Search for the Great Wildebeest Migration

Join us on this brand new safari, highlighting the remote and rarely visited corners of Kenya as we follow the great wildebeest migration. Hike northern Kenya's incredibly dramatic landscapes-river beds, lush green forests, mountain glades, and huge granite domes. Trek into the Loita Hills-where scenes from "Out of Africa" were filmed. Explore Shaba National Reserve, the less-visited wild side of the Samburu Game Reserve, and home to Joy Adamson, author of "Born Free." Explore the habitats of the East African montane forest in Aberdare National Park; the abundant bird life and hippos of Lake Naivasha, the largest fresh water lake along the Rift Valley; and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where wildlife abounds-we'll hear the roar of lions and the whooping call of hyena while we sit around our campfire. All the while, watching the wildebeest on their great, annual migration.

Activities

Moderate hiking on flat terrain, game driving by 4-wheel-drive vehicle

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Witness the greatest wildlife show on earth: The Great Wildebeest Migration!
• Explore the remote Northern Frontier of Kenya in search of rare desert species.
• Glimpse into the traditional lives of Maasai as we walk with warriors, witness their ceremonies, and listen to their story.

2010 Prices
$5,695 (12-15 members)
$5,995 (8-11 members)
$6,295 (6-7 members)
$700 park fees
$250 internal airfare
$1,000 single supplement

Duration: 14 days Start Location: Nairobi, Kenya End Location: Nairobi, Kenya Best time to go: August - September

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival in Nairobi

  Meet in Nairobi, Kenya. Overnight at the Macushla House, a peaceful retreat in Karen just outside Nairobi.

• Days 2 - 4 : Shaba National Reserve / Shaba National Reserve / Shaba National Reserve

  Game viewing in wild and less visited Shaba National Reserve—crocodiles, lions, elephants, troops of baboon, herds of impala and zebra, and tower of giraffe.

• Days 5 - 6 : Aberdare National Park / Aberdare National Park

  In Aberdare National Park, explore the East African montane forest: giant forest hog, bushbuck, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, tiny suni antelope, and the fantastically colored bongo antelope are found here. Elephants, buffalo and lion are common, along with leopard and black rhino.

• Day 7 : Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley

  Traverse the southern slopes of the Aberdare Mountains to Lake Naivasha, home to abundant bird life and hippos, for boating and birding along the lake.

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  Days 8 - 10 : Loita Hills / Loita Hills / Loita Hills

  Cross the Great Rift Valley into the most remote part of Kenya's Maasailand in the Loita Hills and discover the Maasai, a people of pastoral nomads.

• Day 11 : Masai Mara

  Drive to neighboring Masai Mara National Reserve, passing groups of Maasai as they herd their cattle. Wildlife abounds here, and we'll hear the roar of lions and the whooping calls of hyena while we sit around our campfire.

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  Days 12 - 13 : Masai Mara / Masai Mara

  Two full days exploring the wonders of the Mara-Kenya's game country at its best! The swift Mara River is home to groups of hippo, and we'll spot crocodiles sunning on its banks. Along with a variety of antelopes, we may see prides of lion and cheetah, and of course the columns of wildebeest making their annual migration.

• Day 14 : Departure

  Mid-morning flight back to Nairobi.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Alex Fiksman

  Alex (Sasha) is a native of the former Soviet Union, immigrated to the United States at a young age. He lived and was educated in New York City, where he taught chemistry for nearly ten years before meeting and falling in love with a young woman from Kenya, who later became his wife. Alex also fell in love with Kenya, where he has continued to follow his serious outdoor pursuits, including hiking and rock climbing on Mount Kenya. His enthusiasm for the bush is infectious and we're certain you'll enjoy his company on safari. "I feel the freedom here that I have never felt before," says Alex, "the freedom to camp in the open savanna, to decide what path to take in my walk through the bush. As trivial as these freedoms may sound, few places in the world offer them in the same magnitude as Kenya."

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