KENYA WILDLIFE SAFARI & KILIMANJARO TREK -12 days

12 DAYS MARA/ LAKE NAKURU & AMBOSELI & KILI TREK

HIGHTLIGHTS ARE

Great Rift Valley

Birds paradise, flamingoes & Rhino sanctuary

The big five/ a bundant wildlife

Maasai culture

Rooftop of Africa

Day 1: Nairobi - Masai Mara

Pick up clients from the Airport/their accommodation then start your 6 days wildlife safari. You will have a short Safari over view description as per the itinerary as you get to what you expect to experience. There after depart Nairobi at 8:30am for Masai Mara with the first stop at the Great Rift Valley View Point. This is a perfect place to be in the morning and evening. You will watch enthralling Rift valley with its vast vegetation and the sun rays kissing the far and wide stretching mountains in the surrounding. The Great Rift Valley has been reckoned as a wonder of the world stretching from the Middle East passing through Africa and has a great and vast chunk in East African part that ends in Mozambique in the South. After about 15-20min of getting history you will proceed to Narok, a town west of Nairobi that supports Kenya's economy in south-west of the country, along the Great Rift Valley. Narok is the district capital of the Narok County and stands as the major center of commerce in the district. Narok has a population of more than 50,000 people, mostly Masai. The Masai, natives of Narok district, refer to Narok as Enkare Narok (meaning black water or dark water) named after, Enkare Narok river flowing through Narok town. The elevation of Narok is 1827 meters (5,997 feet) in altitude. You will have your hot lunch and there after proceed to Masai Mara, on arrival you will be received by our Masai Mara Staffs and then assist you to check in the Camp. Leave for the afternoon game drive which starts after a short rest. This game drive offers you the first evening attempt to see the big 5, the predators making a kill as well as African Sunset around 1830hrs, then our driver will drive you back to the camp where you will be served with buffet dinner in the Camp. Overnight in the camp.

Day 2: Masai Mara Game Reserve Full Day

Masai Mara is situated in south-west Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. This expension of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania forms Africa’s most diverse, incredible and most spectacular Eco-Systems and possibly the world’s top safari big game viewing Eco-System. I am sure you have heard the wildebeest migration is nothing short of amazing. It is one of the things you have to add to your bucket list. This will be the full day explore the Masai Mara, breakfast will be served as early as 6.am, then our cook will pack for you fresh picnic lunches since the whole day will be exploring the Masai Mara famous 7th wonders of the World. This game reserve is Kenya's finest wildlife sanctuary. Well over 450 species of animals have been recorded here. Mara plains are filled with migrating wildebeest and zebra, there are also resident wildlife all year round. The Mara's gentle fertile climate bounded by The Rift, offers perhaps the richest stocked reserve set within some 1672 sq km - an unlimited spectacle of wildlife. Located 260 km west of Nairobi, the emphasis here is on game. Herds of immense Elephants, browse among Lion, cheetah, Buffalo, Thompson Gazelle, Zebra and Topi. You may occasionally sight black Rhino. In the Mara River Hippos, crocodiles and scavenger birds play across on the banks. The annual migration of a million Wildebeest follows the rains north. After exploring the park, lunch on the savannas of Masai Mara then return to the camp or Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru

After breakfast we depart with local Maasai warriors for a walk to the Masai village where you learn about their culture and way of life starting with traditional dance then village exploration and history. Thereafter our driver will drive you to Nakuru via Lake Naivasha for an optional boat ride to see hippos, fish eagles, cormorants, ibis, pelicans, water bucks, marabou stork among other wildlife. After lunch proceed to Nakuru town arriving in time for dinner and overnight at a Hotel in Nakuru town.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru - Amboseli

The Bird Watchers’ Paradise the Lake is on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, lays the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, waterfalls, picnic and game drives. Breakfast will be served at around 6:30am there after proceed for the game drive, you will have a chance to visit a unique sanctuary catering for a sizable number of the endangered White and Black rhinos as well as Rothschild giraffe. Water bucks, predators such as the lion and leopard are common at the park. Also to be seen is a myriad different variety of bird life in and around the lake. Flamingo's are also plenty at the lake. After the game drive, Leave the park for lunch enroute for Amboseli arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight at the Kimana Camp, Amboseli.

Day 5: Amboseli

After breakfast leave the hotel/camp for a whole day game drive in Amboseli. This park is known as a home to big heard of elephants and buffalos. Situated at the shadow of Kilimanjaro it offers you a good chance to take photo of the roof top of Africa. The game offers you great chance to visit Lake Amboseli which has a very big population of different bids. We do a walk to the observation hill to stretch our legs and view the park in a wide range. Lions, Cheetah, Leopards, giraffes, Heart beest and many other animal calls this their home. Dinner and overnight at Kimana Camp.

Day 6: Amboseli

After breakfast and a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the morning weather permitting for photos. There after take a leisurely drive from Amboseli to the border of Kenya and Tanzania for a shuttle to Arusha or Moshi for the night of preparation of the following day`s trek.

Mount Kilimanjaro Trek - Machame Route

There are six established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all approach from the south of the mountain. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the north near Kenya. All routes except Marangu and Rongai descend via Mweka.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via The Machame RouteThe Machame route, also known as the Whisky Route is one of the most scenic and recommended routes on Kilimanjaro. This popular route with paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over longer periods and the incline is more manageable it has a much higher success rate of summit.

Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.

DAY 7: ARUSHA - MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP: 10.75K /7MI | 5-6 HRS | RAINFOREST

Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft. Altitude gained: 1210m

Departing from Arusha for a one and half hour drive will take you through the Village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

DAY 8: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP: 5.3KM/3MI | 4-5HRS | MOORLAND Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft. Altitude gained: 818m

After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.

DAY 9: SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP: 10.75KM/6MI | 5-6HRS | SEMI-DESERT

Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft. Altitude gained: 147m

Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before we then continue, South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.

DAY 10: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP: 8.5KM/5MI | 6-8HRS | ALPINE DESERT

Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft. Altitude gained: 676m

After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects, with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears such ease. We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.

DAY 11: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT: 4.86KM /3MI UP | 5-7HRS | – MWEKA CAMP: 13KM /8MI DOWN | 5-6HRS | GLACIERS, SNOW CAPPED SUMMIT

Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft. Altitude gained: 1233m

Descent to 3106m/10,190ft. Altitude lost: 2789m

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

DAY 12: MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE – Arusha:

135KM|3-4HRS | RAINFOREST

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft. Altitude lost: 1473m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles.

From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!