Activities;
Walking, Photography, Safari, and Wildlife Viewing. Cycling, Agri Tour, Cultural tour, Horse Riding, Bungee Jumping, Cave Exploration, White Water Rafting, Bird Watching Walks, Hiking, Walking, Trekking Sight, Seeing and Game Drives
Location(s): Central and Eastern Kenya, Great Rift Valley and Maasai Mara
Duration: 12 days.
This active 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 for. It all begins with some exciting white water rafting on the Tana River. In Hell’s Gate National Park we will mountain bike through the sinuous, rocky canyons among wandering giraffe and take a stab at rappelling down some of the canyon walls. We hike the little-known Hell’s Gate Gorge with its colorful layers of rock and sandy river bottom. On Mt. Longonot we will hike onto the cone of a dormant volcano and near Mt. Suswa we will descend under the earth in ancient lava tubes. Then, we head to the ocean and go snorkeling and dhow sailing. Of course a hefty chunk of time is devoted to wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara, East Africa’s premier wildlife destination. On our last trip we saw lions mating, and abundance of elephants, cats, and plains game. It is not unheard of to have a cheetah hop onto the hood of your safari vehicle!
For the adventurous traveler interested in exploring Africa outside of a vehicle, this is the ideal action safari!
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI
Depending on when your flight lands in Nairobi, we can skip the city and start off the adventure straightaway or spend the first night in Nairobi. Arrival of flight in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where you will be met by a AFRICAN THRILLS representative outside customs and immigration hall and transferred to your hotel in the city or move straight to the bush after breakfast in the city.
DAY 2: NAIROBI – UKAMBANI – SAGANA
(Cycling, Cultural Safaris and whitewater rafting).
After breakfast we head towards central part of Kenya with your bikes on the back of the truck. Drive past the largest pineapple plantation in Africa (Delmonte Farm) where if the clients are interested we can pass through the farm (prior notice is required to execute this).
Cycling Through Ukambani:1hr 30Min After one hour, drive off the road and into the Ukambani region from where we start our bike rides. In this region, we shall cycle through the cultural villages of the Kamba tribe who were the greatest long distance traders during the pre-colonial times in Kenya. Here, the you have an opportunity to learn both cultural lives of the kambas as they cycle and also enjoy the breathtaking sceneries of the region. There will be several stop-over where clients will dance with local communities and purchase artifacts from this area.
Cycling to Sagana: 2Hrs
Past Ukambani (in Eastern province), we shall proceed through towards Central Province in an area called Sagana where we have one of the largest dams in Kenya that holds water sports. Arrive in Sagana and have lunch. As you relax and have lunch, we shall set up the camp.
Whitewater Rafting, Bungee jumping and Walks in the nearby communities:
Bungee jumping and white water rafting is done 50 km from Nairobi town at Sagana/ that is along the upstream of Tana River. You also have 60 ft cliff diving into the Sagana River.
After lunch, there are two options for this afternoon; either whitewater rafting or walking and doing bird watching as well and visiting communities in the nearby villages. After briefing, we make preparations for our first whitewater rafting adventure on the Class IV+ Tana River. At the base you will be outfitted with all the necessary safety equipment and you will be given a detailed briefing and description of what is to come. After that we will drive to the put-in, review some key safety points and then we will embark on the 16km’s of exciting whitewater and beautiful scenery the Tana has to offer.
Our rafts are small semi-rigid with paddles rather than oars with a maximum of five people to a boat. The river varies in temperament according to the recent rainfall in the Aberdares Mountains. There will be lots of excitement interspersed with some very pleasant paddling where we can take in the stunning variety of birdlife. The adventure starts by rafting class II – III rapids for approximately 2 miles (3 km). After that the river slows down and we are able to relax for about an hour or more and view the abundance of birdlife or take a swim. The final 4 miles (7 km) is class III waters and a class IV rapid just for fun. Due to the water levels the rapids may more or less intense – but with names like “Raging Thunder”, “ZigZag”, “Captain’s Folly”, “Spasm” and “Sphincter Flexor” you know it will be a riot.
In the evening, we shall either spend some time “surfing” the rapids with our boat and getting out of the raft for some adrenaline pumping adventure or rest in the camp. If we choose we will jump into flowing rapids and off a 30-foot waterfall! Overnight Sagana River Camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 3: SAGANA – SANGARE RANCH
(Visit to Coffee and Tea farms, Trekking, Wildlife Viewing).
You have the option of early morning bird watching walks followed by morning breakfast before heading towards the highlands of Kenya which formerly were known as the White Highlands (due to high number of farms owned by the white colonialists).
We drive up to Nyeri town where we disembark from the truck and cycle towards Sangare Ranch through tea and coffee farms. On our way we pay a visit to coffee and tea farms in the Karatina area. (Clients have an option of homestay where they will stay with a family and experience the day-today life of a rural cash crop farmer). As part of the farm visit, we shall also visit the coffee factory to see how they are processed. This will be a 1-2hours cycling trip.
Arrive in Sangare ranch in time for lunch. We check in at Sangare Tented Camp where we shall camp for two days. In the afternoon we shall proceed for a trekking expedition in Sangare Hills and later return to the camp for an evening rest.
Evening with Traditional Dancers
In the evening, we shall be entertained around a born fire by traditional dancers and followed by folk tales of how the Agikuyu community used to live in the past. Overnight at Sangare Ranch Camp
DAY 4: FULL DAY IN SANGARE RANCH
(Visit to the Mau Mau caves, Mountain Bike, Horse riding, Bird Walk)
Leisurely morning breakfast. After breakfast, this is a day full of adventure activities. We shall have two key activities in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Mountain Biking
We shall start the morning with bike rides heading to our next activity which is a visit to the Mau Mau caves (Mau Mau are the local Agikuyu group of warriors who fought to end the British colonial rule in Kenya).
Have fun riding bikes on the wonderful terrain as you watch the animals walk by. You can travel long distances, at your own pace in a completely natural environment. There are few better ways to see the bush! While we shall be riding to view wildlife, we shall be heading towards the Mau Mau caves. Sangare Ranch Day Game Drive with a visit to the Mau Mau caves Enjoy a superb game drive in the wild vast plains as you admire the different species of animals, including giraffes, elephants, leopards, zebras, buffalos, antelopes, amongst others.
Lunch at the camp
Return to the camp for lunch and rest in the mid afternoon before returning to the bush this time riding on horses and not Bikes.
Horseback Riding
Change your riding machine from steel and rubber to the magnificent horses. Gallop along the magnificent lake across the vast forest while enjoying the humming tunes of our many beautiful species of birds.
Once tired of horse riding, let the horses return to the camp and take a walk and enjoy the over 300 birds species spread across this magnificent ranch.
Bird Walks Sangare Lake is home to over 300 species of African as well as migratory birds. Enjoy a walk through the variety of birds with our qualified naturalist with lectures on the surrounding areas.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 5: SANGARE RANCH – MT. LONGONOT
(Climb Mt. Longonot, cycling and Wildlife watching). It’s an early start for the drive across to Mt. Longonot located in Rift Valley. On the way we head into the Rift Valley and look over the edge with its amazing views and 1,000 foot sheer drop to the valley floor. Mt. Longonot (one of the tallest volcanoes in East Africa:-9, 111 ft – 2,777 meters).is one of the largest extinct volcanoes in Africa.
Arrive in Mt. Longonot and start mountain climbing. Once at the mountain we will hike up its flank. The ascent of 1,300 ft. will take roughly 1 1/2 – 2 hours at our own relaxed pace. From the top we will be awed by the stunning views of the surrounding African plains, Lake Naivasha and the volcano’s caldera. The sunken caldera lies 400 ft. below us and while Longonot has been dormant only 700 years the caldera gives the impression we are looking back into prehistoric times.
Climb down the mountain and arrive at the camp for a warm born fire and a warm cup of coffee. Dinner and overnight at Olongoonot campsite.
DAY 6: CYCLING FROM MT. LONGONOT TO HELLS GATE
(A walk in Hell’s Gate, Rock climbing, visits to Hell’s Kitchen, Game viewing on bikes, volcano & geothermal exploration).
After breakfast, we start off the day cycling towards hells Gate which is over 3hours cycling. We shall be heading to the second walk-in park in Kenya which hosts the largest Geothermal Power Station in Africa. This facility produces 15% of Kenya’s power requirements by tapping the geothermal power produced by the many steam vents all around the volcano-strewn area.
We shall cycle through a private ranch that connects Mt. Longonot and Hells Gate National Park. We have our back up truck that will offer transport for those who will be tired. On arrival in Hells we are welcomed by great sceneries made up of tall rocks, steaming “hell’s Kitchen”, Fitchers Tower, 3km underground gouge and amazing rock walks.
Our first stop is at the steaming “Hell’s Kitchen”, which is basically heat coming from underground a true testimony that the volcanic activities in the rift valley are still in this part of the Rift valley.
After the Kitchen, we head to the 3km underground Njorowa gorge (better known as Hell’s Gate). The Njorowa Gorge was once the outlet from Lake Naivasha. Today the passageway is dried up leaving sheer, red crumbling cliffs. Once through with the gouge, we shall come out at a point where we shall walk through to the other side where we shall get the lunch awaiting us.
In the afternoon we mount our Mountain Bikes and ride down into the valley on the “Giraffe Circuit”. This is aptly named since it is common to see giraffe fairly close while riding. We will also be on the lookout for wildebeest, buffalo, and other game. On the way we pass Fischer’s’ Tower. This is an impressive volcanic “boss” – a massive and scenic rock plug originally made lava extruded from the ground for a several hundred feet. The entire time we will have a “sag-wagon” follow us in case we decide that a ride is preferable to biking. Biking will take us roughly 3 – 4 hours and a climb of 500 – 700 vertical feet.
Dinner and overnight at Hells Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: HELLS GATE NATIONAL PARK – MT SUSWA
(Visit flower farms and cycle to Mt. Suswa).
After the breakfast at the camp, we shall break the camp and set off. We shall set off on a different note today. We start of the day with a visit to the large flower firms in this region. This will give you the opportunity to see how the flowers sold in Europe are grown and packed.
After the visit to flower firms, we shall ride our bikes to Mount Suswa. However this is a hot area of the rift valley and clients are advised to ride only a short distance. Luckily our back up truck is always following the clients and will take care of those who are not able to ride the entire stretch. Mount Suswa is also a dormant volcanic mountain.
Along the way, we shall visit Maasai homesteads and see their way of life in this hot area. Note that Masai communities are pastoralists communities and keep moving from one area to another in search of pastures for their livestock.
The road up this volcano is rarely used and rates in our book as “Class V” – or about as rough as it gets. Just cycling or driving up this volcano is an adventure and is reminiscent of theme park rides. After 3-4hours of cycling we will arrive at our waiting camp that has been moved from Hell’s Gate and reassembled here (5,640 ft). Overnight Mount Suswa Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: MOUNT SUSWA
Today we have a full day of cave exploration in lava tubes. After a relaxing morning we head down into the caves located right next to our camp. These lave tubes are large and easily navigated. We will see evidence of the hot lava and how it formed these caves centuries before. There are numerous caves to explore, each with different characteristics and mysteries. After lunch we will head off and hike into some other caves running deeper into the ground. Like the gorge we were in yesterday, fewer than two dozen outsiders get to this remote spot a year! Overnight Mount Suswa Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 9: MT. SUSWA – MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
(Community visits, culture and wildlife viewing).
From Mount Suswa we cycle to the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve where we will spend 3 days in one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world (4.5 – 5.5 hr drive). However there are some sections where we shall stop cycling and drive since Maasai Mara is a home to carnivores and therefore unsafe to cycle.
Just driving to camp we will see an abundance of wild game. On the bank of the Tarak River is the unique Dream Camp. This environmentally friendly safari camp will be our home for the next four days while we head off into the bush and explore the wilder parts of the Mara. The camp boasts a “viewing tower” which is excellent for seeing game as it comes down to the river. The permanent safari tents are larger than most and possess furniture made of local materials with a private shower.
The Masai Mara is home to a wide variety of wildlife. We will most likely see lion, cheetah, hyena, elephant, rhino and a wide array of plains game. If we are lucky we may spot a leopard, crocodile and the smaller cats. Depending upon our arrival time we may head out for an evening game drive.
Overnight Dream Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 10: MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE (Wildlife viewing)
The Masai Mara is 1600 square kilometers of green rolling countryside, scattered trees and meandering rivers bordered by dense tropical riverine forest. The Mara is densely populated by more than 90 species of mammals and 450 birds. This park along with its neighbor, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania forms an ecological system comprising one of the world’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. In the Mara can be found lions in prides of 15 or more, cheetah on the plains, leopard, hyenas, cape buffalo (in herds of up to 1,000 animals), Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impala, topi (this is the only place in Kenya where they occur in numbers), zebra, warthog, and giraffe among many others. During July and August the Mara is also the scene for one of the greatest animal spectacles in the world – the annual wildebeest migration. During these months more than a million wildebeest and around 200,000 zebra cross the Mara River from the Serengeti to graze on the new grass which has sprouted following the annual rains.
While here, we will track game on foot and by vehicle. In our 4WD Land Rover or Land Cruiser we will be able to get into parts of the park that lesser vehicles cannot navigate. On each game drive we will have a local Maasai Moran (warrior) standing up and scouting for wildlife. The Maasai have excellent eyes and by standing up he will be able to see wildlife that simply is invisible to anyone sitting in the vehicle. We have seen mating lions and newborn (hour-old) gazelles this way. On foot we will track game like a predator using the keen senses and skills of the Maasai Moran to get us to a safe distance from huge herds of elephants, buffalo, or abundant plains game. At night we will head out and explore the areas nocturnal wildlife. We are more likely to see the cats and other predators on the prowl at night, not to mention some wildlife that only comes out at night.
Each day there will be an early morning game drive followed by some downtime at camp. During this time we can relax or watch game as it approaches the river. In the late afternoon we will head out for an evening game drive. At some time during our stay we will substitute a morning drive for a game walk, certain to be a highlight of your time in the Mara. We will also head out on night for a nocturnal game drive. All of this will be in the company of our professional safari guide and Maasai Moran as spotters. You will be fed more food than you can eat and the gourmet quality of the three course dinners will astound you. Overnight Dream Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE FULL DAY (Wildlife viewing)
Today is another day of wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara. At some point we will head off into the local Masai village. We will see how they live in mud & dung huts and enjoy their contagious smiles. Overnight Dream Camp. (B,L,D) Today is another day of wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara. Overnight Dream Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 12: MASAI MARA – NAIROBI DEPARTURE
Leisurely breakfast in the camp and then depart for Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi in time for lunch after which we shall transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.