11 DAYS MOUNT KENYA CLIMB COMBINED WITH MASAI MARA SAFARI

Day 1: Arrival - Nairobi
On arrival in Nairobi, met and assisted. Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay at Nairobi Safari club on bed and breakfast.

Day 2: Nairobi/Sirimon/Judmier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 3-4 hrs, 9km, 860m ascent
Depart Nairobi at 9 am to Nanyuki town for lunch, taking about 4 hours. Proceed to Sirimon Gate, 1 hr, 2440m. From the gate follow the track as it winds uphill though the forest which becomes heath land after about 3 hrs. About 3½ hours from the gate the track veers right to Judmier Camp, 3300m for dinner and overnight, L,D

Day 3: Judmier Camp/Shipton Camp 6-7hrs, 14km, 900m ascent
After breakfast, follow the track uphill, forking left at the junction. After one hour from Old Moses Camp, the track crosses Ontulili River. Go right contouring through the Moorland and crossing Liki North and continue uphill to Mackinders Valley from where there are panoramic views up the valley towards the main peaks. Dinner and overnight at Shipton Camp, 4200m, B,L,D

Day 4: Shipton Camp
Spend the day acclimatizing. Walk to Kami Hut down to Hauseberg Lakes (Hauseberg Tarn and Nanyuki Tarn). Walk back to Shipton for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Shiptons/Point Lenana/Mount Meru Bandas (Chogoria Gate) 6 hrs, 14km, 785m ascent
Leave at 3am up a steep stony quarry that cuts through a cliff clearing visible part towards lower Hall Tarns arriving point Lenana at 6:30am, taking about 3hrs. After the sunrise, descend down to Mintos hut, 2hrs, for breakfast and further 3 hrs down to Mount Meru Bandas, 2950m, for dinner and overnight, B, L, D

Day 6: Chogoria Bandas/Chogoria/Samburu
Descend 2hr, 15km to forest clearance to catch a 4x4 transfer vehicle to Chogoria Village where you will connect with your transfer vehicle to the semi-desert area of Shaba National Reserve. Afternoon game viewing drive in this reserve. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Samburu Game Reserve is situated in the hot and arid fringes of Kenya's vast Northern Frontier District. The area is home to the Samburu tribe, pastoral relatives of the Masai. The landscape is rugged and dramatic - against a backdrop of volcanic mountains, gaunt hills and withered scrub tree punctuate the sparse and dry terrain with clusters of the incredibly hardy desert rose providing the ocassional flash of vivid colour.

The Ewaso Nyiro river, lifeline of the area, runs along the southern boundary dividing Samburu from Buffalo Springs Reserve. Crocodile and hippo share the river with the many small herds of elephant which bathe and frolic in the muddy brown waters during the heat of the day before returning later to browse on the lush vegetation of the riverine forest. Buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and plains game may also be seen but a special feature of this Reserve are the various species of game unique to these northern parks - Beisa oryx, the long necked gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the blue shanked Somali ostrich.

Day 7: Samburu
Early rise for a game viewing drive in the adjacent Samburu National Park. Further game viewing drive in the Park. Return to Sarova Shaba Lodge for lunch. Afternoon at leisure for perhaps a game viewing drive in this reserve. Overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 8: Samburu - Lake Nakuru
Depart to Lake Nakuru National Park with a stop at Nyahururu Falls to arrive in time for lunch at Lake Nakuru Lodge. Set on a plateau in an elevation above Lake Nakuru, is the perfect place to experience one of the world's largest ornithological spectacles, The Pink Flamingo, or a rich concentration of wildlife including black and white colobus monkey and is also a famed Rhino Sanctuary. In the afternoon proceed on a game drive in this famous ornithological spectacle for flamingoes. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 9: Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara
Drive through the Great Rift Valley past the spectacular Volcano Mount Longonot and head towards the rolling plains of the Masai Mara. The last one and a half-hours of the journey find us on bumpy, dusty, dirt road as we drive across the Loita Plains taking in the scenery. Before entering into the Game Reserve there is a visit to a Masai village. Not only can you see inside a traditional Masai hut, and learn about Masai tradition and lifestyle, but you can also try your hand at the age-old tradition of bartering for souvenirs. The village is slightly commercialised but still gives a good idea of how the Masai live. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 10: Masai Mara
Full day in Masai Mara with two game drive sessions - morning and afternoon. The Masai Mara is the most famous and prolific game park in Kenya covering an area of 1672 square kilometres. It is classified as a Reserve as opposed to a National Park to allow the Masai people to use the area to graze their cattle. A highlight of the Mara is no doubt the annual wildebeest migration, when literally millions of these beasts stray north from the Serengeti in search of grass for food, before turning south again.

The Masai Mara has one of the highest concentrations of lion in Africa and is a good place to try and spot the elusive leopard. In most National Parks it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. The best time of the day to spot the hunting cats is just before sunrise and just after sunset so we are up and away early. During the heat of the day we return to the lodge for huge buffet breakfasts and a chance to enjoy your superb hotel facilities, including a chance to relax by the pool.

Game Parks are places where the enthusiastic use a lot of film so itâ ™s advisable to have some extra. Hopefully we should be able to spot prides of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebra and hippo and other more common animals such as wart hog, giraffe, and baboon - almost every conceivable species of East African wildlife can be spotted here.

At our lodge in the reserve there are many optional activities to enjoy. In the evening there is the opportunity to learn more about the Masai and their way of life with a talk about their rich culture and an option to join them in traditional dancing. Early the next morning hot air ballooning is on offer. It is an amazing experience, as you take off with the sunrise and float above the Game Reserve, viewing the wildlife for approximately an hour before landing in the reserve to enjoy a full breakfast with champagne under the shade of a tree on the plains. The wildlife looks on while you partake in this luxurious fare. There are two opportunities for a balloon safari on this tour, your tour leader will advise you whether the Masai Mara or Serengeti ballooning option is the best choice depending on the location of the migration. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Optional activities:
-Hot air balloon ride: US$ 420 per person
-Visit to a Maasai village for a cultural tour: US$ 25 per person

Day 11: Masai Mara - Nairobi - Departure
After breakfast, return to Nairobi to arrive in the afternoon. Later transfer to the airport for your flight home (optional lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant: US$ 45 per person) B

Tour price: US$ 2,035 per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 297

The above price is inclusive of:
-Guarantee price/guarantee safari on confirmation
-All ground transport whilst on safari in a comfortable safari van fitted with pop up roof for ease o