The journey begins on Amboseli's grass lake at the foot of Kilimanjaro and goes through the barren
and hilly landscapes of western Tsavo. In the nature reserve Taita Hills we live directly by the water
hole. We look for lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, birds, baboons and antelopes, among other
things. In the middle of the safari, we get a few days to melt the impressions with sun and
swimming on the white shores of the Indian Ocean. The safari is rounded off with two days in
Kenya's largest park, eastern Tsavo, and in Nairobi with a visit to Karen Blixen's farm and a giraffe
center.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Travel With Tour Van |
Day 1. Kenya Arrival
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After completing passports, visas and customs
formalities.
We immediately leave Nairobi behind us and head south towards Amboseli National Park. This is
where the picture or rather the pictures are taken that have become a well-known symbol of East
Africa's magnificent nature. Pictures of elephants, giraffes or zebras grazing against a backdrop of a
snow-covered Kilimanjaro.
Just in time for lunch, we arrive at the Sentrim Amboseli lodge and we check in for two nights. Our
tour guide will give an introduction to safari life and in the afternoon, we set out on our first "game
drive". That is, to explore nature with the safari jeeps and look for animals and birds.
At dusk we are back at the lodge, where a tasty dinner awaits.
Day 2. Amboseli and Kilimanjaro
Today we get up early for a morning safari. The African night is deep and dark, but the day comes
quickly after the first streak of dawn light. It is then that all the animals of the savannah are most
active and on their guard against lions and leopards that are still lurking in the darkness that have
lingered in the dense bushes.
Amboseli is known for its large elephant herds, which are often seen standing in knee-deep mud
and spraying the mud over themselves as protection against heat and insects. But here in these
beautiful surroundings there is so much more. The landscape is perfect for the cheetah to hunt in.
Here a lot of buffaloes graze, giraffes that gently nibble leaves in the thorny foliage. Several gazelle
species move out on the open savannah always with a watchful eye for fast felines and possible
ambushes.In the afternoon, it's safari time again. We stop at the "Observation Mountain" and admire the
beauty of this ancient Eden. If the weather gods are in the right mood, we see the snow on
Kilimanjaro's wide peak.
Day 3. Amboseli - Tsavo West
After breakfast we leave Amboseli and continue towards Western Tsavo through a spectacular
landscape where volcanoes spit out huge lava masses, the so-called Shetanilavan.
The road snakes down the slopes and soon we arrive in Western Tsavo which has denser
vegetation than its eastern counterpart. In the north, the Tsavo River contributes to the abundance
of wildlife here.
After lunch at Serena Kilaguni Safari Lodge, we visit the Mzima Springs flow of crystal-clear water.
Many underwater movies starring hippos are filmed here. Peephole cells have been constructed
with glass windows below the water level that you can go down into to see what happens under
the water.
There is also the opportunity to go on a "night safari" in the surroundings around the lodge to look
for the big-eyed galagon - better known as the "bushbaby" - and perhaps even see Africa's most
beautiful cat, the leopard. (' Night safari' is arranged by the lodge - booked and paid for on site
directly to the lodge.
Day 4. Tsavo West - Taita Hills
Even before breakfast, we go out on a "game drive" at sunrise and see animals and nature come to
life. After breakfast we check out and the safari journey continues through Tsavo's beautiful hilly
landscape to the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a privately owned reserve at the foot of the
Taita Hills. Upon arrival at the reserve, we are served lunch and then continue on to the lodge
Sarova Saltlick itself, which stands high above the ground on steep pillars overlooking a large water
hole.
After sunset, you can linger on the terrace and study the nightlife by the water which is illuminated.
Anything can happen here.
Day 5. Taita Hills – Mombasa
We now leave the safari life for a couple of days and go out to the coast. Just north of Mombasa we
find Voyager Beach, where we check in for three nights of relaxation by the Indian Ocean. Here we
enjoy on the beach or by the nice pool area. Full board is included so just relax.
Day 6. City tour in Mombasa
Calm morning with sun and swimming on your own.
In the afternoon we meet for an excursion into the city of Mombasa to see the great Indian temple
and the Portuguese Fort Jesus. There will also be market visits with possible shopping.
Day 7. Free day
Enjoy relaxation and comfortable swimming. In East Africa, there are large differences between low
tide and high tide, between low tide and high tide. The tide creates conditions for an interesting
ecosystem where a number of plants and animals have specialized to live. We therefore
recommend bathing shoes.
Day 8. Mombasa - Tsavo East
After breakfast we leave the coast and set out on the safari roads again. The journey now continues
to Kenya's largest national park, Tsavo East.
With just over 20,000 km², Tsavo is actually one of the world's largest nature reserves, with a
slightly larger area than Israel. The two parts of the park, East and West, are partly quite different
from each other and comprise a large part of Kenya's many ecosystems. The species richness is
enormous and can be compared to the more famous Masai Mara. Here are the savannah's large
animals such as elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hippopotamus, here the big cats, lions, leopards and
cheetahs sneak. Here is also the beautiful giraffe gazelle, smaller kudo and tufted oryx. The species
richness of birds is impressive - close to 500 species!
At lunchtime we arrive at the Ashnil Aruba Lodge, and can relax by or in the pool before the
afternoon safari starts.
Day 9. Full day Safari
With the size of the park, it is fitting that we have a full day here to be able to look around properly.
We pack a lunch box and head north.
Tsavo is known for its "red" elephants, the color that comes from the iron-rich red earth. It was also
here that two lions terrorized the railway workers, the Indian rallies who built the railway between
Mombasa and Nairobi in the early twentieth century. Over one hundred and twenty workers had to
put their lives on the line before they managed to find and shoot the very cunning brother lions.
The day and our safari experiences suffer towards the end and the African night embraces
everything with sounds and scents.
Day 10. The train to Nairobi
It's time to leave the "bush" and head back to Nairobi. Outside Tsavo National Park, in the village of
Voi, we board the train from Mombasa that takes us all the way to Nairobi.
We check in Tamarind tree hotel a comfortable hotel with great opportunities for relaxation. There
is a gym as well as an outdoor pool located in the green garden. A late lunch is served on arrival.
Day 11. Out of Africa
After a relaxing morning, it's time to check out at lunchtime. For lunch we go to Karen Blixen's
Coffee Gardens. Here is the historic Swedo House, which was the original hunting lodge that was
built in the beginning between 1906–1908. Satisfied and satisfied, we visit the nearby Karen Blixen
Museum and Giraffe Center for close contact with these beautiful animals. It will be a content-rich
day that we round off with a farewell dinner at the historic Carnivore Restaurant.
We will drop you at the Airport for your flight back home