The Ark, Samburu, Mt. Kenya Safari Club and the Maasai Mara

Day 1 The Ark

Be ready for collection between 7.30 a.m. - 8.00 a.m.

You drive north out of Nairobi, past business complexes, and in to the open country where you will see coffee and sisal growing. Pass by Thika (home of Elspeth Huxley of Flames Trees of Thika fame) and the Agricultural Research Institute on into rolling Kikuyu agricultural country.

You stop at Karatina (reputedly the largest open air market in Africa) and then on through the hills, driving through Nyeri, to Mweiga and the Aberdare Country Club.

This attractive club is sited on the side of a hill with wide views across towards Mt. Kenya, and there is a small game sanctuary, suitable for walking, in the grounds.

1430hrs - You drive into the forest to the Ark with only an overnight bag. The rest of the luggage will be stored at the Aberdare Country Club till next day.

NB - Evenings here are cold and you are advised to wear warm clothing.

The Ark overlooks floodlit water holes visited regularly by buffalo, elephant, wart hog, bush pig, a variety of antelope and occasionally lion and other large animals. The evening is spent on the open air verandahs or in the public areas, watching the animals and birds as they come to drink.

Dinner is served in the dining room and it is possible to arrange a call at night if a particular animal, such as a rhino, visits the water hole.

Day 2  Samburu

In the morning tea and coffee are served, and then you return to the Aberdare Country Club for a full English breakfast   After breakfast drive back through Nyeri and pass alongside Mt. Kenya (you may see the peaks of the mountain at this time of the morning). You descend into the northern district, passing through the frontier town of Isiolo and continue on a dirt road to enter Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserve some forty five minutes later.

Samburu and Buffalo Springs are the home of the unique northern species of animals, the shy gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali blue‑necked ostrich, the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra as well as large numbers of elephant and buffalo which water on the edges of the wide flowing Ewaso Nyiro river which runs through the Reserves. There are lion and cheetah and leopard are regularly seen on baits which are floodlit by the main lodges.

You game drive en route to Samburu  Serena Lodge, arriving in time for lunch and maybe a swim before your afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge in time for dinner and overnight.

Day 3  Samburu

The whole day is spent game driving in the Reserve, exploring the area along the river and the hills, in search of animals.

Lunch and dinner are at Samburu Serena Lodge.

Day 4 Mt. Kenya Safari Club

An early morning game drive and after breakfast you drive out through the Reserve and back up the road to Nanyuki and the Mount Kenya Safari Club, set on the slopes of Mount Kenya and renowned for its elegant luxury. The day is spent at leisure, enjoying the superb grounds, the birdlife, perhaps a swim or a game of tennis or golf.

Day 5   Maasai Mara

Leaving after breakfast, you drive to the airstrip where you will join the scheduled light aircraft flight (E.T.D. 10.00 a.m.) across the Aberdare Range of mountains and the Great Rift Valley to land on the north western end of the famous Maasai Mara Reserve.

A quick transfer to the Mara Safari Club, a luxury tented camp, with permanent main buildings. The whole property is built on the edge of the river, near to hippo pools. Your tents are magnificent.

In the afternoon a game drive in the area around the club. The Club is just outside the reserve, but this is an area abundant with wildlife and all the animals which are found in the reserve are found here in numbers.

The Maasai Mara Game Reserve area is the home of the largest concentrations of animals in Kenya and is the northern extension of the famous Tanzania Serengeti National Park. It is in this area that the annual migration of wildebeeste, accompanied by the predators, takes place (normally between June and September). Resident wildebeeste always dot the plains.

Huge prides of lion live in the Mara;  cheetah are often found on the plains. There are large herds of elephant and buffalo (but sadly few rhino remain). Impala, zebra, giraffe, the unusual topi, and many other antelope graze across the famous grassy plains. The birdlife in the Mara is fantastic .

Return to the Safari Club for dinner and overnight.

Day 6   Masai Mara

Morning and afternoon game drives, possibly taking a picnic lunch and driving into the Reserve itself.

Day 7      Nairobi

The last chance for a game drive before breakfast and then transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi, arriving before lunch at the end of your safari.