Nature's Classroom: Elephants In-Depth Wildlife Study Safari in Kenya
To truly study elephants, the best university you could attend is Africa and the best professors those who call that classroom home. Feel not only intellectually, but physically alive as the classroom window you gaze out is a Land Rover often bringing you almost within arm’s reach of one of your favorite subjects in the world – elephants. Learn first-hand about the daily life of elephants in some of the most beautiful wildlife reserves of Kenya, often with world-renowned elephant experts and conservationists who have dedicated their lives to the study and preservation of these magnificent animals by your side.
Your Naturalist Guide: Antonio Marangabassa’s extensive knowledge, boundless energy and quick sense of humor has made him one of Kenya’s most popular naturalist guides since he graduated in 1981 magnum cum laude from the US International University. The other passionate, dedicated people you may meet include Daphne Sheldrick, the first person to successfully raise orphan infant elephants, Cynthia Moss, the noted American naturalist and author who has the longest-running study on elephants and Dr. Iain-Douglas Hamilton, founder of Save The Elephants, who has contributed so much to the understanding of elephant migratory patterns by the use of GPS collars.
Days 1/2 - New York/Amsterdam/Nairobi
Board your KLM/Northwest Airlines overnight flight to Amsterdam. The next morning, connect with your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you are escorted by Antonio to your historic hotel. NAIROBI NORFOLK HOTEL. (Meals Aloft)
Days 3/4/5 – Tsavo National Park East
Fly to Tsavo National Park, the largest national park in Kenya. During day and night game drives in open vehicles and walking safaris along the Galana River, you may see zebra, giraffe, antelope, waterbuck, lion, leopard, cheetah, gazelle, buffalo, and an abundance of elephant. Famed conservationist Daphne Sheldrick will accompany you on your game drives. Daphne was the first person to successfully raise orphan infant elephants. She has had real impact on the lives of elephants and rhinos, which would have normally died due to human poaching and surrounding population conflict. Visit the Voi salt lick where these infants are eventually released into the wild and end up in the care of other orphans who have been successfully reintroduced to the wild. Your exclusive tented camp’s river location makes for some of Tsavo's best wildlife sightings, as elephant, black rhino, buffalo and antelope come to drink. GALDESSA CAMP. (All Meals Daily)
Days 6/7 – Amboseli National Park/Mount Kilimanjaro
At 19,340 feet, the snow-capped peak of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, will welcome you as you fly to Amboseli National Park located at its foot. Here, proud Maasai warriors or small children tend their cattle. This is home to over 1,000 elephants, herds of wildebeest, lion, over 300 species of birds and Cynthia Moss, the noted American naturalist and author who has conducted the longest-running study on elephants. Visit the Amboseli Elephant Research Project where Cynthia, or a member of her staff, will discuss their work. For over 30 years Cynthia and her staff have been studying this elephant population. Whole generations of elephants have been cataloged and individually recognized. In much of Africa, the older bulls are poached, but in Amboseli one can find old matriarchs in their 60s and large adult bulls. Your lodge, a modern adaptation of a Maasai Manyatta, is an oasis of beautiful gardens and pools. AMBOSELI SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (All Meals Daily)
Day 8 – Nairobi/Nyeri/Tree Hotel
Fly to Nairobi, then drive through rich farm land to the base of Mt. Kenya. Located in a montane forest, Mountain Lodge provides spectacular views of Mt. Kenya. Your simple, but comfortable room overlooks a waterhole which attracts wildlife throughout the afternoon and night. Quietly observe the procession of wildlife that come to drink: buffalo, rhino, elephant, leopard, hyena and antelope. A specially-constructed bunker affords close-up views of the wildlife at the waterhole and is connected to the lodge by a short tunnel. Join the lodge naturalist for a walk through the forest’s understory in this area favored by the mountain’s elephants. Learn about the historical aspects of Mount Kenya and the area – so important during the Mau Mau movement for independence from British. SERENA MOUNTAIN LODGE. (B,L,D)
Days 9/10/11 – Samburu Game Reserve
Drive past the equator and onto the hot and arid fringes of the vast northern region of Kenya. The Samburu Reserve is within the lands of the colorful Samburu people and home to a number of wildlife species rarely found elsewhere in Kenya: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, and Beisa oryx. Renowned conservationist, elephant researcher and founder of Save the Elephants (STE), Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, will join you on one of your game drives. STE focuses on research, grassroots, education and protection of these endangered giants. Long-distance movement by radio-tracking elephants via GPS collars helps to understand them and establish vital corridors in their range that need protection. STE involves local people in research and conservation to stimulate learning and foster positive attitudes. Between game drives, enjoy a nature walk, camel ride across the river or relax poolside at your beautiful lodge on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. SAMBURU SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (All Meals Daily)
Days 12/13 – Nairobi/Amsterdam/New York
Fly to Nairobi where a day room awaits you at the NORFOLK HOTEL. After a farewell dinner at its gourmet Ibis Grill, you are escorted to the airport for your flights home. (B,D)
Optional Extension to the Maasai Mara
Extend your adventure with wildlife viewing in the Maasai Mara, Kenya’s most famous reserve. It is classic savannah with grasslands, where animals are plentiful and the vistas spectacular. Each year up to two million wildebeest, thousands of zebra and an escort of carnivores cross the plains following the rains and succulent new grass. Optional activities include witnessing dawn over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon, flying to Lake Victoria to fish for giant Nile perch or visiting a Maasai Village to experience this nomadic tribe’s way of life. Savor the luxury and romance of Little Governor’s Camp, with fine cuisine served outdoors or in the candlelit dining tent, tall tales around a blazing campfire and retiring to your tent where a hot-water bottle takes the chill off your bed.
Your Safari Includes:
- Round trip air transportation between New York and Nairobi.
- Domestic flights within Kenya as specified.
- Superior accommodations throughout as specified.
- All meals as specified.
- All wildlife viewing by safari minibus with pop-up roof hatch or private landrover, driven by a naturalist guide.
- A maximum of 6 passengers per minibus. A window seat is guaranteed.
- Lectures by Daphne Sheldrick, Cynthia Moss and Iain Douglas-Hamilton, duties permitting, with 10 travelers.
- Antonio Marangabassa escorts the tour with minimum 10 travelers.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles and during meals.
- Gratuities for baggage handling, hotel tips and taxes.
- All game park entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.