ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival Nairobi – JKIA
On arrival in Nairobi you will be met and greeted by our representative who will offer all the necessary assistance that you will need on arrival. You will be transferred to your hotel for check in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure!
Overnight at Panari Hotel – BB
Early morning your Safari Driver / Guide will be at the hotels reception ready for your safari adventure. After breakfast, you will join your Driver / Guide and at 7.30am depart Nairobi to drive to Maasai Mara. Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kenya – Africa. The Reserve is located in the Great Rift Valley in open grassland. Maasai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s Wildlife viewing areas. 95 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and over 400 species of birds have been recorded in this park. In Maasai Mara you will hardly miss to see the BIG FIVE. The annual wildebeest migration takes place in this park between July and October. The eco system of Maasai Mara holds one of the highest Lion densities in the world and this is where over 2 million Wildebeest, Zebras and Thomson Gazelle migrate every year. Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant than in Maasai Mara. Morning and afternoon game drives are what will take the day to day. Do not miss the encounter of any of the big five!
Dinner and Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge – FB
Day 3: Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Maasai village visit
The Maasai tribe is one of the most Authentic ethnic tribes of Kenya. With a rich cultural background, the Maasai have maintained their rich culture despite of all the western influences, civilization, education etc. They have clung to their rich way traditional way of life which has made them a symbol of Kenyan culture. You will spend this day engaging in activities of this rich culture and learning why and how this community has maintained their rich cultural heritage. Song and dance the Maasai way will welcome you to this community. A tour of the village and to understand and be part of the activities they engage in for economic empowerment. Take the traditional jump together with the morans and see how far you can go! Understand how the warrior is of great importance to this community, how does he transition from a moran to a warrior, what is his responsibility in the community, who mentors him from one level to another etc. In the midst of these warriors when / if possible you will be taken through the elaborate “Eunoto” ceremony (optional due to the seasons its performed) – A ceremony performed to transition the morans to warriors! Enjoy by being engaged in the details of this ceremony, be part of the preparations to this ceremony and realize the beauty of diverse culture. Visit a village school in this community and be part of their learning today and share meaningful moments with the children and the community at large. In the late afternoon return to your lodge with game viewing carrying beautiful memories of this day!
Dinner and Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge – FB
Day 4: Maasai Mara – Lake Naivasha (Hells Gate National Park)
This day early in the morning you have an option of doing a Hot Air Balloon Safari + Champagne breakfast (optional at an extra cost USD $ 450 per person) OR an early morning game drive which is highly recommended! Allows you the opportunity (with luck) to come face to face with hunters in search of their prey! After this amazing experience you will join your Driver / Guide and depart to drive to Lake Naivasha. Lake Naivasha is a beautiful Fresh water lake fringed by thick papyrus. The Lake and its surroundings are rich in natural bounty. Most of the Lake is surrounded by forests of yellow barked Acacia or Yellow fever tree. The Forest abounds with bird life which makes it the best birding destination. The lake draws wild game like Giraffe, Buffalos, Colobus monkeys etc. and Hippos population sleep the day out in the Lakes waters. Start off with a game drive / walk in Hells Gate National Park which is in Naivasha. If possible it’s also exciting to do a cycling ride in Hells gate (bikes hired at the gate at an extra cost) and also time allowing dip yourselves in the natural health spa found in this park. In the later afternoon, to do a boat ride (at an extra cost) on the lake Naivasha would be exciting!
Dinner and Overnight at Lake Naivasha Fish Eagles Inn – FB
Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Amboseli National Park
Depart Lake Naivasha after an early morning walk on the lake and breakfast and drive to Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is part of the Savannah plains with a high population of both bird and animal species. Amboseli has a mixed topography of plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshes. The diversity, along with a long dry season, ensures excellent viewing of the large concentrations of African Animals living in this natural habitat. Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals because its vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. This is the only park where Africa’s tallest Mt. Kilimanjaro acts as a back drop while on a game drive. The view of this mountain when the clouds open out is spectacular! Not forgetting to visit the observation hill in Amboseli! You will arrive at Amboseli Sopa Lodge in time for lunch. Take on an afternoon game drive until sunset.
Dinner and Overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge – FB
Day 6: Amboseli – Tsavo East National Park
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will depart Amboseli National Park with game viewing and drive to Tsavo East National Park. Tsavo East offers a vast and untapped arena of arid bush. It has the largest Elephant herds in Kenya. Its major attractions are Elephant in Eden (red Elephants wallowing in the red soil of Tsavo East), Aruba Dam, Mudanda Rock and Luggard Falls. In Tsavo East you will enjoy game drives visiting Mudanda rock, lugard falls, Aruba dam and a lot of sightseeing.
Dinner and Overnight at Voi Safari Lodge – FB
Day 7: Tsavo East – KASIGAU COMMUNITY
Enjoy an early morning game drive in Tsavo East which comes highly recommended! If offers you the opportunity (with luck!) to see the Wild cats searching for their prey! After breakfast you will depart and drive to your community adventure in Kasigau village. Mount Kasigau is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains with beautiful views of the Gae rock which has a spectacular sundowner. On arrival at Kasigau village, you will be met by the local guide and a village elder. After brief introductions you will check into your accommodations. You will then join local guide who will take you through the village orientation, familiarization and settling in. You will experience the good hospitality of natives and at night enjoy cultural dances and unique story telling by the village elder on the first world war between British and Germany and how it affected this community – the Taita!
Dinner and Overnight at village Cottages / Homestays – FB
Day 8: Community Development Projects / Economic Empowerment
This community engages in different projects to improve their livelihood and be empowered economically. Preserving nature is a project that they also consider totally important to them. Nature conservation is one of the major focal issues within Kasigau community. On this day, you will intensively participate in tree nursery and planting and discerning activities from a community based organization known as Kasigau Development Trust, located at Rukanga. The community scouts who have specialized in this will lead and guide in this tree planting initiatives. Kasigau community has about 15 women groups who specialize in weaving beautiful African baskets for economic purposes. They came up with the basket weaving enterprise in order to generate income by selling to various people of interest. The community also engages in small scale farming which assists them to feed the family and if any surplus for sale. This afternoon you will visit some of the women groups if possible all of them and marvel at their weaving skills and where necessary or possible have moments with them and share advise on selling skills and marketing of their products which will impact positively on the economic levels. See how they do their farming and what they farm and where possible and with time try milking a cow or weeding of the crops and enjoy the experience! In the evening return to your accommodation and enjoy the evening away with dinner in the company of your local guide and villagers.
Dinner and Overnight at village Cottages / Homestays – FB
Day 9: Village Nature Walk and Sports activities with youth / school children – Sundowner
A nature walk in Kasigau village and Taita hills this day with your sporty wear in readiness for an afternoon of sports makes it quite an exciting day! The massive rocky outcrop, the lush green vegetation covering the densely population slops, the several isolated forest and meandering road up the hills, are just some of the scenic sights of Taita hills that make it perfect for a nature walk. The views from the peak are incredibly beautiful! In the afternoon you will get the opportunity to meet the youth and school children for an exciting football tournament. These tournaments are encouraged in this village for it brings the youth together and are encouraged from keeping away from drugs, indiscipline and idleness. In the evening you will visit the Gae Rock. Gae Rock is a natural rock with a dam at the bottom which is about 5km form the village. From this rock you will be able to have spectacular views of Kasigau and a beautiful sundowner! You will watch the beauty of the sunset from this rock. After sunset you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at village Cottages / Homestays – FB
Day 10: Full day Trekking on Mount Kasigau
After breakfast, with your picnic lunch boxes you will depart for a day of adventure on Mt. Kasigau. Mount Kasigau boarders the Southern West reaches of Tsavo West National Park. It’s a famous hill which was used by British and German as observation point during 01st world war in 1914. It is 1641 meter above sea level , 14.6 kilometers ascending and descending. You must be physically fit in order to climb. For this climb, equip yourselves with proper shoes e.g. hiking boots / sports shoes, raincoat, camera and if possible binoculars. The climb will take you between 6 – 8hrs (up and down). Mt. Kasigau is surrounded by 5 villages which are Kiteghe, Rukanga, Jora, Bungule, and Makwasinyi with a population of 9,000 people. The mountain is the main water catchment of 5 villages. The forest has 3 categories to look out for which are deciduous forest, semi – ever green forest and rain forest. The mountain has endemic bird species like Taita White eye bird and many medicinal plants e.g. Cassia Abbreviate which is used as a painkiller. Adventure of discovery! Those who are not able to do the trek will do a walking adventure to enjoy the scenery, learn medicinal plant, visit shrine caves, learn how Taita people protect their family from bad spirits of dead relatives and the steep cliff where those practicing witch craft were punished by our ancestors. In the evening return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at village Cottages / Homestays – FB
Day 11: Visit the mining project in Kasigau
Kasigau has vast mineral resources. Many types of gemstones are harvested in this area on small scale for economic purposes. This include Ruby, Green Garnet, Tormanile and pure Marble garnets etc. You will meet small scale miners who will take you through their day of mining! Upon understanding what they do and how they do it you will be allowed to share ideas and thoughts with them on how they can become better and improve their product for sale. In the evening of this day there will be a fare well dinner party in the village to celebrate your spending time in this area. Farewells and photo sessions to be done this evening due to the early departure in the morning.
Dinner and Overnight at village Cottages / Homestays – FB
Day 12: Kasigau / Voi SGR Station – Nairobi
In the morning after breakfast in good time and “full of lasting safari memories”, you will be transferred to SGR station to board your train departing Voi Station @ 9.45am and arriving NBO @ 3.15pm. In Nairobi you will be met and transferred to your own onward plans.
End of services…….
Included in the price are:
NOTE:
We do not support single use plastics on all our safaris. We recommend our clients to carry refillable water bottles.
Excluded in the price are:
What to Carry:
AsaRay Tours (AsaRay) is an elite family safari company, dedicated to bringing you a dream safari/tour or vacation, AsaRay’s specialty is customized safari packages created with your intimate involvement and partnership. … [+]