An intimate and eye-opening look into the private lives of these complex and graceful creatures—an MTS exclusive!

Revisit the Africa of the explorers on a one-of-a-kind walking safari with our legendary guides in an area strictly off-limits to other visitors. As you trek 50 miles of game trails through the wilderness of Tsavo National Park, in a land where elephants have learned to keep to themselves, your guide’s uncanny ability to read the wind (and the elephants themselves) will bring you amazingly close to the massive herds. You’ll be mesmerized by these magnificent and intelligent social beings as they wrestle, trumpet, and carouse along the scenic Galana River. You’ll also have the opportunity to see the rare and infamous "maneless lions," a species found only in Tsavo.

Following the most exciting part of a trek pioneered by MTS in 1997—made famous in the book The Shadow of Kilimanjaro—this journey is an MTS exclusive, unlike any other trip you’ve ever been on. This unforgettable, epic adventure also includes two days of game drives in the Masai Mara to witness its astonishing variety and abundance of wildlife, from giraffes and hippos to lions and leopards.
 

Activities

walking safari, game drives

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Walking safari through the remote wilds of Tsavo, Kenya’s largest national park—an MTS exclusive and unlike any other trip you’ve ever been on!
• Track elephants on a 5-day, 50-mile hike along one of Africa’s most beautiful rivers
• Optional afternoon game drives maximize wildlife encounters for the most memorable experience possible
• Search for the infamous “maneless lions”—the subject of Philip Caputo’s book Ghosts of Tsavo and the movie The Ghost and the Darkness
• Enjoy two days of game drives in the legendary Masai Mara, where (unlike Tsavo) elephants were never hunted and are comfortable around humans and vehicles

Duration: 12 days Start Location: Nairobi End Location: Nairobi

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival in Nairobi

  Arrive in Nairobi and settle into our group hotel.

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  Day 2 : Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve

  Fly from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive.

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  Days 3 - 4 : Masa Mara National Reserve

  Two full days to explore the wonders of the Mara, Kenya's game country at its best.  Herds of impala, zebra, elephants, and wildebeest graze the grassy plains of the savannah and the swift Mara River is home to large groups of hippo and crocodiles.  With so many grazing animals in the area, you will have excellent opportunities to see the predators: lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

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  Day 5 : Fly to Tsavo East National Park

  Charter  flight to Tsavo East National Park. Upon arrival we will then make a two hour drive to our camp on one of the wide, palm-fringed beaches of the Galana River. (No walking today)

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  Day 6 : Walking Safari Begins

  Our walking safari beings today with a 10-mile jaunt along the Galana River.

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  Day 7 : Walking Safari in Tsavo

  Today we will continue our walking safari, venturing about 10 miles into the remote wilderness of Tsavo, tracking elephants before returning by vehicle back to the same campsite.

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  Day 8 : Walking Safari in Tsavo

  As our foot safari continues for 9 miles down the Galana River, it is highly likely we’ll be able to make contact with some of the famous and mysterous maneless lions of this region.

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  Day 9 : Walking Safari in Tsavo

  The purpose of our visit is to see the African elephant, and getting close to them on foot is the best way. Checking the winds, we are able to move in as close as 200 feet from them, and as they stroll across the plain, oblivious to our presence, we take the time to study the unique social behavior of these magnificently intelligent animals. (10 miles walking)

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  Day 10 : Walking Safari Ends

  Today we will walk a total of 11 miles through lion and elephant country to the edge of Tsavo East National Park and the Sala Gate.

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  Day 11 : Kenyan coast

  After breakfast in Tsavo we make the three hour drive to Malindi on the Indian Ocean and settle into our luxury beach resort, the Hemingways Hotel. A farewell dinner and celebration await as the ocean breezes billow the sails of passing dhows.

• Day 12 : Depart

  Afternoon flight back to Nairobi.  Connect to flights home departing after 9pm.  For those who wish to extend their Kenya adventure, we recommend booking our Lamu Island Extension or extra nights in Watamu at Hemingways Resort, a luxury beach resort on the Kenyan coast.

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  Macushla House

  Karen, Kenya

  This cozy bed and breakfast features open beamed ceilings, natural woodwork, 2 lounges with open log fires, and views over one of the last pockets of indigineous forest. Macushla's special ambience is ideal for those guests who seek an intimate accommodation experience.

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  Mara Serena Safari Lodge

  Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

  Located at the very center of the Mara Triangle, the Mara Serena offers an incredible view of the annual wildebeest migration, the 'greatest wildlife show on earth'. Each luxurious room has a private balcony with uninterrupted views, and the dining terrace overlooks a watering hole where big game comes to feed.

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  Hemingways Beach Resort

  Watamu, Kenya

  This 74-room resort hotel is a luxury tropical retreat on one of Kenya's finest beaches. Stylishly furnished with stunning views of Watamu Marine Park, and ideally placed for shopping and sightseeing, Hemingways offers an atmosphere of relaxed sophistication, and plenty of recreation.
   

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.

• Julius Odhiambo Oyugi

  Julius Odhiambo is one of Kenya’s top ornithologists and naturalists. His infectious curiosity of the flora and fauna, coupled with his encyclopedic knowledge of his surroundings, brings every detail to life (there’s probably not an insect, bird, or shrub that he can’t tell you a story about!). After years of guiding wildlife safaris, Julius turned his sights to East African mountains. Trekking up Kilimanjaro with Julius is more than a hike to reach the summit, it’s a fascinating walk through natural history of a region in the midst of environmental change. When not guiding safaris, Julius volunteers his time with the Natural History Museum as well as the Birding Club. A top ranking member of Kenya’s elite Professional Safari Guides Association, Julius regards Kenya’s wildlife as a national heritage to be safeguarded against the encroachment of modernity.

• Julian Wright

  Most recently Julian has been training the British Army when they come to Kenya before deployment; he also has been guiding groups up Mount Kenya for about five years. He was born and grew up in Kenya, and went to secondary school in South Africa where he earned a very prestigious Level One Certification from the Field Guide Association of South Africa. His Swahili is fluent, as he grew up in the Swahili-speaking town of Malindi on the Kenyan coast. Julian is a highly experienced bush guide and mountaineer with a keen understanding of Tsavo National Park in particular. You’ll be in very good hands!

photo credits: Blaine Harrington