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| DAY 1
- NAIROBI
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Arrive into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport today. After clearing customs you will be met and transferred to Nairobi’s famous Norfolk Hotel. Dating from Kenya’s colonial days, the Norfolk is a landmark in Nairobi, rich in history and recently fully refurbished. There are several restaurants, a pool, salon, news-stand, and gift shops. Spend the rest of your day relaxing or venture into downtown Nairobi for some shopping. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Overnight
- The Norfolk Hotel (B & B basis) |
| DAY 2
- AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
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This morning you will be transferred to Wilson Airport for the scheduled 7:30am flight to Amboseli National Park. You will be met at the airstrip and depart on your first game drive en-route to Tortillis Camp. Tortillis is a luxury tented lodge situated on the edge of the Amboseli National Park in a 30,000 acre private reserve.. The 15 tents are large and luxurious, with king-sized beds and en-suite facilities sheltered. Each tent has a huge thatched roof that extends over a large verandah. The camp has magnificent views of Mt Kilimanjaro and is know for it wonderful food. After lunch there will be an afternoon game drive until dusk.
Amboseli National Park supports a wide range of wildlife particularly elephants roaming in large herds. With Mt Kilimanjaro in the background it is the scene of many classic African safari shots. A section of the park is a seasonal lake the remainder being swamplands, fed by melting snow from Kilimanjaro, and savannah woodland.
Overnight
- Tortilis Camp (all meals & activities)
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| DAYS 3/4
- AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
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You have two more full days available for wildlife viewing. . In between game drives you may wish to take a guided game walk outside the park or relax at the swimming pool.
Overnight
- Tortilis Camp (all meals & activities)
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| DAY 5
- LOISABA WILDERNESS CONSERVANCY
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After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for the scheduled 8:30am flight to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport where you will connect you’re your flight to the Laikipia Plateau in the Loisaba Wilderness Conservancy. Loisaba is a private wildlife conservancy that sits on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau, 40 miles (70 km) from Mount Kenya. The Laikipia wilderness area is larger than many of Kenya's principal National Parks and once consisted of numerous farms and ranches. Today it is made up of private wildlife reserves and all the fences have been removed. The Loisaba Wilderness Conservancy itself covers over 90 square miles (150 sq. km). To the north lie the grassy plains of the plateau and to the south the plateau breaks into valleys, cliffs and escarpments that frame astounding views up to the snows of Mount Kenya. At their base lies a different riverine ecosystem fed by the banks of two major rivers - the Ewaso Ngiro and the Engare Narok.
This wilderness is a haven for more than 250 species of birds and 50 species of wildlife. Alongside all the more usual types, elephant, buffalo, Grevy's Zebra and Greater Kudu, the area is also rapidly gaining a reputation for exceptional big cat sightings; even Wild Dog, thought for many years to be extinct in the region are now being regularly sighted. Situated in the very heartland of the nomadic Samburu and Laikipia Maasai people, Loisaba also offers a rare insight into people cultures, traditions and a way of life that has stood the test of time.
Your accommodations at Loisaba will be in one of the “Star Bed” tented cabins that are unique to Loisaba. Each Star Bed is a raised, handcrafted wooden platform sculpted high into a kopje of rocks and semi-covered with a thatched roof. Homemade natural futon beds can either be moved out onto the uncovered area for a night under the stars, or left under the shelter of the roof and drop down canvas walls. The Star Beds are normally reached on foot or by horse or camel. Food is prepared in traditional camp style over a fire at the open walled, central dining area. The dramatically situated Star Bed site, accommodates 8 people on 4 platforms. Each platform has a flush toilet, sink and large camp-style drum showers and is sited to ensure complete privacy.
After lunch and time to get settled you can spend the remainder of the afternoon getting acquainted with the lodge and perhaps after dinner take a night game drive in search of bush babies, aardvark and other nocturnal animals.
Overnight
- Loisaba Star Bed ( all meals & included activities) |
| DAYS 6/7
- LOISABA WILDERNESS CONSERVANCY
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You have two more days to enjoy the many activities available at Loisaba. Along with day and night game drives in open safari vehicles, you can take walking safaris accompanied by traditional Samburu guides, go river rafting (easy and more like floating) and bird watching. Horseback riding and camel safaris are also available for an additional fee.
Overnight
- Loisaba Star Bed ( all meals & included activities) |
| DAY 8
- MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
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After breakfast you will be driven to the airstrip for the scheduled flight to the Maasai Mara. The famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in all of Africa, providing for wonderful wildlife viewing year round. Known as home of the “big five”, with the rolling Mara grassland plains, woodlands and the Mara and other rivers, the reserve covers an area of 600 sq. miles (1,500 sq. km.) The Mara is well known for the part it plays in the “great migration”. By late July the animals begin entering from Tanzania’s Serengeti. The 200,000 Zebra, 300,000 Thomson Gazelle and 1.3 million Wildebeest following the annual rains and are in the Mara until late October when they head south again. In all 95 mammal, amphibian and reptile species plus 485 species of birds inhabit the Mara eco-system.
After landing at the air strip you will be met met by a Cottar’s 1920’s Camp vehicle and proceed to the renowned Cottar’s Camp. This luxury 1920’s style Mara camp is a return to the original spirit and essence of safari. Set on an exclusive private wildlife concession in the Maasai Mara/Serengeti ecosystem it is untouched by any kind of tourism or development. The camp lies in the cusp of a cedar-covered valley besides the rivulets of a crystal clear spring with panoramic views of rolling hills..
Cottar’s accommodates up to 12 guests in 6 authentic white canvas tents, which are spacious and luxuriously furnished, incorporating original safari antiques from the '20's; They all have private en suite dressing rooms and bathrooms (with old-fashioned showers and flushing toilets), a main bedroom and an outdoor veranda.
Guest activities include game drives in modern four wheel drive safari vehicles or in their authentic 1920’s vehicle in the private reserve and the Mara proper. Guided walks and night game drives are also conducted. There is also a tented reading room with an extensive array of African and modern books. Meals are taken in the dinning mess tent or outside with silver service and candlelight, offering a unique experience as you relax after the day’s activities and become aware of the night’s sounds.
Overnight
- Cottar's 1920's Camp (all meals & activities) |
| DAYS 9/10
- MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
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Today you may be awakened before dawn and set out at sunrise in search of wildlife. The Mara is magical in the morning with the wildlife waking up to greet the day and the early morning light perfect for photography The best of African wildlife abounds and game drives, walks, fishing and swimming will be conducted by Calvin Cottar – who has an unrivalled level of expertise of the land,, flora and fauna. The schedule will be set to match your interests and your pace.
Overnight
- Cottar's 1920's Camp (all meals & activities) |
| DAY 11
- MAASAI MARA / NAIROBI - DEPART
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Depart on an early morning activity, returning to camp for breakfast. Afterwards you will be driven to the airstrip to catch the schedule 11:00am flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport arriving at noon. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to the Norfolk Hotel where you will have use of a day room. The remainder of the days is yours to relax. After dinner you will be met and transferred to the airport to catch your International flight home.
Dayroom – The Norfolk Hotel (B, L)
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