Classic Kenya Under Canvas
Only canvas stands between you and your dreams of life in the bush – painted in your mind by the safari expeditions detailed in books by Ernest Hemingway, Beryl Markham and Karen Blixen – and the tented camps they called home. Watch the gripping action of predator and prey. Relax at your camp watching elephant, hippo and crocodile move in a delicate dance in the river. At dusk and dawn the sun dapples your tent with a myriad of colors and the night brings midnight skies, twinkling lights and the calls of the wild. Luxury tented camps, the famous parks and reserves of Samburu, Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara, mark you as another explorer whose footsteps someone else will follow in.
Days 1/2/3 - New York or Washington, D.C./London/Nairobi
Your overnight flight arrives in London, where a dayroom awaits you at the HILTON HOTEL. This evening, board your overnight flight to Nairobi. Greeted by your professional naturalist, you are escorted to your hotel surrounded by lush gardens. Enjoy a briefing about your forthcoming safari, then hand-feed the Rothschild giraffe at AFEW Nature Center. Continue to the home where Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, lived from 1914-1931. NAIROBI SAFARI PARK HOTEL. (Meals Aloft)
Days 4/5 - Samburu Reserve
Begin your safari as you drive past the equator to Samburu Reserve on the arid fringes of northern Kenya, and home to the colorful Samburu people. En route enjoy lunch at the Trout Tree Inn situated in a tree-filled valley overlooking a trout pond. Explore the reserve for wildlife species rarely found elsewhere in Kenya – Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa oryx. Comb the harsh terrain for the graceful gerenuk, an antelope that spends its day in a bipedal stance amidst the sparse scrub. Discover a pride of lions sleeping in the bushes… watch the rare blue-necked Somali Ostrich lope across the plains. This peaceful paradise is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Return in the evenings to your tented camp on the bank of the Uaso Nyiro River entertained by wildlife enjoying the water. ELEPHANT BEDROOM CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 6/7 - Lake Nakuru National Park
Soak up the vivid scenery of the outer Great Rift Valley as you drive to Lake Nakuru National Park – a bird watcher’s paradise with over 450 species. See hundreds of thousands of flamingo lining the shallow alkaline lake’s shores, along with Marabou Stork and pelican. Scout the magnificent yellow-barked acacia trees for napping leopards. Look for incredible wildlife, such as the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, white and black rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck and baboon. Your camp is located on the privately-owned Congreve Conservancy, home to abundant plains species, such as eland, zebra, Grant’s gazelle, waterbuck and impala, which you may encounter during day and night wildlife drives, nature walks and bike rides. Named for the Kiswahili word for jackal, all three East African species may be found here: side-striped, silver-backed and golden. MBWEHA CAMP. (B,L,D).
Days 8/9/10 - Maasai Mara/Northern Serengeti
Watch Maasai tending their cattle among the classic savannah as wildlife grazes nearby on your drive to Kenya’s most famous wildlife reserve, the Maasai Mara. You will have three full days to witness the drama of predator and prey. Often referred to as the Kingdom of Lions, these powerful hunters dominate the grasslands, with cheetah, leopard, hyena and jackal in tow. Isak Dinesen, author of Out of Africa, described a moving giraffe herd as “a family of rare, long-stemmed, speckled, gigantic flowers slowly advancing.” And unique to the Mara is the Maasai giraffe with vine-leaf shaped spots on a yellowish background. A cornucopia of delights for bird watchers, over 500 resident bird species have been recorded, including larks, sunbirds and the Lilac-breasted Roller. Exciting optional activities (at additional cost) include witnessing dawn over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon or flying to Lake Victoria to fish for giant Nile perch. For a nominal fee, visit a Maasai village to experience this nomadic tribe’s way of life. On the banks of the Talek River lies your luxury tented camp that supports sustainable tourism by partnering with local communities, including a guide school to train local Maasai to work in the camp and education for children. TIPILIKWANI CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 11/12 - Maasai Mara/Nairobi/London/New York or Washington, D.C.
Drive back to Nairobi after basking in one last sunrise over the Maasai Mara (an optional flight is available at additional cost). The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy your dayroom at the NAIROBI SAFARI PARK HOTEL before transferring to the airport for your flight home. (B; Meals Aloft)
Post-Extension to Tsavo West & Amboseli National Parks
Extend your safari to Tsavo West National Park, a volcanic landscape crossed by four rivers and home to over 1,000 plant species. Join hippo and crocodile in their underwater world at Mzima Springs. Marvel at the elephant population’s skin, dyed crimson by Tsavo’s red soil. Look for descendants of the infamous ‘Man-eaters of Tsavo’ lions popularized in the film Ghost in the Darkness. Visit a nearby local village and school. Then journey to Amboseli National Park, situated in the shadows of the majestic, snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, and home to an impressive five wildlife habitats that attract a wide variety of animal and bird life. Its large elephant herds have been studied for over 30 years by noted American naturalist and author, Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project.
Your Safari Includes:
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- American breakfast in Nairobi and all meals on safari.
- All wildlife viewing by private minibus driven by a naturalist driver/guide.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles and with meals.
- Professional naturalist with a minimum of 10 travelers.
- All applicable hotel/lodge taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- All park entry fees.
- Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.
2010 & 2011
|
Main Trip Land Only |
Single Supplement |
Airfare |
Extension |
Single Supplement |
May |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
May 29 |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
Jun |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
Jun 26 |
$4,595 |
$995 |
$2,000 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
Jul |
$4,595 |
$995 |
$2,000 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Jul 24 |
$4,595 |
$995 |
$2,000 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Aug |
$4,595 |
$995 |
$2,000 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Sep |
$4,495 |
$995 |
$1,600 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Oct |
$4,495 |
$995 |
$1,600 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Oct 30 |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,795 |
$595 |
Nov |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
Nov |
$3,695 |
$795 |
$1,600 |
$1,595 |
$395 |
Dec |
$4,995 |
$1,495 |
$2,000 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Dec 26 |
$4,995 |
$1,495 |
$2,000 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Jan 22 |
$4,695 |
$1,195 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Feb 19 |
$4,695 |
$1,195 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Mar |
$4,695 |
$1,195 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
May |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$1,700 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
May 28 |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$1,700 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
Jun |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$2,200 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
Jun 25 |
$4,795 |
$1,195 |
$2,200 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
Jul |
$4,795 |
$1,195 |
$2,200 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Jul 23 |
$4,795 |
$1,195 |
$2,200 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Aug |
$4,795 |
$1,195 |
$2,200 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Sep |
$4,695 |
$1,195 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Oct |
$4,695 |
$1,195 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Oct 29 |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$1,700 |
$1,995 |
$695 |
Nov |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$1,700 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
Nov |
$3,895 |
$995 |
$1,700 |
$1,795 |
$495 |
Dec |
$5,295 |
$1,695 |
$2,200 |
$2,195 |
$795 |
Dec 26 |
$5,295 |
$1,695 |
$2,200 |
$2,195 |
$795 |
For reservations or more information, please contact:
Classic Escapes at (800) 627-1244