Itinerary Summary
Kenya's culture is both varied and fragmented. Nowhere else in Africa is there such a large number of ancient cultures, all alive and well in no hurry to change.
Day 1 : Sweetwaters
On arrival at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and commence your safari driving north toSweetwaters Tented Camp. Check in and lunch will be served from 12.30. At 15.00 you will go for a game drive in the sanctuary and encounter several species of wildlife. Visit the chimpanzees at Sweetwaters, and if the weather permits go for a boat ride down the river. Return to the camp at 18.00 Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 2 : Explorer The Northern Kenya
After breakfast you will proceed to Samburu arriving at your camp in time for lunch. Relax and spend the rest of the afternoon game watching. The area around the life-giving Uaso Nyiro River, is home to the rare and beautiful species of Northern Kenya such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk gazelle and the Somali ostrich. Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and other plains game are also abundant here. Dinner and overnight at the Samburu Intrepids Club.
Day 3 : Explorer The Northern Kenya
Breakfast at the camp and spend a full day in Samburu. After breakfast you will be met by Samburu tribes men and dressed up for your visit to a Samburu village. Leave the camp and walk to the village. Upon arrival there will be a welcome song by Samburu women followed by a briefing of the village. Spend the day with the tribes people to fetch wood and water. Learn how to make fire the Samburu way (twirling sticks), women will clean milking gourds as the men go outside the village to usher in livestock from grazing. You will be shown to milk the animals (goats) and also participate when the Samburu elders pray and talk about issues concerning the village well being. Lunch in the village ( lunch will be provided by Samburu Intrepids kitchen staff.) In the afternoon learn the Samburu beadwork, leatherwork, weaving hut building and traditional games. In the early evening there will be a cultural lecture and/or story telling session for everyone, the return to your camp for a well deserved shower. Dinner & overnight at Samburu Intrepids Club.
Day 4 : Lake Naivasha
After breakfast drive from Samburu, into the Rift Valley to your lodge situated on the hills overlooking Lake Naivasha one of the many beautiful Rift Valley Lakes, and home to thousands of flamingos and other bird and animal life. Arrive for a late lunch. Check in and spend the afternoon to relax with several activities to choose from such as golf, tennis, swimming. Dinner and overnight at the Great Rift Valley lodge.
Day 5 : Lake Naivasha
Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning you will have the opportunity to visit the communities living on Mount Eburru. You visit the three communities living on the mountain. They are people from the Kikuyu's, Turkana and Nderobo tribes. The Nderobo are the indigenous and most interesting. The two other tribes are new arrivals from different parts of Kenya, but are of interest in their own right. You also visit a local school where the children are always ready to sing for the visitor. The visit will take approx. 2 hours.
Return to the lodge for lunch. The second cultural experience today is to a Masai Centre and also a visit to Crater Lake. The visit to the Masai centre will show you how the Masai people live. At Crater lake you will go on a walking safari on the rim of the lake and if you are lucky you will see the shy black & white colobus monkey. Drive back to the lodge in time for dinner and overnight at Great Rift Valley Lodge.
Day 6 : Masai Mara
Continue across the floor of The Great Rift Valley, the longest rift in the crust of the earth, to the Masai Mara. You will spend two nights in this natural paradise among zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, antelope and gazelle. You will encounter prides of lion resting in the shade of acacia trees or lying low in the grass in wait for their next meal. There is a good chance of spotting cheetah and if you are lucky, the shy leopard.
Arrive by mid day, check in and go for lunch. After enjoying your sumptuous lunch at our restaurant, seats are always arranged at 14.15 under the Historical sausage tree near the main area whereby the Camp Cultural Lecturer will give you a fascinating interesting and educative lecture on the culture of the Masai who have inhabited the Mara region for the last 300 years with each of the succeeding generation finding no pleasure to hunt any wild game animals for food unless under severe times of famine. The lecturer will talk on the history, homestead, roles of one in the community, the different stages of life, the modern Masai and the changes taking place within the community. Afternoon game viewing in Masai Mara. Dinner and overnight at Siana Springs Tented camp.
Day 7 : Masai Mara
Spend early morning game viewing with lunch and a siesta at your camp. Afternoon visit to a traditional Masai village a kilometre away from the camp and situated in the middle of the Mara, constructed with natural materials from the orange - leafed croton shrubs will give you an experience you have always longed for. Here you have a chance to interact with people who have maintained their unique cultural ways of life for many decades. Tall and elegant with narrowly plaited hair painted in red ochre, the village warriors (Moran) performs cultural dances thrilling to the bottom of the heart leaving you with lasting memories to take home. Return to your camp with a game drive en route. In the evening it is time for a well-deserved shower and a refreshing drink by the campfire before dinner. Overnight at Siana Springs Tented Camp.
Day 8 : Nairobi
After breakfast return to Nairobi arriving at midday. Leave for the airport to catch your next flight.
