THE BEST OF KENYA - 12 NIGHTS / 13 DAYS SAFARI

Day 1: Depart From your country

Day 2 Nairobi: Norfolk Hotel
Upon arrival into the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by a Kenya Holidays representative and escorted to your hotel. Since its opening on Christmas Day 1904, this hotel has delighted and impressed generations with its service, luxurious style and unfailing high standards. The hotel's immaculate gardens, rickshaw, oxcart, and vintage car recall an earlier, more elegant age. The restaurants, bars and dining room are rich in history, enhanced by up-to-the-minute facilities and amenities.

The Norfolk is located in downtown Nairobi opposite the National Theater and is close to some of the most exclusive shops and restaurants in East Africa. All rooms have color TV, central video systems, Reuters News watch and CNN International broadcasts, telephone, mini bar, 24-hour room service and en-suite facilities. The hotel's facilities include heated swimming pool, health club (fully equipped gym, aerobics room, and sauna & steam rooms), hair salon, bookshop & newsstand, and gift & souvenir shops.

Day 3: Amboseli National Park: Tortillis Camp
After breakfast, drive to Amboseli National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in the environs of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro on the southern border of Kenya. At dusk, you'll return to your camp. Tortillis Camp is a welcoming blend of rustic style and modern comfort. Named after the local Tortillis Acacia trees, the luxury-tented camp is designed to make the international traveler feel comfortable in Africa.

This new lodge is the brainchild of Stefano and Max Cheli and Liz Peacock who have made their reputation in high quality, tailored safaris for visitors seeking a personal view of Kenya. Guests at the camp will be transported off the beaten track to enjoy the camp's totally unspoiled setting. Sheltered to the south by a grove of umbrella trees, it faces out over unrivaled views of Africa's most spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro. The camp sits on the edge of the park itself, on the plains owned by the Masai people.

This unique setting provides the double advantage of ready access to the herds of game that live outside the park as well as game drives within the park itself. The camp offers 15 specially designed luxury tents. Each tent has an extra large semi-circular verandah allowing each guest a breathtaking view from the privacy of their own tent.

Day 4: Amboseli National Park: Tortillis Camp
In the morning you will enjoy two game drives, followed by an additional afternoon game drive.

Day 5: Aberdares National Park: The Ark Country Club
After a morning game drive and breakfast, you'll depart for Nairobi. Following lunch at the Carnivore restaurant, you'll make the drive to Aberdares Country Club. In the afternoon, drive to a ‘tree hotel' where game can be watched all night from the terrace facing the floodlit waterholes.

Set in the heart of the Aberdare National Park this unique “tree-lodge” overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt-lick which attracts a host of wildlife — elephant, rhino, leopard, bushbuck and occasionally the rare and elusive bongo or giant forest hog. Named after Noah's Ark, the Ark is designed with “decks” from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for game viewing. Guests stay overnight in “cabins” fitted with en-suite facilities and buzzers to announce the arrival of one of the “Big Five” at the salt lick.

Day 6: Samburu Game Reserve: Sarova Shaba
After breakfast, drive to the Shaba National Reserve adjacent Samburu Game Reserve. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive and return to your tented camp with comfortably furnished twin-bedded tents. Spend the night under the star-lit skies with the sounds of nature just outside your tent.

The ruggedly beautiful Shaba National Reserve is famed for the variety of its wildlife and the splendor of its bird. This is the place to see the reticulated giraffe, the beisa oryx, gerenuk and Grevy's zebra, animals rarely found south of the equator.

Day 7: Samburu Game Reserve: Sarova Shaba
Enjoy a full day of game viewing with TWO morning game drives and one afternoon game drive. This unique reserve is not only geographically different, but it's also unique in the wildlife to be seen, including the long-necked gerenuk, Grevy's zebra and the reticulated giraffe.

Day 8: Mt. Kenya: Mt. Kenya Safari Club / Sweetwaters Tented Camp
After an early morning game drive, drive to the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club. Spend the afternoon taking advantage of the facilities in this luxurious club — tennis, golf, horseback riding and much more. If you prefer more game - viewing, then you may wish to choose Sweetwaters Tented Camp.

Day 9: Lake Nakuru: Lion Hill Lodge
After a morning game drive and breakfast, you'll drive to Lake Nakuru to enjoy an afternoon of game viewing. The Great Rift Valley, the world's largest fault, is 2,500 feet deep, 30 kilometers wide and some 2,500 kilometers long. It is home to lakes such as Nakuru, Bogaira and Elementeita that have outflows and therefore accruable mineral salts that descend from the highland areas, creating an alkaline “soup” rich in algae.
It is this “soup” that attracts millions of lesser and greater flamingos. Other lakes with out flowing rivers such as Naivasha and Batunigo with resulting freshwater have their own diverse birdlife. Set on a plateau in the Rift Valley, overlooking one of the world's greatest ornithological spectacles, Lake Nakuru, stands Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. Beautifully landscaped with natural foliage and a startling variety of flower gardens, the Lodge offers luxurious accommodation complemented by delicious cuisine. The panoramic view from the lodge reveals a shimmering pink glow across the lake, created by millions of flamingo, pelicans and Marabou Storks.

The park is also the sanctuary for the rare black rhino, leopard, waterbuck and other species of bird. Accommodation consists of 65 chalet type bedrooms facing the lake, all-offering porticos and private bathrooms. Other amenities include restaurant, bar, swimming pool, sauna and curio shop.

Day 10: Masai Mara National Park: Sarova Mara Tented Camp
After a morning game drive and breakfast, drive to Nairobi for lunch. After lunch FLY to the Masai Mara. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive. This well-established permanent tented camp is situated at an elevation of two streams in the magnificent Masai Mara game reserve.

Your tent is stylish and spacious with twin beds with en suite bathroom with hot shower, toilet and electrical hurricane lamp. Best of all is your own shaded verandah with canvas camp chairs and a stunning view. Dawn and late afternoon are prime game viewing times but there is a lot to do between game drives. You can go on game walks with the resident ornithologist and see how many of the hundred resident species you can identify, take a swim in the pool or just relax in your tent.

Day 11: Masai Mara National Reserve: Sarova Mara Tented Camp
Spend the day venturing deeper into the Mara with one morning game drive and one afternoon game drive. The Masai Mara is unrivaled in the abundance and variety of game. The vast plains are full of surprises — you may witness a kill by a big cat or playful lion cubs in the shade of an acacia tree alongside the dozing members of the pride.

Day 12: Masai Mara National Park: Sarova Mara Tented Camp
Enjoy another full day of game viewing with one morning and an afternoon one game drive.

Day 13: Departure
After a morning game drive and breakfast, FLY /Drive back to Nairobi. You will have the use of a hotel dayroom. In the evening, drive to the airport to board your flight back home.

Rate:
13 nights / 14days
Land per person double occupancy
01 April – 31st May, 2008 ; USD 4,100
01 June - 30th June, 2008 ; USD 4,700
01 July - 31st Oct 2008; USD 5,200
01 Nov - 15 Dec 2008; USD 4,700

The rate includes:
• Accommodation for 11 nights
• Meals as mentioned
• Transport and transfers
• Game drives with guaranteed window seat and game park fees
• Professional tour guide/driver
• Flying doctors service

Rate excludes:
• Gratuities
• Laundry
• Items of personal nature
• Beverages
• Trip cancellation & interruption Insurance
• Kenya visa
Please note:
The above itinerary is the BEST OF KENYA. You can opt to choose parts of it for FEWER DAYS or MORE DAYS.