DAY 1 | ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI
After arriving at the Nairobi International Airport, a representative will greet you there. Soon after, you?ll go to the Macushla House on the outskirts of Nairobi. The house is a peaceful retreat from the busy capital streets. Tucked away in the suburb of Langata, the Macushla House has a pool, lounges and a bar. Take advantage of this time away from the travel rigors of the last few hours.
DAY 2 | THROUGH THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY, TO LAKE NAKURU
Breakfast will be ready by the time you wake up in the morning. Afterwards, your driver/guide will take you on a two hour drive to the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. Over two million years old, the inter-continental Rift Valley stretches more than 5,000 miles long from the Middle East to Mozambique. Some of its widest sections are 40 miles in length. Next, camp will be set up at the Lake Nakuru National Park just in time for lunch. Lunch is light?sandwiches and salads because they travel well while out in the field. When the sun is still high, the rest of the day will be filled with exploration of the park. In Lake Nakuru National Park, the lake itself is small and shallow but is the landscape for some of Kenya?s most famous wildlife scenes. Hundreds and hundreds of pink flamingos make their home here as well as the great hippo, the rhino and leopard. In the evening, it?s back to the campsite for a hot, three-course meal and nighttime, camp-side chat. [B,L,D]
DAY 3 | TO BARINGO
Wake up to a hot breakfast. Then, head out for an early morning game drive in the park. The direction is Lake Baringo. The salt Lake Baringo is home to the Njemps fisherman, a tribe with close links to the Masai and Samburu people. Their livelihood is not only from the lake but this isolated land. They build their fishing boats entirely out of reeds. During the day, there is a good chance to see more hippo, crocodile and fish eagles on the hunt. By the end of the day, tiredness will have gotten the best of you but before you head back to camp, try your hand at traditional open fire oven cooking with the camp chef. What you end up with, might even be edible. [B,L,D]
DAY 4 | THE FISHERMEN OF BARINGO
It?s an early rise this morning?not just to get to breakfast but to get to the day?s destination. The entire day will be spent with the Njemps tribe, wandering their village, helping the village women in their fish preparation and learning how to build a reed boat. This boat-making skill is unique in its execution and your hands can take part in crafting one for this lakeside tribe. If there is time, there?s the possibility of going out in a reed boat to catch fish. But if you find fishing in one, is not your game, then a slightly more modern vessel, can take you cruising in search of the great hippopotamus. The day will end with dinner at the campsite. [B,L,D]
DAY 5 | MOUNT ELGON
This morning, pack up and the entourage will move to Mount Elgon, passing the Kerio Valley, a 4,000-foot deep ravine that was made a national reserve in 1983 to protect its bio-diversity. Mount Elgon is an extinct volcanic mountain on the Kenya-Uganda border and hiking it, fortunately, requires no special equipment. Over the next few days, you'll wake up to the spectacular site of Mount Elgon standing over 4,000 feet high in the background and myriad of daily activities. These days will be terrestrial, hiking, bird-watching and learning about the vegetation and animals such as the blue monkey or the giant forest hog from your guide. Mount Elgon has caves formed from volcanic ash. These caves, a source of sodium for the land and animals, used to be the homes of the El Gonyi tribe. For centuries, they lived in them with their cattle. The area still has untouched forest of deciduous and evergreen trees with a sprinkling of East African Cedar and Podo some over 90 feet tall. Each night, dinner will be at the campsite. [B,L,D]
DAY 6 | MOUNT ELGON
Wake up in the shadow of Mount Elgon. Head back to that African Cedar you saw that would make a perfect resting spot. Continue your terrestrial quest. Hike and birdwatch, then return to the campsite in the evening. [B,L,D]
DAY 7 | MOUNT ELGON
This is the last day in the Mount Elgon region. Explore what you didn't get a chance to see yesterday. Return to the campsite for dinner. [B,L,D]
DAY 8 | KAKAMEGA: MARKET AND RAINFOREST
These next two days, the campsite will move deep into the forest far away from the busy bustle of the Kakamega market, in the heart of western Kenya. But, the mornings are spent at the Kakamega market working on your haggling skills. Bargaining is an art form here and the market is where you want to be to get fresh vegetables and fruit for the day?bright, red tomatoes and matoke bananas. The languages fly fast and furious around the marketplace. See how gracefully women balance their kikapus?huge baskets?on their heads. [B,L,D]
DAY 9 | KARAMEGA: MARKET AND RAINFOREST
Next, move from the market to the Kakamega Tropical Rainforest. Since 1933, the last remaining tropical forest in Kenya is a protected ecosystem. Here, go on a guided nature walk of the forest learning about the numerous tribal medicine plants that have developed from this incredibly rich eco-system. [B,L,D]
DAY 10 | THE CONTRASTING LANDSCAPE OF THE MARA
Rise early for breakfast and an early departure to the Masai Mara, a part of the huge Serengeti plain. Through the tea-growing highlands and a picnic lunch en route, the Mara, meaning 'contrast', is home to Kenya?s most well known tribe, the Masai. In the Masai Maa language, the landscape called contrast, refers to the distinct light and dark trees that dot the horizon. In the next four days of camping and touring the Loita Hills of the Mara, a Masai guide will take you through the grazing lands of the Big Five of Africa. The lion, the elephant, the buffalo, the rhino, and the leopard feed on the sweet grasses and sip on the river pools. If time permits, trek the plains with a medicine man to learn that every plant has a use. Although edible, it might not be wise to taste anything some of these plants are very hallucinogenic. Each day will hold different activities. The Masai villages, called manyattas, are the days destination. Learn how to make beaded jewelry and weave baskets one day. Other days, help repair the Masai mud/reed huts and herd the cattle that are the foundation of the their economy. [B,L,D]
DAY 11 | THE MARA
In the morning, venture back to a Masai manyatta. Continue working on a mud hut or herd cattle so they can graze for the day. [B,L,D]
DAY 12 | THE MARA
Constructing and grazing might have taken up your day yesterday but try your hand at making the intricate bead jewelry worn by the Masai. [B,L,D]
DAY 13 | LEAVE THE MARA
After lunch, you?ll leave the Masai Mara and the Loita Hills behind and head towards Nairobi and back to Masushla House. Just in time for tea, no less. A good cup of tea will relax your well-traveled mind. This is your last night in Kenya and you?re just a few miles outside of Nairobi, so head back to town if the mood strikes you. [B,L,D]
DAY 14 | TEA TIME IN NAIROBI
After lunch, you'll leave the Masai Mara and the Loita Hills behind and head towards Nairobi and back to Masushla House. Just in time for tea, no less. A good cup of tea will relax your well-traveled mind. This is your last night in Kenya and you?re just a few miles outside of Nairobi, so head back to town if the mood strikes you. [B,L,D]
DAY 15 | DEPART KENYA
It has been a great two weeks. They will have gone by too fast. So during breakfast, say your goodbyes, then pack up any remaining items and capture your last hours on film. Later, you will transfer to the Nairobi International Airport for your flight home. [B]
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