Gran Safari

Arrival at Nairobi International Airport. After immigration formalities and baggage collection, we will meet with a representative of the agency. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Rest of the day free. Depending on the arrival time of the international flight, we will have free time to rest or the possibility to add an excursion or visit. Nairobi is the fourth largest city in Africa and also the most cosmopolitan city in East Africa. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safaris in Kenya. It is a vibrant and exciting place where one can find various activities and a lively nightlife. The National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum, and the elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are very popular places well worth a visit. Dinner is on your own, and the night will be spent at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick-up from the hotel and departure by road towards the Samburu National Reserve, located in the north of the country. We will soon begin the safari outside the city, crossing the highlands with its pineapple, tea, and coffee plantations. We will arrive at our lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a photographic safari. The beautiful Samburu National Reserve is an arid area bathed by the waters of the Ewaso Ngiro River, home to a wide variety of wildlife species, some of which are endemic to this area. We may see the gerenuk, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, and Grevy's zebras. The landscape presents a unique combination of riparian forests and volcanic rocks. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning, we will go on a safari en route to Aberdare National Park. We will arrive for lunch at the Aberdare Country Club, where we will leave our vehicle, our guide, and our luggage. In the afternoon, transfer in vehicles of the Aberdare Country Club to our hotel located within the park. Located northeast of Kenya, Aberdare National Park was created to protect the Aberdare mountain range, whose peaks rise to 3,930 meters. The landscape is characterized by steep forested slopes, extensive moorlands, and deep ravines scattered with waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, and rivers. The park is inhabited by a variety of African fauna such as elephants, lions, spotted hyenas, rhinos, black leopards, and the very elusive bongo antelope that lives in the high-altitude bamboo forests. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to observe, from our room or the viewpoint, the animals that come to the waterhole located in front of the lodge. During the night, if we wish, the hotel guides will notify us so we can observe the different animals that approach the waterhole. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. Then, return to the Aberdare Country Club to pick up the driver/guide and the vehicle. Departure by road westward to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of the world's best birdwatching paradises. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel, refresh ourselves, and have lunch. In the afternoon, we will go on a safari around Lake Nakuru, known mainly for its rhinos and different bird species. Nakuru is a city on the shores of the lake of the same name. Located within a reserve that extends over nearly 200 square kilometers, it is the capital of Nakuru County, situated in the Great Rift Valley. Ten kilometers from the city lies the enormous Menengai crater. A hiking trail leads to the edge of this ancient caldera, offering views over the lake and its surroundings. Lake Nakuru National Park, which surrounds Nakuru, is home to various bird species, as well as more than 50 types of mammals. These include lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, antelopes, and several primates. Dinner and night at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. Next, we will depart for the Maasai Mara National Reserve, crossing the Rift Valley, and arrive at the lodge for lunch. At sunset, we will enjoy a photographic safari in the reserve. The Maasai Mara, together with the Serengeti in Tanzania, forms Africa's most famous wildlife park, the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Its main attraction is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration that crosses the vast plains of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. It is known as the largest mass movement of terrestrial mammals on the planet, with more than a million animals constantly on the move in search of water and fresh grass. In the reserve, you can also observe the 'Big Five': lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo, accompanied by other species such as giraffes, gazelles, and many others. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

A full day of safari, with the option to go on a sunrise and sunset safari and return to the lodge for lunch, or take a picnic lunch and spend the entire day on safari. ****************** Optional activity: Hot air balloon flight in Maasai Mara (activity with an additional cost, consult your Travel Planner). ****************** Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. Next, we will head towards Lake Naivasha to arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a boat ride on the lake. Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Rift Valley lakes. It is surrounded by papyrus trees and acacias, a unique geological landscape, and is visited by a wide variety of over 450 bird species. It is a natural source of life where zebras, hippos, and buffaloes, among many others, come to drink. The rest of the afternoon is free at your disposal, with the possibility of carrying out other activities, among which we recommend combining the boat ride with a walk on Crescent Island. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. Then we will head towards Nairobi via the Nairobi/Mombasa road (2-hour drive), then turn west, towards Mount Kilimanjaro. We will pass through the typical African savannah dotted with local farms and colorful Maasai herders with their cattle. We will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge. At 3:30 p.m., we will set out again for our first photographic safari in Amboseli National Park, famous for its large elephant herds. The ecosystem of Amboseli National Park covers more than 3,000 km² in the southern part of Kenya. There is no other place in Africa where you will find the unique combination of topography, geological history, hydrology, and culture that Amboseli offers. Despite its moderate rainfall, it has a system of swamps and underground waters fed by Mount Kilimanjaro, sustaining the life of a spectacular variety of birds and mammals. Amboseli is one of Kenya's most popular destinations and is home to the country's largest elephant population, as well as buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and hippos. Dinner and accommodation at the lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning, we will take a brief safari through Amboseli National Park before heading towards Nairobi Airport for the return flight or connection to the next destination. Arrival in Nairobi is expected around 2:00 p.m.