Amboseli National Park

Located in the southern reaches of Kenya, the Amboseli National Park is renowned for its excellent variety of wildlife such as Masaai giraffe, elephant, lion and cheetah and not surprisingly it is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The landscape of Amboseli is dominated by the majestic snowcap of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as open plains, acacia woodland, swamps and the massif of Ol Doinyo Orok. The birding is excellent, especially closer to the lakes and swamps. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to large herds of elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and soak up spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Day Itinerary

Meet and greet on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Hodari Africa Safaris representatives. Thereafter receive a short briefing about your safari which gives you a clear idea of the places you are going to visit as well as the accommodation arrangements. After this you will begin your exciting road safari to Amboseli National Park arriving at the foothill of the majestic Kilimanjaro in time for dinner. This trip will include a game drive before you are dropped off at the Lodge/Camp which will be your home for the next two nights!

Overnight: Elephant Gorge Camp

Reference No: HASLP06-7

Elephant Gorge Camp is set within the Kimana Group Ranch along the magnificent Lalarashi gorge and offers amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the expansive plains of Amboseli National Park.

Guests staying at the campsite can indulge themselves in utter bush luxury with five distinctively themed residences. Each room is exclusively designed with all-round views of the scenery in the vicinity.

Each morning, guests will be served breakfast ranging from continental to full English spreads consisting of a range of mouth-watering dishes. Guests will also be served a tantalising menu of delectables in the evening.

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Day Itinerary

Amboseli lies immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Amboseli National Park, the second most popular animal park after Maasai Mara, is 260km (160 miles) from Nairobi, on the border with the neighboring country of Tanzania. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty.

Its magnificent situation at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro combined with its excellent opportunities to view Kenya’s animals, makes it one of the most-visited safari parks in Kenya. Amboseli National Park is known for its large herd of over 900 free-ranging elephants. This is the best national park to visit to see these wonderful and huge creatures. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. Amboseli is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty.

After breakfast, depart for a rewarding full game drive till evening. With picnic lunch

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Great Rift Valley Lakes and despite having no outlet, it is one of only two Rift Valley freshwater lakes. This beautiful lake is fringed by papyrus and acacia trees, a unique geologic landscape and supports a vast array of over 450 bird species. It serves as the main drinking hole for wildlife in the area such as zebra, eland, hippo, waterbuck, buffalo and much more. Visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing, intriguing night safaris, boating excursions around the lake as well as to Crescent Island for spectacular bird watching opportunities. Other popular activities include: guided nature walks, horse riding, village visits and tours to neighbouring national parks.

Day Itinerary

After an early breakfast drive to the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha arriving at the lodge in time for lunch (350 km).

With over 400 species of bird, this freshwater lake is a birding Paradise. Along the lake’s fabled waters, we are bound to see some of the area’s more intriguing species—hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and even the arboreal colobus monkey. Lake Naivasha lies in the Great Rift Valley and the name derives from the local Maasai name Nai’posha, meaning “rough water” because of the sudden storms which can arise.

Rest of the afternoon at leisure and excursions including guided walks with naturalists or boat rides.

Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort View iBrochure

Reference No: HASLP-06-7

Naivasha is a Masai name given to the area, denoting the characteristics of the lake.

21 cottages are built in a crescent shape, and each has four rooms, totaling 80 standard rooms and Two suites. Two of these rooms are suitable for the physically challenged. Six of the 21 cottages have interconnecting rooms on the ground floor.

Rock gardens feature vibrantly coloured flowers, which give a beautiful contrast to the greenery of the well-manicured lawns. Monkeys play on the lawns and different species of birds chip in the trees. Pathways wind between the open lawns and frangipanis, with aloes and proteas growing in abundance. The acacia trees are plentiful in this area and provide welcome shade. The stone exterior walls of the cottages are carried into the rooms. Ground-floor rooms have two queen-size beds and a sunken living room at the front, which opens out on to the beautifully manicured lawns.

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Masai Mara National Reserve

One of Kenya’s undisputed natural highlights is the Masai Mara National Reserve, which sprawls across more than 1500 square kilometres of the country’s southwest. The park protects a phenomenal array of game, including charismatic species such as elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo, as well as crocodile and hippopotamus in the Mara River. The birdlife is no less impressive, with over 450 resident bird species. However, the true highlight here is the Great Migration, recognised as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. To survive the dry months of July to September, some 1.7 million wildebeest, migrate from the parched plains of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Along with much smaller numbers of antelope buffalo and zebra, they move to the more forgiving grasslands of the Masai Mara. In their wake come predators such as lion, hyena and cheetah, for whom these giant herds are an easy source of prey.

Day Itinerary

After an early breakfast drive to Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is a 1-hour drive from Naivasha. Depart with packed lunch boxes and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park.

Lake Nakuru is famous for a large variety of games that can be found in the Park including the introduced Rothschild’s Giraffe, Black and White Rhino, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Baboon and many species of plains game. There are approximately 400 other species of birds found there.

After Lake Nakuru Game Drive proceed to the great Maasai Mara Reserve en route the great Maasai plains.

Arrive in time for a late afternoon lunch and Enroute game drive

Overnight: Mara Crossings Camp

Reference No: HASLP06-07

Tucked away in a secluded location on the banks of the Mara River, the romance and mystery of Africa comes alive in this luxurious tented camp. Well used animal trails meander between 8 spacious, en-suite safari tents while quiet outlooks on the rivers edge allow guests, cocktail in hand to dream the afternoon away.

The camp is ideally located in the Musiara region famous for its plains of teeming wildebeest and carnivorous predators. The most unique aspect of this quaint camp is its close proximity to the various migratory crossing points thereby offering sightings of the annual movement of wildebeest and other herbivores across the Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem – one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world.

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Day Itinerary

After breakfast you will check out and depart to the Mara Reserve, home to the big five and numerous plains game.

Welcome to the Masai Mara National Park, an undisputed paradise for the sheer quantity and variety of wildlife. Renowned for its lions and the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, Kenya’s greatest reserve is as magical as your wildest safari dreams.

Everything about this reserve is outstanding. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific. Including migrants, well over 450 species have been recorded, among them, 57 species of birds of prey. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot, and well-spread rainfall year-round. Rain, when it falls almost always chooses the late afternoon or night. Between July and October, when the great wildebeest migration is in the Masai Mara National Reserve, the sensation is unparalleled. Masai Mara is one of the best plains’ game reserve where you can encounter a live Discovery Channel a haven for viewing a congregation of all sorts of animals in a five-mile radius: A pride of lions can be spotted ready to make a run for a gazelle.

Arrive in time for a hot lunch at the Camp. Proceed for a rewarding afternoon game drive till evening.

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Day Itinerary

Spend a full day at leisure with morning and afternoon Game viewing drives or a full day game drive in the reserve. You will be guided by the expert driver-guides to spot the big five game among other like, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, Topi and Eland and many more species of plains’ game offer a rich choice of food for the dominant predators; lion, leopard, and cheetah which hunt in this pristi

the approach of vehicles only to surface seconds later to snort and grumble their displeasure. Seemingly, the drowsy crocodile sunbathes on the riverbanks, mouth agape, and waiting with subtle cunning for prey at which to strike with lightning swiftness.

Basis

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities

Day Itinerary

After breakfast, depart from the park and return to Nairobi by road. Upon arrival transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your departure flight back home.

Basis

Bed and Breakfast