Kenya Safaris: REMOTE 4X4 KENYA BUSH SAFARI

Please check for seasonality.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1 Nairobi
On arrival in Nairobi, meet and greet by a tour representative, transfer to the private Macushla House at the foot of Ngong Hills, where once upon a time Karen Blixen had a coffee farm. Dinner and overnight at Macushla House (DBB)

Day 2 Lewa Downs
Take an early morning flight to Lewa Downs, a magnificent piece of reclaimed wilderness at the foot of Mt. Kenya, now managed by the non-profit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. You will stay at the well-appointed Lewa Safari Camp, which conducts game walks and drives through several different habitat types that make Lewa such as interesting place. All the "Big 5" are here, including over 60 black and white rhinos that have thrived since Anna Mertz and the Craig Family, which settled here in the 1920s, decided to set up a rhino sanctuary in 1983. You will be part of a select crowd who will also have access to over 20% of the world's Grevy Zebra population, a superb wetland area with bird hides and glorious landscapes of the northern frontier district. Lewa Safari Camp (LDBB)

Day 3 Lewa Downs
Morning and afternoon game drives, including activities. Meals and overnight at Lewa Downs Camp (LDBB)

Day 4 Mathews Range
Today, you take a remarkable flight across Samburuland, a semi-arid region with miles after miles of inhospitable bush and nearly barren hills. Then suddenly you land at a place called Namunyak, a lush oasis at the foot of the ruggedly beautiful Mathews Mountain Range, which serves as a refuge for elephants and buffalo during the dry season. There is abundant but shy game here, most of it only accessible on foot. You will be hosted by the local Samburu tribe at Sarara Camp, whose luxurious tents and dining areas have breathtaking views of the purest wilderness and the mountains beyond. This is a special place for the tribal community and only a handful number of people can visit it every year. Thus, to be here is to be privileged. Afternoon game drive. Meals and overnight at Sarara Camp (LDBB)

Day 5 Mathews Range
Morning and afternoon game drives - including other activities. Meals and overnight at Sarara Camp (LDBB)

Day 6 Mathews Range
Morning and afternoon game drives - including other activities. Meals and overnight at Sarara Camp (LDBB)

Day 7 Masai Mara National Game Reserve
From the awesome landscapes of the Mathews Mountain Range, you fly across the Great Rift Valley to Masai Mara Game Reserve, one of greatest wildlife paradises on earth. It is here that thousands of wildebeest and zebra cross over from Serengeti between July and August to feed on the lush grasses of the vast Mara plains for a period of four months. It is also here that Rekero Camp lies at the end of a solitary track, facing the Talek River and the endless golden plains of the Mara, waiting patiently but eagerly for the migration to arrive. When it does, the atmosphere is electric. The camp becomes virtually surrounded by a sea of wildebeest and zebra and guests are treated to ringside viewing and entertainment. Hidden from all and sundry and unfenced, this magical camp, with only 7 tents, virtually relives the golden era of the safari when personalities, conversations, ambiance and exclusivity of location counted as much as comfort. In this modern world, when only flash is king, Rekero is a breath of fresh air, unfussy and appropriate, but even more important, it is run and partially owned by a group of utterly charming Masai warriors. You will fall in love with Rekero. Met on arrival and transferred to your lodge. Afternoon shared game drives. Meals and overnight at Rekero Tented Camp (LDBB)

Day 8 Masai Mara National Game Reserve
{Optional early morning balloon ride with champagne-style breakfast.}
Morning and afternoon shared game drives. Meals and overnight at Rekero Tented Camp (LDBB)

Day 9 Masai Mara National Game Reserve
Morning and afternoon shared game drives. Meals and overnight at Rekero Tented Camp (LDBB)

Day 10 Departure
You may extend your stay at Rekero (we recommend at least 12 months advance booking), or be transferred to the airstrip for your morning scheduled flight to Nairobi. Met on arrival and transferred to a private house for lunch. Afternoon excursion to Karen Blixen Museum and The Giraffe Centre and perhaps indulge in some curio shopping before your transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. A tour representative will reconfirm your flights and assist at check-in. (L)

The Package Includes:

Arrival and departure airport transfers
1 Night accommodation at Macushla House
2 Nights accommodation at Lewa Safari Camp
3 Nights accommodation at Sarara Camp
3 Nights accommodation at Rekero Tented Camp
All game drives as per itinerary
All park entrance fees
Services of a qualified English Speaking Driver Guide
Shared game drives with 1 x 7 Seater 4 x4 vehicle
Lunch in a private house on day 10
Excursion to Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Centre on the last day

The Package Excludes:

All International Flights + Taxes
Visas
Travel & Personal accident insurance
Tips & personal expenses such as telephone calls...etc.
Excursions not detailed in above program

Included flights:

Scheduled flight Nairobi -Nanyuki
Charter flight Nanyuki -Lewa Downs- Mathews Range -Nanyuki
Scheduled flights Nanyuki -Masai Mara- Nairobi

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Macushla House
The peaceful and charming Macushla House is located in Langata, a wealthy suburb west of Nairobi, close to the Nairobi National Park, the Ngong Hills, the Karen Blixen Museum, Daphne Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. This immaculate six-bedroom house at the edge of an indigenous forest is like a private home and provides excellent facilities, food and personalized service in comfortable surroundings.

Open beamed ceilings, natural woodwork, log fires and a private study give the house a unique country-house flavor. Fabulous wholesome meals are prepared with care and attention using the freshest of ingredients and served in the intimate dining room or by the swimming pool. Traditional English Tea with scones can be taken in the garden or the bar, which has a large selection of alternative types of drinks. The airy bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms have large windows, which overlook the natural gardens of Macushla. Macushla allows you to get away from the city and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside.

Lewa Safari Camp
Lewa Safari Camp is set on the 45,000 acre privately owned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Downs. Situated against the dramatic backdrop of the snow-covered massif of Mt Kenya and with the magnificent Northern Frontier District stretching out to the North, Lewa is an outstanding tourist destination, offering spectacular scenery, superb game viewing and exciting activities for the discerning traveler.

The conservancy, formerly a working cattle ranch and otherwise known as Lewa Downs, has been in the Craig family since 1924. Three generations of the family continue to be involved in daily operations on Lewa.

The Camp can sleep 26 guests, and comprises nine twin rooms, one double and two family/triple tents, all with en suite bathrooms hot and cold running water and flush toilets.

With wildlife densities as high as anywhere in Africa, it is possible to see all of Africa's Big Five on Lewa, and the conservancy provides a refuge for several endangered species.

Activities: Day and night game drives, Bush Walks, Sundowners, Educational talks on the history and day to day operation of the conservancy, Visits to a pre-historic archaeological site, Game blinds

Extra Options: Horse riding, Camel Riding

Sarara Camp Namunyak
Namunyak, meaning "place of joy" in the language of the local Samburu people, is a vast tribal community wilderness area administered by the recently formed Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, in close conjunction with Acacia Trails and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The camp is situated to the north of Ol Donyo Sabache (Mount Ololokwe), just below Warguas peak, in the fabled Mathews Mountains of northern Kenya.

Sarara tented camp has five luxury tents, each with its own flush loo and open air bush shower (think Ava Gardner in "Mogambo"). Comfortable beds, plus quality bed linen, bathrobes, towels and other essentials are provided.

There is a beautiful thatched lounge and dining banda which overlooks a natural swimming pool and waterhole and has unrivalled views of the Mathews mountains beyond. Expert safari cooks are delighted to cater to visitors' preferences. Food is the highest quality simple 'home cooking' and is prepared over an open wood fire. The scent of fresh-baked bread fills the camp on a daily basis.

Namunyak is a truly unspoilt wilderness conservation area with few roads. The emphasis here is mainly on walking excursions, with local Namunyak community game scouts as guides, who will share their specialist knowledge with you.

Sarara is a dry season refuge for several hundred elephant and numbers increase dramatically, to over a thousand, during the rainy seasons. Lion and leopard are resident and there are two separate groups of the endangered, and fascinating, wild dog with one pack numbering at least thirty. Other species of particular interest include kudu, Grevy's zebra, giraffe, striped hyena and the peculiarly long-necked gerenuk. There are black and white colobus monkeys in the forest.

Sarara is a wonderful place to come for a wilderness holiday. The area is ringed by natural defences, the hills and mountains of the area, and so is totally unspoilt and appears to be part of an earlier Africa. Remote and gloriously beautiful, Sarara is a haven from the modern world.

Highlights: Natural swimming pool and waterhole, Walking excursions with local guides, Sundowners, Fascinating flora, including Kenyan giant cycad, Supports the local Samburu community, Stunning views, 5 luxury sleeping tents with en-suite facilities and open air bush shower. Bathrobes provided.

Rekero Tented Camp
Rekero Tented Camp lies in the Masai Mara Game Reserve at the end of solitary track that looks like it is going nowhere. Driving through a clump of bushes, you are suddenly confronted by an open glade along the Talek River. This has to be one of the most beautiful wilderness settings for a camp. The camp is run by Jackson, a local Masai, who owns 20 per cent of the camp with the Beaton family of Rekero Farm. Jackson's warmth and charm are immediately evident as he rushes to greet you with a firm handshake, a broad smile and polite humor. Tall, handsome and charming, Jackson is also a highly regarded safari guide who now spends most of the time ensuring that the guests have a memorable time at the camp, while his protégés continue to offer the same high quality of guiding that he is accustomed to.

At Rekero Camp, there are no permanent structures. The meeting place throughout the day is a patch of grass in front of an open-fronted canvas mess tent, which stands under tall indigenous trees, overlooking the Talek River. This is the hub for all camp activities and it is a fun place to be. Meals, camp fires, sundowners, cocktails, story-telling are all enjoyed from here, unless rain or wind forces the use of the spacious mess tent which has a simple bar with all the essential safari drinks.

The setting here is so natural and informal that Rekero successfully recreates the ambience of the old safari camps without necessarily making you feel uncomfortable. Imagine no permanent structures, no running taps, no decking, no swimming pool, no crowds and none of the flashy furnishings or accommodation. Now picture, new, comfortable East African-style tents with bucket showers and flush loos, lanterns in the evening, barbecues on the grass, candle-lit dinners, gin & tonic at sunset, sherry before dinner, port after dinner, camp fire by the river and the wilderness to just to yourself. This is the ultimate old-fashioned safari camp in the Mara. It has innate style, character and magnetism that no other camp in the Mara can probably match. It is so simple yet it probably radiates the greatest ambiance in the whole of this superlative game reserve. This is also where, when the Mara plains comes alive during the wildebeest migration, you may find yourself closest to the magnificent spectacle simply because there are no fences or permanent structures to keep the wildlife away.

The 6 delightful tents are spaced generously from each other in a shaded area, a short distance from the Talek River. You could sit by the river all day marveling at the joys of open spaces and watching the birds or the passing game while sipping a cup of tea or gin and tonic.

The double beds are generously sized, flanked by wicker bedside tables, and covered in Indian-elephant bedspread. In one corner lies an open clothes wardrobe, while in the other a writing table. The bathroom with a bucket shower, flush loo, wash stand and a stool is linked to the main tent which can be separated by a canvas curtain for extra privacy. To Rekero's credit, the sewage is collected in an underground tank and later pumped into a tanker for safe disposal. Outside there is another table with a mirror (due to lack of electricity in tents ladies could find it difficult to do make up or dry their hair), a washstand and canvas chairs. Bottled water, soap, shampoo and a torch are also provided. However, it is not so much for the accommodation that this camp can be rated as highly as others in the Mara, but it is for its magical setting and ambiance that it deserves the accolade of ' the best camp in the Mara'. Camps like Rekero are a rarity as modern camps battle each other to become the glitziest in Africa, so enjoy Rekero while you can.

Guests fly into Intrepids airstrip and are collected by Rekero vehicles. Game drives are conducted in 4x4 vehicles by an expert driver guide and a native Ndorobo guide, who also accompanies the guests on guided nature walks outside the game reserve. The quality of guiding at Rekero is exemplary and together with its wonderful picnics, bush meals, sundowners and authentic wilderness ambience, guests are in for a real treat.