Conservation Safari - East Africa

Duration: 16 days

Highlights: Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Volcanoes National Park

A conservation safari that not only gives access to East Africa’s breath taking and diverse landscapes, but also an inside look at what it takes to protect Africa’s renowned wildlife.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Nairobi

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, clear customs and collect your luggage. Proceed outside the Arrivals Hall where you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The transfer time is approximately 30 minutes.

Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel in the serene, green suburb of Karen. The hotel bears South Carolina plantation style dimensions, huge verandahs and enormous windows that let all the light in and deliver views across the knuckles of the Ngong Hills. Inside, a graciously winding Gone with the Wind staircase leads from the lobby to the top floor.

The hotel sports 45 beautifully furnished rooms with high ceilings and king sized beds. And, despite an elegant retro feel - punkahs gently paddle the air to keep it cool, potted palms dot the interior - it is up to the minute modern with express check in, WiFi, spa and gym.

Hemingways prides itself on a uniquely individual service which includes a personal butler who will assist with unpacking as necessary, pressing anything that's creased in transit, delivering morning tea and generally anticipating your every whim.

Overnight: Hemingways Nairobi

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Nairobi Excursions

Today a private vintage car is at your disposal for your excursion/activities.

This morning you are collected in an immaculately maintained classic car. Each of these cars has been collected by Mr. John Wroe and he has poured his heart into restoring them to their former glory. Many of them have won awards at the prestigious Concours d’Elegance, an annual event in Nairobi every September. Each of the cars has their own special history, however the most notable is the International Model T Ford that was driven by Robert Redford in the film Out of Africa, the prestigious history of the car and the refined look and feel will transport you back in time. There is a wide selection of cars available ranging from the Ford ‘A’ to a Rolls Royce. You will have the car for half a day and be driven through the leafy suburbs of Karen to enjoy ever more exciting experiences such as the Giraffe Center, Kazuri Beads and Karen Blixen. This truly is the only way to travel.
Please note that these are vintage vehicles and although they are well maintained sometimes there are mechanical failures which cannot be avoided; however this happens very infrequently. You will have our vehicle following you throughout the duration of the experience.

Ocean Sole

Arrive at the Ocean Sole Workshop in Karen where you will be greeted by the team; Ocean Soles’ mission is to collect flip flops that have washed up on Kenya’s beaches and in the Nairobi waterways and turn them into beautiful works of art. Every year the company transforms 47 tons of flip flops into these unique pieces and creates full time employment for over 100 people and supports a further 1000 individuals from whom they buy the flip flops. See how the flipflops are washed, sculpted and finished off on a tour of the workshop; then sit down with one of the head artists to create your very own flip flop animal. He will guide you every step of the way from sticking the blocks together, working the ‘punch’ machine, carving out the edges and finally sanding it smooth. This is a wonderful way to support this project, learn how they are making an impact as well as having your very own animal to take home with you.

Forest Folk Stories

Take a short walk beneath the canopy of the Oloolua Forest – a dry tropical forest that once would have covered most of this part of Nairobi. The forest was once a hiding place for the Mau Mau Freedom Fighters during the war for independence but today provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and is a favorite walking spot for residents. A variety of wildlife still calls the forest its home and your walk will be accompanied by the sound of birds calling from the trees. As you near the clearing you will hear drums in the distance and a traditional song of welcome calls you in. From the shadows your storyteller appears, their stories seem to weave a spell around you which intermingles with the sounds of the forest. They will pull you into the magic of the tales that have been handed down from generation to generation; stories of great warriors and tricky tortoises that will leave you captivated.

Private David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Visit

Set on the edge of Nairobi National Park, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was set up by the late Dame Daphne Sheldrick in 1977 to raise and rehabilitate orphaned wild animals (mainly elephant and rhino) and later successfully reintroduce them into the wild. The sanctuary provides a perfect home for growing youngsters, with the habitat and space mimicking those that elephants enjoy in the wild. The orphans grow up in mini herds, are bossed about by mini matriarchs and enjoy mud baths, filled with a hose pipe, when they slap wet mud to their skins as sun block and insect repellent. Their care in the sanctuary is described by the head keeper during your private visit.

Overnight: Hemingways Nairobi

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your private charter flight to Kamok airstrip. On arrival, you are met by a Sanctuary Tambarare guide and transferred to camp.

Tucked in a grove of fever trees looking out across the Ol Pejeta Conservancy at the foot of Mt Kenya is Sanctuary Tambarare. Lion, leopard, wild dog and Grevy’s zebra roam free in the 90,000 acer wildlife conservancy known for its rhino and chimpanzee conservation efforts. Decorated in blue, white and tan, each of the ten spacious rooms enjoys fabulous views of the plains through floor-to-ceiling windows and from a private veranda. Colourful, comfy seats in the main area are the perfect place to relax after a day spent exploring the conservancy on a game drive, tracking lions, riding horses, cycling or getting up close to the last two northern white rhinos left in the world. In the evening, gather around the campfire at the boma to share the day’s adventures with your favourite drink at hand.

Overnight: Sanctuary Tambarare

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

In 2009 Ol Pejeta Conservancy welcomed Najin and Suni, the world's last remaining northern white rhinos, from the Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic. They now live in the 700-acre Endangered Species Enclosure and you have an opportunity to meet them up close and hear their amazing stories. Their keeper will also tell you about the incredible efforts being made to save the species from extinction which includes the first rhino artificial insemination using their frozen eggs.

After meeting the rhinos join the Lion Research Team and set out into the conservancy.

Tracking Ol Pejeta’s collared lions is a unique opportunity to learn about the big cat, once you locate the lions, record each lions’ individual features including whisker patterns, scars, ear tears and other characteristics. All the information gathered is passed on to the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department that helps in the conservation of Laikipia lions. This is a fun, interactive experience suitable for guests of all ages.

Finally the day is rounded off with a Behind the Scenes visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The sanctuary, set up by the Jane Goodall Foundation, is the only place to see chimps in Kenya. The sanctuary hosts 36 chimps which have been rescued from terrible situations all across Africa. Learn about the day to day care of the chimpanzees, watch them being fed by their keepers and see them explore and socialise in their vast natural enclosure.

Overnight: Sanctuary Tambarare

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Masai Mara National Reserve

Today bid Ol Pejeta Conservancy goodbye and board your private charter to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Masai Mara.

Located within the 35,000 acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just north of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Mara Plains Camp is tucked into the trees that line the Ntiakatek River.

The mess is stunning with a fantastic view over the plains: you can see for miles. The decor is a perfect mix of old and new - leather sofas with travelling trunks as side tables, plush carpets, copper bath tubs, chandeliers and striking modern art - as well as Arab and Africa, the fusion that shaped this corner of the continent. The Arab is evident in huge Lamu dorrs, the African in the traditional purples and reds of the local Maasai. All seven tents, raised on decks, are huge and all with staggering views - either across the plains or over the river. They have been created with a stringent green ethos in mind; no cement has been used and innovative green building techniques harnessed. Apart from game drives, you can get to know your hosts well here: visit a Maasai school or learn local crafts with Maasai women; their beadwork is exquisite.

Overnight: Mara Plains Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 & 7 - Masai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara plays host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. 1,500 square kilometers (580 square miles) of broad biscuit-colored savannah sprawls as home to huge numbers of birds (almost 600 species) and animals and is adjacent to the enormous expanse of the Serengeti; the two make up the most diverse ecosystem on the continent.

On your last day in the Mara you get to participate in the essential conservation work done by the Mara Elephant Project – following the vets in a secondary helicopter, watch as they dart it then assist the team with fitting the collar onto the elephant.

Currently, Mara Elephant Project has twenty-three collared elephants that they monitor via Google Earth daily. MEP focuses on candidates that will gather useful spatial data meaning elephants in border areas of conflict or areas outside conservancies or national reserves. They are also looking for candidates that represent crop raiding elephants. The collared elephants in most cases represents a whole herd that may be at risk. MEP’s twenty-three collared elephants provide data that is being used daily to mitigate human-elephant conflict, inform ranger deployment and anti-poaching work, and promote transboundary cooperation within the wider ecosystem.

When guests cover the cost of the full three year lifespan of an elephant collar then they will get the chance to follow an elephant collaring operation from start to finish. Depending on the number of people guests will either fly in the MEP helicopter of follow the operation in a chartered helicopter. They will get to see the collar before it’s put on, meet the DSWT/KWS vet that’s going to do the darting, help take measurements of the elephant while it’s asleep, take plenty of photos and watch the elephant then get up and walk away with its brand new collar. A private photographer is a nice touch to really capture the moment.

Overnight: Mara Plains Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Arusha

After breakfast depart Masai Mara for Nairobi and connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our driver will transfer you by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your city hotel located approximately 1-hour drive from the airport.

Siringit Villa Arusha is a luxury six-bedroom villa for exclusive use. Each of the rooms is tastefully furnished and enjoy views of the lush landscape surrounding the house. Food is prepared by two professional chefs that use wholesome ingredients to prepare delicious meals that suit their guests' taste buds. Activities to keep you active and engaged include golf, safari trips, hiking and biking tours, or leisurely dips in the pool. Or you may opt to immerse yourself in local culture by visiting Baraa primary school or participate in cultural tours. Spend your days relaxing in preparation for your safari or international flight.

Overnight: Siringit Villa

Meal Plan: B

Day 9 - Serengeti

This morning meet the African Wildlife Foundation's K9 Anti-Poaching Unit in Arusha.

Wildlife trafficking keeps the poaching industry alive - Motivated by a lucrative illegal wildlife trade, poachers target Africa's iconic species like the elephant and rhino through well-funded, highly trained, and increasingly sophisticated criminal syndicates. The poaching of rhinos has increased nearly 3,000 percent since 2007 as growing markets seek out rhino horn for its fabled medicinal properties. Although demand for ivory is sometimes limited by international embargoes, it still reaches consumers through the black market. If poaching does not stop, these species could become extinct within our lifetime.

Sniffer dogs to the rescue - The African Wildlife Foundation's Canines for Conservation program combats wildlife trafficking by deploying detection dogs and their handlers to key airports and seaports throughout the continent. The sniffer dogs can detect even the smallest amounts of wildlife contraband, like ivory or rhino horn dust, stopping traffickers before they can export the illegal products.

The best-in-breed initiative selects canines based on their friendliness and playfulness - traits that make great sniffer dogs - and pairs them with a ranger from a wildlife agency such as Kenya Wildlife Service. After intensive training on the ins and outs of detecting illegal wildlife products, the teams target high-risk gateways for smuggling. So far, these include strategic airports and seaports in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Coupled with a streamlined prosecutorial process, each contraband find means that fewer wildlife products reach the market plus more smugglers and poachers are locked out of illegal wildlife trade.

You will get to visit the training centre for these incredible dogs and see how they are trained and gain a deeper understanding on how they are helping the fight against poaching. All donations go directly back into the program ensuring the survival of the East Africa elephants and rhinos.

Enjoy lunch in Arusha before taking your private charter to the Grumeti Reserve on the edge of the Serengeti National Park.

Sasakwa Lodge is situated in 350,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the Singita Grumeti Reserve. The lodge enjoys sweeping views of the surrounding plains as it is perched on top of the Sasakwa Hill. Sasakwa blends old-world luxury with modern comforts. The property has 10 cottages with a private plunge pool and a hillside suite for more privacy. The spacious cottages have expansive en suite bathrooms, four-poster beds, vintage collectibles, Persian rugs and French doors that lead to open verandahs where you can sit with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the sights and sounds of the African bush. Guests can enjoy an array of activities that include game drives, guided walks and stargazing in the bush. Upon return to the lodge, they may opt to indulge in a massage treatment, play tennis, or take a dip in the pool.

Overnight: Singita Sasaskwa

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 10 & 11 - Serengeti

Spend your days exploring the extensive plains of the Grumeti Reserve in search of the ‘Big 5’. If you would like to maximize your time game viewing you can take a picnic lunch out into the park and enjoy a meal out in the vast savannah before returning to your lodge later in the day.

Walking safaris are another an incredible way to experience the bush up close and personal. Your expert guide and tracker will accompany you as you track animals on foot through the wilderness and explore the magnificent plants and landscapes around you.

On your last day here you will also meet the anti-poaching team that are tasked with keeping the wildlife on the reserve safe.
The Singita Grumeti Fund anti-poaching team is made up of 120 dedicated scouts. These scouts patrol the 350,000-acre private concession and are based in 12 scout camps and in 12 observation posts (OP) dotted across the reserve. Each OP is manned by two scouts who are constantly surveying the area for any unusual activity. This could be poachers coming through the protected area or vehicles that do not belong to the company or a herd of cattle entering the area or an animal in distress. The scouts are responsible for quickly identifying any incursions and reporting them to the rest of the anti-poaching team who can then act accordingly. Two scouts are stationed at the OP for one week at a time. They share responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and most importantly making sure that one person is on the look-out at all times.

You have the opportunity to visit OP 7, situated atop a hill with an incredible sunset view over the vast grassy plains below. The experience includes meeting the Singita Grumeti Fund game scouts and seeing how they live and work. At the OP there is an infographic board which your guide can talk you through. It shows the main areas of focus for the Singita Grumeti Fund, as well as specific facts and figures associated with the success of protecting this area. The combination of a morning coffee or late afternoon drinks stop makes it a great location to truly absorb the beauty of the landscape but also take in the scale and importance of the work of the Singita Grumeti Fund anti-poaching unit.
Note: The walk up to OP7 is on a steep dirt path. Good walking shoes are recommended.

Overnight: Singita Sasaskwa

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 12 - Volcanoes National Park

Depart Singita by Coastal Aviation light aircraft flight to Kigali. The flying time is approximately two hours 30 minutes.

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by an our representative, escorted through immigration and the PCR testing process, you will then take your helicopter and fly north to Volcanoes National Park where you will arrive at your lodge in time for dinner.

On the edge of Rwanda’s spectacular Volcanoes National Park sits Singita Kwitonda Lodge, offering visitors an outstanding base to experience Rwanda’s famed gorilla trekking. The stunning lodge is confined to 8 suites, all oozing elegance and luxury and each with a magnificent view over the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes. The rooms truly indulge their guests with a private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and veranda. Equally sumptuous is the communal spa, wine cellar, and delicious fresh food made from the lodge’s own garden. With conservation at the core of their initiative, Singita Kwitonda has been created with locally and sustainably sourced materials and uses the handiwork of local builders and artisans to infuse this refuge with authentic East African design. The lodge’s conservation efforts aim to improve the buffer area between agricultural plots and the habitat which is home to over a third of the world’s mountain gorillas. There are several activities on offer besides gorilla trekking, including cooking classes and village tours.

Overnight: Singita Kwitonda

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 13 - Karikose Research Center/ Mukungwa Sundowner River Canoe Trip 

After a relaxed breakfast you will meet your  driver guide to transfer you to the Karisoke Research Centre.

The Karisoke Research Center is a program of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, with more than 100 expert gorilla trackers protecting about half of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas every day. It is also the world’s centrepiece for gorilla conservation and science, with more than 300 scientific publications based on data collected at Karisoke and one of the largest databases on any wild animal, as well as education and community programs that reach tens of thousands of people in the region each year. You will enjoy a private, behind the scenes tour of the centre and meet many of the researchers and learn first-hand about the incredible work they do.

After lunch at the lodge take some time to relax and enjoy the facilities before setting off to explore the Mukungwa River. The Mukungwa River runs through the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes and gliding lightly down it in a modern canoe is a unique way to soak up the countryside. Take in the impressive views of the soaring volcanoes in the distance, spot abundant birds, look out for the otters and meet friendly communities.

Your journey down the river is led by an experienced guide and the river flows gently giving you time to take in the sights and sounds around you. At the end of the trip park up on the bank where a sundowner set up will be waiting for you; with your favorite drink in hand watch the sun slip behind the mystical mountain range and celebrate another day in this wonderful part of the world.

Overnight: Singita Kwitonda

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 14 - Private Gorilla Tracking 

Today your gorilla tracking guide and porters will meet you at Singita Kwitonda and you will start your gorilla tracking experience right from the lodge.

You will be given a full briefing by your trackers – you will be told about the gorilla family that you are tracking, what to expect during the track, how to behave when with the family, how long you will be with them as well as meeting the other travelers who are tracking with you. There will be a total of eight guests per gorilla family. Once your briefing is completed you will meet your porter who will help you carry your backpack and help you with your footing during the hike.

Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is often described as “life changing” and with good reason. With only an estimated 1000 Gorillas left in the world, to see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat is a truly unique moment. Gorillas make their homes in and amongst the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains in the Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. Trek to see them and you’ll be introduced by your expert trackers and guides to one of the fully-habituated families of mountain gorillas and you can stay with them for an awe-inspiring hour, often crouching just a few feet away, whilst the gorillas go about their daily lives.

Hikes in the mountains can last anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours plus depending on the family allocated to your group and their location. The journey back can take just as long, but you are often carried along by the euphoria you feel at seeing the gorillas. Lunch at the Lodge and afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: Singita Kwitonda

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 15 - Dian Fossey tomb 

After breakfast your driver guide will transfer you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your trek to Dian Fossey’s tomb.

Dian Fossey was a popular American primatologist who devoted her life to the conservation of the rare mountain gorillas. This hike is a must for those visiting Volcanoes National Park. It involves a 30- minute drive from the park headquarters to the trailhead to access the Karisoke research camp where visitors walk for 10 minutes to the park boundary. The walk from the park boundary to the research center where Dian’s grave is located takes about an hour or so and affords good views of forest hogs, forest elephants, a variety of primates, and bird species. The hike is an incredible experience physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

Overnight: Singita Kwitonda

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 16 - Depart

After breakfast you will check out then collect your carry-on bags you will be transferred to the airstrip where you will hop on your helicopter to Kigali while the rest of the luggage will be driven back to Kigali where you will be dropped at the airport for your onward flight.

Meal Plan: B