Tour Overview
This adventure immerses you in the active side of Kenya while leaving plenty of time to view the amazing wildlife for which the country is famous. It all begins by jumping off a bridge and swimming to our raft in the Tana River for some exciting white-water rafting.In Hell's Gate National Park hike, drive, or mountain bike through the sinuous, rocky canyons; take a stab at rock-climbing some of the canyon walls; and descend under the earth in ancient lava tubes near Mt. Suswa. Of course, time is devoted to wildlife viewing in the Maasai Mara - East Africa's premier wildlife destination.
For the adventurous traveler interested in exploring Africa outside of a vehicle, this is the ideal action safari!
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Nairobi, KenyaArrive Nairobi. You are met and transferred to Holiday Inn Nairobi for check-in and overnight. This historic hotel, formerly the Mayfair Court Hotel, opened its doors in 1940's Colonial Kenya. Situated in a popular shopping and residential suburb close to the city center, the hotel has a choice of shops selling Kenyan artifacts and clothing and a fully equipped Fitness Center.
Holiday Inn Nairobi Day 02: Nairobi - Tana River
Depart Nairobi this morning for a full-day rafting excursion (non-exclusive) on the Tana River. The Tana River is a drop pool river offering and exciting day of white water rafting. The adventure starts with a 3 km of easy class II and III white water, with plenty of opportunity to gain the practice of paddle skills required running the lower part of the river. A 6 km section follows with an hour or so of relaxation to view the abundance of bird life around. Cool off with a swim in the warm water.
The final 7 km of river starts with some easy class III waters where paddle commands gone over again and again. It is now the 3 big rapids (class IV and V) with names like Captains Folly, Can of Worms because of its four 90 degree bends in succession, and Sphincter Flexor. Subject to water levels, you may be able to “surf” in “fish eye” and then swim the next couple of minor rapids. Numerous smaller rapids brings one on to the last big one – Spasm, a series of drops over ¾ km section with a big surprise half way through. You will reach the take out point/campsite, where a full barbeque awaits, including beer and soft drinks.
Enjoy a night camping on the Tana River bank.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mobile Camp Day 03: Tana River - Hells Gate National Park
Morning departure from Tana River. The drive towards Hells Gate takes you back towards, but bypassing Nairobi, then climbing through the rich and lush highlands of Limuru towards the edge of the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy spectacular views as you descend to the rift’s floor and soon pass the dormant volcano of Mt. Longonot to your lunch spot at Elsamere (of the film “Born Free” fame.)
Spend the afternoon in Hells Gate with opportunity of single pitch climbing on Fisher’s Tower and Fisher’s Cliffs or multi pitch climbing on some of the other big walls of the gorge. Your camp this night is set on a small plateau above the gorge floor, thus allowing superb game viewing, a short walk will enable you to watch the sun setting over the western scarps of the rift valley.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mobile Camp Day 04: Hells Gate National Park
Today’s activity is yours to choose: climbing, abseiling, hiking, mountain biking or game driving in the park. Wildlife likely to be encountered: giraffe, zebra, different buck, and buffalo, and possilbly hyena and some of the smaller but shy cats.
Options are as follows:
Mountain Biking: Hells Gate is one of the few National Parks in Kenya that allow people to walk and cycle around it. Seeing wildlife from a bike is an amazing experience. The terrain is very easy going.
Abseiling: Clients can try their hand at abseiling off a 50ft cliff into the bottom of a gorge or a 150ft free abseil off the main wall.
Rock Climbing: several different routes with every different climbing grades that cater from novice to expert level.
Boat Ride on Lake Naivashia: an activity for keen birders.
Visit the geothermal plant: tour of the largest geothermal plant in Africa.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mobile Camp Day 05: Hells Gate National Park
Get an early start today with a walk through Hells Gate Gorge. Starting as an erosion gully less than a meter wide, it soon deepens to over 30m deep and 4m wide before finally the walls tower 100m above you and the gorge has opened up to several hundred meters across. Pass several steam jets and fumaroles along the route to where the vehicles will collect us for the 40km drive to Mt Suswa. Because of the poor “roads” this section takes about two and half hours; the last 5km up the mountain takes you onto some of the roughest track Kenya has to offer!
The afternoon is spent exploring some superb examples of “lava tube caves.” In all there are about 15km of passages and tubes that have so far been explored and you will be able to walk through anything from huge caverns, or crawl through foot high squeeze tunnels. The night is spent close to one of the “collapse holes” that make the entrances to the caves.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mobile Camp Day 06: Hells Gate National Park - Maasai Mara Game Reserve
The morning explore some of the deeper lava tube caves and relaxi in the sun around camp. After a late lunch, transfer to Loldia airstrip and board a scheduled flight (not included) to Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Arrive Maasai Mara airstrip. You are met and transferred to your camp. En route you will see an abundance of wildlife from you antelopes to giraffe to elephant to the Big Cats. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the reserve.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kichwa Tembo Camp Day 07: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Early morning tea or coffee in reception, followed by a morning game drive. Expect to see an abundance of wildlife and birdlife. Spotting the big five should not be a problem during your two days in the Mara, along with the other hundreds of equally spectacular animals. In June, July or August one can will witness the earth’s greatest wildlife spectacle the wildebeest’s migration when over 2.5m + wildebeest, followed by 40,000 Zebra, crowd into the Mara’s 1510sq km grass covered golden plains.
Return to camp for a late breakfast and relax poolside or at the main lodge. Lunch at the camp, with another optional evening game drive, returning at dusk for sun-downers on the terrace. Morning and evening are usually the best times to view game as they tend to find shade and relax during the heat of the day - particularly the cats.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kichwa Tembo Camp Day 08: Maasai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi - Depart
Enjoy an early morning game drive. After breakfast, enjoy a cultural to visit to a Maasai Village. Here you may take photos, talk to the local people and see how they traditionally live, and look after their animals, which are their livelihood! Optional Hot Air balloon flight (extra cost) over the Mara. You will have seen game from a vehicle, from a boat, from a bike and from foot - why not see it from the air.
After lunch, transfer to the airstrip for scheduled flight (not included) to Nairobi. On arrival at Wilson Airport, met and transferred to Norfolk Hotel to freshen-up. Dinner under own arrangements, and evening transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight.
Breakfast, Lunch
Dayroom at Norfolk Hotel may be arranged
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