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KENYA AND TANZANIA DISCOVERY SAFARI
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS.
KENYA SAFARI.
Day 1 - The Nairobi Serena Hotel - Nairobi
Day 2 - Samburu Serena Lodge - Samburu Nat. Reserve
Day 3 - Samburu Serena Lodge - Samburu Nat. Reserve
Day 4 - Serena Mountain Lodge - Mt. Kenya Nat. Park
Day 5 - Sarova Lion Hill Lodge - Lake Nakuru Nat. Park.
Day 6 - Mara Serena Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 7 - Mara Serena Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
NORTHERN TANZANIA.
Day 8 - Tarangire Serena Lodge - Tarangire Nat. Park.
Day 9 - Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - Ngorongoro Crater
Conservation.
Day 10 - Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - Ngorongoro Crater
Conservation.
Day 11 - Serengeti Serena Lodge - Serengeti Nat. Park.
Day 12 - Serengeti Serena Lodge - Serengeti Nat. Park.
Day 13 - Lake Manyara Serena Lodge - Lake Manyara Nat.
Park.
Day 14 - Return to Nairobi and depart.
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI, ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI, THE
NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL.
Arrive at
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Nairobi on board
flight…… at ……hrs, go through the passport control then
down to the luggage collection hall. Collect your
luggage from the conveyor belt and walk out to the
arrival concourse. Someone shall be waiting for you
holding a folder written 'TRAVEL CONNECTIONS'.
Drive from
the airport to Nairobi Serena Hotel and check in.
Rest of the day at leisure.
The
Nairobi Serena is a beautiful garden hotel. The hotel's
clean white silhouette rises at the edge of Nairobi's
extensive Central Park. Surrounded by its own tropical
garden, the hotel's rather stark lines are softened by
cascades of plants and flowers growing on terrace areas
and individual balconies. From the gardens, terraces,
swimming pool, and many of the rooms, there is a
striking view of modern Nairobi's distinctive skyline,
especially beautiful at night.
The
Mandhari is one of Nairob's finest a la carte
restaurants. The elegance of the food, fine linens and
silver is perfectly complemented by the inspired use of
Kisii stone from western Kenya. The popular and more
informal Café Maghreb is North African in style with
arched recesses displaying pieces of brass and copper,
and colourful tapestry screens separating tables. The
Kisima Bar is decorated to reflect the importance of
water themes in Swahili coastal life. 'Kisima' means
watering hole in Swahili. There are low divans and
stools, Swahili implements and murals on the walls.
Overnight
at Nairobi Serena Hotel - bed and breakfast.
DAY 2 - NAIROBI TO SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK.
After a
sumptuous breakfast at the Thorn Tree Café drive north.
Drive past the densely populated central province. Cross
the equator at Nanyuki, drive by the western side of Mt.
Kenya, then down to Isiolo and further to Samburu Nat.
Reserve.
Depart on
an afternoon game drive.
Dinner and
overnight Samburu Serena Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 3 - SAMBURU NATIONAL GAME RESERVE.
This day
is dedicated to game viewing in Samburu National Game
Reserve.
The
Samburu National Game Reserve extends for an area of 105
square kilometers north of the meandering Ewaso Ngiro or
'Brown' river. It is part of a lava plain that includes
a varied landscape of
 red dirt, thorn scrub, broken
volcanic rock, dried river beds, steep hills, and rocky
outcroppings, some large enough to be called mesas.
Following the river curves, a riverine forest of doum
palms, acacia, and tamarind is a magical contrast of
cool green. It is attractive to the region's wildlife
and visitors alike. There are elephants, hippos,
crocodiles and leopards, as well as plains game, other
small mammals and birdlife. The region is home to the
rare Grevy Zebra with large furry ears, gerenuk antelope
standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with
their distinctive blue legs, and the shy oryx beisa.
Lunch and
dinner at the club. Overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge -
fullboard.
DAY 4 - SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK TO SERENA MOUNTAIN LODGE
(180KMS - 3 HRS)
After
breakfast drive to Isiolo which is 40kms away on the
rough dirt road. Head back towards Mount Kenya passing
by large wheat farms before arriving at Nanyuki town.
Continue to the foot of Mount Kenya arriving at
Serena Mountain Lodge for lunch.
The rest
of the afternoon at the lodge.
Serena
Mountain Lodge is located in the indigenous forest 7200
feet up in the foot hills of the Mount Kenya National
Reserve. The lodge is a four storey boxlike structure
built in 1970. It overlooks a natural waterhole and salt
lick surrounded by dense forest. On a clear day, you can
see the jagged peaks of Mt. Kenya's summit through the
trees. Each of the bedrooms faces directly over the
waterhole. This is what makes Mountain Lodge appealing.
You can view the game in the comfort and privacy of your
own room - no need for a midnight dash to a public are
in order to see the animals. Each room has a private
bathroom and either an open balcony or a large picture
window.
Game most
frequently seen include: buffalo, elephant, rhino,
forest hogs, suni, red duiker, spotted hyena, genet cat,
and if you are lucky, a leopard or the big male lion who
makes his appearance every now and then. Since the lodge
was deliberately located beside a route animals travel
between Mt. Kenya and the lowlands, it is not uncommon
to see very large herds of animals. At night the
waterhole area is lit by floodlights.
Dinner and
overnight at Serena Mountain Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 5 - SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK TO SAROVA LION HILL LODGE
(250KMS - 4 HRS)
After
breakfast drive to Isiolo which is 40kms away on the
rough dirt road. Head back towards Mount Kenya passing
by large wheat farms before arriving at Nanyuki town.
drive along the Aberdares Ranges to Thompson's falls at
Nyahururu for a short break. Continue down the Great
Rift Valley to arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for
lunch inside the Lake Nakuru National Park.
Depart on
an afternoon game drive.
Created as
a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru National Park features
more than 400 species of birds, many from Europe and
East Asia. The park includes a large savanna area to the
south. A shallow blue-green alkaline lake famous for its
flocks of pink lesser and greater flamingoes. The
tilapia grahami fish has been introduced to provide food
for the pelicans who also call Lake Nakuru home. The
blue-green color is because of the presence of
blue-green algae called spirulinga. The level of the
lake goes up and down with the amount of rainfall and
the color is dependent on the conditions for the growth
of algae. There have been up to two million flamingoes
on the lake at one time. When disturbed the birds lift
gracefully into the air in a solid moving pink carpet.
Nakuru has
proven to be an excellent and safe sight for the
Rothschild giraffe and black rhino. It is an excellent
spot also to photograhp the hippo, reedbuck and defassa
waterbuck.
Dinner and
overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 6 - LAKE NAKURU TO MASAI MARA SERENA LODGE
(320KMS-5HRS).
After an
early breakfast drive via Narok to Masai Mara Nat.
Reserve to arrive in time for lunch at the Masai Mara
Serena Lodge.
This
popular lodge is set high on a ridge within the reserve.
It commands magnificent uninterrupted views down across
the Mara plains and over two water holes. The Mara
Serena's unique architecture and décor suggest a fantasy
Masai manyatta - rounded spaces, earth tones, natural
furnishings and tribal touches. A swimming pool has been
positioned to take advantage of the wonderful view.
Depart in
the afternoon on game hunting.
Dinner and
overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 7 - MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE.
This day
is solely reserved for game viewing in the vast Masai
Mara National Reserve.
 The Masai
Mara is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It is an
extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, and
offers the best game viewing in Kenya. On these wide
open rolling grasslands you can often see an incredible
variety of different animals at one time. Perhaps a
cheetah mother sits on a termite mound with her punky-looking
cubs, while beyond, gazelle, antelope and zebra placidly
graze. Giraffe might peer curiously through the trees,
while elephants pass on silent feet and vultures circle
above. Every year millions of wildebeests migrate north
from the Serengeti to the green grass of the Mara. This
exciting spectacle usually occurs sometime between July
and August.
Even when
animals are not highlighting the scene, the views by
themselves are worth the trip. Visits to a Masai
manyatta can be arranged between you and the driver.
Another popular 'excursion' is a romantic hot air
balloon trip where you view animals from above and then
touch down for an extravagant breakfast in the bush.
Lunch,
dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 8 - MASAI MARA TO NARIOBI THEN TO ARUSHA (BY
FLIGHT) THEN TO TARANGIRE NAT. PARK (BY ROAD – 3 HOURS).
After
breakfast drive to Nairobi for lunch then take afternoon
flight to Arusha.
NORTHERN TANZANIA.
Meet and
greet at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport then drive to
Tarangire National Park. Do afternoon game drive
en-route to lodge. Arrive at Tarangire Sopa Lodge in the
evening.
Tarangire
comes from Tarangire River which rises in the Kondoa
Highlands of Central Tanzania and makes its way
northwards through the length of the park. Before
becoming a national park, Tarangire was originally a
popular hunting area. Today, it is regarded as one of
the best wildlife areas remaining in
Tanzania. The
principal features of the park include the lake, swamps,
rivers and rock outcrops. Interestingly, this area is
engulfed by several hills. Oldonyo Ngahari is to the
east while Kalima is to the south, Sangaiwe and
Haidedonga are to the west and Kitibong a bit further
inside from the two. On the other hand Tarangire hill is
almost centrally located.
The major
attractions in Tarangire National Park include the
vegetation zones of which the Acacia Tortillis parkland
is the most attractive to visitors. The park is also
famous for having many species of birds. The other
attraction is the tree climbing python, a rare
occurrence in other parks.
Dinner and
overnight at Tarangire Sopa Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 9 - TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO CRATER.
After
breakfast take picnic lunch and depart on a whole day
game drive that will take you from Tarangire Nat. Park
to Ngorongoro Crater. You will visit Olduvai Gorge
en-route.
As if in a
land before time, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is built into
the rim of a dormant volcano, the plant and ivy-covered
native stone blending masterfully with its surroundings.
Close by lies the Olduvai Gorge, the 'birthplace of
man'. Today the volcano and surrounding landscape are
part of a vast conservation area inhabited by the masai
tribe, as well as an extra-ordinary variety of big game
and birdlife. Most guest rooms have private terraces
with views of the crater floor where countless animals
make their home. At Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, visitors
co-exist in perfect harmony with the natural environment
and wildlife that inhabits it.
Arrive at
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge late in the afternoon.
Dinner and
overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 10 - NGORONGORO NATIONAL PARK.
This day
is solely reserved for a full day game viewing of the
crater with picnic lunch.
Ngorongoro
crater is without doubt one of the most outstanding
natural features in the world and was declared a World
Heritage Site in 1978. Stunningly beautiful, the 18 km
wide and 600 meter deep caldera is teeming with wildlife
and one of the best places to see black rhino. On a full
day crater tour to this garden of Eden, with a picnic in
a shady grove, most large mammals can be seen.
Lunch,
dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge -
fullboard.
DAY 11 - NGORONGORO CRATER TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.
After
breakfast take picnic lunch and depart for Serengeti
National Park.
Serengeti
Serena Lodge is set high on a hill with breathtaking
vistas of a landscape teeming with game. The lodge
design is simple but stunning. Inspired by a traditional
African village, separate rondavel 'huts' house the
luxury guest rooms. From the overall impression to the
smallest detail, the lodge is rich in local atmosphere
created by indigenous handicrafts and art.
Arrive at
Serengeti Serena Lodge late in the afternoon.
Dinner
and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge - fullboard.
DAY 12 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.
These days
are solely reserved for game viewing in the park.
Serengeti
is the most famous of Tanzania's national parks and is
one of the world's last great wildlife refuges. On the
seemingly endless and almost treeless plains, there are
an estimated three million large animals in constant
search of food and water. Most take part in a seasonal
migration that is unparallel in nature. Driven by the
rains, over one million wildebeest and a few hundred
thousand zebra and gazelles move to fresh grazing lands,
in columns of several kilometers length and crossing
crocodile infested rivers without regard to losses.
Lunch,
dinner and overnight in Serengeti Serena Lodge -
fullboard.
DAY 13 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO LAKE MANYARA
NATIONAL PARK (200KM - 4 HRS).
After
breakfast drive to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for lunch.
 It is
difficult to imagine a more spectacular setting for Lake
Manyara Serena Lodge - on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu
(mosquito river) escarpment, overlooking the Great Rift
Valley and the stunning Manyara soda lake. Tree-climbing
lions are but one lure. The extraordinary birdlife has
made this place world renowned among ornithologists, who
come to observe the masses of pink flamingoes and great
birds of prey. The abundant birdlife inspired the design
of Lake Manyara Serena Lodge - swooping curves are
complemented by soft, geometric patterns, stylish murals
depict bird migration patterns. The circular shape of
the buildings is a tribute to indigenous architectural
traditions. Beyond the superb standards of hospitality
offered, there is a spirit of tranquility that prevails.
Depart for
an afternoon game drive.
This
slightly alkaline lake at the bottom of the Great Rift
Valley can vary in size considerably depending on the
season. Part of its western shore, squeezed between the
water and the foot of the steep Rift Valley Escarpment
is a National Park. Different habitats are concentrated
on a small area: open water marshes, grasslands and a
lush forest fed by groundwater. Hot springs and hippo
pools complete the scenery allowing interesting game
viewing.
Lunch,
dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge -
fullboard.
DAY 14 - LAKE MANYARA TO ARUSHA THEN TO NAIROBI AND
DEPARTURE.
Drive to
Arusha for lunch, then transfer in the afternoon to
Namanga then further to Nairobi. Farewell dinner in
Nairobi then transfer to the airport for your
international departure flight.
COST:
LOW SEASON – 01 APRIL TO 31 MAY 2008.
2 PERSONS – USD 4,522.- PER PERSON
3 PERSONS – USD 3,785.- PER PERSON
4 PERSONS – USD 3,465.- PER PERSON
5 PERSONS – USD 3,272.- PER PERSON
6 PERSONS – USD 3,143.- PER PERSON
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT - USD 381.-
HIGH SEASON – 03 JANUARY TO 31 MARCH AND 01 JUNE TO 15 DECEMBER 2008.
2 PERSONS – USD 5,383.- PER PERSON
3 PERSONS – USD 4,611.- PER PERSON
4 PERSONS – USD 4,126.- PER PERSON
5 PERSONS – USD 4,109.- PER PERSON
6 PERSONS – USD 3,984- PER PERSON
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT - USD 791.-
Cost
includes-
ˇ
All
transfers
ˇ
Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
ˇ
1 regional
flight - Nairobi to Arusha - tax inclusive.
ˇ
Safari
vehicle during the safari
ˇ
Experienced English speaking driver guide during the
safari
ˇ
Game
drives
ˇ
All park
entrance fees.
Not
included-
ˇ
International flights and taxes
ˇ
Visa fees
for Kenya and Tanzania
ˇ
Personal
insurance policy
ˇ
Personal
effects and toiletries
ˇ
Laundry
and telephones.
ˇ
Drinks
ˇ
Tips.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1.
CURRENCY
Kenya
money is called Kenya Shillings, abbreviated as Kshs.
100 cents makes 1 shilling. 1 US$ is equivalent to about
Kshs.
70/= but this may change from more to less from
bank to bank and lodge to lodge depending on the
percentage of the commission taken.
Tanzania
money is called Tanzania Shillings, abbreviated as Tshs.
1 US$ is equivalent to about Tshs.
700/=.
Most banks
in Kenya and Tanzania open between 09:00hrs and
15:00hrs. There are however bureau de change in every
urban center and the open as earlier as 08:00hrs and
close at 17:00hrs. Hotels and lodges change currencies
as well.
2.
VISA/MASTER CARDS
Most
lodges and hotels included shops accept the use of
Visa/Master cards.
3.
WATER
On the
whole safari, it is recommended that you use only
mineral water for drinking. Tap water may be used for
shower and brushing of teeth, but we do not recommend
that you drink it. The hotels and lodges have enough
mineral water and you may also purchase this en-route
when you make short breaks between the destinations.
4.
WEATHER
January is
quite hot in East Africa. Summer runs from December to
March and rain, if any will be little. The nights could
however be cool. You will require warm clothing during
the evenings i.e. jackets, long sleeved blouses and
shirts, trousers etc. For the day, you may need casual
clothing as t-shirts and shorts.
5.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Generally,
photography is allowed in Kenya and Tanzania. (The
animals get a monthly wage for posing for the photos, so
you are encouraged to take as many shots as you wish).
Do not take photos of strangers, police officers,
military personnel, presidential motorcade, masai
herdsmen and women or any other traditionally dresses
persons. You may seek permission first before taking
shots of strangers and masai people. Your driver will be
at your service for any assistance that you may need.
6.
POWER VOLTAGE
All
regions in Kenya and Tanzania are supplied with 240
volts. Almost all sockets you will find on safari are
those that take in the rectangular prongs plug. You may
however need to carry an adaptor just in case the two
bottom holes are too wide apart for the charger prongs
to go in. Most lodges and hotels will provide you with
an adaptor if you do not have one. It will be very rare
to find sockets with rounded prongs.
7.
TIPPING
As a sign
of appreciation, you may offer some tips to those who
offer services at the hotels on the entire safari.
However, tipping remains entirely on you. Should you
feel like tipping for services rendered, we recommend
that porters and waiters be given at least US$ 1.- For
the driver-guide, we recommend a tip of between US$ 5.-
to US$ 7.- per person per day.
8.
DO'S AND DON'TS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES.
-
Do not throw litter or leave litter. There are
litter bins at designated places or you may leave them
in the bus.
-
Do not feed the animals, i.e. monkeys, baboons
etc
-
Do give the animals the right of way and do not
disturb wildlife
-
Do not take any plant or animals, dead or alive.
-
Do not start fires or throw cigarettes
-
Do stay in your vehicle except at designated
viewing points
-
Do not shout, laugh loudly, play radio or
cassettes as this will keep away the animals.
-
Do enjoy yourself to the fullest
Travel Connections wishes you all an unforgettable
Africa safari. |
