Kenya

World Horizons is ready to outfit a safari for the two of you, the entire family or your private group friends or school tour. A classic safari, tented adventure, diving or trekking, coast holiday or maybe a sailing safari in the Lamu archipelago, the possibilities are endless.
Here is just one of our many itineraries. Form more options contact us now >>> info@worldhorizons.net
Day 1: Arrive Nairobi >> From the airport your World Horizons guide will transfer to the Fairview Hotel. Nairobi is a large city of over one million people and is located on the edge of the Athi Plains, which is the last flat area of land before one starts to climb the Rift Valley escarpment.

Day 2: Naro Moro Lodge >> Drive to Naro Moro (3 hours maximum) and the Naro Moro River Lodge. Here you’ll meet your mountain guides, who’ll check your equipment and get everything ready for tomorrows trek.

Day 3: West Marania campsite (3000m) >> From the Lodge we drive to the West Marania roundhead and start the trek. The route is open heath land and we have the chance of seeing some unique mountain wildlife. One thing we won’t see is another group as we are now definitely off the main track. We arrive at our stunning mountain stream campsite and relax in the awesome mountain beauty.

Day 4: West Marania to Camp 2 (3500m) >> A short half day walk to camp 2 then there’s time to relax and explore a truly pristine mountain area. For those that are keen the tarn, about I hours walk away, is full of large trout and would be a welcome addition to dinner! We will have a couple of hand lines along for those that would like to try their luck.

Day 5: Camp 2 to Camp 3 (3900m) >> We now start to get into high altitude, so you might find the walking a little harder as we move up to camp 3. The views though become more and more impressive the closer we get to the main peaks of Mt Kenya.

Day 6. Rest Day and Exploration (3900m) >> We have set aside this day for acclimatisation and rest before going any higher. It also serves as day in hand in the event any rests are needed before reaching this point, or after, if your trek leader needs to modify the itinerary in anyway. Having this day will both help make the trip less physically demanding, and increase every body’s chances of reaching the top at Point Lenana.

Day 7: Camp 3 to Shiptons Hut (4200m) >> A great day that sees us finish at the base of the old volcanic plug that makes up the rocky peaks of Batian, Nelion and Pt. Lenana. On the trek up, the vegetation changes to moorland grass with small flowering plants and the amazing giant lolbelias and senecios.

Day 8: Shiptons to Pt. Lenana (4985m) & Old Moses Campsite (3100m0 >> An early 2.00am start sees us on the Summit Circuit Path. Stunning views, tarns, glaciers, ice carved rock formations and precipitous valleys and the views! We are in search for Pt. Lenana for a sunrise celebration with spectacular views to the Aberdare Ranges and Mt. Kilimanjaro. After a celebratory cup of tea we descend to our amazing breakfast beneath the peaks of Batian and Nelion. A celebration for a great effort. We then begin our descent down the Sirimon Route to Old Moses camp.

Day 9: Old Moses Campsite (3100m) to Sirimon Park Gate (2650m) then onto El Karama >> A leisurely walk to the park gate through towering Podocarpus and Cedar forest. Our vehicles are waiting to transfer you to El Karama Ranch in Laikipia, approximately 2 hours, game driving part of the way. This is a 15,000 acre private ranch (farm) and conservation area. Here we can game walk, game drive, and night drive. You will stay in our very comfortable lodges with a fantastic outlook over the yellow barked acacias surrounding a beautiful river.

Day 10: El Karama >> A full day on the El Karama Ranch, exploring the area on foot & vehicle.

Day 11: Lake Nakuru >> Head down into the Great Rift Valley and the Lake Nakuru Lodge. This drive takes around 4 – 5 hours, partly game viewing and then offering amazing scenery as you come over the Rift Valley Escarpment and down into the Rift valley itself. Here you’ll have all mod cons for two nights with ensuite showers and toilets and a swimming pool for the heat of the day relaxation period.

Day 12: Maji Moto >> Drive to Maji Moto, (approximately 4 hours) a traditional Masai village where you adventure camp for a night as you walk in the hills with the Masai warriors, visit a local Masai school and village and learn about the culture of this famous tribe.

Day 13: Into the Masai Mara >> Spend the morning with the Masai and then in the afternoon head into the Masai Mara Reserve itself and your adventure camp. You’ll game drive en-route to the campsite, taking between 2 – 3 hours depending upon how often you stop.

Day 14: In the Mara >> A full day exploring the Masai Mara, watching the migration and the abundant plains game. You may walk in the Mara in some areas as well. All meals and overnight at the campsite.

Day 15: Nairobi >> Drive back to Nairobi, (approximately 5 hours) and arrive at the Fairview Hotel by late afternoon.

Day 16: In Nairobi Evening Departure >> Today we’ll visit the Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen Museum and also some great shopping venues. We suggest you save most of your shopping for today as prices are much cheaper in Nairobi. Then it is out for a farewell dinner before your transfer to the airport.

Mount Kenya National Park: At 17,058 feet (5,199 meters), Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest mountain. The mountain offers both easy and challenging ascents with scenic beauty. To the Kikuyu tribes people of the area, Mt. Kenya is the home of the Supreme Being, Ngai, a name also used by the Masai and Kamba tribes. Kere Nyaga, the Kikuyu name for the mountain means Mountain of Brightness, Ngai’s official home. Part of the mountain’s fascination is the variation in fauna and flora, including Giant groundsel and lobelia. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest; the true mountain forest begins at 1800m feet consisting of mainly cedar and podo. At 2100m feet begins a dense belt of bamboo forest, which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees interspersed with clear glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude lichens.The high altitude heath at the top is generally open and dotted with shrubs such as the African sage, protea and helichyrum. Above 3300m is open moorland. These various forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least eleven unique species. Game to view includes black and white Colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, rock hyrax, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, black rhino, duikers, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cats, bush pigs and hyena. More elusive is the Bongo, a rare forest antelope. The majority of the ascents consist of hiking; no technical climbing skills are required. Most fit hikers may reach the lowest peak of the mountain, Point Lenana, at just over 16,000 feet. Points Nelion and Batian at over 17,000 feet require technical expertise and knowledge.

Laikipia (El Karama Ranch): Northern Kenya is a huge expanse of scrub desert, bisected by a few nourishing rivers. A true wilderness, this area of Kenya is very sparsely populated; game patterns have been little affected by humans. The Laikipia Plateau is part of an ancient lava plain covered with red dirt, thorn scrub, broken volcanic rock, dried riverbeds, steep hills and rocky outcroppings. Unusual for this arid area of Northern Kenya, Laikipia has a permanent water supply, the Ewaso Ngiro or “brown river”. This permanent water flow provides an oasis for the many elephant, hippo, and crocodile that abound in this area. The region is also home to the rare Grevvy zebra, Somali ostrich with its distinctive blue legs, the shy Beisa Oryx and the largest African antelope, the Eland. The Laikipia area is famous for its leopards. One of the most reliable areas in Kenya for spotting leopard, lion and cheetah, Laikipia proves very popular with the big cat researchers. The mix of woodland and grassland with riverine forest and swampland creates a home to a wide variety of bird life as well as mammals. The Buffalo Springs Park records over 365 bird species! One of the benefits of visiting this area is the freedom. The vast majority of this area is privately owned and thus you are able to game walk, night drive, horseback ride, mountain bike and otherwise do many activities which are not permissible inside actual national park and reserve boundaries. The perfect place for an introduction to the harsh, yet stunningly beautiful landscapes of northern Kenya, Laikipia is a vital part of a safari itinerary.

The Rift Valley Circuit: The Rift Valley is one of the wonders of the world, stretching from the Middle East, down through Africa, reaching as far as Mozambique. The staggering view, as you approach from Nairobi is quite unbelievable. The ground suddenly disappears from under you to show the huge expanse of the great rift, stretching for thousands of miles in either direction. Whilst this stunning introduction to the Rift Valley is amazing in itself, actually descending and exploring the lakes area of Kenya’s Rift Valley is a “not to be missed'” opportunity. Lake Nakuru is the next stop. This world famous park was created to protect its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn the lakeshore pink in colour. Notable game within the lake area is hippo and the diverse bird life. Both black and white rhino reside in the sanctuary and Rothschild giraffe, buffalo, impala, eland, warthog, mountain reedbuck, klipspringers and black and white Colobus monkeys are all plentiful. This park is world-renowned as a beacon for ornithologists, scientists and wildlife filmmakers.

Masai Mara: Located to the south of Nairobi, and bordering Tanzania, the Masai Mara forms part of the huge Serengeti eco-system. The Mara spreads over 1510 square km of rolling plains, sudden rocky outcrops and green winding rivers. Not only is the Mara blessed with this stunning landscape, but also its animal diversity is one of the greatest in Africa. Surrounded by the grazing lands of the Masai people, the Mara is a sanctuary for all of the “Big Five” animals: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The sweet grasses and abundant water ensure a full complement of plains game such as the impala and Thompson’s gazelle. The deep river pools provide homes for hippo and crocodiles. Each year, generally in August/September, the Mara is host to the spectacular Wildebeest Migration, one of the natural wonders of the world! Literally millions of these awkwardly shaped ungulates move across the open plains in an endless stream stretching from horizon to horizon. The movement of this vast herd is fascinating in itself, but seldom a day goes by without the added bonus of watching the predators that follow the herd. Lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dogs rely on the herd for food. Spotting one of these magnificent predators is more or less guaranteed at this time.The breath-taking beauty of the Masai Mara and its astonishing diversity of wildlife combine to ensure that the Mara is one of the most popular stops on a Kenyan safari.

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