelles Islands are also available.
Call for details.

Land Cost Includes:
o Private safari vehicle with naturalist guide/driver
o Accommodations for 9 nights in first class safari lodges and deluxe tented camps
o All elective soft adventures except ballooning (game drives, horseback riding, hiking, camel trekking)
o 24 meals
o All transfers and land transportation

2008 Land Cost:

2 Travelers:

Jan, March, June, Nov: $3,635 (check) or $3,750 (credit card)

Feb, July-Oct: $3,935 (check) or $4,050 (credit card)

4 Travelers:

Jan, March, June, Nov: $3,385 (check) or $3,490 (credit card)

Feb, July-Oct: $3,685 (check) or $3,800 (credit card)

Note: please add $425 for hot air ballooning.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Land Cost Does Not Include: Airfares (quoted separately); ballooning; supplemental lecture; tips to camp staff, or drivers; excess baggage charges; alcoholic beverages; laundry, passports or visas, personal insurance, other personal items; airport departure taxes; hotel nights en route or return from Africa.

Land Transportation: Ground transport in Kenya is provided by minibuses (land cruisers incur a supplemental fee) with roof hatches for wildlife observation and photography. Passengers will be guaranteed a window seat. Each guide/driver is a professional with an in-depth knowledge of the wildlife.

Accommodations: Accommodations are based on double occupancy of a room in first class safari lodges and hotels and deluxe-tented camps. Singles who sign up will be charged a single supplement fee.

Climate: Kenya has one of the most agreeable climates in the world with warm, sunny days of 70-85 degrees F and cool, pleasant nights dropping to 50-60 degrees in the dry season of June through October and December through February. The warmest months are December through February with clear blue skies and daytime temperatures of 75-90 degrees in most game parks. The short rains occur in November and the long rains in April and May.

Itinerary Changes: In order to take advantage of animal migrations, this itinerary may change with the seasons, focusing on Lake Nakuru in Kenya in our winter (December-March), and the Masai Mara from June-October. Other modifications may occur due to airline schedule changes and permit/national park restrictions.

Reservations and Payments: A deposit of $500 with the completed reservation form will ensure you a place on this trip. Departures guaranteed with a minimum of two travelers. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds: If you need to cancel your trip, please notify us in writing or by fax immediately. The cancellation penalty is calculated from the day we receive cancellation notice. (For those persons who do travel, there are no refunds for any unused meals, accommodations or other trip activities.) In certain cases, the cancellation policies of NEI's subcontractors will supercede NEI's policy. The cancellation penalty is calculated based on the schedule below.

Number of days prior to departure. Cancellation fee per person:
    61+days         $500 plus applicable airfare penalties
    45–60 days    30% of land/cruise price plus applicable airfare penalties
    30–44 days    60% of land/cruise price plus applicable airfare penalties
    0–29 days     100% of land/cruise price plus applicable airfare penalties

Insurance: Trip cancellation, accident and baggage insurance are recommended and will be offered to all participants. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly advised; this will protect you in the case of cancellation due to personal or family illness.

Responsibility: Nature Expeditions International is responsible for conducting this trip as outlined in the published itinerary. It reserves the right, however, to cancel the trip should it become affected by conditions beyond the company’s control. In such an event, NEI will return all monies paid to it by the affected participants as full and final settlement.

NEI also reserves the right to substitute other lodging during the trip or to change the trip leader(s), itinerary, or travel arrangements if the staff believes it is in the best interest of all participants. In addition, NEI may decline to accept or retain any member or prospective member of an announced trip. Full refund for the unused portion of the trip will be paid to the affected participant in such an event.

Airline Clause: All arrangements for airline transportation are made by the respective airlines, which companies shall not have or incur any responsibility or liability to any person taking an trip except their liability as common carriers. Nor shall such carriers be or be held responsible for any act, omission, or event occurring after the passenger has disembarked from the conveyance. The usual passage contract in use by the carrier, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between said carrier and the passenger. All rates are based on tariffs currently or those tariffs to be placed in effect and are subject to adjustment in the event of changes therein. The air transportation services of any IATA/ARC member may be used.