Images of Kenya
Programme Overview
Duration: 9 days
This special interest itinerary includes overnight stays in several of Kenya's parks and is ideal for anyone with an interest in wildlife photography.
Highlights: Nairobi, Amboseli, Nakuru, Masai Mara.
Arrive Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After clearing immigration and customs formalities you will be met and transferred the short distance to the Norfolk Hotel, probably Kenya's most famous hotel.
The Norfolk has been drawing the rich and famous to its hallowed doors since they first opened on Christmas Day 1904. In many respects, Nairobi grew up around the Norfolk, which occupies a central but quiet location opposite the National Theatre.
The afternoon is free to relax or if time permits, sightseeing.
Option: We can arrange for a talk by a professional wildlife photographer to share experiences and give some tips on photographing wildlife and scenery in Africa.
Overnight: The Norfolk Hotel
Nairobi - Amboseli
After breakfast, begin your drive south to Amboseli.
Arrive at Amboseli Serena Lodge in time for lunch. Sitting in the formidable shadow of Africa's highest mountain, the lodge offers luxurious rooms and fine dining in one of Kenya's purest natural settings. Accommodation is in well-spaced rooms designed along the lines of traditional Maasai manyattas and decorated with authentic Africana and attractive murals painted by a local artist. A natural spring and waterhole in the lodge's immediate vicinity draw a steady stream of lion, buffalo, giraffe and wildebeest, even some of Africa's largest elephant herds. The lodge also features a sculpted swimming pool and there are several protected jogging trails.
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Amboseli
A full day to explore Amboseli National Park.
Amboseli lies south-east of Nairobi, at the foot of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro at 5895 metres (19,340ft). The Tanzanian border runs along its base and also forms the boundary of the park. Amboseli has five main wildlife habitats- open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland.
A photographer's paradise, the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rises above the clouds and dominates every aspect of the park, providing a backdrop to a spectacular display of wildlife – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo and a host of plains game.
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Amboseli - Nairobi - Nakuru
Amboseli is beautiful at sunrise, providing excellent photo opportunities. After an early breakfast drive to Nairobi for lunch. Then continue to Lake Nakuru, descending into the Great Rift Valley taking in the stunning scenery.
Drive through Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its visiting flocks of flamingoes, to Lion Hill Lodge.
Your lodge is set on a plateau overlooking the lake. It is the perfect place to experience one of the world's largest ornithological spectacles, the pink flamingo, and there is also a rich concentration of wildlife including the endangered rhino.
After lunch there is time to relax or take a dip in the pool before your game viewing drive.
Overnight: Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Nakuru
Spend today exploring Lake Nakuru National Park.
The park is host to what is widely regarded as the world’s greatest bird spectacle – more than a million flamingoes flock to the lake seasonally, painting the green waters of the lake a fluttering pink.
Nakuru is also home to some of East Africa’s rarest creatures, including fast-growing populations of black and white rhino, the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and lion.
Lake Nakuru enjoys a reputation as one of the best places in the country to spot the elusive leopard.
For the photographer, in addition to the amazing wildlife and birdlife, the park offers a diversity of landscapes from the beautiful wooded and bush grasslands around the soda lake, to rocky escarpments and clusters of yellow thorn acacias under carpets of beautiful green grass.
Overnight: Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Nakuru - Masai Mara
Early breakfast this morning before beginning your drive to the famous Masai Mara, driving through beautiful scenery and past small towns and villages on the way.
Sarova Mara Camp is nestled in the hills overlooking the wide plains of the southeastern section of the Masai Mara. The luxurious tents are beautifully decorated and set amidst lush gardens. All tents have en suite bathrooms with flush toilet, shower and washbasin.
Freshen up and enjoy lunch at the camp before your afternoon game viewing drive.
Overnight: Sarova Mara Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Masai Mara
You have the next two days to enjoy game viewing as you venture out into the park led by your driver/guide.
The Mara is a photographer's dream, the wildlife is abundant and the swaying grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Elephants browse amongst the large herds of wildebeest and topi, gazelle, eland and buffalo. The plains offer a rich variety of food for the dominant predators: lion; leopard; hyena and cheetah. In the Mara River, hippos submerge to snort and grumble while crocodiles sunbathe on the riverbanks. Between July and September, rain depending, the Masai Mara is host to the famous wildebeest migration which is one of the few remaining mass migrations of mammals in the world. During this time herds of over a million wildebeest will trawl their way through this region and they become the major focus for predatory activity as drama unfolds at every corner.
On one of these days we will visit a Maasai village, where the village elder will invite you to learn about the Maasai culture in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The Maasai still live a very traditional lifestyle and they will talk to you about the medicinal uses of the trees and herbs in the area, the social structure of the homestead, the role of women in their society and other aspects of their daily life. Interaction and discussion is encouraged and often guests join in the dance or try to learn how to make fire using sticks and stone.
There are also options for a morning balloon safari or a half-day visit to Lake Victoria.
Balloon Safari: As the balloon is inflated against the first rays of sunrise your pilot will go through safety procedures. Once aloft, the balloon floats gently over the plains, giving a bird’s eye view of the game below as the sun creeps slowly over the horizon. After around one hour the balloon lands and nearby breakfast is already being prepared and, of course, glasses of bubbly to toast your flight in a tradition initiated by the Montgolfier brothers.
Lake Victoria Adventure: An early start this morning with a transfer to take you to the airstrip for a flight by light aircraft to Lake Victoria. On arrival enjoy an appetising full English breakfast before you board the boat for the morning. There will be the opportunity to try fishing for the legendary giant Nile perch found in these waters as you explore the myriad of tiny islands in this region of the lake. An experienced and knowledgeable fisherman captains each boat. There is the chance to stop at a traditional fishing village and see how the villagers live from day to day before returning to the airstrip for your return flight to the Masai Mara.
Overnight: Sarova Mara Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Masai Mara - Nairobi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. On arrival you will be met and driven to the Norfolk Hotel where we have reserved dayrooms for you. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or go sightseeing and shopping.
This evening you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight.
Meal Plan: B