Family adventure holiday Kenya
| country: | Kenya |
| location: | Masai Mara, Rift Valley |
| departures: | 2010: 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 23 Oct, 18 Dec 2011: 17 Feb, 19 Feb, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 22 Oct, 17 Dec |
| price: | From £1669 - £2499 (10 days) per adult and from £1299 - £2049 per child including flights from the UK. From £1299 - £1649 per adult and from £959 - £1249 per child excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Family adventure holiday Kenya
Renowned worldwide for its wildlife the Masai Mara Game Reserve delivers on every level. Sightings of rhino, hippo and lion combined with meeting Masai warriors provides the ultimate African safari experience. This lodge-based hoiday also includes a visit to the magnificent Rift Valley Lakes.
Giraffes & Elephants
In bustling Nairobi you meet the animals supported through local conservation projects, namely giraffes and elephants. Your safari begins at the Naro Moru River where Mt. Kenya towers in the distance.
Rift Valley Lakes
The Sweetwaters Game Reserve offers excellent game viewing, and has been instrumental, through its breeding programme, in helping to conserve the endangered black rhinos. Onwards to the Rift Valley lakes - Nakuru to see flamingos and rhinos; Naivasha to view hippos from a cruise boat (optional).
Masai Mara Game Reserve
You’ll descend into the Great Rift Valley and rolling grasslands of the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. Sightings of the ‘Big Nine’ (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and hippo) are common, as are herds of wildebeest which roam across the plains.
Masai Culture
You will also get to know some of the semi-nomadic Masai tribesman to learn about their fascinating culture - including a lesson in how to throw a Masai hunting spear. Stand well back, please!
Giraffes & Elephants
In bustling Nairobi you meet the animals supported through local conservation projects, namely giraffes and elephants. Your safari begins at the Naro Moru River where Mt. Kenya towers in the distance.
Rift Valley Lakes
The Sweetwaters Game Reserve offers excellent game viewing, and has been instrumental, through its breeding programme, in helping to conserve the endangered black rhinos. Onwards to the Rift Valley lakes - Nakuru to see flamingos and rhinos; Naivasha to view hippos from a cruise boat (optional).
Masai Mara Game Reserve
You’ll descend into the Great Rift Valley and rolling grasslands of the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. Sightings of the ‘Big Nine’ (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and hippo) are common, as are herds of wildebeest which roam across the plains.
Masai Culture
You will also get to know some of the semi-nomadic Masai tribesman to learn about their fascinating culture - including a lesson in how to throw a Masai hunting spear. Stand well back, please!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Nairobi Overnight flights to Nairobi. |
| Day 2: | Nairobi; elephant orphanage & giraffe centre The Kenyan capital stands at an altitude of 1670m above sea level on an elevated plain at the heart of the country, surrounded by fertile land that yields coffee and maize. You meet your Group Leader for a tour briefing in the morning, before you head off to visit Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage and the giraffe centre. These are conservation projects where you get to view the animals in close proximity and learn about them and their plight in the modern world. It is possible to sponsor an elephant; you can add an extra dimension to your visit by visiting your own orphan and following its progress – a charming addition to any family! Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) |
| Day 3: | Naro Moru, Mount Kenya Area This morning you travel to Naro Moru (2 ½ hrs drive) on the watershed between the Tana and Ewaso Nyiro river basins. Your accommodation is located beside a trout stream in excellent bird watching country. The afternoon is free to relax in the lodge’s pretty gardens and of course its pool. You will see views of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain (5200m). Some three and a half million years old, it was once a live volcano. Now the peaks are permanently covered with snow and glaciers. River Lodge - 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Naro Moru; game drive Sweetwaters Game Reserve Kenya’s Central Highlands boast a number of game ranches that have been instrumental in saving the highly endangered black rhino. Today you visit the privately-owned Sweetwaters Rhino Sanctuary to learn about its breeding programme and witness its remarkable success with your own eyes. Between 1970 and 1990 Kenya’s rhino population was drastically reduced as a result of extensive poaching. The demand for rhino horn to use in traditional Chinese medicine or for making ornamental dagger handles in the Middle East still threatens the rhinos’ survival. Only now are the first tentative signs of recovery being seen as reared animals from high security sanctuaries such as this are used to restock national parks. You’ll see the tame (well, relatively tame…!) rhino that goes by the name of Max, and delve into the world of the primate when you visit a chimpanzee sanctuary. You will also take a game drive through the reserve. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Lake Nakuru This morning you drive 250km (approx. 4-5 hours) on good roads to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for lunch. The alkaline waters of this lake once supported an extremely large colony of flamingos - reckoned to be anything up to two million strong! Over the course of the year the lake changes size considerably, shrinking to its minimum in March at the end of the dry season. Changes in water level and chemical concentration caused the permanent population of flamingos to move elsewhere in the 1970s - they now reappear periodically, but never stay for long. The lush area around the lake is well known for its bird life, and as the sun goes down you’ll go out for a late afternoon bird walk to see how many species you can spot. Lodge – 1 night (Swimming Pool) (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Lake Naivasha; optional boat cruise & hippos This morning you take a game drive. There’s a lot of wildlife to see on the salty mudflats and wooded hills around Lake Nakuru, including giraffe, hippo, black and white rhino (both of which have been reintroduced), buffalo, warthog, zebra, various species of antelope and the ubiquitous waterbuck. Due to the relative absence of predators, and the consequent low risk, waterbuck and impala thrive here. Indeed one of the possible derivations of Nakuru’s name is “the place of the waterbuck”. However there is just a chance that you’ll see lion and the extremely elusive leopard. Later you drive to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon wind and storms can cause the lake to become suddenly rough and produce high waves. For this reason, the local Masai christened the lake Nai'posha meaning ''rough water'', which the British later misspelt as Naivasha. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game; giraffes wander among the acacia, buffalo wallow in the swamps and colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the lake’s large hippo population while away the day in the shallows. Lodge – 1 night (Swimming Pool) (BLD) |
| Day 7-8: | Masai Mara; game drives & meet Masai Your destination today is the finest of Kenya’s reserves, the Masai Mara (150km, approx. 5 hours drive). The Mara is effectively a northern extension of the Serengeti, the most famous of neighbouring Tanzania's national parks, which lies just across the border. Animals, of course, recognise no border and immense herds of blue wildebeest migrate across the savannah driven by the innate urge to find new grazing land - to arrive here each July/August; then in October start to head south again! At these times the plains teem with animals on the move, and the photographic opportunities are unrivalled. You should arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. You’ll explore the extensive grassy plains where elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and various gazelles - with attendant predators of lion, cheetah, jackal and hyena can be seen. The following day you take a game drive in the early morning, return to camp for a leisurely brunch, then have some free time to relax before setting off again in the afternoon. You will also get to meet the local Masai warriors and they will teach you about their life and culture, even showing you how to throw a spear – careful mum, stand well clear please! This is invariably one of the highlights of the trip as you spend the day walking with your Masai guides. The Masai are probably the best known of Kenya’s tribal peoples - largely due to their highly photogenic appearance. The young males in particular wear a striking costume of bright red cloth, with a cape slung from one shoulder, beads and jewellery, and carry a spear, sword and club. Originally nomadic herders, the Masai used to live on a diet of fresh and curdled milk. Live cattle represent wealth, so much energy was devoted to cattle raiding. They have a fearsome reputation as warriors and hunters, but in the face of immense pressure are gradually - if reluctantly - starting to accept a more settled lifestyle. Lodge – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (Bx2,Lx2,Dx2) |
| Day 9: | Nairobi & Fly To London This morning, you re-cross the plains of the Mara and climb the Rift Valley’s eastern wall past Mount Suswa to make your way back to Nairobi (300km approx. 6 hours drive). En route there may be opportunities to stop and make some final purchases. Once back in Nairobi you have time to go for dinner (not included) in a local restaurant. The trip ends for Land Only clients in Nairobi. Those travelling on our group flights transfer to the airport in time to check in for your overnight flight to London. (B) |
| Day 10: | Arrive in London Arrive in London |
| Day 11-14: | Optional Mombasa Beach Extension Day 1-8: As per itinerary above Day 9: You leave the main trip in Nairobi and transfer to the airport for your flight to Mombasa this evening. On arrival you transfer 12km (20 minutes) north to your beachside resort. The hotel is set amidst lush, tropical gardens situated on a beautiful white sandy beach overlooking the Indian Ocean and Coral reef. Hotel – 4 nights (Swimming Pool) (BD) Note: you will not be accompanied by a Group Leader, although you will have the assistance of a representative to transfer you to and from the airport. Day 10-12: You have three full days at leisure in your beachside resort. The rooms are air conditioned. There are swimming pools for you to relax by and plenty of activities to keep everyone busy from tennis and squash to a fully equipped gym and a nearby golf course. Should you wish to leave the resort there are local excursions available from the hotel to a crocodile farm, a village visit or a butterfly farm. There are also plenty of opportunities for water sports, snorkelling or diving. (Bx3, Dx3) Day 13: For Land Only clients the trip ends this morning on checking out of the hotel. Travellers with London flights transfer to the airport and fly to Nairobi. Group flights to London await their connecting flight. (B) Day 14: Arrive in London |
traveller reviews for Family adventure holiday Kenya
There's so much in terms of both variety and number of experiences, it's hard to capture one moment. Dolphins, elephants, stampeding water buffalo, oh and the wonderful stars at night, and the warm, smiling people. It was all unforgetable.
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how this holiday makes a difference
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We employ a local group leader and travel in a small group which benefits local people by providing valuable employment & distributing evenly the money we spend, while not overburdening them with visitors. If you would like to foster an elephant please look at www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org for details. You may be able to visit your orphan personally.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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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