Gulf Breeze Kenya Safari

June, 2013

Safari Naturalist: Aaron Shaha Group Escort: Kayte Wanko

May 30, 2013
Depart USA
Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Europe.

May 31, 2013
Day 1~Arrive early this morning in Europe, take a day trip to enjoy an extra destination and prepare for your overnight flight to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

June 1, 2013
Day 2 ~ En Route to Tsavo East
You arrive in Europe early this morning. Later today you will board your flight to Nairobi, arriving at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport in the evening. You will be met outside of customs by your safari leader, Aaron Shaha, and your drivers as we being our journey to Tsavo East National Park
Voi Safari Lodge

June 2, 2013
Day 3 ~ Tsavo East National Park
During your stay at this unique lodge, enjoy a visit to the game blind located next to the watering hole at the base of the hill. The blind provides an outstanding photographic opportunity and you may stand eye-to-eye with an elephant! Morning and afternoon game drives give you the opportunity to see the famous pink elephants of Tsavo. The fine red dust that is unique to this ecosystem gives them their special color. You will also encounter lion, kudu, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and over 500 species of birds.
Voi Safari Lodge

Tsavo East is one of Kenya's largest
and oldest national     parks: coveringapproximately 40 per cent of the total areas of all of Kenya's National Parks. It's dramatic views; in particular of the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the world's largest lava flow, and proximity to the coast make it   a popular safari destination. Grassland and open plains alternate with semi-arid acacia scrub and woodlands. Green swathes cross the park where the riverbanks rise to lush vegetation; North of Galana is a true wilderness.

Two permanent rivers water the park: the Tsavo River that flows through Tsavo West and the Athi River, which flows from Tsavo East; the two unite to form the remarkably shaped water-worn rocks (Lugard Falls).

Game includes: elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, crocodile, giraffe, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk, zebra and Hunter's Hartebeest. The Park is home to some of the largest herds of elephant in Kenya. Some 500-bird species have been recorded in the area, including ostrich and some migratory kestrels, while buzzards stop at Tsavo East during their long flight south.

Voi Safari Lodge

Voi Safari Lodge is situated in one of the world’s largest game parks, the Tsavo National Park. The lodge stands high above the town of Voi, overlooking a vast expanse of the African bush, where guests can simply watch the herds of wild animals roam beneath them.

From the lodge guests can look out onto the three water holes and see the ever-changing panorama of Africa unfold right before their eyes,  while at the same time enjoy the luxury of waiter’s service. There is also a special hide for camera enthusiasts, affording close up and candid pictures of the wild animals which do not suspect any human presence.

Voi Safari lodge is an ideal location from which to go out in search of the Big 5. From Voi , guests can have speedy and easy access to either the Tsavo East or Tsavo West portions of the National Park. Voi is also an ideal base for exploring Taita Hills, including the fertile farmland secluded high in Taita Hills surrounding Wundanyi, reached by excellent mountain roads which afford splendid views as far as the coast.

During the dry season the waterholes attracts a lot of wild animals moving almost in a trance as if urged on by some kind of telepathic communication, the sight is just fantastic. The location evokes a romantic inspiration that once moved a visiting British poet who now incorporated his experience at the lodge in most of his poems, to describe it as sample of wonder that is better than a dream.

June 3, 2013
Day 4 ~ ~ Tsavo West and Amboseli National Parks
After breakfast, your journey takes you to Tsavo West National Park for the morning game drive. Here you will see a subspecies of giraffe found nowhere else in Kenya – a cross between the Maasai and Rothchild giraffe. You will also stop at Mzima Springs, an igyllic spot surrounded by a peaceful forest where you'll see hippos and crocodiles resting in the crystal clear water and watch playful monkeys cavorting in the trees.

After lunch at Kilaguna Serena Lodge, you'll continue your journey to Amboseli National Park resting in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. You will arrive in time for your first game drive in one of Kenya's most fragile ecosystems. Amboseli is well known for its large herds of elephants and buffaloes in the swamps formed by melting snow of Mt Kilimanjaro. You will end the day just about 6:30pm at the Serena lodge. After check in to your rooms it will be time for dinner and a briefing for the next day's activities.
Overnight Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

June 4, 2013
Day 5. Amboseli National Park
Today is a full day in Amboseli with morning and afternoon drives. An optional visit to a traditional Maasai village will give you more opportunities to see the many variety of wildlife and the people of this part of the world. Overnight Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli lies immediately northwest of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. It was established as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers 392 km, and forms part of the much larger 3,000 km Amboseli ecosystem. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches.

The endemic dust is volcanic ash, which spewed from Kilimanjaro millennia ago. During the dry seasons, a curious feature is the shimmering dry lakebed where false mirages of populated horizons, punctuated by real herds of zebras and wildebeests hover in front of visitors. The principal attraction in Amboseli is its vast herds of elephants within the park. The bull elephants here have some of the largest tusks in Kenya. Plentiful game includes zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and leopard. Caracal and serval cats can be seen. Birdwatchers can see pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, African fish eagles, martial eagles and pygmy falcons.

Amboseli is an important rangeland in Maasai culture. The ranch areas outside the park offer a wealth of game viewing and walking safaris. The Kenya Wildlife Community Service works closely with the local elders to develop eco-tourism attractions, which benefit the indigenous communities and protect this fragile eco-system.

Amboseli Serena Lodge

Nestled in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, hidden beneath a copse of giant acacia trees and beside a gently flowing natural spring lies Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. With Kilimanjaro's 6,000-meter-high snow-capped peaks rising behind the lodge and presiding over the landscape, which boasts more big game than almost anywhere else in Africa, the setting is nothing short of magnificent.

Inspired by local Maasai architecture, the design of the lodge is in total harmony with the environment. Each guest room conveys a distinctive Maasai Manyatta mood and is furnished with authentic African murals painted by a local artist.

As part of Serena Hotels' dedication to conserving the fragile environment of the African Bush, guests are invited to plant a tree to help reforestation of the land that was becoming barren from the herds of elephants tearing up the trees for food. Hundreds of trees have been planted to date. The lodge's naturalist also gives informative talks on the environmental issues relating to the Amboseli National Park.

The lodge has 96 beautifully appointed rooms and a swimming pool filled with fresh water from a spring flowing from Mount Kilimanjaro. Activities on offer include game drives three times a day, sundowners on Observation Hill, traditional feasts and tribal dancing overlooking a waterhole where big game gather, musical evenings and visits to the traditional manyattas of the Amboseli Maasai.

June 5, 2013
Day 6 ~ Lake Naivasha National Park
Today, travel north into the Rift Valley at Lake Naivasha, arriving in time for lunch. Late this afternoon you will visit Hell's Gate National Park where a game drive will introduce you to this region known for its volcanic history. You will have the opportunity to see lots of flower farms and the geothermal power plant on our way back to the hotel. For those very fit physically the Hell's gate Gorge is beautiful for your walk which takes just about one and half hours.
Overnight Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge

Lake Naivasha National Park

Lake Naivasha is one of Kenya's most stunning Rift Valley freshwater lakes. It is surrounded by feathery papyrus, marshy lagoons and grassy shores. The lake itself is not technically a national park as most of the land around the lake is privately owned, but there are enough wildlife attractions to warrant a listing.

Strong afternoon winds cause the lake to get very rough quite suddenly. The local Masai called the lake Nai'posha, meaning ''rough water'', which the British later spelled incorrectly as Naivasha. The region was first settled in the 1930s by the notorious British 'Happy Valley' set who bought all the neighbouring farmland – much of which is still owned by white Kenyans. Around this time Lake Naivasha was also Kenya's international airport! Flying boats from Europe used to land on the water. Even today when the water is low you can see the wooden posts that mapped out the runway. It is still fertile agricultural land, particularly for vegetables, fruit and flowers. Most are exported to different European countries.

The lake is about 13km across, but its waters are shallow, with an average depth of five metres, and home to many hippos. At the beginning of the 20th century, Naivasha inexplicably completely dried up and the land was farmed, until heavy rains a few years later caused the lake to return.

Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow-barked Acacia tree, full of birds and black and white colobus monkeys. The Acacias were once called 'yellow fever trees' after explorers who camped under them caught malaria.

You can take a boat on the lake to see the hippos, pelicans and fish eagles at close quarters and also to get to Crescent Island - a protected reserve where you can walk amongst zebra, antelope and giraffe that come to the water's edge to drink. There are no predators, so this is one of the few places in Kenya offering the opportunity to walk amongst the animals.

Of the other attractions near the lake, Elsamere, the former home of Joy and George Adamson, is a must-see. Once the home of Elsa the Lioness, this house overlooking the lake has now been transformed into a museum commemorating the story of 'Born Free'. It's also a great place for a spot of cream tea on the grassy lawns.

The 68 sq km Hell's Gate National Park also lies beside the lake. It was named for its pair of massive red tinged cliffs and was proclaimed as a park to protect the variety of vultures and eagles that breed in these cliffs. The park is home to a profusion of plains game and birdlife. Again, as there are no predators, walking is permitted, making it ideal for hiking, biking and rock climbing.

Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge

The lodge consists of 70 superior guest rooms furnished with wrought iron and mahogany furniture and have a step-down sitting area with television. They are clustered in blocks of 10 rooms, with 6 on the ground flour and 4 on the top. The middle two rooms on the top have interconnecting facilities, making it convenient for those with families. The end rooms on either side of the block also have extra open air showers.

Located 90 minutes away from Nairobi by road, Naivasha has long been the place for those seeking to get away from it all. Joy Adamson, author of Born Free made the shores her home, so did Lord Errol and a host of other well-known personalities. At 1880m above sea level, the air is cool, crisp and reinvigorating.

You will feel your nerves quiet down as soon as you set your eyes on the lodge's rich, manicured grounds. From here, the Mt Longonot, an extinct volcano, towers behind the lake imparting a soft, purple tinge. These idyllic grounds upon which the Naivasha Simba is set, together with its countryside look make it the perfect location for conferences, wedding receptions, honeymoons and private retreats. The world-class lodge has had the pleasure of hosting a number of important international conferences, with the Sudanese Peace Agreement that was attended by 15 heads of states and dignitaries such as Tabo Mbeki, Kofi Annan, Collin Powell and US senators, among them.

June 6, 2013
Day 7 ~ Aberdares National Park
This morning you'll proceed north to the Aberdare National Park. Stopping at the Aberdare County Club for lunch, after lunch you'll board the hotel bus which will take you up to The Ark Hotel. Here you will check into your rooms and rest of time is to watch animals come to the water hole for salt liking. Elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, monkeys and a wide range of birds are to be found. Rhinos, bush hogs, leopards are known to visit at late night hours.
Overnight The Ark Hotel

Aberdare National Park

The Aberdare National Park, with an area of 767 square Km covers the higher areas of the Aberdare Mountain Ranges of Central Kenya, from altitude of 1829M to 4001M above sea level. The topography is quite diverse with deep ravines that cut through the forested eastern and western slopes. Animals easily observed in the park include; the Black Rhino, leopard, baboon, black and white Colobus monkey and sykes monkey. Rarer sightings include those of lions, the golden cat and the bongo- an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest. Animals like the eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats can be found higher up in the moorlands.

The Ark Hotel

Opened in November 1969, The Ark overlooks the Yasabara waterhole, perhaps the largest salt-lick in the Aberdare Mountains and the haunt of a variety of forest game unequalled in Africa.

This tree-lodge is uniquely shaped to resemble the actual Ark, designed with decks from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for viewing the animals visiting the salt-lick and waterhole. A ground-level bunker at The Ark provides excellent photographic opportunities, and the Yasabara waterhole is floodlit by night to enable all-night viewing of game.

June 7, 2013
Day 8 ~ Meru National Park
After breakfast you'll drive north to the highlands of Meru and into the vast Meru national park for your two day stay. You will cross the equator line at the Nanyuki town where you shall have your photos taken and see the water demonstration. You arrive in time for lunch, check in to your rooms and after a short rest you will depart for your afternoon game drive. Being in the northern part of Kenya you will have an opportunity of seeing animals unique to this part of the country. Among them are the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, the Oryx and a variety of birds. Overnight Elsa's Kopje Deluxe Camp

June 8, 2013
Day 9 ~ Meru National Park
Another full day in this park will offer more chances of seeing more wildlife including the big five - elephants, lions, buffaloes, and so forth.
Overnight Elsa's Kopje Deluxe Camp



Meru National Park

The park is 870 square Km east-north-east of Mount Kenya in the Meru District of the Eastern Province. The climate is semi-arid and has irregular rainfalls. Major attractions include the former home of Joy and George Adamson and Elsa the lioness, views of Mt. Kenya, rivers and riverine habitats, the Tana River, and Adamson's Falls.

Wildlife abounds, including Grevy's Zebra, Elephants, Eland, Bush Pig, Waterbuck, Cheetah, Leopard, Reticulated Giraffe, Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Bohor Reedbuck, Hartebeest, Python, Puff Udder, Cobra, and more than 427 recorded species of birds.

Elsa's Kopje Deluxe Camp

Elsa's Kopje is named after Elsa the lioness, made famous by George and Joy Adamson's biographical book and film "Born Free". Winner of the Good Safari Guide's 'Best Safari Property in Africa' award, Elsa's Kopje is renowned for being one of the most elegant lodges in Africa, with the most spectacular setting. It is the best upmarket location to view rhino in their natural habitat in Kenya.

Elsa's Kopje is almost invisible to the eye as you approach its home on Mughwango Hill. It blends into the rocky crags of the "kopje" (small hill), built above the site of George Adamson's original campsite. Every cottage is the ultimate 'room-with-a-view', uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside. Each cottage has spacious double or twin beds with en suite, elegantly appointed bathrooms. There is an open bar, lounge and dining room with an exceptionally inviting infinity pool overlooking the Meru plains.

June 9, 2013
Day 10 ~ Meru to Nairobi
This morning you will enjoy a final game drive before boarding your flight to return to Nairobi where you will spend the remainder of the day at leisure for last minute shopping and sightseeing. You'll have a day room for travel preparations and relaxation. Early this evening you will have your farewell dinner in the hotel and then transfer to the airport to board your flight to Europe on your way home.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:

Gorilla trek
June 9, 2013
Arrive in Kampala and transfer to your Hotel Cassie for overnight.

June 10, 2013
After breakfast at Hotel Cassie in Kampala you will drive south-west across the Equator through Savannah grasslands, banana plantations and through herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns. You will ascend into Kigezi highlands, known as the "Switzerland of Africa" with terraced farming and mountain scenery, and into Buhoma region.

June 11, 2013
Early this morning you will enter the sanctuary at dawn and enjoy the beauty and freshness of the forest, home of the mountain gorillas. After a short briefing by the guides, you will proceed through dense bush to trek for these endangered animals. Your guide will give detailed information on the plants and the general fauna and flora in this beautiful park. Other primates found include the black and white Colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey and chimpanzee. Enjoy a packed lunch en route and if time permitting, you will visit the cultural village of the Batwa pygmies to learn their traditional way of life, like how they make a local "brew" out of bananas, use of plants for medicinal purposes and watch their traditional dance. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

June 12, 2013
Return to Kampala after breakfast arriving in time for your flight to Nairobi - to connect to your international flight.

GULF BREEZE KENYA 2013 SAFARI

For more information contact: Kwanko@gulfbreezezoo.org

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