Kenya Wildebeest Migration Safari: 10 Days

Land only tour starts in Nairobi this morning. Arrival Nairobi. Met and greeted with our "traditional welcome" and escorted to The Stanley Hotel in the heart of the city by AfriChoice! Tours & Travel representatives. You will be assisted with check-in procedures. Rest of the afternoon is spent on a Nairobi orientation sightseeing featuring visits to Nairobi's principal lan dmarks, the parliament buildings, and the capital hill to have a panoramic view of Nairobi. Situated in the Central Highlands at an altitude of 6,130 feet (1,870 metres), Nairobi enjoys a mild climate. On our driving tour of the city and its surroundings we will see Uhuru Park, Kenya's Parliament House, the Kenyatta Conference Centre, City Square and some of Nairobi's nicest suburbs. We visit the Kenya National Museum with our guide to learn about Kenya's wildlife, geology and human history. This evening, we assemble for a safari briefing before proceeding to the famous Carnivore Restaurant for a mouth-watering barbecue "Welcome to Kenya" dinner. Return to your city hotel for overnight. Dinner is included. The Sarova Stanley Hotel. [Dinner, Bed & Breakfast].

Our safari begins with the thrill of overnight game viewing in the comfort of a Tree Hotel The lush hills of Aberdare National Park are covered by Kenya's densest forest and form the eastern flank of the Great Rift Valley. Outside the park itself we pass many ranches, coffee plantations and early European settlements. We leave our main luggage at the base hotel and continue with just our overnight bags to one of the famous "tree hotels", deep in the Aberdares Forest. On our journey to our lodge we hope to see typical forest-dwelling animals such as the black and white Colobus Monkeys. A special feature of the lodge where we stay is the floodlit watering hole where we can watch from the lodge itself throughout the night as a great variety of animals come down to drink. Different species of animals are active during the night compared with during the day and many shy species such as rhinos will only approach the lodge at night. It is fascinating to watch their behaviour around the watering hole as they take turns in drinking from the watering hole and eating the salt which is put out for them at the 'salt lick'. In the morning we hope to have spectacular views towards jagged outline of Mount Kenya. There is also excellent bird watching from the lodge terrace into the surrounding trees. Overnight at the Treetops Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving north we pass Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain at 17,000 feet (5,199 metres). The massive size of this mountain and its gleaming and eroded snow-covered multiple peaks means that Mount Kenya dominates the surrounding countryside and even affects the local climate. This is also the traditional homeland of the Kikuyu people, the largest of Kenya's 40 recognized tribes. The Kikuyu believe that their god, Ngai, lives on Mount Kenya and so they build their homes with the doors facing towards the mountain, to welcome their god in. We cross the Equator again into the northern hemisphere on our way to Samburu Game Reserve in a semi-desert area of Kenya. Samburu is located on the Ewaso Nyiro River. In this dry land the forested riverbanks are excellent areas to see wildlife, as all animals congregate here to drink, especially at dusk and early in the morning. This afternoon we take a game drive in the park. First of 2 nights in Samburu. Samburu Simba Game Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Early morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu Game Reserve, which covers 40 square miles (104 square kilometres).Ololokwe Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to our game viewing today. In Samburu we are sure to see elephants, warthogs and buffalo, which can be seen in many of Kenya's parks, but we should also see animals not found in other areas. These include the Grevy's Zebra, which has much narrower and more numerous stripes than the common (Burchell's) zebra.. Samburu is also home to the third of Kenya's giraffe species - the Reticulated Giraffe. This is also our best chance to see the blue-legged Somali Ostrich , the long-necked Gerenuk gazelle and the straight-horned Beisa Oryx antelope. Down by the river we hope to see crocodiles and hippos, as well as many beautiful birds. Second of 2 nights in Samburu. Samburu Simba Game Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

We drive back south from Samburu to the Equator and the slopes of Mount Kenya. Although situated on the Equator, Mount Kenya is permanently covered in glaciers and snow. Here we stay at the Sweetwaters Game Reserve. This very special 23,000 acre wildlife sanctuary was originally established to protect and breed highly-endangered Black Rhinos. In 1994 the Jane Goodall Institute established the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary within the game reserve and moved a large group of chimps here from the unstable situation in their native West Africa. This afternoon we have a game drive in the reserve and tour the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Optional Camel Ride or a Night Game Drive. Overnight at Serena Sweetwaters Camp. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

This morning we drive across the equator and descend the Nyandarua Escarpment into the Great Rift Valley and visit Thomson Falls. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon we take a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park often described as the world's biggest ornithological spectacle. This lake is famous for its flocks of over one million Greater and Lesser Flamingoes. The abundance of these birds is due to the alkaline mineral salts in the water, which support vast blooms of the blue-green algae and diatoms on which the flamingoes feed. As well as seeing many large game animals such as zebras, elephants and gazelles, this is one of our best chances of seeing rhinos. These highly endangered animals are the second largest land animals in the world. Lake Nakuru National Park was the first place in Kenya selected as a rhino reserve. Here is one of the few places where we can see Rothschild's giraffes. Overnight at the Lake Nakuru Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

After a morning game drive, we leave for the Masai Mara located further south into the Great Rift Valley. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Driving south along the Great Rift Valley we come to Lake Naivasha. Even though this lake is on the floor of the Valley, it is still situated at about 6,200 feet (1,890 metres) above sea level. Naivasha presents a mystery - even though the lake has no apparent outflows, its waters are fresh. The other lakes of the Valley also have only way of losing water, by evaporation, but they are very alkaline. Because it is one of the largest sources of fresh water in Kenya, Lake Naivasha attracts a huge variety of birds in large numbers. It is a bird-watchers' paradise. After lunch, we make our way to Kenya's premier wildlife park - the Masai Mara. This is the northern section of the Serengeti Plain, which is home to the greatest concentration of game animals in the world. First of 3 nights in the Masai Mara. Sarova Mara Tented Camp. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

We continue to explore this miraculous area on our morning and afternoon game drives. This open grassland is home to almost every species of East African wildlife including lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. This is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Today we also encounter and learn about the Masai, a proud tribal people struggling to preserve their traditions in the face of modernisation. The vast, open grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara are home to over 3 million large mammals. These include over 1.4 million wildebeest, which migrate in an enormous, straggling herd each year between the southern part of the Serengeti to the northern part and back again. With them move other herbivores such as gazelles and zebra, also looking for the best grass. Along the way they provide food for big predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. Here we learn about and see first hand the intricate web of dependency that binds the different species together. Each animal has adapted to its own niche and to the other animals that surround it. Here we see Nature at its most subtle and, sometimes, most cruel as each animal struggles to survive and reproduce. On our morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara we have a very good chance of seeing all the major Plains animals including lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, hyena, cheetah, jackal, warthog and many species of antelope. At sunset we will visit a section of the Mara River where we hope to see many hippos. Second and third of 3 nights in the Masai Mara. Sarova Mara Tented Camp. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

After breakfast drive to Nairobi, Kenya's colourful capital city. Lunch at famous Carnivore Restaurant. Carnivore Barbecue Experience is also described as 'Meat Eaters Paradise' and is the Africa's Greatest Eating Experence! After lunch, transfer to your hotel (optional dayroom available on request) or Jomo Kenyatta Airport for your onward arrangements. AfriChoice! representative will assist you to check out of your hotel and escort you to check-in for your onward flight. NB: If too tired to drive back to the city, it is also possible to fly back (45mins flight MARA-NAIROBI) on the last day at a small extra fee. Lunch is include but Dinner is not included in your program today.

These items form the basic components of your tour / safari cost and MAY NOT be excluded / removed from the tour pacakge all-together. However, if you still like the tour without some of of the basic components, kindly request for customization of the tour. The tour cost includes;

· Airport Meet and Greet Services with assistance

· Complimentary baggage handling of two pieces per person

· Transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with window seat guarantee

· Express check-in with assistance in your city hotels and safari lodges

· 1 Meal a day / Bed and breakfast accommodation while in your City Hotels

· 2 Meals a day / Half-Board accommodation (if staying in coastal beach) Hotels

· 3 meals a day / Full-Board accommodation whilst on Safari Hotels, lodges or Camps

· All parks and game reserve entry gate fees including vehicle & driver fees

· Services of an English - speaking and professional safari driver/guide

· WIFI Internet Access (Where Available in Hotels, Camps & Lodges) - Non-Guaranteed*

· Unlimited Supply of Complimentary Bottled Drinking Water on safari

· Charging ports in the car for your phone, camera battery, or laptop

· At least a pair of standard Binoculars in every safari vehicle

· Access to AfriChoice 'manned' Call-Centre 24hrs a day, 7 days a week

· Guaranteed Departures with a minimum of just 2 travellers!

· ALL Government taxes and levies

These items are excluded from your tour cost / package. You are therefore expected to make own arrangement for some such as your International Flight Tickets, Travel Insurance and so on. Others are available as 'add-ons' to your tour and we shall be glad to include any extras you like at a reasonable cost. The tour cost excludes;

· International Air Fares to and from Africa

· Travel Insurance Cover, Personal or Baggage (Highly Recommended)

· Cost of Tourist or Business Visa to the country you are visiting

· International airport(s) departures taxes (if not included in your ticket)

· Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and/or quoted separately

· Expenses of personal nature such as phone calls, internet, laundry etc

· Hot Air Balloon Ride (available in Masai Mara and Serengeti)

· All soft and hard drinks (alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits)

· Tips and gratuities to driver guides/lodge/hotel staff

· Cultural Village Visits, Bush Lunches, Bush Dinners or Bush Breakfasts

· All other extras not mentioned in the 'included'

When you book a tour with us, we want always want you to fee special. That is why we go the extra mile not only to make you smile but to ensure that your are taking home only the fondest of memories from our trips. Below are some of the special treatments you are unlikely to find with other tour operators;

· Special 'Welcome Package' for you from our senior tours director upon arrival

· Free upgrade to a 4x4 Safari Vehicle with UNLIMITED game drives on safari

· Illustrated Spectrum Guide® to Africa Wildlife Safaris and Animal Spotter®

· Free supply of UNLIMITED bottled mineral water whilst on safari

· Complimentary 'AfriChoice!® Authentic African Safari Sun Hat

· Free Membership to AMREF's Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation Programme*

· Signed & Sealed 'Participation Certificate' (special adventure quests only*)

· Special 'Farewell Dinner' at the end of your trip (Time Permitting*)