Tour prices.
The price is £3,950.00 per person sharing a double.

The safari includes use of:
- Use of 4WD safari modified safari Land Cruisers.
- Flying doctors coverage / service while on safari.
- Services of a professional naturalist guide.
- Bottled / mineral water all throughout the safari.
- Accommodation based on full board basis or as indicated in the tour plan.
- Park fees to all the national park, reserves and forest reserves.

Please note the cost is exclusive of:
- Air fares, airport tax, porter age and visa fees.
- Anything of personal expenses.
- Change of the itinerary.
- Tips to the hotel staff, local guides and your safari guide.

Focus: Birds, wildlife, culture and natural history.
 

Introduction.
The Great safari is a lodge and luxury tented camps based safari, covering all aspects of nature including watching both mammals and birds. We will visit totally different areas from Samburu – north of equator with it’s unique wildlife and bird life as well to the Great Rift valley lakes with great game viewing area, surrounded by yellow barked acacia’s and the red clad Masai’s people dotted across the plains. Vast herds of antelopes, zebra and prides of lions share their home with hundreds of birds species including the famous pink wash of flamingos across the Rift Valley lakes.

Detailed Itinerary.

Day 1: JKIA / Nairobi.
Arrival in Nairobi where you will be met by Mbango Safaris tour leader and taken to your hotel to check-in and relax. In the afternoon (Depending on your arrival time), we visit the Natural History Museum of Nairobi for a guided tour to the museum.

Overnight in Nairobi Fairview Hotel.

Day 2: Samburu National Reserve.
Today we will leave the city and head towards north passing through the rich Kikuyu farm lands with good views of Mt.Kenya if the weather is clear. Upon arrival at Samburu National Park we shall drive to the lodge for check in followed by lunch. In the afternoon we shall venture out for a game viewing and birding in this park. Our target species to look out for since they are not easily found elsewhere includes Pringles Puff-back, Pale Prinia, Somali Long-billed Crombec and the endemic Donaldson Smith Weaver. Uncommon mammals of this park include the Grevy’s Zebra, Giraffe necked antelope or Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe and the Beisa Oryx.

Overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge.

Day 3: Samburu National Reserve.
Today we go further a field to locate more Somali arid region species; we shall be bird finding species like Somali Bee-eater, Pink-breasted Lark and with a lot of luck the William’s Lark. Vulturine Guineafowl, Heuglin’s Courser, Martial Eagle, Penduline Tit, Water Thicknee, Golden Palm Weaver, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Pygmy Batis are other wonderful birds we will encounter. We shall also be on the lookout for the Bat Hawk which has been observed hunting around the river.

Overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge.

Days 4 & 5: Lake Nakuru National Park. Early breakfast we drive towards the highlands east of the Rift Valley; we will have a stopover at the spectacular Thompson’s falls to enjoy the view while looking for the Slender-billed Starling. We will continue loosing altitude until we reach Lake Nakuru on the floor of the Rift Valley; here we will see the spectacular gathering of lesser Flamingoes in there hundreds of thousand together with an abundance of other water birds like the Western Reef Heron, Lesser Jacana, and Black-headed Gull. We will also look for the leopard at the acacia forest. Lake Nakuru is a soda lake and host to one of the great ornithological spectacles of the world. Hundreds of thousands of Lesser Flamingos (occasionally up to 2 million) traditionally form a carpet of shimmering pink that stretches as far as the eye can see around the lake-shore. Pink-backed and White Pelicans swim in the shallows and feeding amongst them are Yellow-billed and Marabou Storks, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbills, and an almost complete range of east African ducks, waders, terns and gulls. The piercing call of the African Fish Eagles is a familiar sound at Nakuru and just one of numerous birds of prey that patrol the park. Mammals too are plentiful, particularly Bohor Reedbuck, Waterbuck,Buffalo, Warthog and the rare Rothschild’s Giraffe, whilst anyone tiring of the lakeside spectacle will find more than enough birds and other wildlife in the surrounding scrub and woodland. Nakuru National Parks is one of the better places in Africa to find Leopard and the park is also a very important Rhino sanctuary. It has a population of over 60 Black Rhino, although these are very hard to see, and ahealthy breeding population of White Rhino which includes a large number of young ones.

Dinner and overnight for the two days at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, full board.

Day 6: Kakamega Forest Reserve. Today we have an early breakfast and leave the Rift Valley for the unique rainforest of Kakamega. Along the way we will have birding stops to locate more species and have astopover for lunch. Arrive in Kakamega in the late afternoon check in and immediately go for an evening bird walk, around the hotel grounds the following species are easily seen - Joyful Greenbul, Veillot’s Black Weaver, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Throated Barbet, African Blue Flycatcher, White-chinned Prinia and Brown-throated Wattle-eye.

Overnight at Rondo Retreat Center – Kakamega forest.

Day 7: Kakamega Forest.
Today we venture into the true forest to locate the much harder to see forest specialists, we shall lookout for the Brown Illadopsis, Black-billed Turaco, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Equatorial Akalat, Yellow-billed Barbet, Red-headed Bluebill, Barred Prinia, Ludher’s Bushshrike, Bocages’s Bush-shrike Yellowbill and Southern Hyliota among others. On our way back to the hotel for lunch break, we shall bird the forest edges and species likely to be seen includes Chubb’s Cisticola, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat Mackinnon’s Fiscal, and Black-faced Rofous Warbler. After lunch we shall head back into a different part of the forest to locate more birds like Shelley’s Greenbul, Pale Illadopsis, Chapin’s flycatcher (hopefully) White Spotted Flufftail, African Broadbill and Yellow- whiskered Greenbul among others.

Overnight at Rondo Retreat Center – Kakamega forest.

Day 8: Maasai Mara National Reserve. We start out early after breakfast to be able to make a few stops along the way to Masai Mara Reserve. Arriving at the gates of the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, where we shall slow down our pace considerably enjoying the wildlife and birdlife of Kenya 's top game reserve on the way to our comfortable lodge in the Mara, Mara Serena Lodge which is perched on a hill with good views of the Mara plains below. Here we will be based for two nights.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is probably the most famous in all of frica. It is raising grassland, watered by the Mara River and covering an area of 1,510 square kilometres. The Mara region has been inhabited by humans for at least 2,000 years, the last 200 years by the Masai. The area is part of what is now referred to as the Serengeti - Mara Ecosystem, being joined to the huge Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. In the local (Maa) language Mara means 'spotted', a reference to the patches of bush and trees that dot the plains. The Masai Mara holds some of the largest concentrations of animals in the world, especially in August when huge herds of White-bearded Wildebeest and Burchell's Zebra, pursued by their attendant predators, migrate into the reserve from the adjacent Serengeti. This is another of Africa's great wildlife spectacles and, whilst nothing is certain in the world of wildlife watching, we hope to have timed it just right and witness the breathtaking sight of the Mara grasslands filled as far as the eye can see with huge herds of Wildebeest and Zebras (October safari). Topi, Coke's Hartebeest, Impala, Eland, Thompson's and Grant's Gazelles, Bohor Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Kirk's Dik-dik, Masai Giraffe, Elephant and Buffalo feed amongst them stalked by all 3 big cats, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard, along with a variety of other predators and scavengers such as Bat-eared Fox, Serval, Spotted Hyena and Black-backed Jackals. The birdlife is equally diverse, although often takes second place to the spectacle of the mammals. Huge Ground Hornbills and elegant secretary Birds stride across the grasslands along with Kori Bustards, Grey Crowned Crane and smaller species such as Temminck's Coursers, Wattled Lapwing, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Yellow-shouldered Widowbird and Capped Wheatear. Lone bushes or dead trees provide lookout perches for a variety of beeeaters and rollers, including the beautiful Carmine Bee-eater, whilst above them soar Martial Eagles, Lappet-faced, African White-backed, Hooded and Ruppell's Vultures, the latter four always on the look out for a recent kill. In the camp grounds and acacia woodlands we should find a plethora of barbets, finches, weavers, Turaco’s, go-away-birds, glossy starlings and kingfishers.

Our days in the Mara will start with an early morning wake up call, and a cup of tea or coffee, before we head out onto the plains shortly after dawn. After enjoying the animals and birds we will return to camp late morning for lunch before heading out again for the afternoon game drive. There are additional activities on offer for those who wish, the most popular being a hot air balloon ride - a truly magical experience. The cost of hot air ballon is not included in the tour cost and must be booked in advance. Please contact the Mbango Safaris office for a price and more information.

Overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - Maasai Mara.

Day 9: Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Maasai Mara is famous for its abundant wildlife and is always a highlight on any itinerary. In this respect, you will not be disappointed, while driving within the reserve birding, we shall see animal like Lion, Cheetah, Wildebeest, hartebeests, Topi, Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles Hyenas, Black-backed Jackals among others. Bird watching here will be delightful and highlights should include Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Sand-grouse and with luck Black-bellied Bustard.

Overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - Maasai Mara.

Day 10: Lake Naivasha.

Today we leave the Maasai Mara for LakeNaivasha Arriving at the shores of Lake Naivasha for a late lunch. Lake Naivasha is famous for its large number of water birds. We are going to be staying atElsamereFieldStudy Center at the banks of Lake Naivasha: Elsamere is the former home of Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George, became world famous for the pioneering conservation work and relationship with the Lioness Elsa. The afternoon can be spent at leisure, or birding at the conservation grounds or if the weather permits, optional boating trips can be organized at minimal cost.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Elsamere Conservation Center.

Days 11 & 12: Amboseli National Park.

After breakfast we will drive to Amboseli National Park stopping for lunch at the famous Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi. Amboseli sits beneath the towering snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, and is one of the country's most scenic reserves. Its acacia-dotted plains and dry rolling grasslands support a wealth of game including plenty of Elephant, Masai Giraffe, Burchell's Zebra, Cape buffalo and Waterbuck. Indeed it is here (weather and dust permitting) that we hope to see that classic East African scene of Elephants and Giraffes striding across the plains backed by the snowy peak of Kilimanjaro; this is one of Kenya's most sought after photographic destinations so bring plenty of film (or memory cards!). Other mammals to look out for include White-bearded Wildebeest, Thompson's Gazelle, Warthog, Black Rhino and Spotted Hyena. Predators such as Cheetah and Lion do occur in Amboseli but are somewhat wary as they are still persecuted by the surrounding farmers. Birdlife is once again abundant and we will no doubt find a wide selection of the 400 species that have been recorded here. Some to look out for include Bateleur, Red-billed Hornbill, Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling, Taccazze Sunbird, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Diederic and Black Cuckoos and White-fronted Beeeater. We will explore Amboseli on morning and afternoon game drives from the Amboseli Serena Lodge, our base for the next two nights of the tour.

Overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge - Amboseli.

Days 13 & 14: Tsavo West National Park.
This morning we will drive to Tsavo West National Park in a convoy, arriving in time for lunch. We will then check into the luxurious Kilanguni Serena Lodge, our base for the next two nights of the tour. Tsavo West, when combined with Tsavo East, covers over 20,000 square kilometers creating one of Africa's largest conservation areas. This is a classic East African park watched over by the distant snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tsavo is a place of wide horizons and undulating acacia covered red earth plains dotted with graceful parties of Giraffes and herds of Elephant and Zebra. It is cut by only two permanent rivers and so has a more arid feel to it than the other reserves we will be visiting on the holiday, but is nevertheless a wonderful area for mammals, birds and other wildlife.

Tsavo is also home to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. The decline of the Eastern Black Rhinoceros has been both rapid and shocking and, not too long ago, there was a real fear that this amazing animal may become extinct. For example, in the 1970s the Tsavo ecosystem alone supported an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Rhino, but by 1989 poaching had reduced this to a mere 20 individuals! Today, an estimated 540 Eastern Black Rhinoceros remain in the world and 85% of these are to be found in Kenya. The Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary has played an important role in the advancement of this work and helped develop many of the monitoring and conservation methods now employed in other parts of the country. The sanctuary itself was established in 1985 and protected 3 Rhino in an area of less than 1 square mile. Today Ngulia Sanctuary covers 38 square miles (62 square kilometers) and is home to 57 Rhino, more than half of which were born there. This has been a fantastic success story and Rhino numbers continue to grow. During our stay in Tsavo we will visit the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary to try and find one or two of the Rhino that live here, as well as a host of colourful birds such as Lilac-breasted Roller, Superb Starling and Beautiful Sunbird. We will also head out on game drives into Tsavo West National Park itself to enjoy the wealth of mammals, birds and other wildlife that abounds here. Tsavo is home to Kenya's 'red' Elephants and herds of these red-earth dusted giants are a familiar sight, along with Impala, Thompson's Gazelle, Masai Giraffe, Buffalo and perhaps even our first Lion or Cheetah. Indeed, the Lions of Tsavo are descendants of the legendary man-eaters (the Ghost and the Darkness) who brought the building of the Nairobi to Mombassa railroad to a standstill at the beginning of the last century. Friendlier inhabitants, however, include a wealth of birdlife - an amazing 600 species have been recorded here - including Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Saddle-billed Stork, Black-breasted Snake-eagle, Magpie Shrike, Carmine Beeeater, Woodland Kingfisher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird and many many more. Other, less frequently seen mammals include Gerenuk, Fringe-eared Oryx, Hunters Hartebeest and Leopard.
An undoubted highlight of our stay at Tsavo will be the opportunity to visit the crystal clear waters of the Mzima Springs. Here underground spring water, filtered by the volcanic rock of the Chyulu Hills, has formed a series of forest-fringed freshwater pools into which an underwater glass observation tank has been built. From this uniquely aquatic viewpoint we can watch Hippos swimming underwater along with crocodiles and various fish.

Lunch, dinner and overnight for the two days at Kilanguni Serena Lodge.

Days 15 - 17: Arabuko Sokoke Forest – Malindi.
After an early breakfast we shall head down to the coastal part of Kenya. Our destination is Arabuko Sokoke forest. Here we hope to locate the rarer species like Amani Sunbird, Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit and Clarkes Weaver. More common species we should see includes Green Barbet, Black-bellied Starling, and Fischer’s Turaco, East Coast Akalat, Eastern Nicator, Chestnut-fronted and Retz’s Helmet shrikes.

Spend three nights at Turtle Bay Resort. Accommodation is in a beach hotel. Your stay is on a full board basis including scheduled activities. Activities include scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking, salt water fly-fishing and windsurfing.

Days 18 & 19: Tsavo East National Park.
This morning we will drive to Tsavo East National Park, arriving in time for lunch. We will then check into the Man-eaters Tented camp, our base for the next two nights of the tour. Tsavo East, when combined with Tsavo West, covers over 20,000 square kilometers creating one of Africa's largest conservation areas. This is a classic East African park watched over by the distant Yatta Plateau. Tsavo is a place of wide horizons and undulating acacia covered red earth plains dotted with graceful parties of Giraffes and herds of Elephant and Zebra. It is cut by only two permanent rivers and so has a more arid feel to it than the other reserves we will be visiting on the holiday, but is nevertheless a wonderful area for mammals, birds and other wildlife.

Lunch, dinner and overnight for the two days at Man-eaters Tented Camp.

Day 20: Nairobi.
Sadly, today we have to leave Tsavo which has been our home and wildlife theatre for the last two days for a return drive to Nairobi we are going to make our way to the airport for our outbound flight back home.

Weather.
During our tour we can expect most days to be dry and fairly sunny, temperatures ranging from 20- 30oC, depending on altitude. Overcast weather, particularly in the afternoons, may not be infrequent, but rain is unlikely except on high ground such as KakamegaForest where afternoon precipitation is a possibility. The weather can be chilly between sunset and sunrise in June and October.

Food & accommodation included in the price.
All meals and accommodation are included throughout this holiday, with the exception of dinner on the first day at Fairview Hotel.

Entry requirements.
Certain nationals do require visas in order to enter Kenya although there are no visa requirements for citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth countries. Citizens of the following countries are obliged to carry visas: Antigua, Bermuda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, South Africa (for visitors staying more than 30 days), Sri Lanka, San Marino, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uruguay. You can complete and print a Visa application form online from www.kenya.visahq.com Visas can be readily obtained at JKIA and Moi International airports on arrival as well as from Kenya High Commissions abroad prior to departure. There is a fee to process a visa, usually between US $ 20 - US $ 100 depending on the category required.