The Masai Heartlands safari
| country: | Kenya, Tanzania |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs most Saturdays throughout the year |
| price: | From £830 (15 days) excluding flights, plus local payment US $700. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to The Masai Heartlands safari
This 15 day safari allows you to see four of the finest game parks in east Africa: Lake Nakuru famous for its visiting flocks of flamingoes, the sweeping grasslands of the Masai Mara, the stunning Ngorongoro Crater and the endless plains of the Serengeti.
These great reserves offer you the most incredible game viewing in four completely different types of terrain, while you also have the privilege of seeing the Masai tribes people in their homelands and to learn about their fascinating culture.
The tour is a wonderful mixture of savannah scenery, tremendous bird life upon Kenya's renowned soda lakes, a Masai Boma (village), the historic Olduvai Gorge and the remarkable spectacle of the volcanic caldera that is the Ngorongoro Crater. This mixture of the people, wildlife and varied scenery of East Africa is undoubtedly a tremendous travel experience.
These great reserves offer you the most incredible game viewing in four completely different types of terrain, while you also have the privilege of seeing the Masai tribes people in their homelands and to learn about their fascinating culture.
The tour is a wonderful mixture of savannah scenery, tremendous bird life upon Kenya's renowned soda lakes, a Masai Boma (village), the historic Olduvai Gorge and the remarkable spectacle of the volcanic caldera that is the Ngorongoro Crater. This mixture of the people, wildlife and varied scenery of East Africa is undoubtedly a tremendous travel experience.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi and explore this exciting and vibrant African city. |
| Day 2: | Lake Nakuru. Visit a school on the outskirts of Nairobi before continuing on to Lake Nakuru for lunch. Set up camp within the park and take an afternoon game drive in search of leopards and rhinos. |
| Day 3-4: | Lake Naivasha. After an early morning game drive, travel on to birdwatchers' paradise Lake Naivasha. Enjoy a free day to take part in the optional activities such as a boat cruise on the lake, walking in nearby Hell's Gate National Park or relaxing in the pleasant lakeside surroundings. |
| Day 5: | Loita Hills. Travel across the Great Rift Valley floor into the Loita Hills where we camp with the Masai tribes people and learn about their traditional lifestyle. |
| Day 6-7: | Masai Mara Reserve. Spend two days in search of Africa's 'big five' at the famous Masai Mara Reserve. Spot lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, cheetahs, impalas and more. |
| Day 8: | Narok. Stay the night in Narok, a major Masai settlement. |
| Day 9: | Kisii. With a new crew and vehicle, head across the Great Rift Valley, a massive valley that runs from northern Syria to central Mozambique. |
| Day 10: | Lake Victoria. Camp on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. Take a boat ride out onto the vast waters or chill out on the shores, swapping stories from the game drives. |
| Day 11-12: | Serengeti. The waving golden grasses of the Serengeti National Park are filled with lions, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeest and zebras. Spend time exploring the rocky outcrops and wooded river valleys for more animal encounters. |
| Day 13: | Ngorongoro Crater. Continue to Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area for some amazing game viewing. Visit man's early ancestors at Olduvai Gorge, said to be the 'Cradle of Mankind'. |
| Day 14: | Mto Wa Mbu. Spend half a day spotting game in the crater before continuing to our camp in the market village of Mto Wa Mbu. |
| Day 15: | Nairobi. On the final day, travel back across the open plains to Arusha and then on to Nairobi, where the adventure comes to an end. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. this tourism business won an award
in our 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine.how this holiday makes a difference
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For every week that our passengers spend in Africa, we plant a tree in Kenya through the Woodlands 2000 Trust, a local NGO. The Woodlands 2000 Trust is a wonderful project that provides seeds and seedlings with planting materials as well as land-planning, tree survival and woodlot management services. It aims to increase reforestation and bio-diversify in semi-arid regions, and also to create sustainable and profitable tree products micro-industries that contribute to alleviating poverty.
We believe strongly in low impact tourism and so during this trip we use existing locally owned facilities and camp ground such as the one used in Kisi. By using locally owned and run facilities we are helping the local communities that we visit. There is a local guide based permanently in the Loita which is his home base. He knows the area, its culture and way of life, the flora and fauna exceptionally well and you will have a great opportunity to interact with him and the local Masai. You will have an opportunity purchase their artefacts, bead necklaces, belts, shukas and even see how they are made. You will have an opportunity to shop for local sculptures and textiles at a bustling Musoma market during this trip, there is an optional boat ride on Lake Victoria and a trip to the small island where sardine farming is the main industry. The time we spend here will again benefit the local community. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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