7 days -
S mount elgon, kakamega forest, and maasai mara adventurous safari in kenya
-
price from
$2,465
per adult
min person:
1
days: 7
Includes
- 6 game viewings
- Visits to a local village in Saiwa Swamp National Park, a cultural center in Vihiga County, the Hippo point, and a Maasai village
- Services of a professional English speaking safari driver-guide
- All national park entry fees
- Transport in a custom safari vehicle throughout the safari
- One way flight ticket (NBO / ELD)
- All transfers as per itinerary
- 6 nights` accommodation
- 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners
- Water in the vehicle to use while on game drives
- Emergency medical evacuation cover
- Government taxes and levies
Excludes
- International airfares and their corresponding departure taxes
- Visa fees into Kenya
- Travel / baggage / medical insurance
- Tips to driver-guide, hotel staff, etc.
- Items of personal nature i.e. drinks in the lodges, telephone / fax bills, laundry, etc.
- Any other items not specified in the “inclusions” clause
Itinerary
Day: 1
Nairobi - mount elgon national park
Early in the morning of this day, you will be transferred to the airport to board your local flight (jomo kenyatta international airport (nbo) - eldoret international airport (edl). In eldoret, you will be met by the local tour / guide who will brief you on the safari and immediately after board your vehicle to depart and drive to mount elgon national park. Mount elgon is a unique ecosystem with a unique species of preserved mountains elephants with a high fertility rate due to salt deposits found in this park.
Mount elgon is known to be an "elephant den" referred to as "untamed wilderness, secluded splendor". The elephants here thrive on healthy reproduction that is unmatched anywhere else in east africa. Mount elgon is dotted with caves formed from ancient lava. Kitum cave is mostly visited by the elephants. Spectacular waterfall found in this park. Dont miss to visit the unesco sites - important bird area (iba) and unesco man and biosphere (mab) sites.
Enjoy game viewing, hiking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, and scenic / photography views while in this natural eco-environment. By visiting mount elgon, you contribute to the sustainability of this natural forest and the community around it. You will drive to your hotel in the evening or stay at a tented camp in a designated area of the forest.
Day: 2
eldoret - saiwa swamp national park
Saiwa swamp is a forested paradise filled with exotic birds and trees. This is a haven for nature lovers. The rare and endangered semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope is preserved in this park. The rare de brazzas monkey is also preserved in this park. In this tropical wetlands and mosaic of riverine forests, sedges, and acacia woodlands, with fringing dense rushes and grass beds, the bird life is abundant. The sound of birds and the refreshing atmosphere felt in this place leaves you with an inner peace and fall in love with the beauty of nature. Game viewing, bird watching, photography, and scenic adventure are the activities that you will follow through while here. This is home to the kalenjin community who are nilotes and great farmers.
You will visit a local village and engage in the life of this community on a daily basis for a short while. Engage in a typical lifestyle of the day of milking which is done by women and be part of it. Sample out their local delicacy of sour milk know as "mursik" in the local language made from the fresh milk. Sample out how it is prepared and finally served as a special drink to a special visitor. Your lunch will be a simple local african cuisine. Later, you will depart for kakamega and check in at the lumo house in the evening
Day: 3
kakamega forest national reserve
Kakamega forest national reserve is referred to as "the canopy of natural beauty". The only remaining tropical rainforest in kenya of the guineo-congolian that once stretched from west africa to east africa. Using research, this forests harbors over 360 species of birds, 380 species of plants, 400 species of butterflies, and seven species of primates. The plants here are highly believed to be medicinal by the local community. They believe they can treat malaria, prostate cancer, common cold etc. It is an ornithologist dream revealing rare bird species like great blue turaco, turner`s eremomela, etc. Rare mammals like tree pangolins and potto are found here. Enjoy guided tours in this reserve with a professional tour guide who will explain and interpret tropical rainforest biodiversity and cultural activities of the local people staying around the forest.
Spend the day in this haven taking part in game viewing, bird watching, hiking, rock climbing, and scenic views in this place. Before you call it a day, you will do scenery and landscapes to an amazing feature in this community referred to by the locals as "the crying stone". This stone is about 40 meters with a small rock perched on the top, revealing a unique form of a wailing human being. It`s an acid plutonic rock consisting of quartz, alkali, feldspar, and mica. It now serves as a shrine and cultural site to the community. Enjoy the scenic view of this stone and listen to the myth associated with this stone! it would be a wonderful day of discovery! in the evening you will return to your hotel.
Day: 4
kakamega rain forest - kisumu (lake victoria)
Early in the morning, you will depart to the rainforest for a sunrise walk. After breakfast, you will depart and drive to kisumu town - the town surrounded the by the lake victoria. You will take a trip through this highway along which lives different communities. The local communities along this highway are mostly engaged in trade - the buying and selling of goods thus the reason as to have a lot of local markets along this road. Make stopovers at a few (one or two) chosen markets and see how economically they thrive in their local trade with each market having a unique commodity that thrives there.
In vihiga county, you will visit the cultural center here showcasing the culture of the local people staying here. Enjoy african cuisine at a local restaurant and proceed to kisumu. In kisumu, you will visit the hippo point.The hippo point is an open viewing point for lake victoria, africas largest freshwater lake. At hippo point, you can choose to do a boat trip on lake victoria (optional at an extra cost). Otherwise, you can take the afternoon to relax
Day: 5
kisumu - maasai mara game reserve
Maasai mara national reserve is one of the most popular tourist destinations in kenya, africa. The reserve is located in the great rift valley in open grassland. Maasai mara is regarded as the jewel of kenyas wildlife viewing areas. 95 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and over 400 species of birds have been recorded in this park. In maasai mara, you will hardly miss seeing the big five. The annual wildebeest migration takes place in this park between july and october. The ecosystem of maasai mara holds one of the highest lion densities in the world and this is where over two million wildebeest, zebras, and thomson`s gazelle migrate every year. Nowhere in africa is wildlife more abundant than in maasai mara. Morning and afternoon game drives are what will take the day to day. Do not miss the encounter of any of the big five.
Day: 6
maasai mara game reserve - maasai village visit
The maasai tribe is one of the most authentic ethnic tribes of kenya. With a rich cultural background, the maasai have maintained their rich culture despite all the western influences, civilization, education etc. They have clung to their rich way the traditional way of life which has made them a symbol of kenyan culture. You will spend this day engaging in activities of this rich culture and learning why and how this community has maintained their rich cultural heritage. Song and dance the maasai way will welcome you to this community. A tour of the village and to understand and be part of the activities they engage in for economic empowerment.
Take the traditional jump together with the morans and see how far you can go! understand how the warrior is of great importance to this community, how does the transition from a moran to a warrior, what is his responsibility in the community, who mentors him from one level to another, etc. In the midst of these warriors, you will be taken through the elaborate "eunoto" ceremony - a ceremony performed to transition the morans to warriors. You will enjoy being engaged in the details of this ceremony, being a part of the preparations for this ceremony, and realizing the beauty of diverse culture. Visit a village school in this community and be part of their learning today and share meaningful moments with these children and the community at large. In the late afternoon, you will return to your camp carrying beautiful memories of this day.
Day: 7
maasai mara - nairobi
This early morning you will have an option of doing a hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast (optional at an extra cost 450 usd per person) or an early morning game drive which is highly recommended. The activity allows you the opportunity (with luck) to come face to face with hunters in search of their prey! after this amazing experience, you will join your driver / guide, bid maasai mara "kwaheri" meaning goodbye and "full of lasting safari memories!" you will depart and drive back to nairobi.
On arrival in nairobi, depending on your onward plans, you will be offered a souvenir shopping adventure at the kazuri beads. Kazuri beads is a center empowering single women economically by engaging them to do beadwork and pottery, thus sustaining their livelihoods and empowering them economically. Get "a bead for every mood!" asaray tours ltd will then drop you to your own onward plans.
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