NAH 314LUX - 8 Days Maasai Mara Annual Migration Lodge Safari

(Aberdares National Park, Mt. Kenya National park, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Amboseli National Park)

This is an exciting eight days lodge safari into some of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Kenya. This trip will start at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after your arrival, taking you through to the Aberdare National Park, Mt. Kenya National park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and through the panoramic Rift Valley; the only earth feature observable from space, into Maasai Mara National Reserve, scene of the greatest spectacle of the animal kingdom - the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, and finally the Amboseli National Park.

You will be able to see plenty of wildlife varying from Kenya's big five; the lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and the cheetah among a host of other different animal species. You will travel in a comfortable private minibus van and stay in lodges while on this safari.

Day 1: Arrival -Nairobi - Aberdare National Park
Upon your arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be received by our Tour Manager who will brief you on your Safari. You will then depart for the Aberdare National Park via Naro Moru, stopping over for lunch at Nyeri Town.( We assume that you arrive in the morning hours). You will arrive in the afternoon and be checked into your hotel then take off for a game viewing drive till evening.

The Aberdare National Park is an isolated volcanic range that forms the eastern wall of the rift valley. It has diverse moorlands filled with deep ravines cutting through the forested eastern and western slopes, with many clear streams and waterfalls. It is also an important water catchment area, providing water to the Tana and Athi River. The Park is surrounded by an indigenous forest which houses the famous Kimathi Hideout/Mau Mau caves, which were used as a hide out for Mau Mau fighters. The park is also home to most large mammals such as the black rhinos, leopards, serval, different reptiles, a wide variety of insects and endemic bird species. 

Dinner and Overnight Stay will be at The Ark or similar

Day 2: Aberdare National Park - Mt. Kenya National Park
After breakfast you will be taken for a game viewing drive in the extensive Aberdare Park. You will return to The Ark for lunch and then be checked out of the Ark for departure to the Mount Kenya National Park arriving in the late afternoon in time for a game viewing drive which you will enjoy till evening.

The national park around Mt Kenya is very different from all others. For one thing, the protected area only starts at a height of 3,300meters above sea level and because of the rough mountain country is unsuitable for a motor safari. Although many animals live here (e.g. Elephants, Buffaloes) you do not see many of them except at the water hole by the "mountain lodge" where particularly at night many animals can be observed. The unique vegetation and fantastic scenery attract mountaineers and botanists who can plunge through mountain forests draped with lianas, bamboo and fields of giant heather before coming to the Alpine moorland, bizarre volcanic formations and finally, the eternal ice and glaziers of the summit region.

Dinner and overnight stay will be at Bantu Lodge/Naro Moru Lodge or similar

Day 3: Mt. Kenya National Park - Lake Nakuru National Park
You will enjoy a pre-breakfast game viewing drive before having breakfast and thereafter departing for Lake Nakuru National Park for a memorable game viewing and bird watching experience. You will arrive intime for lunch at the lodge.

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in central Kenya and is protected by a small Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake's abundance of algae attracts a vast quantity of flamingos that famously lines the shore. Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and White rhinos have also been introduced.

Lunch, Dinner and overnight will be at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Pre-breakfast Game drive in the park will be followed by breakfast. Later in the mid-morning check out from the camp and depart for Maasai Mara National Reserve arriving late in the afternoon for an afternoon Game drive till dusk.

The Maasai Mara, now The New 7the wonder of the world and 4th preferred tourist destination in the world is a home to wildlife in such abundance and variety that it is difficult to imagine. The most spectacular event of the natural world takes place here; The annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti (Tanzania) in search of water and pasture while being followed on their heels by the predators of the savanna; lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vulture. It hosts over 450 species of animals which include lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes and elephants.

Dinner and overnight will be at Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 5: Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, experience the magical Masai Mara; with the option of a morning and an afternoon Game drives, taking your packed lunch during your drive. You will also have the option of taking a pre-breakfast balloon flight safari, at an extra cost, which will give you an unforgettable experience as you view animals very early in the morning from a birds' eye view.

The wildebeests are the most dominant inhabitants of the Masai Mara. Their numbers are estimated in the millions. The great migration starts in July each year when well over one million wildebeest along with large numbers of Thompson's gazelles, zebra and other herbivores migrate from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to fresh pastures in the north and then back south again in October.

Optional Balloon Flight

You can opt to carry out your game viewing activity on an adventurous and unforgettable balloon flight over the spectacular Mara at an extra cost. This package includes a bush breakfast in the wild.

Dinner and overnight will be at Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 6: Maasai Mara National Reserve - Nairobi - Amboseli National Park
After breakfast you will depart for a visit to the Masai villages and get to learn their way of living. At 10.00am you will be checked out of your lodge and depart for the Amboseli National Park stopping over for lunch at a Nairobi Restaurant and arriving at the Amboseli late in the evening. You will be checked in to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

The Masai are so significant due to their culture. Starting from their dress code, the color red is so significant in that they scare away wild animals as they co-exist with them. They believe that God, Enkai, gave them cattle, therefore they believe that all the cattle belongs to them. That's the reason why they have been known due to their cattle rustling. Although the Maasai are known for their nomadic life and cattle keeping, they is a group of agricultural Maasai, known as IL Loikop, are look down upon by the cattle keeping group, the Wakwavi since they believe they are the true Maasai created to keep cattle. A Maasai Homestead (enkang popularly known as the Manyattas) is made from cow dung and wooden sticks from the leleshwa plant. Women are the ones responsible for putting up these magnificent homes. However, a homestead contains several Maasai houses which are surrounded by a fence made also by branches of the leleshwa plant where the herds of goats and cows are confined in during the night hours. There are other Manyattas made far away in the wilderness during their Morans as they prepare their headset, the motonyik, before they return home.

Dinner and overnight will be at Amboseli Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 7: Amboseli National Park
You will enjoy an early morning pre breakfast game viewing drive and thereafter return to the camp for breakfast. Thereafter you will enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing drives till evening.

Amboseli is famous for its huge elephant herds. Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro sits in the upper slopes of Amboseli National Park. Mt Kilimanjaro's snow white peaks lie across the border of Tanzania. Seeing Kilimanjaro hovering above the clouds in the early hours of the morning is quite an experience. For an enthusiastic photographer, taking pictures arising against the dramatic backdrop of the mountain is quite a thrill. Apart from the elephants, buffalos, black rhino and other plain animals are in plenty.

All meals and overnight stay will be at the Amboseli Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 8: Amboseli National Park - Nairobi
An early pre breakfast game viewing drive will be followed by breakfast. After breakfast, you will be checked out from your camp and depart for Nairobi with packed lunch being served on your way. You will arrive in the late afternoon and be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your departure flight to your next destination.

End of safari.

Package Cost Shall Be Provided According To Group Numbers and Period of Travel

Cost Includes:

• Accommodation as stipulated in the itinerary
• Transport in a comfortable safari minibus van
• Services of an English speaking tour driver/guide plus and food
• Game viewing drives and parks entrance fees as per itinerary
• All Government taxes and levies

Cost excludes:

• Hot air Balloon flight in Masai Mara - US$ 450 per person extra (Price is subject to confirmation at the time of booking.)
• All items of personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax / email bills etc.
• Tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and driver-guide
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Any local or international flight and departure taxes
• Laundry services
• Any other item not included in our itinerary