Kenya
Migration Safari
August 10 to 24, 2012

| At a Glance | Itinerary | Costs | Sign-up | Other Details | Back to color itinerary |

Timed at the peak of migration in Kenya's Masai Mara, this is the definitive short East African safari for a wildlife enthusiast. Experience the incredible abundance of African mammals as herds of Wildebeests and Burchell's Zebras move across the Mara River stalked by Nile Crocodiles. The Mara also has abundant gazelles, the favorite prey of Cheetah. Stay in top quality lodges while enjoying six days in Kenya's Masai Mara, a full day at Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley, then on to Samburu in the Northern Territory for three nights at the luxurious Larsens Camp and the final day in the Kenya Highlands looking up at Mt Kenya.. While in the heart of the Mara Triangle at Mara Serena, we'll have the exciting experience of a night game drive to witness amazing nocturnal wildlife action. The mammal and bird diversity of the region is guaranteed to impress! Doug and Gail Cheeseman have been leading safaris to Kenya since 1978 and are happy to return year after year to share their love and knowledge of this place with new and repeat participants.

We travel in stretch four-wheel drive Landcruisers with covered pop-tops. Even though the vehicles hold nine participants, we only take four, which provides plenty of space for observing and taking great photography. Lodges are in beautiful surroundings, with wonderful food, private baths and good laundry service.

At a Glance

Companion Safari: Extend your stay in Africa by adding Botswana and Zambia OR Tanzania, both immediately before this safari.

Cost: $7,195 per person, double occupancy, not including airfare. Review cost details.

Leaders: Gail and Doug Cheeseman plus our favorite resident naturalist-drivers.

Size: 18 participants plus leaders.

Days: 14

Conditions: This is a non-smoking safari for people who are very interested in all wildlife and spending the maximum time in the field.

Update: This itinerary was updated in September 2011.

Synopsis:

Return to top

Detailed Itinerary

August 10 - 11, Friday - Saturday Flights to Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive in Nairobi by the evening of August 11 at the latest. See complete flight and extra hotel night information. Upon arrival in Nairobi, clear customs, then meet our agent from Rhino Safaris to transfer to the Southern Sun Mayfair Hotel. If you would like to arrive early to sightsee or recover from travel, we would be happy to assist in booking extra hotel nights. See Flight Information and Extra Hotel Nights section at end for more information. Doug and Gail will arrive at the Mayfair by 7 pm on August 11 and will be delighted to meet you this evening. They will be coming from the Tanzania safari immediately preceding this safari and is the perfect way to extend your stay in East Africa. Another option is to take our wonderful Botswana and Zambia safari also preceding this safari to explore southern Africa. Please let us know if you would like to receive more information about either of these safaris! Meals on your own these days.
Lodging on August 11: Southern Sun Mayfair Hotel

August 12 - 13, Sunday - Monday: The Masai Mara Game Reserve
The Mayfair serves a magnificent breakfast. We'll plan to meet for breakfast at 6:30 am. Our very experienced Kenyan drivers will arrive by 7:15 am. We'll introduce our wonderful drivers, Grephus, Zach, Peter, Daniel and John, who are long time friends, as well as very knowledgeable drivers, and Titus Imboma, an outstanding ecologist and ornithologist, who has led six previous Kenya safaris with us. Depart Nairobi down the eastern escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, across the Rift Valley and up the western escarpment into the part of the Serengeti Eco-system with the most rainfall, the Masai Mara. We'll have six full days here at the peak of the famous wildebeest/zebra migration, the first two nights at Sarova Mara Game Camp in the southeast Mara, the best place in August for the largest concentrations of the migration, and the last four nights in the Mara Triangle at Mara Serena Lodge. Sarova Mara Game Camp is a beautiful permanent tented camp in a wonderful location to enjoy the migration.

The Mara has great habitats: riverine forest, acacia woodland, grasslands, croton bush (a favorite hideout for Black Rhino), termite mounds, marshes, escarpments and rocky outcrops. The Mara receives more than 20 inches of rain per year and has the greatest concentration of mammals anywhere in the world at this time of year when the eastern Serengeti in Tanzania is at its driest. The Mara's lush grasses, especially the Red Oats Grass, sustain the herds during the dry season. Even into the 1960's the Mara was bushland, not savanna, and the grazing antelopes did not migrate into the Mara as they do today. Back in the 1950's hot fires and elephants browsing on trees began cutting the bush back. In the 80's and 90's the Mara became almost entirely savanna, except for the few remaining riverine forest areas along the Mara River and tributaries. It will be interesting if the cycle of change brings the Mara back to bush. The "Migration" will be in huge numbers in the Mara by now, as the Burchell's Zebras come first from Tanzania feeding on coarse grass followed by Wildebeest, then Thomson's Gazelles. The number of species in the Mara is an incredible reminder of "The Glory of the Pleistocene". In addition to mammals, birds are abundant and very visible here and easily photographed. Explore on foot in certain areas where allowed, such as the hippo pools at the Mara bridge near the Tanzania border and on the lodge grounds.
Lodging: Sarova Mara Game Camp

August 14 - 17, Tuesday - Friday: The Masai Mara Game Reserve
On these four nights we will stay at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, located on a hill overlooking the Mara River and beyond to the mountains in Tanzania. It is secured with electric fencing, so it is a good place for walking. We have included a night drive on the plains, a great opportunity to see some of the creatures, which stay hidden by day, only to come out under the cover of night. Let us know if you would like to do additional night drives, which are $90 per night drive. The resident lodge guides do the driving for the night drives in vehicles that belong to the Mara Serena Lodge. Possibilities are Bat-eared Fox, White-tailed Mongoose, Lesser Galago (the smaller of the two bushbabies), Hippos out grazing on grass, nightjars, owls and maybe even a hunting predator, such as a Leopard or Lions perhaps even hunting. On game drives, we will include the beautiful riverine areas along the Mara, hippos gather in large pools and big fig trees attract turacos and barbets and other fruit eaters. We'll travel along the base of the east/west escarpment that borders the Mara, which is a major fault line that runs all the way across the Serengeti Eco-system to Lake Victoria, although we won't go that far! Some beautiful scenes in "Out of Africa" were filmed along here looking down into the Mara paradise from the top of Oloololo Escarpment.

A bit of luck will have us watching a true wildlife spectacle: the movement of thousands upon thousands of Wildebeest in one of the greatest remaining wildernesses in the world. The African Lions and other predators, which follow the migration, will be in action as well. In August, the migration concentrates throughout the Mara, but mainly from the Mara River to the southeast Mara where we stay the first two nights.
Lodging: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

August 18, Saturday: Nakuru National Park
We'll game drive across the Mara, then drive down the western escarpment into the Great Rift Valley, an all day trip from the Mara to Nakuru. Arrive by late afternoon at Lake Nakuru, the most famous alkali lake of the Rift Valley, pink with flamingoes, both Lesser and Greater. Nakuru is very well protected now as a refuge for Lion, Leopard, Black Rhino and the introduced White Rhino. We have found a colony of Green Wood-hoopoes, several cuckoos and many other woodland species on the lodge grounds. Rothchild's Giraffe, one of the most beautiful sub-species of this most photogenic of mammals, is a highlight along with many other mammals, including a pride of Lions in the woodlands and along the lake edge. The flamingo photography is spectacular at Lake Nakuru in the late afternoon or when the morning light is just right. In the evening back at Lion Hill Lodge, inside Nakuru National Park, the chefs feature excellent Indian food on their outstanding international menu.
Lodging: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

August 19 - 21, Sunday - Tuesday: Samburu and Buffalo Springs Game Reserve
Enjoy a before-breakfast game drive at Nakuru, the best time for lovely light on the abundant wildlife around the lake. After breakfast depart from Nakuru with a picnic lunch for the journey north to Samburu. Going up the side of the eastern escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, agricultural lands, especially tea cultivation, are prominent. It is important to note that East Africans are very conscious of their land problems and have embarked on tree planting to help restore woodlands and slow down erosion problems, which we will see during our drive between reserves. Looking down on a spectacular view into the Rift Valley from where we have just come, continue east across the northern tip of the Aberdare Mountains to Nyaharuru (Thompson's Falls) with a stop for our picnic lunch. Along the southern edge of the Laikipia Plateau we'll drive east along the Equator through Nanyuki in the Kenya Highlands. The abrupt contrast is striking between the rich Rift Valley, green Kenya Highlands and the more arid Northern Frontier, where the Uaso Nyiro River is the lifeline for the many species of wildlife that must come to drink. Arrive at Samburu in time for a late afternoon game drive from the park gate to our camp. Check in for three nights at Larsens Camp. The open dining room is a marvelous experience at Larsens, both the setting on the river, the wonderful food and service. This permanent tented camp has very luxurious spacious tents with ensuite bathrooms. Each day we'll explore along the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River, where African Elephants and other wildlife that come to water are active throughout the day.

We do not encourage stopping along the roads to the parks to photograph the Samburu and their close relatives, the Masai. The reason for not stopping along the roads is simply that it encourages begging, certainly beneath the dignity of these wonderful people. Children hold out their hands along the roads, a practice that both the government and tour operators do not wish to encourage. In many cases money from tourism is now an important source of income for nomadic people whose lands are fast becoming victim of overgrazing and desertification. We will pass by many "cultural manyattas" outside the boundaries of the Masai Mara and in this area outside Samburu and Buffalo Springs. By staying on their land the Masai and Samburu have a far better existence than going to a city where unemployment runs very high. However, there is one big problem with the "cultural manyattas". The money from manyatta visitors ($100 per vehicle) goes right into buying more livestock, which accelerates overgrazing and competition with wildlife. The Masai and Samburu people do not use banks to store their money. When they need cash, they sell a cow. If you would like to do a cultural manyatta visit at Samburu, let us know to reserve an optional visit to a special Samburu manyatta not far from Larsens Camp.

We do not encourage stopping along the roads to the parks to photograph Masai and their close relatives, the Samburu. The reason for not stopping along the roads is simply that it encourages begging, certainly beneath the dignity of these wonderful people. Children hold out their hands along the roads, a practice that both the government and tour operators do not wish to encourage. In many cases money from tourism is now an important source of income for nomadic people whose lands are fast becoming victim of overgrazing and desertification. We will pass by many "cultural manyattas" outside the boundaries of the Masai Mara and in this area outside Samburu and Buffalo Springs. By staying on their land the Masai and Samburu have a far better existence than going to a city where unemployment runs very high. However, there is one big problem with the "cultural manyattas". The money from manyatta visitors ($100 per vehicle) goes right into buying more livestock, which accelerates overgrazing and competition with wildlife. The Masai and Samburu people do not use banks to store their money. When they need cash, they sell a cow. If you would like to do a cultural manyatta visit at Samburu, let us know to reserve an optional visit to a special Samburu manyatta not far from Samburu Serena.

The Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves are divided by the Uaso Nyiro River. This is the only area where we will see Beisa Oryx, Grevy's Zebra (now an endangered species), Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, and Somali Ostrich. "Gerenuk" is the Samburu word for an animal that does not need to drink water. Others say it means "giraffe-neck" and the Swahili name "Swara Twiga" translates as "giraffe-like antelope". The Gerenuk is very adept at standing on its hind legs and reaching up to browse on vegetation that is four to six feet high. This antelope is a favorite of all people who like to watch feeding behavior. The mating behavior of the Gerenuk is also incredibly graceful. Samburu has many drought-adapted animals. All these species get metabolic water from leaves and other food sources. Some plant species that look dry and unappetizing during the day are quite the reverse at night, soaking up the night moisture, and providing an important food source for herbivores. The beautiful Vulturine Guinea-fowl, Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow Weaver, and Black-capped Social Weavers are also only seen here in Kenya's Northern Territory. Birding on the lodge grounds is fantastic and during one game drive you may take the option of joining Titus Imboma for a two-hour walk.
Lodging: Larsens Camp

August 22, Wednesday: Samburu to Mountain Lodge in the Kenya Highlands
After lunch and another wonderful full morning at Samburu, we'll game drive out to the reserve gate, then head south back through Isiolo and back into the Kenya Highlands along the flanks of Mount Kenya. Much of the land south of Nanyuki is wheat, flowers and fruit agriculture, as well as the hillside cultivation of the Kikuyu in the Kenya Highlands between Mount Kenya to the east and the Aberdare Mountains to the west. Drive back south through Isiolo and arrive by late afternoon at Mountain Lodge in the Kenya Highlands. Surrounded by Podocarpus forest, Mountain Lodge is in a beautiful setting on the SW slopes of Mt. Kenya. At night a spot-lit water hole gives us an opportunity to see Giant Forest Hog, Bush Pigs, Greater-spotted Genet, Bushbuck, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo and Jackson's Mongoose (similar to the White-tailed Mongoose, but with a big fluffy tail), plus other mammals as well.
Lodging: Serena Mountain Lodge

August 23 - 24, Thursday - Friday: From the Kenya Highlands to Nairobi and homeward
After breakfast enjoy a walk into the forest, led by the resident naturalists and escorted by a forest ranger. We'll hope to see Black and White Colobus Monkeys and many forest birds, including one of our favorites, the Hartlaub's Turaco, whose underwings flash bright scarlet as they fly about in the trees. After lunch at 12:30 pm, depart for Nairobi. We pass by Thika in the rich Kikuyu lands described by Elspeth Huxley in "Flame Trees of Thika". We'll arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon perhaps with time for an hour visit to the newly remodeled National Museum of Natural History. Titus Imboma, who joins us as one of our guides on safari, works at the Bird Department here and has spent much time preparing the new exhibits, along with working on his Master's degree at the University of Nairobi in the biological sciences. The museum also has a gift shop with a good selection of books and crafts, which benefits their very worthwhile ongoing projects. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Leave for the airport by 6:30 pm for your evening flight, as transfers are included this evening. See complete flight, separate airport transfer, and extra hotel night information. See page 6 for more information on and extra hotel nights. Arrive home on August 24 or 25, depending on your flight schedule.
Dayrooms on August 23: Southern Sun Mayfair Nairobi

Return to top

Costs

Payments and Cancellations: All reservations require a deposit due at the time of making the reservation. Upon receiving your deposit and reservation form, we will send trip materials with additional information to help you prepare for your safari. Until the final payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person. This fee may go toward another tour if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip's departure date. There are no refunds given after the final payment due date. We reserve the right to charge for cost increases that occur between now and the date of travel.

Included:

• Meals from breakfast on August 12 through lunch on August 23.
• Lodging from the night of August 11 to dayrooms on August 23.
• Airport transfers on August 11 and August 23.
• Entrance fees to parks and reserves as described.
• All activities as described in the itinerary, unless listed as optional.

Not Included:

• All airfare, taxes, and any excess baggage fees. Round trip flights to Nairobi from the US are approximately $1,900 - $2,200, depending on departure point (quoted September 2011 and subject to change).
• Travel insurance.
• Separate transfers are available for $50 per vehicle.
• Additional night drives at Mara Serena, $90 per person.
• Gratuities: Tipping our resident guides is, of course, discretionary, however we suggest budgeting $15 per day per participant (a total of $180) or more if you are very happy with our guides to be distributed among all of the resident naturalists. Doug and Gail also contribute their share. The gratuity will be collected at the end of the safari to be presented to our resident guides on the last morning.
• Items of a personal nature, laundry and room service, bottled beverages, and items not on the regular menu (if you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your reservation form).

Return to top

Sign-up

To Make a Reservation: Please contact us (there are many methods of contacting us) to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, print our reservation form, fill out one form per person, and post it to us in the mail with your deposit. Or fill out our handy online information request and we will send you more information.

Return to top

Other Details

Leaders: Gail and Doug Cheeseman have been leading safaris to Tanzania and Kenya since the summer of 1978 giving them a deep and fond understanding of this wonderful corner of the world. They find leading safaris to be a fresh way of blending a desire to observe nature with a wish to teach the values of conservation and education. Doug influenced the lives of many biology majors teaching zoology and ecology to students during his long career as a college professor. Gail is an avid birder and knowledgeable naturalist, plus a meticulous safari coordinator. During decades of leading East African safaris, they handpicked, taught and influenced each of the resident guides and drivers that will accompany you to provide the full Cheesemans' experience that you expect.

Flights: Please let us know if you would like help arranging your international flights and we will put you in contact with our excellent ticketing agent.

Arrival: Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya (NBO) by the evening of August 11 at the latest. From the US, this means departing by August 10 to connect in Europe with a flight to Nairobi. There are good routes through Amsterdam (AMS) on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Departure: Depart from Nairobi (NBO) on the evening of August 23 at the earliest, for your return flight.

Extra Hotel Nights: Please contact us to book additional hotel nights in Nairobi. Extra nights at the Mayfair are $230 per room, including breakfast, however on the night of August 23 you would only be required to pay the difference between the overnight and the dayroom cost, so it would be $70 per single or double.

If staying overnight in Amsterdam, the Citizen M is reasonably priced and located beside the airport within walking distance. There are also the Hotel Mercure, inside the airport, and the Sheraton, across from the airport, that won't require a shuttle.

Travel Insurance: Emergency Medical Insurance is optional, but encouraged, for this tour. Read about travel insurance and our recommendations and requirements.

Outfitters, Transportation, and Lodging: Our outfitter is Rhino Safaris in Nairobi. We travel in stretch, four-wheel drive Landcruisers with covered pop-tops. Even though the vehicles hold nine participants, we only take four, providing plenty of space for observing and taking great photography. We will have excellent lodging in beautiful surroundings with wonderful food and private baths.

Baggage: When packing for your trip, please try to limit yourself to one checked bag up to 40 pounds total per person. The less weight the better, because of space restrictions in the baggage compartment of the vehicles. There is plenty of space in the vehicles for carry-ons and camera equipment.

Non-smoking Policy: We have a strict non-smoking policy - smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during our tours.

Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online information request form or contact us to give us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!

Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is registered as California Seller of Travel #2063050-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation (TCRC). In event of a client canceling where a refund is applicable in accordance with the schedule above, or in the event that CES needs to cancel the trip, all payments for transportation or travel service not provided to the client shall be promptly refunded, unless the client instructs us otherwise in writing. All client payments are deposited into a trust account in accordance with California law. If for any reason a valid refund is not forthcoming, the client may request reimbursement from the TCRC within six months of the scheduled end of the tour. Please feel free to ask us for more information.

Return to top

All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
| Home | Current Trips | Site Map | Contact Us| About Us |