Jade Sea Explorer

Dossier

Kenya has long been one of the most established safari destinations in Africa, a country rich in wildlife that offers some of the best game viewing on the planet. What few people know is that the country is also incredibly diverse, both ethnically and geographically, with landscapes ranging from lush forest to searing desert. On this trip we venture to the little visited northern regions, an arid land home to a number of different ethnic groups including the Samburu, Gabbra, El Moro and Rendille, all of whom adhere to very traditional and unique ways of life. We explore the haunting Chalbi Desert, an ocean of volcanic sand where only the toughest species survive, and continue to Sibiloi National Park and the mighty Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world. Here we find the El Molo, who hunt the hippos and giant crocodiles that they share their home with. On our return south we visit the stunning Rift Valley lakes of Baringo, Nakuru and Naivasha with their superb wildlife, hoping to spot the rhinos that Nakuru is renowned for. No trip to Kenya would be complete without a couple of days scanning the plains for big game in the Masai Mara, home to the greatest concentration of wildlife on our planet. This tour offers travellers the chance to explore parts of Kenya which see very few visitors, giving a glimpse into ways of life that have disappeared in most parts of the world, while still including some of its recognised and very justified highlights.

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Day 1 – Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax after your flight. Overnight Hotel Boulevard or similar.

Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was established at the turn of the century by the Europeans as a stores depot during the building of the East African railway. Without plan or design it established itself as the capital of the British protectorate, and today has a population of around three million comprising a mixture of African, Asian and European. While the predominant tribe is the Kikuyu, the city does not have one single dominating ethnic group. Its accidental choice as capital, virtually located on the meeting territories of three important tribes, has been diplomatically fortunate for the economic growth of the country.

If you have spare time before or after the tour there are many places to visit in and around Nairobi, such as the National Museum and adjacent Snake Park, the Railway Museum (near the railway station), the Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Park and its animal orphanage, the Bomas of Kenya (for traditional dancing) and the Langata Giraffe Centre.

Day 2 – Shaba Game Reserve
Head north to Isiola village and encounter the colourful nomadic tribes which reside there. We then continue on to our bush camp for the night, enjoying a game drive en route and spotting exotic wildlife unique only to this region, such as the reticulated giraffe, oryx, and gerenuk. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Samburu Tribe
Throughout this region, local Samburu tribespeople can be seen wearing their traditional dress and ornate jewellery. The Samburu are pastoralists, who live to the south and east of Lake Turkana. The social structure is essentially a gerontocracy - rule by elders - assuring the elders first choice among the young unmarried women. Men are usually about 30 by the time they marry, but the women marry at about 17 years of age.

Day 3 – Samburu National Reserve
The early morning finds us out and about on a game drive, a great opportunity for photographs and tracking rare wildlife. We enjoy an afternoon game drive on the dry ochre plains hopefully encountering herds of dusty elephants drinking at waterholes, crocodiles lurking in the shadows and track paw prints of lion, leopard and cheetahs amidst dramatic bushveld. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Samburu National Reserve
This reserve covers an area of 104km² and lies in the fascinating semi-desert northern frontier area of Kenya. Samburu is famous for its reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and long-necked gerenuk, which are quite commonly spotted here, though rarely in the southern parks. Lion and leopard live in the reserve but are not always seen. Crocodiles are often seen in the Ewaso Nyiro River that flows through the park.

Day 4 – Marsabit National Park
Stop by a local Samburu village for a walking tour guided by local residents, who share very similar traits to the Masai herders. Drive approximately 250 km on a rough road towards the extinct volcano of Marsabit. The peak is surrounded by lush forested hills, forming a welcoming oasis rising high above the dry heat of the surrounding desert lands. This afternoon we have a guided walk around the nearby lake. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 5 – Chalbi Desert
Visit Marsabit town in the morning, where we can see the nomadic Rendille warriors, roaming the land with their iconic cattle, camels and goats wearing traditional dress of purple and red robes, combined with feathers, beads and goat skins. We continue our journey through the land of crater lakes and volcanoes and enter the Chalbi desert, a flat plain formed by a age old crater lake which fills up to form a shallow body of water during heavy rainfall. Kalacha Dida is an oasis on the edge of the desert and a nourishing watering place for nomadic tribes, mostly Gabbras who are on the move. We set out on a guided walk meeting various tribes living in this harsh yet abundant environment. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 6 – Sibiloi National Park
A long day of driving through the shifting landscape of the north. Although rather demanding the journey to Sibiloi National Park and the beauty of the remote and wild plains is well worth the effort. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 7 – Sibiloi National Park
The day is spent exploring the landscape. This area is home to a large variety of arid environment species including gerenuk, oryx, the rare lesser kudu and Grevy's and Burchell’s zebra. As well as this, carnivores such as hyenas, golden jackal, cheetah, lion and other small cats including caracal can be found here. (BLD)

Sibiloi National Park
The National Park which also is a UNESCO world heritage site lies on the North Eastern shores of Lake Turkana, known for its protection of wildlife, birdlife and paleontological sites and fossil remains. The park contains several different types of habitats, from lake shore with water vegetation to arid, desert-like lava rock terrain; savannah plains to riverine forest. You will reach places where fossilized elephant, crocodile, tortoise and forests have been excavated. The local museum shows findings from the Leakey family renowned for their studies of fossils and early human in East Africa.

Days 8-9– Lake Turkana
From the northernmost point of our trip we head south to the shimmering blue-green hues of Lake Turkana. We head to the oasis of Loyangalani, where we explore the crystal shores, search for exceptionally large Nile crocodiles and encounter the smallest tribe in Kenya, the El Moro, Kenya’s last remaining hunters. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana, also known as the Jade Sea, is the largest desert alkaline lake in the world and supports a complex network of fish, grazing mammals, bird life and predators. The colour of the lake is a result of algae particles, which shift with changes of the wind and light, so that the water surface shifts from blue to grey to extraordinary jade. Its lapping shores extend for 288 kilometres up to the Ethiopian / Kenyan border and its depths reach up to 140m. Said to have originated from either Somalia or Ethiopia, the El Moro reside on the “Island of Ghosts” in villages on the shores of Turkana. They live off the land, hunting water species such as fish, hippopotamus and even the cunning Nile crocodile.

Day 10 – Tum
We depart on a stony road heading further south to the jagged peaks of Mount Nyiru as we traverse across lava flows and sand fields. Despite being surrounded by dry desert the peaks of Mount Nyiru are forested. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 11 – Maralal
After an early morning bush walk along the dunes and rock formations of the valley, we travel to the small hillside market town of Maralal, pioneered by Somali settlers in the 1920’s. In the afternoon visit the Maralal National Sanctuary, home to buffalo, zebra, leopard and hyena among other species. (BLD)

Day 12 – Lake Baringo
We continue our journey south bound to the shores of Lake Baringo in its hot and dusty setting. The scenic lake is fed by several converging rivers and contains several small islands . We set out on a boat trip along the lake in search of hippos, crocodiles and a variety of bird life. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 13 – Lake Nakuru
The morning finds us exploring the natural hot springs of Lake Bogoria and admiring the thousands of pink flamingos which congregate on the lake during season, before driving to Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru is renowned for large concentrations of flamingos and is also a sanctuary for the endangered black and white rhinos. This reserve has one of the highest densities of wildlife to be found on the continent and our chance of spotting lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo are excellent during a afternoon game drive. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 118km². The park covers the lake and a land strip around the northern, eastern and western shores, and south to Makalia Falls. The shores are surrounded by swamps, which during the driest seasons disappear to give rise to huge white salt crusts. The riverine forest opens up southward in a bush and acacia tree savannah. The eastern and western shores are framed by ridges that offer splendid lookouts over the lake. At the west shore, Baboon Cliffs are the preferred habitat for some of the park's species, while in the east, a part of Lion Hill is covered by a magnificent Euphorbia, or candle tree forest, giving the landscape a prehistoric look. Several hides have been erected near the lake for bird observation, and in addition to birds and rhinos, the park is home to a large number of mammals, including lions and leopards.

Day 14 – Lake Naivasha
We head for Lake Naivasha, an area of spectacular scenery with good opportunities for game and bird watching. We take a boat cruise, searching for hippos, fish eagles and thirsty antelope. In the afternoon we visit Joy Adamson´ s famous Elsamere farm house. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Days 15-16 – Masai Mara
Drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, which has one of the highest densities of wildlife found on the planet. We spend our time here on game drives in search of the ‘Big Five’ and numerous other species. Those who wish can take an early morning balloon flight over the plains on Day 16 (at your own expense and must be pre-booked – please contact us for details). Overnight camping. (BLD)

Masai Mara Game Reserve
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is arguably Kenya's finest game reserve and covers 1,800km² of the south-west corner of Masailand. The Masai Mara continues northwards from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The park has an amazing concentration of wildlife and birds as well as outstanding scenery. The country has forests and rivers as well as hilly escarpments, but is mostly plains, bush and scrub. Traversed by the Mara River it is noted for its lion, hyena, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and leopard. It is also renowned for the vast herds of wildebeest and zebra, which pass through the park as part of their annual migration. Antelope species include Grant's and Thomson's gazelle, topi, eland, hartebeest and waterbuck. In the Mara River pods of hippo and crocodile can be seen.

Masai Mara Balloon Ride
Perhaps the ultimate way to go game viewing, a hot air balloon safari over the great plains of the Masai Mara is an unparalleled experience. Shortly before sunrise you take off and rise slowly into the air to drift along in near silence, carried by the breeze. You'll watch the sun climb over the edge of the earth and turn the grasslands golden, at times climbing high to clear the tree canopy, and the view will open up to reveal the vastness of the savannah stretching away on all sides. Sometimes you'll descend to get a close-up look at the wildlife, passing silently above the herds as they graze on undisturbed. Hot air ballooning in the Masai Mara offers an unforgettable way to see a truly spectacular part of the world. To ensure availability you should pre-book the balloon ride; contact us for more details.

Maasai Tribe
The Maasai are probably the most famous of all the Kenyan tribal groups and related to the Samburu tribe. They are pastoralists, noted for drinking cattle blood mixed with milk, a mainstay of their diet. Originally herding their cattle across the vast plains to allow the grass to regenerate, today they find themselves increasingly being forced to settle and grow crops. They are a strongly independent people who value tradition and ritual as an integral part of their everyday lives. Traditionally the Maasai are not hunters, and live alongside the wildlife in harmony; they regard themselves as much a part of the land as the land is part of their lives. Tall and slender, they carry themselves elegantly, dressed in brilliant red cloth with both men and women adorned with beadwork and metal jewellery.

Day 17 – Nairobi
Return to Nairobi and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Tour style: Traveller

Inclusions:
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation on twin share basis
Services of English speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
Entrance / park fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Excluded:
International flights
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visas
Drinks

Please note that you should also read the Country Notes in association with this itinerary for practical information about your trip and the destination you will be visiting.

The itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and does not form part of a contract between the client and Undiscovered Destinations.