Nairobi, Mount Kenya

+1 Day    Depart USA
Day 1       Nairobi
Day 2       Nairobi - Mount Kenya

At the end of the 19th century Nairobi was merely a poor encampment for construction workers of the “crazy railroad” from Mombasa to the heart of Africa. Despite the unhygienic circumstances in the camp due to drainage problems, the administrative machinery was quickly moved to Nairobi and the commercial sector followed soon after. The Nairobi of today with more than a million inhabitants is an administrative, cultural and commercial center unequaled in Africa. The Somalians, Arabs, Nubians, Indians, Pakistani, Japanese and Westerners live together relatively trouble-free among the African majority. The presence of mosques, temples, synagogues and churches are proof of the cosmopolitan character of Nairobi.
The day after arrival we immediately start our trip. In about 4 hours we drive to Mount Kenya, the holy mountain of the Kikuyu, residence of their god Ngei who maintains the mysterious white – the eternal snow. Around 1890, when the first travelers returned from this region, they were laughed at when they talked about the eternal snow on the equator. The top of Mount Kenya was not reached until 1930. The region around Mount Kenya consists of several mountain ranges, snowfields, glaciers, ponds, lakes, waterfalls and gigantic rubble slopes. Extensive dense rainforests at the bottom of the mountains host a large variety of wildlife. The vegetation on the slopes is exceptional, especially the large ragwort and the numerous heather plants. The surroundings of Mount Kenya consist of grassy plains and farmlands of the Kikuyu, the largest agricultural community of Kenya. Most of the food supply of Nairobi comes from this region. During our stay you are free to explore the broad-leaved forest of Mount Kenya by foot, by mountain bike or on horseback.

Samburu Wildlife Reserve

Day 3    Mount Kenya - Shaba National Park
Day 4    Samburu Wildlife Reserve - Nyahururu Waterfalls

The trip continues to the Shaba Wildlife Reserve, north of Isiolo. The last part of the trip is on a bumpy sandy road through the region of the Samburu tribe. At the small town of Archer’s Post we turn of the road to enter the park. Samburu National Reserve is famous for the Grevy’s zebra, giraffes and Somalia ostriches. Chances are that you will see elephants and crocodiles. Plains of lava, deep gorges and round hilltops dominate the landscape. Vegetation mainly consists of prickly bushes and acacias, and forest along the Ewaso Nyiro. We will set up the tents in the shade of the trees. The Samburu mainly live off their goats and cattle. They are closely related to the Masai; they speak the same language, the Maa, and wear the same red and purple clothing. We also visit the nearby Buffalo Springs Wildlife Reserve. The next day we drive to the Nyahururu Falls, where we will descend to the waterfalls with a local guide.

Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha

Day 5    Nyahururu Waterfalls - Lake Nakuru - Lake Baringo
Day 6    Lake Baringo
Day 7    Lake Baringo - Lake Navaisha

Nakuru National Park is famous for its alkaline lake of the same name and is the home base of thousands of flamingoes and numerous other sorts of birds. On the shore of the lake you can pick up the unusual scent of the brackish, mineral-rich water. During the drought the water surface may drop so much that salt rims become visible. Since 1986 Lake Nakuru National Park has a special region set aside called ”Rhino Rescue” to protect the endangered species of the rhinoceros, so there is a good chance that you will see rhinos in this park. Other wildlife in this park includes lions, buffalos and giraffes. From ”Baboon Cliff” you will have a beautiful view of the lake.  

Lake Baringo is the absolute highlight for bird lovers. Birdwatchers from all parts of the world come here to catch sight of the more than 450 kinds of birds around the lake. You will have the option to view the crocodiles and the hippos in the lake by boat. By the way, hippos are good-natured animals that leave the water at night to graze their daily quantity of 132 pounds of grass, at times going a distance of 23 miles. For those camping, chances are they choose to graze around your tent. We will also look for the impressive fish hawks that are common here. In the evening we may pay a visit to the village of Kampi ya Samaki where people have a good time into the early morning hours. From Lake Baringo we drive to the highest lake in the Rift Valley, Lake Navaisha. In the afternoon you may take an optional boat ride on the lake and be sure to encounter some of the many hippos that live in the lake. The lake also has a great diversity of birds. At the shore of this lake, we might visit Villa Elsamere, the residence of the Adamson family, famous for the book ”Born Free”, where a number of black and white (colobus) monkeys live in the yard, who are easy to photograph.

On the entrance gate of the adjoining national park Hells Gate a plaque is put up in memory of the lioness Elsa. An optional visit to this park, by bike or foot, is definitely worth it, not many lions are found here though. Against the steep walls in the park lammergeyer and other bird of preys have nestled. You will also see several antelopes, zebras, buffalos and other animal species.

Masai Mara

Day 8      Lake Navaisha - Masai Mara National Park
Day 9      Masai Mara NP
Day 10    Masai Mara NP - Isebania
Day 11    Isebania - Lake Victoria

From Lake Navaisha we drive to Masai Mara, where we will move into tents (both trips). For those on the hotel trip, tents have been pitched for us just in front of the park’s main entrance on a private site. During our stay you will have ample time to observe the great variety of fauna up close. Almost every traveler through Kenya visits this extensive region bordering Tanzania, and rightfully so, because the number of wildlife varieties is gigantic. It is not rare to see lions hunting. The huge migration of wildebeest from the south in July/August and back in October is quite an adventure. Characteristic for the ‘“Mara” are the sloping grasslands with the typical African acacias. The ‘Mara’ is the residential area of the Masai. Masai Mara has the status of National Reserve, different from the National Parks, where human population is not permitted. The Masai let their cattle graze in the reserve and if wild animals become life threatening to them, they have the right to kill the animals. With our truck we take great “game drives” here. Unfortunately it is forbidden to walk into the park itself; imagine you run into a hungry lion. From Masai Mara we drive in the direction of Tanzania, where we will stay the night in the border town Isibania. The next day we continue the trip to Lake Victoria.

Lake Victoria, Serengeti N.P.

Day 12    Lake Victoria
Day 13    Lake Victoria - Serengeti National Park
Day 14    Serengeti NP

Lake Victoria is the largest lake of Africa. The lake is a habitat of a large variety of birds. The next day you have the option to take a boat tour on the lake. Local fishermen can talk on and on about life in and on the water. With some luck fresh fish will get caught for our evening meal. What can be more enjoyable than fresh baked fish at sunset?  It is also possible to go mountain biking, by yourself or with a guide.  We continue to Serengeti, where we will stay the night in a lodge on the hotel trip.. The next day we will go on two game drives. Taking in account that wildlife is most active in the early morning or in the late afternoon, we will take our game drives in the park at those times.  Serengeti is the largest and best-known park of Tanzania. It covers an area of 8,520 square miles with a spectacular wildlife density and a bird lover’s heart’s desire. Serengeti consists mostly of extensive open grass plains with occasional characteristically rock formations, named outcrops. There are also acacias, savanna woodlands, and forests along rivers, an occasional pond and even swamplands. Along with the famous herds of gnus, zebras and gazelles, Serengeti is also famous for its lion population. It is not unusual to see lions and cheetahs more than once a day including the black mane old male species. Also the leopard shows up often around the outcrops resting in the trees during the day. The spectacular annual migration of the gnus and the zebras takes place in a large circle, which includes the Masai Mara in Kenya. In the months of December and January the great herd is in the far south of the Serengeti. From March on the animals start to move northward. Between May and July most animals are in the north and the west of the park. During the months of August and September the herds are in the Masai Mara and after October they move south. The amounts of precipitation and especially the location of the precipitation are of great importance to the animals. As early as September the herd may move to the center of the Serengeti, depending on the rainfall.

Ngorongoro crater, Arusha – Nairobi

Day 15    Serengeti NP - Olduvai - Ngorongoro Crater
Day 16    Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha
Day 17    Arusha - Nairobi

Early in the morning we get on the road to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. On the way we stop at the Olduvai Gorge. This gorge is known for the Leaky family's discovery of fossils of hominids. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of Africa’s most spectacular natural beauties, not only because it is one of the largest craters in the world (155 square miles) but also due to its great diversity and density of wildlife. On the crater’s bottom you will find all members of the animal groups known as the  ”Big Five”: the elephant, the lion, the rhinoceros, the leopard and the buffalo. The Ngorongoro Crater also has a lot to offer to bird lovers. The next day we will have a magnificent ride to Mto wa Mbu. Fanciful shaped “monkey bread trees” and the view of Lake Manyara offer fantastic photo opportunities. In the lively town of Arusha we arrive back in civilization. In the afternoon you have plenty of time to explore the city and perhaps to buy some nice souvenirs. Finally we reach the Kenyan capital of Nairobi via the border town of Namanga. Nairobi has a small center and most sights, such as the indoor City Market, the Jamai Mosque and the Nairobi National Museum, can be reached from the hotel by foot or by a short taxi ride.

Mombasa

Day 18    Nairobi - night train to Mombasa
Day 19    Mombasa - Nyali Beach
Day 20    Nyali Beach
Day 21    Nyali Beach
Day 22    Mombasa - Nairobi - In Transit
+1 Day    Arrival USA

We take the night train to Mombasa. We spend the night on the train, four persons per berth. The train ride takes about 14 hours. Bed linens are provided. Dinner and breakfast are included. The population of Kenya’s shore region is known for their easygoing lifestyle. Nyali Beach is about 3 miles north of Mombasa.  Here we spend the night in a pleasant hotel at the beach. The complex has a swimming pool and a nice yard. The fine sandy beaches are protected by the coral reefs, where you can observe many varieties of tiny fish in the clear and warm seawater. From Nyali Beach you are able to visit the port Mombasa with an interesting mixture of eastern character, narrow streets and the bustle of a large seaport. Mombasa has a rich colonial past and an unusual mix of the Swahili and Arab cultures. The narrow streets of the old town’s center form a true labyrinth. Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese, is definitely worth a visit. The last day we fly back to Nairobi from where we fly back to the States.