Niche Africa Holidays
TOUR CODE: NAHTB 004 6 Days Kenya Best Wildlife Safari
Trip Highlights: Welcome to the theatre of the wild, the Maasai Mara and the land of lava, springs and man-eaters. On this safari you will be able to view various species of wild game including the lion, leopard, cheetah, the elephant and a host of other plains animals. You will get to cross across the unique floor of the Great Rift Valley the only observable earth feature in space, and also be able to see attractions like, lava flows, caves and the famous and beautiful Mzima Springs.
Day 1: Nairobi- Masai Mara
Pick up and a tour briefing from airport or hotel depending on your flight schedule by our tour manager then transfer to the Maasai Mara Game reserve through the beautiful floor of the Great Rift Valley with a stop over at the view point to observe the panoramic beauty that beholds this wonderful feature. Arrive in time for lunch and if time allows, enjoy your first game drive.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Springs camp.
There have been some 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 400 birds species recorded on the Masai Mara Reserve. Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and it is for this reason a visitor hardly misses to see the big five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino.)
Day 2: Maasai Mara
Spend the whole day game viewing with a lunch break enroute or opt to go and visit the Maasai people in the afternoon and learn about their cultural practices and their unique way of living.
The Maasai are so significant due to their culture. Starting from their dress code, the color red is so significant in that they scare away wild animals as they co-exist with them. They believe that God, Enkai, gave them cattle, therefore they believe that all the cattle belongs to them. That's the reason why they have been known due to their cattle rustling. Although the Maasai are known for their nomadic life and cattle keeping, they is a group of agricultural Maasai, known as IL Loikop, are look down upon by the cattle keeping group, the Wakwavi since they believe they are the true Maasais created to keep cattle.
A Maasai Homestead (enkang popularly known as the Manyattas) is made from cow dung and wooden sticks from the leleshwa plant. Women are the ones responsible for putting up these magnificent homes. However, a homestead contains several Maasai houses which are surrounded by a fence made also by branches of the leleshwa plant where the herds of goats and cows are confined in during the night hours. There are other Manyattas made far away in the wilderness during their Morans as they prepare their headset, the motonyik, before they return home.
Day 3: Mara/ Tsavo West
Enjoy a pre - breakfast game drive then after breakfast depart for Tsavo National Park with a lunch stop over in Nairobi. Check in at lodge or camp in Tsavo in the early evening.
Dinner and overnight at lodge or camp.
Maasai Mara Balloon Flight
Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a Hot air Balloon provided at an extra cost. The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience.
Day 4: Tsavo West
After a buffet breakfast embark on a game drive with a picnic lunch enroute with chances of seeing the Big five that make Kenya proud, these are the man eaters of Tsavo - the lion, the enormous elephant, the shy and elusive rhino, the strong buffalo and finally the fast one, the cheetah.
The park has an interesting and diverse history including: the Waliangulu and Kamba tribes used the park as a hunting ground prior to gazette-ment; the first European to see Mount Kenya, rev. Dr. L. Krapf, journeyed on foot through this area in 1848; during the construction of the railway bridge over the Tsavo River in 1898, lions (the famed man-eaters of Tsavo) terrorized the workers, killing over 130 people before being killed by Col. J. H. Patterson. During World War 1, British forces along the Tsavo river to counter threats from invading German soldiers from Tanganyika (now Tanzania); the European explorer Captain Lugards a European explorer passed through the area on his way to Uganda.
Today awake early for a pre - breakfast game drive to get a chance to see the dangerous predators at their best hunting action. In the afternoon visit the Mzima Springs and learn how its channeled waters are used to supply water to the warm coastal city of Mombasa.
Tsavo West Park is a vast expanse of savannah stretching from Mtito Andei, along the Mombasa - Nairobi road south to the Tanzania border. The north eastern boundary along the highway adjoins Tsavo east National park but Tsavo west has more varied topography and more diverse array of habitats than its neighbor.
Day 6: Tsavo / Nairobi
After breakfast depart for Nairobi with a final game drive enroute arriving in time for a complimentary lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant a heaven for sumptuous and sweet tasting African cuisines. Thereafter transfer to the airport or hotel depending on your flight schedule.
End of Safari.
- Transport based on a safari minibus with pop up roof for game viewing
- Park entry fee
- Cook, camping equipment and all meals
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide
- Game drives as per the itinerary
- Government taxes
- Hot air Balloon flight in Maasai Mara - US$ 425 per person extra
(Price is subject to confirmation at the time of booking.)
- Tips to driver guides and porter.
- Extras - tips, etc
- Items of personal expenses.