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The Mara is an area that
epitomizes most people’s idea of Africa. The landscape rolls away in
endless savanna, streaked by dark green veins of riverine woodland on
the banks of the Mara and Talek rivers. This game reserve is an
extension of the Serengeti (Tanzania) ecosystem and is considered by
many to be Kenya's best wildlife sanctuary, where animals can still be
seen in vast numbers. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo,
crocodile, antelope and gazelle are but some of the many species to be
found. The annual migration of up to one million wildebeest is most
dramatic and is considered one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in
the world. Needless to say, both wildlife and bird viewing are
phenomenal. It is a safari feast of quite overwhelming proportions. The
Greater Mara ecosystem is also home to the colourful
and handsome Masai people and their herds of livestock, who are
synonymous with the region.
The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa,
also known as “The Great Migration”
takes place between Kenya's Masai Mara
and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park
and is one of the greatest wildlife
spectacles on the planet. Thousands of
wildebeest and zebra’s migrate between
the Serengeti and the Masai Mara,
constantly driven by their search for
fresh grazing. The massive herds are
closely followed by predators (lion,
hyena and cheetah), making the most of
every opportunity to catch their next
meal.
The best time to see the migration in
the Masai Mara is generally between
August & September and remain in the
Masai Mara until October or November.
IT-KYRT01
9 days/ 8 nights: from $ 3,975
based on 8 riders Hotel in Nairobi extra.
Single (if requested) + $900
2008 Set dates:
Aug 22 to 30: full
Sept 03 to 11: Space available
(migration)
2009 Set dates:
Feb 18 to 26: Space available
2008 Safari Season :
Each of 12 $ 3,905 per person
Each of 11 $ 4,060
Each of 10 $ 4,015
Each of 9 $ 4,215
Each of 8 $ 3,975
Each of 7 $ 4,225
Each of 6 $ 4,560
Each of 5 $ 4,570
Each of 4 $ 5,155
Each of 3 $ 6,130
Each of 2 $ 8,085
... all rates are subject to a
·
Game Reserve entry fee of $500 pp
·
Flying Doctors’ Membership: $ 15
pp
Rates Include
~ Full board accommodation, all drinks in camp, a Kenya Professional
Safari Guide in each vehicle, National Park - Game Reserve - Wilderness
Concession fees, private camping fees, full compliment of safari crew
(cooks, waiters, mechanics, drivers, grooms, porters and tent stewards),
camp & safari equipment, horses & tack, support vehicles & trucks, 4x4
game viewing vehicles, day & night game drives, cultural visits, Serena
hotel day rooms and flying doctor membership. Rates Exclude
~ International & local flights, extra activities, visas, hotel and
meals outside of the safari itinerary, insurances and gratuities.
Level:
Strong intermediate +
Tack:
English using handmade pigskin
trekking saddles
Horses:
Anglo Arab, Anglo Somali
Pace: 3-8 hrs per day Minimum Age: 8 years Maximum Weight: 215 lbs
Rates Include
~ Full board accommodation, all drinks in camp, professional guide, private
camping fees, full compliment of safari crew (cooks, waiters, mechanics,
drivers, grooms, porters and tent stewards), camp & safari equipment,
horses & tack, support vehicles & trucks, 4x4 game viewing vehicles, day
& night game drives, cultural visits and flying doctor membership. Rates Exclude
~ International & local flights, extra activities, visas, hotel and
meals outside of the safari itinerary, insurances and gratuities.
Itinerary
DAY 1
~ On arrival in Nairobi you will be met
by Safaris Unlimited at Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport and
transferred to our small home and farm
near the Ngong Hills. Alternatively we
will meet you at your hotel at about
08.30am. Over a cup of Kenyan tea or
coffee your professional guide, Gordon
or Tony Church, will give you a briefing
on your safari. We then drive for
approximately 5 hours out through the
fertile Kikuyu highlands to the edge of
the Great Rift Valley, into which we
descend 2,000 feet. The panorama of
grassland studded with volcanic
mountains is home to an animal kingdom
unrivalled anywhere else in Africa. Our
route takes us up over the Mau
Escarpment and through the Masai trading
town of Narok. We fork south onto rough
roads, reaching our private camp at the
foothills of the Loita Mountain Range in
time for a late lunch. Camp is
established beneath giant yellow-fever
acacia trees and is a popular roost for
olive baboons and vervet monkeys. The
afternoon is spent settling-in, followed
by a short ride to familiarise ourselves
with the horses (as an optional extra
you may like to fly to the Mara on a
scheduled charter).
Meal Plan : Lunch and dinner in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~
Barkitabu, Masailand.
DAY 2
~ The morning and afternoon is spent on
horseback exploring the beautiful Loita
Hills and the surrounding countryside.
We ride through acacia thickets and open
plains in search of Burchell’s zebra,
East African eland, warthog, Cape
buffalo, Grant’s & Thomson’s gazelle and
Masai giraffe. There is a variety of
birdlife to enjoy, including the African
Scops owl, superb starling, secretary
bird and the white-backed vulture.
Meal Plan : All meals in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~
Barkitabu, Masailand.
DAY 3
~ Our first full day in the saddle takes
us across the Loita Plains, past
Kaitapini Hill and down onto the
Shangalara lugga (dry river bed)
for a picnic lunch.
We enter the Olare Lamun valley and find
our camp situated near a spring used by
the Masai to water their cattle, a
favourite haunt for both lion and
leopard.
Herds of impala, white-bearded
wildebeest, Coke’s hartebeest and topi
inhabit the neighbouring scrubland.
Meal Plan : Breakfast and dinner in
camp. Picnic lunch in the bush.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~
Olare Lamun, Masailand.
DAY 4
~ After an early breakfast we saddle up
and trek across the open savanna,
interspersed with acacia, wait-a-bit
brush and leleshwa (wild sage)
woodland. We ride along the base of
Oloiburmut Hill, before returning to
camp for lunch. This area is home to a
number of Masai manyattas
(villages). Throughout the safari we
have several opportunities to learn
about, and, most importantly, enjoy the
company of the Masai - a tribe of
semi-nomadic people to whom the land
belongs. Those who are interested may
visit a small and remote primary school
for the Masai children and in the late
afternoon we visit a nearby manyatta
of the local Masai “chief”. His
constant company is a highlight of the
stay here - a great friend of Gordon’s,
he loves to serenade guests with stories
of Masai tradition and lore.
Meal Plan : All meals in camp.
Overnight : Private Mobile Tented Camp ~
Olare Lamun, Masailand. |













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