Masai Mara and Rift Valley Safari

INCLUDES

• Safari vehicle (with pop up roof for game viewing) including fuel
• Driver & Guide/Chef
• Park entry fees
• Boat trip on Lake Baringo and Lake Naivasha,and visit to Elsamere
• Visit to traditional Masai Village in the Mara (optional)
• All meals prepared by our staff and bottled water throughout the safari
• Accommodation in safari tents, either permanent camps on-site or in our own safari cottage tents which accommodate two people very comfortably

EXCLUDES

• Return flight to Nairobi
• Accommodation outside of the safari itinerary
• Visa/Travel Insurance
• Travel vaccinations.
• Additional hard / soft drinks
• Personal gratuities and tips

PAYMENTS

A deposit of £250 is required on booking to secure your place and we ask that the remaining balance (trip price minus the deposit) is paid in full 4 weeks prior to your departure. When you book with us you’re given your own secure online account which you can access 24/7. Through this account you can edit your booking, add flight, health, insurance and dietary details and also make interim payments. We make payments as flexible as possible and you can choose, if you wish, to pay a bit off your trip fee whenever it suits you.

INSURANCE

We recommend that you take out holiday insurance after you have made your booking, in order to cover cancellation due to illness or injury. Your travel insurance should have general holiday cover for this safari but please do check with your insurers to make sure you are adequately covered.

The golden rule here is to pack as lightly as possible. Lots of unnecessary baggage will only reduce your space and comfort inside the vehicle, although when you get to the campsite it will be removed and put inside the tents.

The following should give you a good idea as to what is required; clothing should help you blend in to the environment, loud colours are not a good idea:

• Selection of short & long sleeved shirts shorts and trousers. Remember the best way to avoid getting a bite in the evening is to cover up. Include a jacket or light fleece for the evenings and a wide brimmed safari hat.
• Shoes should be comfortable trainers/shoes and a pair of sandals. You will need some type of hiking or safari boot if you plan on any walking safaris.
• Binoculars and camera plus accessories
• A small day pack to contain daily items, including small personal first-aid such as aftersun lotion, plasters and headache tablets, sunglasses and sunscreen
• African/Kenya Guide Book
• Money belt
• Torch (important on camping/budget safari)
• Water bottle (we will supply clean water)
• Insect Repellent

• All our guides and safari staff are professionally trained and have years of proven experience We do not contract out our trips, we employ full time staff, offering job security and good benefits, and we are continually improving our quality service year on year.
• We are passionate about responsible tourism and our company supports sustainable development in Tanzania and Kenya in a real way.
• Adventure Alternative underwrites the charity Moving Mountains.

Profit Share

Integral to our business model is the principle that we provide full time salaries and benefits to our core staff in Kenya, in order to prevent the tactic of skimming budgets and reducing variable costs (such as staff wages). We avoid paying ‘per trip’ to an outsourced agency and not having a contract which defines issues such as workers conditions. This represents a long term commitment and involves a strategic plan of investment for training, equipment and the usual benefits one would find in the work place.

Local Benefits

We practice a responsible policy towards the environment, waste management and water usage and follow guidelines set in place by Kenya Wildlife Service to ensure minimal impact on the fragile environments of the National Parks and Game Reserves.

A safari with Adventure Alternative directly benefits Moving Mountains Kenya and the projects it runs, because Adventure Alternative underwrites the administrative cost of running the charity.

Adventure Alternative Kenya is a registered Tour Operator. We provide training, equipment and insurance to our staff and educational grants to other students who are coming through Moving Mountains to gain qualifications in specific areas of tourism. All staff on safari will receive an additional daily allowance for food and accommodation which is not deducted from their monthly salary.

Customer Service

Adventure Alternative Kenya will provide staff, vehicles, comfortable walk in safari tents, bedding and cooking/safari equipment.

We prefer everyone to have a day in Nairobi before your safari itinerary starts so that you can meet your team before the start of the safari (though we also understand that this is sometimes not possible due to other commitments/time restraints, in which case we will endeavour to answer all your queries before travelling to Kenya).  You will also have email access and/or Skype with the Kenyan staff before you leave home.

This outstanding Safari is offered all year round. Located on the thinnest part of the earth’s crust, the area you will explore offers a stunning array of spectacuar wildlife. Visit the great lakes of the Rift Valley; the freshwater Lake Naivahsa and Baringo and the famous soda Lakes of Nakuru, with its millions of pink flamingoes and Bogoria, with its bubbling hot springs. Round things off with a trip to Maasai Mara, where a variety of wildlife abounds; gazelles zebras, buffaloes, elephants or even a pride of lions waiting to hunt on their prey.

Bogoria
•    Hot springs
•    Amazing and countless Flamingoes
•    Diverse bird and wildlife including Fish Eagle, Gazelle, Zebra, Baboons and Greater Kudu

Baringo
•    Sheer variety of birdlife, birdwatching and bird walks
•    Boat rides
•    Cultural tours to local villages
•    Crocodiles and hippos

Nakuru
•    Countless Flamingoes and other water birds at the Lake
•    Game drive – game include: Lions, Zebras, Giraffe, Warthog, Rhino

Naivasha
•    Great views of the hippos wallowing in the lake
•    Visit historic home of Joy Adamson and see the local conservation projects
•    Boat rides on the lake
•    Great views of the hippos wallowing in the lake
•    Biking and hiking at Hells Gate National Park

Maasai Mara
•    Exciting game drives and close encounters with wildlife – including the Big 5
•    Crocodiles and hippos at the Mara River
•    Bush walks
•    Maasai cultural village visits

Lake Bogoria
Found on the floor of the Rift Valley, Lake Bogoria is home to many flocks of Flamingo and its waters are often carpeted in pink. The lake is still volcanically active and is lined with spouting geysers and spurting steam and bubbling geothermal pools. The fresh water springs attract many birds and wildlife including the Fish Eagle, Gazelle, Zebra, Baboons and Greater Kudu.

Lake Baringo
The most Northerly of the Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Baringo is an oasis in the arid plains, with its picturesque islands and encircling ranges that stretch far beyond the eyes view.The lake is fed by two rivers, El Molo and Ol Arabel and has no obvious outlet, despite this it’s one of only two freshwater lakes (it is in fact slightly saline, but not enough to bother the crocodiles and hippos that live in it).  The surrounding cliffs are home to the Rock Hyrax, who are of interest to watch as they are a favourite meal of the Vereaux’s Eagle sometimes seen soaring over the Western shores of the Lake. A birders’ paradise, Lake Baringo is home to a huge variety of birds that are found in and around its shores: the Pale and dark phase Gabar Goshawk, Paradise Flycatcher, African Fish Eagles, Marabou Storks, Shikra and White-faced Scops Owl are amongst the regular sightings, while the less common birds that can be seen include Hemprich’s Hornbill (along the cliffs), the African Darter and occasionally the African Skimmer. The scrub around the edges of the lake also has some interesting birds -if you can find them! Heuglin’s or Three-banded courser is common and you may also be able to see Lichtenstein’s Sand-grouse and the Spotted thick-knee.

The lake area is home to the traditional Njemps tribe of Kenya, unique for being the only pastoral community who also fish. There are opportunities for boating where bird watching and hippo spotting are ideal. On Gibraltar Island, another birders’ paradise, there are more breeding Goliath herons than anywhere else in East Africa. Bird walks and boat rides are the most popular activities around Lake Baringo and cultural tours to local villages can also be arranged.

Lake Nakuru
Heading further northwest is Lake Nakuru, which was established to protect its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn the lakeshore pink in color. Lake Nakuru is one of the alkaline Rift Valley lakes populated by up to one million flamingos and one of the great natural spectacles on earth. Lake Nakuru National park is world-renowned as a beacon for ornithologists, scientists and wildlife filmmakers. The park is also home to many larger animals including lions, rhinos, buffalos, baboons.

Lake Naivasha
The beautiful deep-green Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake fringed by thick papyrus and forest. The Lake supports a diverse water-bird community. It provides a diverse habitat for a variety of mammals and fish such as tilapia, black bass, and Cray fish. Among the birds that can be spotted here are Cormorants, Warblers, Black Herons, Grey-backed Fiscal, and the Fish Eagle.

Nearby is Hell’s Gate National Park, which is famous for its massive cliffs and hot springs and is home to a variety of bird and wildlife. Unlike Kenya’s other National Parks, walking and biking is permitted here, making it ideal for the adventurous at heart. The more energetic can also hike up the spectacular volcano Mt Longonot, which provides a fulfilling hike along the crater, making it one of the most beautiful day hikes in East Africa.

The Masai Mara
The Masai Mara fulfils the dreams of any visitor searching for an amazing safari experience. The iconic African landscape – large endless plains dotted with picturesque acacia trees – all of which is home to cheetah, leopard, large prides of lions, elephants, giraffe, hyena, huge Nile crocodiles, frolicking hippos and many other species including the Big 5. Wildlife viewing in the Mara is fantastic all year round, and from August to October it is the site of one of the most spectacular wildlife experiences on earth – the annual migration of close to two million wildebeest and zebra following the seasonal rains in a quest for greener pastures. During these months, you might be lucky enough to catch a dramatic river crossing, as these animals swim for their lives across the crocodile-infested Mara River. In addition to exciting game drives the conservation areas surrounding the Masai Mara also offer the opportunity for beautiful bush walks and visits to Masai villages.

Outside the National Parks the majority of roads around Kenya have improved dramatically and although very far from being perfect there are nowhere near as many potholes as you would have experienced previously. Animals crossing, police check points and speed bumps are all common across Kenya but they shouldn’t provide too much of a delay.  Getting out of Nairobi during rush hour can be a frustrating experience so best to start as early as possible to avoid the worst of it.

Roads to the Maasai Mara are not of a high standard and you should be aware that to drive on these roads sometimes requires a style of driving that will not be common anywhere else particularly on sections that are not tarmac!  These sections need to be tackled at a steady speed to avoid damage to vehicle suspension and the driver will drive to avoid potholes and obvious obstacles.