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Kenya Small Group Safari Tour: Shaba, Samburu + Masai Mara + Mombasa

Kenya Tour: Shaba + Lake Nakuru + Masai Mara + Diani Beach

12 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,944

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

KYC12N

• Kenya Small Group Safari Tour

• Nairobi

• Shaba, Samburu

• Game Drives

• Elephants

• Gerenuk

• Masai Mara Game Reserve

• Lion, Hyena & Cheetah

• Mombasa Beach

• Snorkelling & Diving

Enquire about this exciting Kenya small group safari tour that travels to Shaba in the northern Samburu region, before continuing to the open plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, famous for its 'big cats'. End your holiday relaxing on a glorious Indian Ocean beach south of Mombasa. Tour departs every Tuesday (group size 2 to 7), with guaranteed window seat.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Nairobi Airport and transferred to your hotel in this bustling city.

Check in and relax in your warm and friendly African surroundings.

Day 2

This morning we visit the Giraffe Centre. Founded by Betty & Jock Leslie-Melville to save the endangered Rothschild Giraffe from extinction, this centre plays an important role in educating Kenyan school children on the country's wildlife and environment. It also allows visitors to come into close contact with the world's tallest species, including the opportunity to feed a gorgeous giraffe.

We then visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (open only from 11 to 12 noon). It took Daphne Sheldrick 28 years of trial and error to perfect the milk formula and complex husbandry required to rear orphaned African elephants, during the period that her husband was warden of Kenya's largest elephant sanctuary in Tsavo East National Park. Since then this sanctuary has gone on to save the lives of many orphaned elephant calves.

Afterwards enjoy a game drive in Nairobi National Park. This was the first national park created in Kenya and, despite its relatively small size and close proximity to the skyscrapers of the city, it boasts a large and varied wildlife population. Animals migrate to this park during the dry season, as it offers them a permanent source of water. You can hope to see lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino - but not elephant as the park is not large enough to sustain them. You can also see giraffe, zebra, eland, impala, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, warthog and ostrich in the woodlands and open plains, and hippo in the Mbagathi Athi River which is lined with fever and acacia trees. The park also has a very successful rhino sanctuary. A picnic lunch is included today.

Note: Visits to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage can only be booked 90 days in advance and are subject to availability (maximum 100 visitors per day).

Day 3

A full day on the road today as we leave Nairobi and drive 6-hours towards Samburu National Park, travelling in a safari jeep (with pop-up roof for game viewing and guaranteed window seat).

We pass near Thika and continue northwards travelling through some breathtaking scenery dotted with rushing mountain streams and fields of tea and coffee. As we pass beautiful Mount Kenya we stop at the point where we cross the equator. Here you can see how water drains in opposite directions as you cross from the southern to the northern hemisphere. We continue to the dusty outpost of Isiolo, the last major stop on our journey, before arriving at our lodge in Shaba.

Check in and relax amongst these dramatic semi-arid landscapes, surrounded by the Samburu and Matthew Range Mountains. In the afternoon enjoy a game drive in this wonderful wildlife wilderness, returning as the sun sets.

Note: Due to limited space in the vehicle, rigid suitcases are not suitable. Luggage needs to be packed in soft side bags (sports bags are ideal) not exceeding 15 kg and 65 x 46 cm. Excess baggage can be left with our representative in Nairobi. On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of similar quality.

Day 4

Enjoy an early morning game drive in Shaba Game Reserve, followed by a riverside breakfast against the backdrop of the Ewaso Ngiro River. Delight in this experience, as the wilderness slowly comes alive around you. After lunch we head out again on a late afternoon game drive. Wildlife roams freely between the vast protected areas of Shaba, Samburu and Buffalo Springs, all of which are situated in the tribal lands of the colourful and semi-nomadic Samburu people, who are close relatives of the Maasai.

This hot and arid region is home to a variety of wildlife some mostly found only north of the equator - including the strange gerenuk, which stands upright on its spindly hind legs to browse from trees, the large Grevy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. Crocodiles can be found in the broad Ewaso Ngiro, as well as large herds of elephants that wander along its banks. You can also hope to see lion, cheetah, Grant’s gazelle, the small dik dik and waterbuck, amongst others.

Birding is excellent with over 350 different species. Special birds to look out for include the Somali bee-eater, African pygmy falcon, Taita fiscal, black-bellied sunbird, golden-breasted starling, orange-bellied parrot, pink-breasted lark, fawn-coloured lark, Verreaux’s eagle, vulturine guineafowl, Von der Decken’s hornbill, eastern yellow-billed hornbill, northern red-billed hornbill, almost endemic Donaldson-Smith’s sparrow-weaver, black-capped social weaver, chestnut weaver and chestnut sparrow.

Day 5

Leaving Shaba behind, we spend a full day on the road today as we travel 6.5-hours to Lake Nakuru in the heart of the Great Rift Valley.

We travel south through Isiolo and traverse the foothills of Mount Kenya to Nanyuki, before continuing via Nyahururu to Lake Nakuru. A soda lake on the floor of the Rift Valley, at certain times of the year this lake is home to huge throngs of pelicans and over 400 different bird species, including the Greater (white) and Lesser (pink) flamingo. The lake is also a haven for certain endangered species including the Rothschild giraffe and black and white rhino.

On arrival we check into our lodge, before enjoying a late afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Day 6

Following an early breakfast, we travel 5-hours from Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara, named after the Maasai people and the Mara River which divides the park.

We drive past Maai Mahiu and down to the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle. From Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand, we traverse the "breadbasket" of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley cover the landscape, as we travel towards the Masai Mara.

Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest from the adjoining Serengeti National Park. This phenomenon occurs every year from July to October (although exact timings cannot be guaranteed), when game migrates along a circular route from the plains of the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and back again in search of fresh pastures, followed by hungry predators - most notably lions and hyena. Check into your lodge and enjoy game viewing in this magnificent wildlife sanctuary.

Day 7

Today is dedicated to game viewing on the open plains of the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve.

We set off early this morning, when game viewing conditions are at their best, to view the abundant wildlife of this region. Return to the lodge to rest in the heat of the day, before setting off again in the late afternoon for another game drive.

Nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley, the Masai Mara is famous for its many prides of lions, packs of hyena and other predators - as well as huge herds of wildebeest, which number over one million, zebra and giraffe. All the Big Five can be seen here, as well as numerous other species including the Thomson's gazelle, topi, kongoni, impala, roan antelope and hippo. The nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely found elsewhere in Kenya, also inhabits this park as well as the endangered cheetah and black rhino.

Bird watching is also excellent with over 450 different species. These include the Marabou stork, Secretary bird, Crowned crane, Ostrich, Brown snake eagle, Black-chested snake eagle, Bateleur, Martial eagle, African paradise flycatcher, Red-fronted & White-headed barbet, Black-faced go-away bird, Woodland kingfisher, Violet-backed starling, Black cuckoo-shrike and various species of larks, cisticolas, vultures, hornbills and so much more.

Note: Optional early morning Hot Air Balloon ride on request.

Day 8

This morning we leave the Masai Mara and drive 4-hours back to Nairobi.

Here you will be dropped off at your hotel conveniently situated near the airport.

Day 9

Take the free hotel shuttle to Nairobi Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Ukunda Airport on the south coast and transferred to your hotel in Diani Beach.

Check in to your resort on the shores of the sparkling Indian Ocean and relax in your warm beach surroundings.

Days 10 To 12

At leisure to relax and soak up the sun on warm Diani Beach.

Enjoy the lush tropical gardens of coconut trees, fan-shaped travellers palms and the vibrant blooms of hibiscus, bougainvilleas and frangipani - as well the splendid coastline. Various watersports are available, as well as many optional activities such as a snorkelling trip to Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island, Mombasa city tour, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and golf.

Note: Please be aware that there will be hawkers on the beach, trying to sell you excursions and trinkets. Don't be taken in by them and simply say 'No' very firmly. They are not allowed in the grounds of your hotel.

Day 13

Transfer 2-hours by road and local ferry to Mombasa Airport for your flight home.

Note: All inclusive programmes stop after check-out at 10 am, so you will need to pay for any food or drink consumed after this time.

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