GAMEVENTURES Photo Safari
The Dry North - Rift
Valley Soda Lake Nakuru
The Maasai Mara
Weekly - every Monday.
MINIMUM group size 2 passengers,
MAXIMUM 6.
US$ 2100 per person in twin
room.
"GAMEVENTURES" is a specialist
photographic safari, departing Nairobi every MONDAY of every week THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.It is designed for the dedicated wildlife photographer, who needs
to have plenty of roof hatch and window space for those big FD lenses,
and the flexibility to be able to spend an extended time in the field waiting
for that perfect moment. This itinerary visits the three primary eco-systems
in East Africa - the three parks/reserves renowned for some of the greatest
game viewing in Africa - The dry north SAMBURU - the Rift Valley Soda lake
of Nakuru and of course the Maasai Mara. We then have the opportunity to
extend your photographic mission in The Maasai Mara National Reserve for
as long as you wish.
Day 1+2
Every Monday & Tuesday
- SAMBURU SERENA LODGE
Departure from Nairobi at
9.00 am takes us north across the Laikipia plateau past the colonial
settlements of Nanyuki. We climb to some 8500 feet as we ascend the wheat
covered slopes of the shoulder of Mt Kenya who's equatorial snow-capped
peaks may be seen to the east. We stop for a quick lunch at the Kentrout
Grill a quaint little forested hideaway and trout farm, where if we are
lucky we may see one of the resident Colobus Monkeys. We descend into Kenya's
semi arid northern regions as we continue the short distance north, the
terrain drops away rapidly with breathtaking views of Samburu, Ololokwe
and the Matthew's Range beyond. The Samburu / Buffalo Springs Reserves
supports a myriad of plains game species, all perfectly adapted for the
semi-desert environment. The thinly striped and endangered Grevy's Zebra
and the chocolate brown Reticulated Giraffe are common. The lance-like
horned Beisa Oryx and the rare Greater Kudu are seasonal visitors. Gunther's
Dikdik, with its huge nasal swellings, the giraffe-necked Gerenuk and the
beautiful blue-legged Somali Ostrich are resident all year. 2 o/n The Samburu
Serena Lodge
Day 3+4
Every Wednesday & Thursday
- LAKE NAKURU LION HILL LODGE
The Great Rift Valley, the
world's largest fault, is 2,500 feet deep, 30 kilometres wide and some
2,500 kilometres long. It is home to lakes such as Magadi, Nakuru, Elmenteita
and Bogoria that have no outflows and therefore accumulate mineral salts
brought from the highland areas which form an alkaline soup rich in algae.
It is this "soup" that attracts millions of Lesser and Greater Flamingoes.
Other lakes, such as Naivasha and Baringo, with outflowing rivers and resulting
fresh water have their own diverse birdlife. The Nakuru National Park is
not only home to hundreds of thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos,
but also a myriad of large and small game. 2 o/n LION HILL LODGE
Day 5-7
Every Friday, Saturday,
Sunday - MAASAI MARA RIVER CAMP
Early morning departure
by road up over the Kikuyu Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and onto
Nairobi. After lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant we fly to Musiara on the
north west boundary of Kenya's famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. The
Mara is undoubtedly Africa's finest game viewing area with an immense array
of wildlife, large and small, but most notably large predators; Leopard,
Lion, Cheetah, Serval Cat, Spotted Hyenas, Jackals and occasionally the
endangered Cape Hunting Dog, all accompanied by an equally impressive array
of prey species. During the summer months the huge wildlife populations
are all supplemented by the massive migratory herds of Wildebeest and Zebra
on their annual migrations north from the southern Serengeti plains. Optional
hot air ballooning and fishing for monstrous Nile Perch on Lake Victoria
are available on request.
Nestled at the foot of the
Oloololo Escarpment on the north west boundary of the reserve, is a beautiful
forested bend of the majestic Mara River, this is home to our intimate
tented lodge with only 16 en-suite twin accommodation units; it is one
of the few remaining traditional tented lodges. By being on the reserve
boundary we have ideal access not only to the inner sanctums, where shyer
species seek refuge, but also the outer grazing areas - where less aggressive
species such as cheetah take advantage of ideal conditions created by the
Maasai cattle and grass fires. The resident Hippo of Mara River Camp have
long ruled out any possibility of a swimming pool, while roaming herds
of bull Elephant have also put an end to any exotic gardens. Mara River
Camp is favoured by naturalists, wildlife researchers, film crews, photographers
and conservationists. Our resident ornithologists are always available
for informative nature and bird walks in and around the immediate camp
area. Being of Maasai origin they delight guests with fascinating talks
and discussions on the Maasai culture. Mara River Camp is a tented camp
with a difference, it really does blend with the landscape and its wildlife.
Day 8
After an early morning game
drive and lunch we fly to Nairobi, arriving at 1715 hrs. END GAMEVENTURES
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12 DAY SAVANNAH SAFARI
The Central Highlands
The Dry North
Rift Valley Soda lakes Elmenteita
& Nakuru
The Maasai Mara
The Indian Ocean
US$ 4,885 per person sharing
Departs Daily
A fantastic private, fully
escorted safari using 4x4 Land Rovers, and staying at Savannah Camps.
Day 1
- 0900/1200 Drive to - ABERDARE
MOUNTAINS
- Lunch & pm game
ride on horseback or naturewalk
- Evening sundowner
overlooking Mt Kenya
- dinner and evening
NIGHT WALK - with spotlights.
- O/N SANGARE SAFARI
CAMP
Day 2
- 0630 Early breakfast
alongside the Sangare Dam
- full am game drive
in The Aberdare Salient Forests.
- picnic lunch and
pm game drive high on Aberdare Moorlands
- Evening sundowner
overlooking "The White Highlands"
- dinner and evening
NIGHT WALK - with spotlights.
- O/N SANGARE SAFARI
CAMP
Day 3
- 0630 Early morning
nature walk along the Aberdare riverine forests.
- leisurely bush breakfast
with the "zebroids".
- 0830/1130 drive
to Lewa Downs.
- 1230/1245 fly to
Lewa Downs.
- Arrival refreshments
in the Lewa swamp blind, home to Sitatunga.
- lunch at Lerai Camp
and pm game drive in search of Rhino.
- evening sundowner
in the new Lewa Leopard Blind
- O/N Lewa Safari
Camp
Day 4
- 0630 Breakfast
- Early morning game
drive in search of Greater Kudu & Grevy Zebra
- lunch at Lerai Camp
and pm game drive or horseback riding.
- evening sundowner
overlooking the Northern Frontier.+ night drive
- O/N Lewa Safari
Camp
Day 5
- 0630 Early morning
game walk in the Ngare Ndare River Valley
- leisurely breakfast
- mid morning departure
for the Il'Nguesi tribal community.
- A fascinating Cultural
immersion with the Ndorobo and Samburu's
- picnic lunch and
pm game drive back to Lewa Downs
- O/N Lewa Safari
Camp
Day 6
- 0930/1200 Drive to Trout
Tree Restaurant near Mt Kenya for lunch
- 1330/1600 Drive to THE
RIFT VALLEY
- evening sundowner overlooking
"Lake Elmenteita"
- dinner and evening NIGHTDRIVE
- with spotlights.
- O/N DELAMERE'S CAMP
- Crater Lake Camp at Lake
Naivasha will be used while Delamere's Camp is closed.
Day 7
- 0630 Early morning
nature walks and game drives through the Acacia woodlands
- visiting the lakeshore
blinds.
- Lunch, pm activities
or climb an extinct volcano
- dinner and evening
NIGHTDRIVE - with spotlights.
- O/N DELAMERE'S TREE
HOUSE
Day 8-11
- 0900/1500 Drive to MAASAI
MARA with picnic lunch enroute.
- unlimited game drives
in search of big game.
- breakfasts &
lunches in camp or in the field as you choose.
- optional nature
walks and cultural immersion with the Maasai
- optional hot air
ballooning & fishing at Lake Victoria ($345 pp NET)
- 4 O/N MARA RIVER
CAMP
Day 12
- am game drive &
breakfast
- 1100/1215 Fly to
Nairobi.
Optional extension to The
Indian Ocean.
Day 12
- 1400/1500 fly to
MALINDI
- pm in the Indian
Ocean or our private pool.
- O/N INDIAN OCEAN
LODGE
Day 13+14
- am The Sokoke Forest,
Gedi, Snorkeling, Diving, Fishing etc
- Seafood meals -
pm swimming, birding, shopping, relaxing.
- O/N INDIAN OCEAN
LODGE
Day 15
- 1600/1800 Fly to
Nairobi. |