★★★...SURFING THE GREAT RIFT - KENYA - 2015...★★★ 16 days incl. Flights & Bangkok stopover......from $3,999* Includes: • Flights ex Australia to Nairobi - Economy | Return • All taxes • 1 night stopover in Bangkok - Grand China Hotel or similar • Breakfast • 15 day fully escorted camping tour of Kenya • 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 12 dinners Itinerary: DAY 1 - NAIROBI No activities planned, so head to the Kenyatta market and grab some choma from one of the little stalls at the entrance. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Perhaps explore the bars, restaurants, markets and shops during any free time you have. Optional visits to the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum (author of Out of Africa) or Bomas of Kenya DAY 2 - LAKE NAKURU Settle in for a full day of game drives. This means wildlife. Lake Nakuru is a soda lake (not that kind of soda) which is usually full of flamingos. These creatures arent born fabulous, they actually start life a boring grey but gradually turn pink from all the plankton. Drive north-west past great views of the Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Elementaita to Lake Nakuru National Park Visit the New Hope Childrens Centre - an orphanage that assists the less fortunate in society and gives them hope Along with the other members of the Big Five, Lake Nakuru harbours many rhinos and will be the best chance to get a great picture of these beasts Camp just outside the park DAY 3-4 - LAKE NAIVASHA Drive to Lake Naivasha for a boat cruise and a wander with zebras and giraffes. Meet the locals and camp by the lake. Its the stuff dreams are made of. Head off to a nearby village with a local guide - a great opportunity to interact with local villagers Drive from Lake Nakuru to your camp near Lake Naivasha (110 km, approx 3-4 hrs) Perhaps hire bikes or visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary or Hells Gate National Park near Lake Naivasha DAY 5 - LOITA HILLS Head across the Great Rift Valley floor to Loita Hills. Camp with the friendly and semi-nomadic Masai people and learn about their ancient culture from a local elder. Hes like the wise African grandfather you never knew you wanted. Depart Lake Naivasha and stop in town to do a spot of food shopping, taking a lunch break en route to the camp site at Loita Hills (220 km, approx. 5-6 hours) Todays drive crosses the Great Rift Valley and journeys into the remote region of Loita Hills Visit the Maasai people and gain an insight into their ancient culture Receive a talk from a local local elder and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosures, Spend the night in a bush camp DAY 6-7 - MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE After passing the Masai mamas selling their goods at the gate (mzungu, mzungu means foreigner, foreigner, by the way), it wont take long for your first wildlife sighting. Drive from Loita to Masai Mara (approx. 1-2 hours) Set camp (outside the park) and have lunch before reboarding the truck Enjoy an entire day to explore the surrounds and view a multitude of wildlife Perhaps embark on an optional balloon ride over the Masai Mara at sunrise DAY 8 - NAIROBI Today, we head back to Nairobi. Take a break from pitching tents and relax at a hotel. Take a refreshing dip in the pool and enjoy a cool drink or go for a walk around the town and meet some local people. As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary, meet your new fellow travellers, and collect the next part of your kitty. Nairobi - which takes its name from a Maasai phrase meaning place of cool waters - has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants, while markets and shops have most things you could want or need, as well as various arts and crafts from the region. Stay in a simple hotel with swimming pool, restaurant and en suite bathrooms. DAY 9 - KISII Head through the Great Rift Valley and stop for supplies in Kisii before the safari excursion. You cant prepare yourself for the amount of awesome youre about to be subjected to. So just sit back and let it happen. Board your safari truck and travel west Cross the scenic Great Rift Valley on the way to the tea-growing highlands Pass through the ancient homeland of the Maasai, keeping a look out for the tall, graceful tribesmen Stop for a picnic lunch in the town of Narok Make a final stop near the hilltop town of Kisii, your last chance to stock up on supplies before heading into the wilderness Todays drive will take about 8-9 hours (310 km) and the roads are pretty rough DAY 10 - LAKE VICTORIA Camp on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africas largest lake. Its just like camping beside other lakes, only better. Travel towards the Kenya-Tanzania border and the shores of Lake Victoria (250 km, approx 7-8 hrs) Spend time at a soapstone carving cooperative Perhaps hire bicycles or even a boat - on which you can visit a local island Stop by an African market place and interact with the locals, or just relax by the lakeside Spend the night camping on the shores of the lake DAY 11-12 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK Dont be that person who is constantly shoving and elbowing their way into the prime wildlife position, just wait your turn. If you forgot to bring your binoculars youll be kicking yourself by now. Rise early and leave the truck behind to head out for your excursion into the Serengeti View plenty of animals and birdlife, from members the Big Five to perhaps some creatures you dont expect Camp out at night and perhaps hear lions off in the distance An optional sunrise balloon ride makes for an unforgettable memory Youll notice many Maasai villages in the region of the Ngorongoro Crater. While its of course fascinating to visit different cultures, past experience has shown that these villages exist primarily as tourism businesses offering somewhat contrived performances of their traditional ways. Youll be charged an entry fee of approx US$20-35 and the Maasai will try very hard to sell souvenirs to you. While many clients still enjoy the experience, others have found it artificial and uncomfortable. We recommend our travellers bypass this activity as our Kenyan colleagues observe that it negatively impacts the Maasai culture and travellers perception of this culture. DAY 13 - NGORONGORO CRATER Your big truck gets a rest today as we take 4WDs down to the crater floor. With pop-top roofs and easy access to your driver (and all their stories), youll love this change for the day. Rise with the sun and leave the Serengeti for Ngorongoro Crater, home to some 30,000 animals (approx 3 hrs drive) After a picnic lunch, descend onto the floor of the crater for a safari lasting four-five hours Depart the crater in the afternoon and relive the safari experience at the bar DAY 14 - MESERANI Take a final 4WD excursion across the Ngorongoro Crater. Press on to Mto Wa Mbu, browse the markets and camp in Meserani. Drive out of the crater and head to Mto Wa Mbu for a look around the town Continue on to your campsite (140 km, approx 5-6 hrs) Get a close-up look at life in an African town away from the main tourist trail Camp overnight in Meserani DAY 15 - NAIROBI Head back to Nairobi, travelling through Arusha en route. Nyama Choma Place on Milimani Road is the perfect spot for a final group barbecue. Set off early, heading for the border with Kenya and on to Nairobi (390 km, approx 7-8 hrs) This is a transport day to Nairobi. You can finish your trip in Arusha this morning if you wish to travel further in Tanzania or catch a flight. On arrival in Nairobi youll be dropped at your finishing point hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Nairobi. Please ask at time of booking. Group size: - 22 Transport: 4WD Vehicle, Overland Vehicle Accommodation: 1 Night Dormitory, 2 Nights Basic Hotel, 11 Nights Participatory Camping Starts in: Nairobi Ends in: Nairobi ON THIS TRIP YOU WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY 3 CREW MEMBERS - GROUP LEADER, COOK AND DRIVER. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: Kisii - Soapstone carving cooperative, Lake Nakuru - Game drive, Lake Nakuru - Village walk, Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit, Masai Mara - Game drive, Mto Wa Mbu - Market Visit, Musoma - Market visit, Ngorongoro Crater - Game drive, Serengeti - Game drive, Visit to New Hope Childrens Centre 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 12 dinners * Price is per person on a twin share basis. Based on travel ex Australia 13 Feb 2015 [other dates available on request]. EG: 15 May, 2015 + $135pp; April to Jun & Oct to Jan 2016 + $550pp Subject to airline and tour availability at time of booking. Conditions apply. Refer to Geckos Adventures web page for full terms and conditions. NOT INCLUDED: Airport transfers, visas, insurance (compulsory on all trips), meals not listed, any optional tours or activities during free time, camera fees, excess baggage charges, tips and items of a personal nature. E: [email protected] or 0418 550526
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:22:02 +0000
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