Safari Quick Facts

After an English buffet breakfast at the camp, we set out for a game drive in the sanctuary. We visit Morani, the tamed orphaned black Rhino who has been reared by hand and can even be touched and cuddled! Children love to have their photo taken with him. We also visit the Jane Goodall chimpanzee sanctuary, home to over 40 chimpanzees rescued from Burundi. The chimpanzees are reared for reintroduction back into the wild. Depending on time, you may be able to take an optional camel ride.
After lunch at the camp we check out and depart. Our drive takes us further north to Samburu national reserve. After registering at the park gate we proceed with game viewing en-route to our camp. Samburu wildlife reserve is situated in the arid and rugged part of the country, north of Mount Kenya and the Equator. It is watered by the river Uaso Nyiro which apart from supporting life in this dry area, is home to an impressive population of crocodiles, usually seen sunning themselves on the river banks. Along the riverbed the rare Doum Palms dot the otherwise scrubby, dry landscape adding to the beauty of the scenery. Rolling hills form a stunning backdrop to the landscape making this a photographer’s paradise.
There are rare species of animals found only in this region and these include the reticulated Giraffe, the Somali Ostrich and the Grevy’s Zebra. Other game include Elephant, Buffalo, Impala, Gazelle, the long necked Gerenuk, the beautiful Kudu, Dik Dik, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard and Oryx. It was in Samburu national reserve that a Lioness adopted an Oryx baby three times protecting it from other predators and seemingly affording it motherly love. Scientists have since been investigating this strange and abnormal behavior by the beast. Birdlife in this area is prolific. Over 300 species have been identified.
On arrival at the Intrepids Tented camp we check in. Dinner is taken in the camp. The luxury tents all have en-suite facilities, with verandahs overlooking the riverbanks where elephant and buffalo regularly come in to drink.

This morning we have an early wake up call. Tea, coffee and some pastries will be served, and then we join our driver/guides for an early morning game drive in the reserve, looking for the unique animals found here. As the reserve is relatively small, animals are easy to find so keep your eyes peeled and binoculars ready! Reticulated giraffes are relatively common in the reserve and differ from their southern cousins in their perfectly arranged pattern. A very common dwarf antelope in these parts is the tiny dik dik, who is devoted to its mate for its entire lifetime. Another local inhabitant is the Grevy's zebra, with distinctive wide stripes that don't quite go all the way under the belly. Many other species exist in the reserve and large crocodiles and hippos inhabit the river. Leopard, lion, cheetah and hyena are found here and an unusual treat is that leopards are commonly seen in daylight.
We return to the camp for breakfast, and the rest of the morning is spent at leisure in the camp. You may choose to swim in the camp’s pool or just relax and let the hot part of the day pass by.
For the children there are the Adventurer’s Clubs and Young Rangers Clubs, with many activities on offer. Activities in the Adventurers Club include:
Build your own Masai homestead
Learn to make a fire with a pair of sticks
Bush Treasure hunts
Plant a tree
Hide and seek in animals “clothes”

In the Young Rangers Club there are the following activities to name a few:
Bush Orienteering
First Aid
Mammal Behavior Studies
Guided bush walks
We have lunch in the camp, and later in the afternoon, we go on another game drive in the reserve, returning to the camp before nightfall, and for dinner.

This morning, we have breakfast at the lodge before checking out. We cross the Equator and skirt the Aberdare mountain ranges to the great Rift Valley. We stop off at Kenya’s longest waterfalls – the Nyahururu Falls where we have a picnic lunch. Then we continue in a westerly direction to Lake Nakuru National Park. After registering at the park gate, we begin our game drive in the park and around the lake.
This park is an all time favourite for visitors as well as locals. It is an ornithologist’s paradise, as hundreds of thousands of flamingos live on this lake feeding on algae, their main diet. Lake Nakuru National Park is also famous as its large population of pink flamingos, featured in the movie “Out of Africa”. The fishing pelicans are also seen in large colonies swimming amongst the flamingos as they go about their fishing errands. Stilts, cormorants, Goliath heron, egret and Masai ostrich are just some of the birds to be found around the lake. The park around the lake was recently designated as a Rhino sanctuary. Here, both the black and the white Rhino are regularly seen with ease. Although not native to this park, these animals were introduced since the park offers good security from poachers. The rhinos are involved in an active breeding program to maintain and improve gene pool diversity. It is also the best park to observe leopard whose population here is impressive. This is home to the rare and endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Other game include cape Buffalo, Waterbuck, Impala, Gazelle, Common Zebra and Lion. So don’t forget your binoculars!

We check into our lodge in the early evening, and have dinner at the lodge.

Another early wake up call, breakfast and check out. We drive to the Naivasha area, and take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, to see hippos and birds. We then continue via Narok town to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve, arriving at our camp for a late lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to allow you to settle in. Again our camp has large luxury tents and showers.
Later in the afternoon, we set out for an afternoon game drive in the reserve, returning to the camp before nightfall and for dinner. The Masai Mara Reserve is probably the most famous of the game parks in Kenya. Recently crowned the 7th wonder of the world, the Masai Mara is pristine African wilderness. This reserve is world famous for its vast assemblage of plains’ game together with their assorted predators. It is the stage for the annual migration – millions of Wildebeest and Zebra follow the timeless ritual of migration, moving from Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in search of fodder as they have done since time immemorial. This takes place from late July to September.
It is home to the colourful Masai tribe who live on the ranches around the edge of the park – look out for young boys herding large herds of cattle and goats, elders grouped under trees discussing the matters of the day, and warriors loping across the plains or women out collecting firewood and maybe water.

After our wake up call, we have tea, coffee and some pastries before we join our driver/guides and set out for an early morning game drive in the reserve. This is the best time to go out in search of game as during the early hours temperatures are low and so comfortable for the animals to roam the vast savannahs. It is the best time to chance catching lions and leopards on their hunting trails.
The reserve is home to the largest population of lions to be found in Kenya, as well as huge herds of elephant and antelopes. The area is bisected by the Mara River which every now and then comes into tumultuous flood, and which is boarded by a section of luxurious riverine forest. Hippo laze in its waters, while drowsy looking crocodiles sunbathe on the banks, mouths agape. Birdlife is prolific with over 400 species easily identified.
We return to the camp for breakfast, and the rest of the morning is spent at leisure in the camp. Again there are plenty of activities in the Adventurers and Young Rangers Clubs.
We have lunch in the camp, and later in the afternoon, we set out on our afternoon game drive in the reserve, returning to the camp before nightfall, and for dinner.

This morning we have time for a leisurely breakfast in the camp. We check out after breakfast and drive back to Nairobi to arrive around lunch time. Please note that lunch is not included today. You will be dropped off at the hotel, and the rest of the day is free – maybe to do some last minute shopping.