GREAT MIGRATION

Each year, nearly 2 million animals move through Tanzania and Kenya driven by seasonal rain and drought in what is known as the Great Migration. One million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras make up the largest populations of the migrating herds, followed by gazelles. Though the timing of the annual migration varies from year to year and cannot be predicted with any certainty, we've outlined the general locations and movement patterns of the animals throughout the year below.

December to April:

These months find wildebeest and zebra herds scattered across the plains of the southern Serengeti and the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Calving season generally lasts from late January through mid-March, with the largest number of calves born within a two- to three-week span in February. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born during this time. Predators in the area take advantage of the abundance of slower calves, and sightings of species such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas are plentiful at this time of year.

May to July:

As the plains dry up in May at the end of the long rainy season, the herds begin to move westward and then northward in search of greener pastures. The scattered herds eventually gather to form columns up to 25 miles long as they begin their trek from the south to the western and northern Serengeti. Predators, which are territorial rather than migratory, hunt as the massive herds pass through their terrain. Mating season for wildebeests also occurs during this time, between late May and early June. As the herds of zebra and wildebeest make their way northward, they must cross the Grumeti River, where hungry crocodiles wait for those that stumble. The best time to see this migration in action in the western and northern Serengeti is in June and July.

July to November:

As the plains of the western Serengeti dry out and the grasses are depleted, the migration must continue. Between July and mid-August, the wildebeest, zebras and gazelles leave the Serengeti and Tanzania, cross the Mara River with its own population of crocodiles, and head into Kenya's Maasai Mara, where lush green pastures await. A visit to the Maasai Mara National Reserve when the migration arrives in August or September can make for an unforgettable experience due to the variety of species and the sheer number of animals. The herds scatter around the abundant grasslands of the Maasai Mara until October or November, when the start of the short rainy season prompts them to begin their journey south, back to their breeding grounds in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

10 Days / 9 Nights 9 Nights Wildlife Migration Safari Tour

Highlights:

09 nights first Class hotel accommodation at Nairobi, Aberdare National Park, Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara Game Reserve. 

The Annual migration of Wildebeests from Serengeti to Masai Mara across Mara River is now one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The phenomenon takes place from July to September every year. However, this tour can be done any other period of the year.

• 09 nights First Class hotel accommodation on the following order

• 1 night accommodation at the [The Stanley Hotel], Nairobi

• 1 night accommodation at the [Treetops Hotel], Aberdare National Park

• 2 nights accommodation at the [Samburu Wilderness Lodge], Samburu Game Reserve

• 1 night accommodation at the [Sweetwater’s Tented Camp], Olpajeta Ranch

• 1 night accommodation at the[Lake Nakuru Lodge], Lake Nakuru National Park

• 3 nights accommodation at the the [Mara Sarova Tented Camp], Mara Game Reserve

• 27 Meals: 9 Breakfast, 9 Lunches and 9 dinners

• All transfers and hotel taxes

• Service of English Speaking Tour Host.

• All entrance and Game Drive as per itinerary

Day to Day Safari Itinerary - [10 Days / 09 Nights]

Day 01 - Nairobi City
Arrival Nairobi. Meet and greet and escorted to The Stanley Hotel in the heart of the city by Holiday Kenya Safaris representatives. You will be assisted with check-in procedures. Rest of the afternoon is spent on a Nairobi orientation sightseeing featuring visits to Nairobi's principal land marks, the parliament buildings, and the capital hill to have a panoramic view of Nairobi. Situated in the Central Highlands at an altitude of 6,130 feet (1,870 meters), Nairobi enjoys a mild climate. On our driving tour of the city and its surroundings we will see Uhuru Park, Kenya's Parliament House, the Kenyatta Conference Centre, City Square and some of Nairobi's nicest suburbs. We visit the Kenya National Museum with our guide to learn about Kenya's wildlife, geology and human history. This evening, we assemble for a safari briefing before proceeding to the famous Carnivore Restaurant for a mouth-watering barbecue "Welcome to Kenya" dinner. Return to your city hotel. Overnight at The Stanley Hotel. [Dinner, Bed & Breakfast]

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Day 02 - Nairobi - The Aberdare (Tree Hotel)
Our safari begins with the thrill of overnight game viewing in the comfort of a Tree Hotel.  The lush hills of Aberdare National Park are covered by Kenya's densest forest and form the eastern flank of the Great Rift Valley. Outside the park itself we pass many ranches, coffee plantations and early European settlements. We leave our main luggage at the base hotel and continue with just our overnight bags to one of the famous "tree hotels", deep in the Aberdare Forest. On our journey to our lodge we hope to see typical forest-dwelling animals such as the black and white Columbus Monkeys. A special feature of the lodge where we stay is the floodlit watering hole where we can watch from the lodge itself throughout the night as a great variety of animals come down to drink. Different species of animals are active during the night compared with during the day and many shy species such as rhinos will only approach the lodge at night. It is fascinating to watch their behavior around the watering hole as they take turns in drinking from the watering hole and eating the salt which is put out for them at the 'salt lick'. In the morning we hope to have spectacular views towards jagged outline of Mount Kenya. There is also excellent bird watching from the lodge terrace into the surrounding trees. Overnight at The Treetops Lodge. (Lunch, Dinner, Bed and breakfast)

Day 03 - Aberdare - Samburu Game Reserve

Driving north we pass Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain at 17,000 feet (5,199 metres). The massive size of this mountain and its gleaming and eroded snow-covered multiple peaks means that Mount Kenya dominates the surrounding countryside and even affects the local climate. This is also the traditional homeland of the Kikuyu people, the largest of Kenya's 40 recognized tribes. The Kikuyu believe that their god, Ngai, lives on Mount Kenya and so they build their homes with the doors facing towards the mountain, to welcome their god in. We cross the Equator again into the northern hemisphere on our way to Samburu Game Reserve in a semi-desert area of Kenya. Samburu is located on the Ewaso Nyiro River. In this dry land the forested riverbanks are excellent areas to see wildlife, as all animals congregate here to drink, especially at dusk and early in the morning. This afternoon we take a game drive in the park. First of 2 nights in Samburu. Samburu Game Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 04 - Samburu Game Reserve

Early morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu Game Reserve, which covers 40 square miles (104 square kilometers). Ololokwe Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to our game viewing today. In Samburu we are sure to see elephants, warthogs and buffalo, which can be seen in many of Kenya's parks, but we should also see animals not found in other areas. These include the Grevy's Zebra, which has much narrower and more numerous stripes than the common (Burchell's) zebra. Samburu is also home to the third of Kenya's giraffe species - the Reticulated Giraffe. This is also our best chance to see the blue-legged Somali Ostrich, the long-necked Gerenuk gazelle and the straight-horned Beisa Oryx antelope. Down by the river we hope to see crocodiles and hippos, as well as many beautiful birds. Overnight in Samburu. Samburu Game Lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).

Day 05 - Samburu – Sweetwater’s Sanctuary (Chimpanzee Sanctuary)
We drive back south from Samburu to the Equator and the slopes of Mount Kenya. Although situated on the Equator, Mount Kenya is permanently covered in glaciers and snow. Here we stay at the Sweetwaters Game Reserve. This very special 23,000 acre wildlife sanctuary was originally established to protect and breed highly-endangered Black Rhinos. In 1994 the Jane Goodall Institute established the Sweetwater’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary within the game reserve and moved a large group of chimps here from the unstable situation in their native West Africa. This afternoon we have a game drive in the reserve and tour the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp. (Lunch, dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

Optional Camel Ride or a Night Game Drive available here

Day 06 - Sweetwaters - Rift Valley Lakes (Lake Nakuru)
This morning we drive across the equator and descend the Nyandarua Escarpment into the Great Rift Valley and visit Thomson Falls. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon we take a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park often described as the world's biggest ornithological spectacle. This lake is famous for its flocks of over one million Greater and Lesser Flamingoes. The abundance of these birds is due to the alkaline mineral salts in the water, which support vast blooms of the blue-green algae and diatoms on which the flamingoes feed. As well as seeing many large game animals such as zebras, elephants and gazelles, this is one of our best chances of seeing rhinos. These highly endangered animals are the second largest land animals in the world. Lake Nakuru National Park was the first place in Kenya selected as a rhino reserve. Here is one of the few places where we can see Rothschild's giraffes. Overnight at the Lake Nakuru Lodge. (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast).

Day 07 - Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha - Masai Mara
After a morning game drive, we leave for the Masai Mara located further south into the Great Rift Valley. The Valley floor in Kenya is studded with volcanoes and seven lakes. These lakes fluctuate greatly in size according to the quality of the rains during the monsoons each year, sometimes drying up altogether. Driving south along the Great Rift Valley we come to Lake Naivasha. Even though this lake is on the floor of the Valley, it is still situated at about 6,200 feet (1,890 metres) above sea level. Naivasha presents a mystery - even though the lake has no apparent outflows, its waters are fresh. The other lakes of the Valley also have only way of losing water, by evaporation, but they are very alkaline. Because it is one of the largest sources of fresh water in Kenya, Lake Naivasha attracts a huge variety of birds in large numbers. It is a bird-watchers' paradise. After lunch, we make our way to Kenya's premier wildlife park - the Masai Mara. This is the northern section of the Serengeti Plain, which is home to the greatest concentration of game animals in the world. Overnight first of 3 nights in the Masai Mara at  Sarova Mara Tented Camp. (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast).

Day 08 - Masai Mara Game Reserve
The vast, open grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara are home to over 3 million large mammals. These include over 1.4 million wildebeest, which migrate in an enormous, straggling herd each year between the southern part of the Serengeti to the northern part and back again. With them move other herbivores such as gazelles and zebra, also looking for the best grass. Along the way they provide food for big predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. Here we learn about and see first hand the intricate web of dependency that binds the different species together. Each animal has adapted to its own niche and to the other animals that surround it. Here we see Nature at its most subtle and, sometimes, most cruel as each animal struggles to survive and reproduce. On our morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara we have a very good chance of seeing all the major Plains animals including lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, hyena, cheetah, jackal, warthog and many species of antelope. Overnight second of 3 nights in the Masai Mara at  Sarova Mara Tented Camp. (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast).

Day 09 - Masai Mara Game Reserve
We continue to explore this miraculous area on our morning and afternoon game drives. This open grassland is home to almost every species of East African wildlife including lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. This is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Today we also encounter and learn about the Masai, a proud tribal people struggling to preserve their traditions in the face of modernization. At sunset we will visit a section of the Mara River where we hope to see many hippos. Overnight third of the 3 nights in the Masai Mara at  Sarova Mara Tented Camp. (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast).

Day 10 - Drive Back To Nairobi and Depart
After breakfast, say 'Kwaheri' (a Swahili word for bye) to Masai Mara and leisurely drive back to Nairobi, arriving at around mid-day and in time for lunch at the Nairobi's Rangers Restaurant. Day rooms have been reserved until 1800 hrs for your comfort at The Stanley Hotel. Optional Dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant - time permitting. Later we transfer you to the airport for your home bound/ departure flight having seen Kenya probably for the first time! This marks the end of your Kenya Safari Adventure.

Notes:

-          Reservation done for a group of more than 4 people traveling together will attract a discount of US$300 on the Adult rates.

-          Reservations falling on December 24, – January 02,are subject to Christmas and New Year Supplements.

-          Rates are for Land arrangements only and do not include international Airfare (Can be arranged on request).

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