ITINERARY FOR JOANNE WILLIAMS AFRICA PHOTO SAFARI – AUG 16 – SEP 03, 2008
YOU BEGIN YOUR MAGICAL HOLIDAY TODAY AS YOU BOARD YOUR FLIGHT TO KENYA, THE HEART OF AFRICAN SAFARI!! ON ARRIVAL INTO JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YOU ARE MET BY A KWT AIRPORT REPRESENTATIVE AND TRANSFFERED TO NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB.
AFTER BREAKFAST DEPART FOR NYERI. ARRIVING DIRECTLY FOR LUNCH AT THE MOUNTAIN LODGE. WHERE THE AFTERNOON IS SPENT WATCHING A PROCESSION OF ANIMALS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE WATER HOLE AND SALTLICK WHICH ARE FLOODLIT LATER IN THE EVENING. TEA, COFFEE AND BITINGS ARE CONSTANTLY PROVIDED BY THE ATTENTIVE STAFF. AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER WOOD FIRES ARE LIT, WHICH MAKE THE LODGE WARM ENOUGH TO WATCH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ANIMALS AT NIGHT. DINNER IS SERVED IN A RUSTIC DINING ROOM.THIS LODGE IS A TREEHOTEL AND HAS NO GAME DRIVES TO BE CONDUCTED AND YOU WILL SPEND THE SECOND DAY IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR ROOMS OR THE HOTEL VIEWING BAY AND LOOK DOWN ON THE WATERING HOLE AND ENJOY THE ENDLESS CATWALK OF ANIMALS AS THEY COME DOWN TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST OR HAVE A LICK OF SALT.
AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE NORTHWARDS CROSSING THE EQUATOR AT NANYUKI AND SKIRTING THE VOLCANIC FOLDS OF MOUNT KENYA, TO THE NORTHEN FRONTIER, TO SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE WHICH LIES ON THE EDGE OF THE VAST SEMI-DESERT LANDS OF NORTHERN KENYA.YOU WILL ARRIVE IN TIME FOR LUNCH AT THE SAMBURU SERENA.AFTER LUNCH YOU WILL HAVE TIME AT LEISURE BEFORE YOU DEPART FOR LATE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE AFFORDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME SPECIES OF ANIMALS NOT SEEN SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR. THESE INCLUDE THE RETICULATED GIRAFFE WITH DISTINCT MARKINGS, THE GREVY’S ZEBRA WITH NARROWER STRIPES AND THE SOMALI OSTRICH WITH BLUISH LEGS AND NECK. THE OTHER ANIMAL NOT SEEN IN OTHER PARKS IS THE GERENUK, AN ANTELOPE WITH A LONG NECK. ITS FAVORITE FOOD IS THE TENDER LEAVES OF THE SMALLER ACACIA TREE.
YOUR SECOND NIGHT AT THE SAMBURU SERENA WILL BE A FULL DAY OF GAME DRIVES WITH AN OPTION OF HAVING THE MIDMORNING AT YOU LEISURE EXPOLORING THE LODGE FACILITIES IF YOU FANCY ABREAK FROM THE ABUNDANT WILDLIFE THAT ARE SCATTERED ON THE SAMBURU PLAINS.
AFTER BREAKFAST YOU WILL BID THE COMFORT AND HOSPITALITY OF THE SAMBURU SERENA LODGE AND PROCEED TO THE LARSENS TENTED CAMP WHILE GAME-DRIVING THROUGH THIS HARSHLY BEAUTIFUL RESERVE PHOTOGRAPHING THE ABUNDANT WILDLIFE (GERENUK, CHEETAHS, LIONS, GIRAFFES, HYAENAS, AND BEAUTIFUL BIRDS—BEE EATERS, BUSTARDS, STORKS, EAGLES ETC.) IN AND AROUND THE FORESTED FRINGES OF THE UASO NYIRO RIVER WHICH GENTLY FLOWS THROUGH THE DRY LANDSCAPE ARRIVING FOR LUNCH. IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER A SHORT SIESTA, DEPART FOR AN AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE WHEN THE SUN HAS TONED DOWN IT’S HEAT OF THE SAMBURU DESERT AND ANIMALS CAN FREELY ROAM THE LAND. YOU WILL RETURN TO THE LODGE FOR YOU DINNER AND OVERNIGHT.
YOUR REMAINING 2 DAYS STAY AT THE LARSEN’S CAMP WILL FULL OF GAME DRIVES IN THIS HARSHLY BEAUTIFUL TERRAIN WHERE WILDLIFE ABOUND ESPECIALLY NEAR THE RIVER WHICH IS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER.
AFTER BREAKFAST( OR PICNIC BREAKFAST ) YOU WILL DEPART THE NORTHERN FRONTIER AND HEAD TOWARD THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY ARRIVING FOR LUNCH AT THE LIONHILL. AFTER LUNCH YOU WILL HAVE TIME AT SIESTA BEFORE DEPARTING FOR AN AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE AROUND LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT OF THE THOUSANDS OF FLAMINGOS ON THE ALKALINE LAKE. THE PARK ALSO INCLUDES THE RARE WHITE RHINOS. THE OTHER LARGE ANIMAL TO BE SEEN IS THE ROTHSCHILD’S GIRAFFE. THE VEGETATION IS MOSTLY SAVANNA TYPE WITH BOTH THE BACK (FEVER TREE) AND UMBRELLA TOP ACACIA GROWING IN A ABUNDANCE AS ALSO EUPHORBIA. RETURNING TO THE LODGE FOR OVERNIGHT.
YOUR REMAINING ONE NIGHT WILL FULL OF GAME DRIVES IN THE LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK PHOTGRAPHING AND ENJOYING THE SIGHT OF THE SIGHT OF PELICANS BATHING IN THE FRESH WATER STREAMS WHICH TERMINATE IN LAKE NAKURU. SINCE THERE IS NO EXITING DRAINAGE, LAKE NAKURU IS ALKALINE, THE PERFECT PLACE FOR FLAMINGOS TO FEED ON THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. THE GREATER FLAMINGO ATTAINS A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 4.26 FEET. ITS PLUMAGE IS ALMOST WHITE WITH A PALE PINK, BLACK TIPPED BEAK. IT IS THE LESSER FLAMINGO THAT HAS THE MORE EXOTIC COLOR. ABOUT 2.72 FT. IN HEIGHT, WITH A ROSY PLUMAGE AND DARK RED, BLACK TIPPED BEAK. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK HAS A GREAT VARIETY OF BIRD LIFE WHICH INCLUDES THE EGYPTIAN GOOSE AND A VARIETY OF DUCKS THAT COME FROM EUROPE TO WINTER. THIS PARK IS TRULY A BIRD WATCHERS PARADISE. THE GAME ANIMALS INCLUDE, HIPPO, WATERBUCK, GAZELLES, COLOBUS MONKEYS, BUFFALO, LEOPARD AND THE ROTHSCHILD GIRAFFE. THE PARK IS ALSO A SANCTUARY FOR THE WHITE RHINO. THIS PARK HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF ACACIA TREES, BOTH YELLOW BARKED (FEVER TREE) THE UMBRELLA-TOPPED ACACIA AND THE CANDELABRA CACTUS.
AFTER BREAKFAST AT THE LODGE YOU WILL DEPART AND DRIVE ACROSS THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE OF THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY TO REACH THE INFAMOUS MASAI MARA RESERVE, THE JEWEL OF KENYA, IN TIME FOR LUNCH, YOU WILL GAME DRIVE ALONG THE TALEK RIVER VIEWING NESTING BIRDS, SUCH AS THE GIANT EAGLE OWL, BATELEUR EAGLE, DIFFERENT SPECIES OF VULTURES, BEAUTIFUL ROLLERS, SPECIES OF HORNBILLS ETC. WE’LL SEE SMALL HERDS OF ELEPHANTS, HUGE HERDS OF WILDEBEEST & ZEBRAS; HOPEFULLY A LEOPARD WILL GRACE OUR CAMERAS, AND BEAUTIFUL SUNSET SCENICS. YOUR SECOND NIGHT AT THE FIG TREE CAMP YOU BE ON FULL DAY GAME DRIVE IN THE TALEK REGION OF THE MARA WHICH PRIDES ITSELF AS HAVING QUITE A NUMBER OF PRIDE OF LIONS OF THE BLACK MANED SPECIES FOR WHICH THE MARA IS FAMED FOR.RETURNING TO THE LODGE FOR DINNER AND OVERNIGHT.
AWAKEN AT DAWN THIS MAY BE THE BEST TIME TO SEE A PREDATOR MAKE A KILL OR THE SIGHT OF ONE RELISHING ITS MEAL AND SET OFF FOR AN EARLY MORNING GAME DRIVE WITH PICNIC BREAKFAST AND DRIVE INTO THE MAIN RESERVE FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE PARK IN A WILDLIFE RICH CONSERVANCY ARRIVING FOR LUNCH AT THE KEEKOROK LODGE. YOU WILL PART OF EARLY AFTERNOON AT LEISURE BEFORE DEPARTING FOR AN AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE EXPLORING KENYA’S FINEST RESERVE. WHILE SHOOTING WONDERFUL SCENICS, HUGE HERDS OF WILDEBEEST & ZEBRAS, GREAT WATER BUFFALOS, ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR BABIES, CHEETAH FAMILIES, AND THE BLACK-MANED LIONS WHICH ARE ALL INDIGENOUS TO THIS AREA OF AFRICA. YOU MAY WITNESS THE LION MAKING A KILL OR A LEOPARD ENJOYING THE MEAL HE HAD DRAGGED UP THE TREE WITH HIM. THE VEGETATION IS MOSTLY SAVANNA TYPE WITH FORESTED AREAS NEAR THE RIVERS AND OF COURSE THE DWARF ACACIAS TO CATER FOR THE GIRAFFES. MORE THAN 60 SPECIES OF ANIMALS ARE FOUND HERE AND COUNTLESS BIRD SPECIES, THIS INCLUDES THE MASAI OSTRICH AND THE SECRETARY BIRD. THIS IS WHERE THE GREAT MIGRATION OF THE WILDEBEEST TAKES PLACE AT THE END OF JUNE AND EXTENDS TO EARLY SEPTEMBER.RETURNING TO THE LODGE FOR DINNER FOR OVERNIGHT.
AWAKEN AT DAWN WITH PICNIC BREAKFAST AND HAVE AN EARLY MORNING GAME IN THE MARA ECO SYSTEM. ARRIVING FOR LUNCH AT THE MARA SAROVA TENTED CAMP WHICH WILL BE THE GRAND FINALE OF THE JOANNE WILLAIMS PHOTO SAFARI.IN THE AFTERNOON YOU WILL HAVE TIME AT LEISURE BEFORE EMBARKING ON AN AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE IN THE MASAI MARA ROLLING ENDLESS PALINS WHICH WILL BE LITTERED BY HERDS OF WILDERBEESTE ON THEIR LONG MIGRATORY JOURNEY THROUGH THE MARA.RETURNING TO THE LODGE FOR OVERNIGHT.
ON THE SECOND NIGHT AT THE MARA SAROVA YOU WILL BE AWAKENED BEFORE DAWN AND SET OUT ON AN EARLY MORNING GAME DRIVE. FAMOUSLY THE MARA IS THE NORTHERLY END OF THE GREAT MIGRATION, THAT GREAT PRIMEVAL SURGE OF WILDEBEEST, ZEBRA AND ANTELOPE THAT SWEEP IN FROM TANZANIA’S SERENGETI TO KENYA’S MAASAI MARA AS THE TANZANIAN GRASS START TO FAIL. THE LARGE PREDATORS WHO PICK OFF THE WEAK, THE STRUGGLERS AND THE YOUNG TRACK THEM.THIS GREAT HERD MASS ALONG MARA RIVER PUSHING AND SHOVING, SHOVING AND FANTASTICALLY NOISY, JUST WAITING FOR THE FIRST ANIMAL TO CROSS SO THAT THEY CAN ALL FOLLOW ON THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY. ZEBRAS’ FROLIC AND GREET EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF JACKALS PRANCE THROUGH THE GRASS IN SEARCH OF MICE OR A RABBIT, BABOONS CHATTER NOISILY AND CURIOUS GIRAFFE WATCH YOU AS THEY NIBBLE ON THEIR BREAKFAST OF ACACIA LEAVES.YOU MAY EVEN COME UPON A PRIDE FEEDING TOGETHER ON LAST NIGHT’S KILL, OR A LEOPARD SNOOZING ON TREE. .RETURN TO THE LODGE FOR YOUR BREAKFAST. IN THE MID MORNING YOU WILL HAVE TIME AT LEISURE. AFTER LUNCH RELAX AND LATER DEPART FOR AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE IN SEARCH FOR THE “ BIG FIVE” DON’T FORGET TO LOOK OUT FOR THE “ LITTLE FIVE” - THOMPSON’S GAZELLE, JACKAL, AFRICAN HARE, VERVET MONKEYS AND THE BANDED MONGOOSE. THIS LITTLE ANIMALS CAN BE JUST AS EXCITING AND FUN TO WATCH THAN THE MORE POPULAR LARGER ANIMALS. THE MAASAI MARA IS TERRIBLE YET WONDERFUL AND NOT TO BE MISSED.
AFTER BREAKFAST, YOU WILL BID FAREWELL TO THE MASAI MAR WHICH WAS YOUR HUMBLE ABODE FOR CLOSE TO A WEEK AND LEAVE THE WILDLIFE BEHIND AND CARRY WITH YOU MEMORIES CLOSE TO YOUR HEARTS AND THE UNERASABLE MEMORIES IN YOUR CAMERAS. RETURN TO NAIROBI VIA THE MAU ESCARPMENT. HAVING JUST CROSSED THE RIFT VALLEY AND PASSED MT. LONGONOT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO VIEW THE CRATER FORM A DIFFERENT ANGLE, VIZ THE TIP. A BRIEF STOP AT THE ITALIAN CHAPEL AND CONTINUE THE DRIVE TO ARRIVE IN NAIROBI IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON.DROP OFF AT THE NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB FOR YOUR DAYROOMS BEFORE YOU HOMEBOUNDFLIGHTS.
