KENYA.
Day 1 – Nairobi Serena Hotel – Nairobi
Day 2 – Mara Serena Lodge – Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 3 – Mara Serena Lodge – Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 4 – Return to Nairobi.
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.
After an early breakfast drive to Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Arrive in time for lunch at 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.
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.
Drive back to Nairobi
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.
Most banks in Kenya 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.
Most lodges and hotels included shops accept the use of Visa/Master cards.
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.
July is the cold in Nairobi with little or no rains at all. South Eastern Kenya and Northern Tanzania would have cool evenings and a spell of sun during the day. Temperatures would range from 20 to 24 degrees Celsius during the night and as high as 27 degrees Celsius during the day. 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.
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 a much 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.
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.
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.
