explorer safari Kenya Explorer

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1 Kenya Explorer DAY BY DAY ITINERARY explorer safari Alex Hunter OVERVIEW: KENYA EXPLORER Personal encounters with wildlife are at the center of this off the beaten path adventure through three of Kenya s most dynamic and pioneering conservation areas. Get whisker-close with endangered species in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a sanctuary for the last three northern white rhino and a refuge for endangered elephants and black rhino. Maximize your time in the bush in Mara Naboisho Conservancy with off-road wildlife viewing and endless pathways for on-foot exploration. Your adventures culminate in the legendary Maasai Mara where your camp is in full view of the Talek River. This is a favorite crossing point for the great migration herds each year. Explorer Safaris with Deeper Africa Explorer safaris are for curious, energetic safari travelers open to discovery. They are an adventure in contrast; one night finds you dining by candlelight in an exquisite lodge; on another evening, dinner is served by the campfire of a well-staffed bush camp. One day you explore by Land Cruiser for thrilling, whisker-close encounters with the Big Five. Another day finds you hiking with local guides who explain the subtle meanings of tracks, bird songs, and the infinite other discoveries only an explorer can uncover. Both conservancies are model partnerships between local landowners, tour operators, and researchers. All camps integrate wildlife conservation with interaction in local communities.

2 DAY 1 MACUSHLA HOUSE NAIROBI Jaime Steffen Lutz Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in the bustling capital of Nairobi, Kenya. A Deeper Africa representative will be waiting for you. Look for him standing outside of the baggage claim and customs area holding a sign with your name on it. He will alert your driver, who will then transport you to Macushla House. Macushla House is a warm and inviting bed and breakfast located in the suburban township of Karen. Swimming Pool Wifi

3 DAY 2 OL PEJETA BUSH CAMP OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY / LAIKIPIA In the early morning, head north with your guide past the foothills of the majestic Mount Kenya and onto the Laikipia Plateau. Unfolding over approximately 6,000 square miles (9,657 square kms), the rolling plains of Laikipia stretch from the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, to the base of the Aberdare Mountains, and onwards to the shores of Lake Baringo. Punctuated by acacia-thicket-covered hills, Laikpia harbors more endangered species than anywhere else in East Africa. This area is a patchwork of former cattle-ranches turned conservation respites. Over the years, cattle fences have come down, welcoming wildlife and small camps have taken hold as a result. Your destination is the pioneering Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, which also safeguards the last three remaining northern white rhino in the world. You ll view wildlife as you traverse across the plateau and arrive at camp in time to enjoy an afternoon cocktail and the evening to explore the wilderness.

4 DAY 3 OL PEJETA BUSH CAMP OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY/ LAIKIPIA The combination of exclusive wildlife, stunning views across the open plains of Ol Pejeta, plus access to adventurous walking safaris, night game drives, and intimate encounters with endangered species makes this Conservancy the ideal start to your exploration of Kenya s backcountry. With luck, you ll be able to venture out on a walking safari in the cool morning air with Alex Hunter, renowned guide and owner of Ol Pejeta Bush Camp. If Alex is not in camp, one of his able guides will take you exploring. Follow the tracks of the roaming herd animals who intermix with grazing livestock and learn firsthand how to distinguish and interpret their different footprints. It s impossible to know what you ll find out on foot a dazzle of zebras nibbling in the grasses or a herd of elephants walking in single-file the unpredictability is what shapes the adventure. Continue to hone your tracking skills with the resident wildlife researchers in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. You will have unique access to learn about their lion research project firsthand as you partner with them to track collared lions. Information gathered is passed directly to the Ol Pejeta Ecological Department in order to further understand the ranges and behaviors of these magnificent predators. African Bush Camps Foundation

5 DAY 4 OL PEJETA BUSH CAMP OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY/ LAIKIPIA Today provides an opportunity to get up close to some of the world s rarest animals. Begin by entering Ol Pejeta s 700-acre (2.8 square kms) Endangered Species Enclosure. Here you will have the chance to pay a visit to Najin, Fatu, and Sudan, the only three Northern white rhino remaining in the world. You ll learn about the critical issues facing rhino in the conservancy and the work Ol Pejeta is doing to revive this sub-species. Also located in the enclosure are Grevy s zebra and Jackson s hartebeest endemic herbivore species that are also endangered. It is likely that the rhinos you encounter during your time wildlife viewing in Ol Pejeta will have their horns shaved down. This method is being used by Ol Pejeta as a way to protect rhinos from poaching by taking away their desirable long horns. The dehorning is painless for the rhino, as there are no nerves in the horn. De-horning is considered controversial, as its effectiveness as a deterrent has not been fully studied.

6 DAY 5 ENCOUNTER MARA MARA NABOISHO CONSERVANCY Board your morning bush flight bound for the private Mara Naboisho Conservancy in Southwest Kenya. The Conservancy is another promising example of tourism and local communities coming together to foster conservation and promote prosperity. By working closely with the 500 landlords and contributing a portion of each guest s nightly stay to local communities, operator Asilia Africa has ensured that the success of the conservancy trickles down to the Maasai communities that have lived on this land for generations. The nonprofit Koiyaki guiding school trains locals from the conservancy area to lead safaris for visitors to the camps. Your base of exploration in the conservancy will be Encounter Mara, a traditional tented camp whose location offers some of the best wildlife viewing year-round in Kenya. Encounter Mara Camp enables you to maximize your time in the bush itself by allowing for off-road game driving, bush picnics, fly-camping, nighttime drives, and walking safaris. Here, you will spend your days navigating the wildlife-dense savannas on foot or in the vehicle, and your nights gathered around a campfire, trading stories with your Maasai guides and taking in the splendor of an unobstructed nighttime sky.

7 DAY 6 ENCOUNTER MARA MARA NABOISHO CONSERVANCY Encounter Mara is like a live aboard animal-hide. Salt-licks located in full view of camp attract zebras and giraffes who are known to take strolls through the grounds. This conservancy also happens to be a predator refuge with some of the highest concentrations of lions in the world. 100 lions live within 50,000 acres, so you are likely to encounter prides patrolling through their territory. Cheetah scan the open plains in search of prey, leopards stalk through the grass and survey from acacia trees, and smaller striped polecat, serval, and caracal hide in the brush. During July and August, herds from the great migration journey through, and elephants can be seen year-round. We recommend you set out early for a walk in the bush, stopping for a sunrise breakfast picnic as you take in the songs of morning birds and pulse of the wilderness around you. Due to its close ties to the local community, you can also spend the afternoon visiting a Maasai village. The camp staff and guides here are eager to share their traditions and culture with visitors. Experiences here strive to be authentic and unobtrusive.

8 DAY 7 REKERO CAMP MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE Embark on a game-drive which will take you from Mara Naboisho Conservancy and into one of Africa s most legendary national parks the Maasai Mara. As the northernmost triangle of the Serengeti ecosystem, this endless wild area provides a front-row seat every year to some of the most exhilarating views of the great wildebeest migration. You will arrive at Rekero Camp in time for lunch. Located at an age-old crossing point on the Talek River, Rekero offers the closest possible vantage point to see the herds thunder across the waters as they make their way north every August through October. River crossings can be treacherous, as the swift currents, steep banks, and awaiting crocodiles create perilous obstacles, particularly along the Mara River. Each tent allows for views of the Talek River below while the famous Mara River is also an easy drive from camp. Outside of migration season, you will still have access to incredible wildlife viewing, as elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, and small cats all make their home in this region. Jaime Steffen Lutz

9 DAY 8 REKERO CAMP MAASAI MARA GAME RESERVE African Bush Camps Conclude your safari with a final day of classic game viewing in the Land Cruiser. The variety of ecosystems makes the Mara a superb place to hone your tracking and spotting skills, allowing you continued opportunities to increase your wildlife knowledge Keep an eye out for the famous local big cats featured on documentaries like Big Cat Diaries and African Cats. You can learn more about these predators by shadowing a Kenya Wildlife Trust researcher who will share his knowledge of the conservation strategies being implemented to protect them. Take a walk out into the bush or to the nearby Talek River for sundowners and toast to one last evening spent under the expansive Mara sky.

10 DAY 9 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Depart with a packed lunch for Ol Kiombo Airstrip. From there, you will board a bush flight to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. You will have time to enjoy a nice dinner at a local Nairobi restaurant before transferring to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure. Flight #1 Departs: Nairobi, Kenya Arrives: TBD DAY 10 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Flight #2 Depart: TBD Arrives: TBD

11 ADDITIONAL SAFARI INFORMATION IN YOUR SAFARI Full board accommodations in all lodges and tented camps All meals as specified in itinerary All park and entrance fees Wildlife viewing in 4x4 Land Cruiser, guided walking safaris, and night wildlife viewing where available Experienced and professional safari naturalist guides All in-country transportation Enrollment with Flying Doctors Evacuation Service Bottled water available at all times Extensive pre-departure briefing and materials including health information, reading list, and map EXCLUDED FROM YOUR SAFARI 2018 pricing $7,199 - $7, CUSTOM DEPARTURE DATES & PRICING January 6 - March, June, November - December 19 $7,199 USD per person Single supplement: $1,999 USD July - October, December 20 - December 31 $7,999 USD per person Best Value Single supplement: $2,999 - $3,099 USD All pricing is in US dollars. Arrivals and departures are through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Prices do not include international airfare. All itineraries and prices are subject to change. Gratuities We plan your wildlife adventures in areas where wildlife habitats are known to exist for the season and time you are traveling. Still, animals in the areas you are viewing are not in a zoo. They run freely, and we cannot always anticipate their movements. Also, Deeper Africa uses best efforts to provide the lodging set out in this itinerary, but occasionally there are circumstances that occur in Africa that require lodging substitutions. We reserve the right to make comparable lodging substitutions whenever necessary Manhattan Circle, Suite 202 Boulder, Colorado fx explorer safaris