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Tour Arrives in Nairobi:
Kenya Cultural Tour Day 1
Today the group arrives in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
Part of Masai land when the British arrived, this modern
capital grew with the development of the railway. Derived
from a Masai word meaning "Cold Water," Nairobi
is a pleasant mix of colonial British with modern and
traditional African influences. Overnight in Nairobi.
Dinner if required.
 Nairobi
& Mt. Kenya Conservation Area: Kenya Cultural
Tour Day 2
This morning our group tours to the lower slopes of
Mt Kenya, rising to 5199 m (16,728 feet), Africa's
second highest peak. The Central Highlands are the
heartland of the Kikuyu people. It is a very fertile
region, well-watered, intensively cultivated, and
thickly forested. The land was coveted by the Europeans
who began arriving in ever-increasing numbers once
the railway through the area was completed. The settlers
established coffee and tea plantations on the eastern
slopes and cultivated wheat on the western slopes.
The higher regions of the slopes are left to the leopard,
buffalo, lion and elephant. Tonight we overnight at
a "Tree-Style" lodge, uniquely designed
and situated to provide one with an often extremely
close-up view of a wide variety of wild animals as
they come to drink and cavort. We highly recommend
an optional guided tour on foot (approx USD 15, payable
locally) offered by the lodge. All rooms have a waterhole
view; hot water bottles provided for those cold highland
nights. Overnight in Mt Kenya Conservation area. Serena
Mountain Lodge. All meals in group.
Mt. Kenya Conservation Area & Samburu National
Reserve: Kenya Cultural Tour Day 3
Today the group travels from the "White Highlands,"
so called because of the large number of Europeans
who settled here, northwards to the Samburu National
Reserve, arriving in time for lunch. En route the
tour may catch a glimpse of the glaciers coating the
summit of Mt Kenya. The Samburu Reserve is mainly
semi-desert savannah plain, with the seasonal Ewaso
Nyiro River supporting a wide variety of game such
as elephant, buffalo, cheetah, leopard and lion as
well as dik-dik (a tiny antelope), and warthog. On
your afternoon game drive you can almost certainly
be guaranteed close-up sightings of elephant, giraffe
and gazelle. Overnight in the Samburu National Reserve.
Samburu Serena Lodge or similar. All meals.
Samburu: Kenya Cultural Tour Day 4
Today our tour provides a full day of game viewing
in Samburu National Reserve where we have a good chance
of seeing the so-called "Northerns"-- the
Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the blue-legged
Somali ostrich-- species of animals found only in
this dry area of Kenya. In addition, crocodiles can
often be seen along the river bank. This afternoon's
tour may have an opportunity for the group to pay
a visit to a nearby Samburu village (optional expense).
The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists well-known
for their proud adherence to traditional tribal customs
and elaborate personal adornment. Overnight in the
Samburu National Reserve. Samburu Serena Lodge or
similar. All meals in group.
Samburu, Great Rift Valley & Lake Nakuru:
Kenya Cultural Tour Day 5
After an early group breakfast, we tour from Samburu
to Lake Nakuru, a shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley.
The Rift Valley was created millions of years ago,
under the strain of enormous volcanic eruptions which
resulted in a giant split in the earth's surface from
Syria to Mozambique. Lava flowed into the valley,
forming escarpments on either side of the gigantic
trough, which can be up to 80 km (50 miles) wide,
big enough to be visible from outer space. At the
lake, depending on the water levels, we may have the
opportunity to see up to two million flamingos, in
addition to the over 340 species of birds that have
been recorded in the Rift Valley! Lake Nakuru is very
shallow, and can fluctuate up to five metres (12 feet)
each day. When the water is low, you can see a white
band of crystallized soda along the shoreline. This
is also one of the best places in Kenya to view the
rare White Rhino as we explore the park on our afternoon
game drive. Overnight in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Sarova Lion Hill Camp Lodge or similar. All meals
in group.
Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara: Kenya Cultural Tour
Day 6
Early this morning the group tours through Lake Nakuru
National Park and the Rift Valley, passing above Lake
Naivasha and nearby Mount Longonot, a relatively young
volcanic reminder of the Rifts violent past. The tour
arrives at our lodge in the Masai Mara National Reserve
in time for lunch. The Masai Mara is a natural extension
of the Serengeti eco-system and has an amazing concentration
of wildlife. The largest population of lions in Kenya
is found here, along with large herds of plains game.
The Masai Mara may also be the best place in Kenya
to view cheetah and the rare black rhino. Later this
afternoon the group can enjoy another game tour. Overnight
in the Masai Mara. Mara Sopa Lodge or similar. All
meals in group.
Masai Mara: Kenya Cultural Tour Day 7
The Masai Mara National Reserve consists of rolling
grassland and is located at the northern end of the
Serengeti Plain. Considered the best of Kenya's parks,
it is on the pathway of the yearly wildebeest migration,
which comes north from Tanzania about the end of June
and returns to Tanzania around the end of September.
"The Mara" sustains all of the "Big
Five"-- lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and
buffalo-- as well as an astonishing wealth of herding
animals and other wildlife. You can see the stately
Masai men and youth along the road tending their cattle
and goats. In the Mara you will have an optional opportunity
to ascend over the northern Serengeti at daybreak
in a hot air balloon (cost is approximately USD 360).
From over 300 m (984 feet) above, you will be able
to view the vast land and the myriad animals who inhabit
the Masai Mara. During our stay in the Mara, we enjoy
a full day game drive in Africa's most famous game
park. Overnight in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Mara Sopa Lodge or similar. All meals in group.
Masai Mara & Nairobi: Kenya Cultural Tour
Day 8
After breakfast, the group departs for Nairobi. En
route, just outside the capital, we tour the Karen
Blixen Museum. Baroness Karen Blixen-Finecke emigrated
from Denmark to Kenya in 1918 and, in 1937 wrote,
under the pseudonym, Isaac Dineson, "Out of Africa."
The novel tells the tale of the Baroness's experiences
on a Kenya farm. Her home is now a museum, restored
to the style in which she maintained it. Tonight will
enjoy an evening at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
where we can sample exotic roasted meats (vegetarian
meals available). Overnight in Nairobi. Tour breakfast
and dinner in group.
Departure: Kenya Cultural Tour Day 9
Departure from Nairobi
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