|
|
Global Adrenaline's "Mount Kenya Safari Adventure"
adds a fascinating climb of jagged Mount Kenya and a visit to Kenya's
Indian Ocean coastline to the itinerary of many of the places visited
on our "Kenya Explorer" expedition. Our adventure provides a
more in-depth view of Kenya, an ancient land of snow-capped peaks, grassy
savannahs, shimmering deserts, steaming rainforests, sun-drenched beaches,
pristine coral reefs….and, above all, game reserves teeming with
some of the world's most spectacular wildlife. If you keep your eyes open
and your spirit free, you will discover the many faces of Kenya on our
"Kenya Explorer" tour.
We will begin our tour in Nairobi exploring the famous
Masai markets. We will then travel to Mount Kenya, north of Nairobi. Mount
Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, is unique in that it is
a snow-capped mountain situated almost precisely on the equator. We will
spend five days climbing the north face of this jagged peak, finally reaching
Point Lenana (16,355 feet) before completing an amazingly scenic descent
of the mountain.
We will then travel to Lake
Nakuru National Park, where myriads of flamingoes and other water
.jpg) |
| Mount Kenya dancers. (Mount Kenya, Kenya) |
birds form the world's greatest bird spectacle.
Seeing the masses of flamingoes reflected in shimmering pink on the alkaline
waters of the lake is truly an "Out of Africa" experience. In
the park, we will also see large numbers of warthogs, impalas, buffaloes,
cheetahs and other plains game. In addition, owing to Lake Nakuru National
Park's recent designation as one of Kenya's rhino sanctuaries, the odds
of our seeing this elusive creature have also greatly improved.
We will then travel to the
famous Masai Mara, an extension of the Serengeti ecosystem to the south.
Game abounds in the park, particularly during the famous migration of
millions of wildebeests and zebras making their way back and forth across
the Mara River on their annual trek. The Masai Mara is also famous for
its abundance of lions, particularly the superb black-maned males. We
should also see an abundance of elephants, giraffes and cheetahs, and,
if all goes well, leopards and rhinos too. We will conclude our tour with
a trip to the "Swahili Coast" and the magical and romantic island
of Lamu. This is an island of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where
tiny villages nestle among coconut and
.jpg) |
| Giraffe. (Kenya) |
mango plantations and lateen-sailed dhows ply the
waters. We will explore Lamu's narrow streets, markets and squares, marveling
at the Arab influence in this remote island, far from the shores of old
Arabia. We like to end our tours in Lamu because of the serenity and relaxation
to be found here, a stark contrast to the wild and edgy world of the mountains
and game parks we've visited.
Throughout our expedition, we will notice the
great economic contrasts of Kenya, a lingering reminder of its British
colonial past. We will see the luxurious British-style clubs and the fragrant
equatorial gardens, while at the same time seeing the slums of Nairobi
and the humble rural villages covered with red dust. We will also see
a confluence of races, languages and cultures - a product of Kenya's rich
and romantic history. This mix includes the Europeans of the great epic
explorations, the proud and regal Masai, the Indians who left their lives
in the lions' jaws during the construction of the railroad, and the Arab
traders of the "Swahili Coast." As soon as we arrive in Kenya,
we will sense the adventure and mystery that awaits at every turn.
 Back
to Top
No previous experience is required for this trip.
However, as in any physical endeavor, fitness is the most essential ingredient
for success. Participants on this trip need not have climbed before, and
no technical climbing skills are required. However, participants should
have a reasonable level of fitness in order to attempt an ascent of Mount
Kenya, the continent's second highest peak.
Back
to Top
We'll no doubt receive a heartfelt "Jambo
Bwana!" upon our arrival at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport. Our representatives will meet us at the airport and aid in our
transfer to the Stanley Hotel, where we will spend our first night in
Kenya. After we settle into our centrally-located hotel, the afternoon
and evening will be yours to spend at your leisure. There will be time
to explore Nairobi and its fascinating shops and markets as we recover
from any residual jetlag.
After breakfast in Nairobi, we will journey north,
passing near Thika, which boasts the world's third
.jpg) |
| Elephants. (Kenya) |
largest pineapple plantation, and Karatina, with
its colorful market. Shortly thereafter, we will turn off the main road
to Nanyuki and travel through the fertile foothills of Mount Kenya, the
second highest mountain in Africa. By lunchtime, we will reach the Naro
Moru River Lodge, a well-appointed haven for trout fishermen and mountain
climbers. This is where the stout-hearted will begin their ascent of Mount
Kenya, soaring over 17,000 feet above the equator. Even if you're not a
climber, you're sure to enjoy the tranquil and lush setting of this lodge,
with its babbling brook and crisp mountain air. We will spend the afternoon
relaxing and going through a pre-climb briefing and orientation. We'll overnight
at the Naro Moru River Lodge.
In the morning, we'll drive to the Met Station,
located at the road head of the Naro Moru Track, where we will spend the
first night of our climb in very comfortable log cabins. This is a good
day for acclimatization, since we will be sleeping at an altitude of 10,000
feet. We will take a light hike in
.jpg) |
| Mount Kenya. (Mount Kenya, Kenya) |
the afternoon to help with acclimatization.
We'll begin our Mount Kenya ascent by hiking up
to the Teleki Valley camp (14,000 feet), where there is a spectacular
view of the main peaks. Our walking time on this day will be approximately
4-6 hours.
After an early breakfast, we'll begin the circumnavigation
of the main peaks by heading in a northward direction. One traverse will
take us below the south and west faces on our approach to Two Tam Hut,
then across the Western Terminal and into the Ausberg Valley, before we
finally reach Hausberg Col and then descend into MacKinder Valley. Our
walking time today is approximately five hours, and the highest point
reached is 15,000 feet. Our camp in MacKinder Valley at MacKinder's Hut
is at an altitude of 14,200 feet.
This is the day we will climb to the top of Point
Lenana (16,355 feet), on the north face of Mount
.jpg) |
| Rhinoceros. (Kenya) |
Kenya. Point Lenana is the third highest peak of
Mount Kenya (the first and second are for experienced climbers only) and
is not often frequented by tourists. We should reach the top after about
four hours of strenuous walking. We will then descend into the Teleki Valley,
where we will spend the night at our original camp at 14,000 feet, completing
a scenic traverse of the mountain.
On our last day on Mount Kenya, we will descend
the mountain and return to the Naro Moru River Lodge in time for dinner,
a hot shower and a good night's rest.
After breakfast at the Naro Moru River Lodge,
we'll head south through Kenya's fertile highlands and on to Nyeri, one
of Kenya's major towns and a provincial headquarters. Our next destination
is the plush Outspan Hotel, set in beautiful gardens with views of Mount
Kenya. The Outspan, in a
.jpg) |
| Leopard. (Kenya) |
former life, was the last home of Lord Baden Powell,
founder of the Boy Scout Movement. Today it will be our lunch-time retreat
and the base for our next destination, Treetops, the world-famous lodge
standing high on stilts above the wilds of Africa. The view from Treetops
takes in unforgettable and unparalleled night?time vistas of its waterhole
and saltlick. Among the game that gathers there each evening is the forest
elephant, the endangered black rhino, the baboon, the buffalo, the bushbuck,
the giant forest hog and the bush pig, as well as numerous civets, duikers,
and colobus and syke's monkeys. The bird life includes some species rarely
seen in other places, including the green ibis, the rufous sparrow hawk,
the mountain buzzard, the crowned eagle and the silvery-cheeked hornbill.
Warm clothing is advisable as nights tend to be chilly, but only an overnight
bag is required. The rest of our luggage will be stored at the Outspan Hotel.
After breakfast at the Outspan Hotel, we will
proceed in a northwesterly direction to Nyahururu, a 237-foot cascade
still known to many as Thomson's Falls. We then travel in a southerly
direction to Lake Nakuru, which is colored a shimmering pink from the
thousands of flamingoes lining its shores. We will spend the afternoon
game viewing en route to the Lion Hill Lodge, where we will stay overnight.
From its hillside perch, the
Lion Hill Lodge affords unforgettable views of the lake. It is a perfect
base from which to explore the lake, with its fabulous array of birds,
and the surrounding national
%20-%20A.jpg) |
| Cheetah. (Kenya) |
park, which is home to many types of wild game.
Lake Nakuru National Park is renowned, first and foremost, for its bird
life; however, a game drive in the park will reveal its abundant and interesting
wildlife as well. We will see large numbers of waterbucks, warthogs, impalas,
buffaloes, cheetah and other plains game. We may even see a leopard or too
lolling about in the trees. And, now that Lake Nakuru National Park has
been made into one of Kenya's rhino sanctuaries, we may see some of these
elusive creatures as well.
Leaving flamingo-fringed Lake Nakuru behind, we
will head southwards to Maai Mahiu, ascending up over the Mau Escarpment
on our way. We will then turn towards Narok, the gateway to the Masai
Mara and district headquarters of this part of Masailand. Traversing the
"breadbasket" of Kenya, with its miles of wheat and barley,
we will reach the Mara Sarova Camp by lunchtime. Located within the boundaries
of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, this comfortable luxury lodge, which offers
delicious meals and a swimming pool, is a perfect base from which to explore
the wonders of this corner of Kenya. After a buffet lunch at the camp,
we will spend the afternoon on a game drive, taking in the incredible
bounty of wildlife that makes its home in this vast reserve.
The Masai Mara is an extension of the Serengeti
ecosystem to the south. Game abounds in the park, particularly when the
annual migration of millions of wildebeests and zebras is underway. Each
year, almost 1.5 million of these animals make their way back and forth
across the Mara
.jpg) |
| Flamingoes. (Lake Nakuru, Kenya) |
River during the course of their circuitous 600-mile
(1,000-kilometer) route in search of new pastures and watering holes. The
Masai Mara is also noted for its abundance of lions, particularly the superb
black-maned males. We should see lots of elephants here, too, often in large
herds. In addition, we'll see buffaloes and, if we're lucky, leopards, cheetahs
and rhinos. All of the "Big Five" are residents of this beautiful
park. We hope you haven't finished up all of your film in Amboseli and Nakuru,
because you'll surely want to use some of it here!
In the morning, we'll have an early departure
from the Masai Mara. We will travel through Narok, the district headquarters,
before crossing the vast plains of the Great Rift Valley floor. As we
travel, we'll keep our eyes open for the herds of giraffe and gazelle
that populate this area. We'll then head up the Rift Escarpment on a road
built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II, arriving in Nairobi
in time for our flight to Lamu, which departs at 1:15 p.m. Once we arrive
in Lamu, we will transfer to the New Lamu Palace Hotel. (* Please note
that, for departures during April and June, when Lamu is inaccessible,
the trip itinerary will substitute the Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya's
great trading city located on the Indian Ocean, for the New Lamu Palace
Hotel on Lamu.)
We'll have this day to spend completely at our
leisure, enjoying the sun, sand and beach of our Indian Ocean paradise.
(* Please note that, for departures during April and June, when Lamu is
inaccessible, the trip itinerary will substitute the Whitesands Hotel
in Mombasa for the New Lamu Palace Hotel on Lamu.)
We'll spend the morning relaxing on the beach
before transferring to the airport for our afternoon return flight to
Nairobi. Our representatives in Nairobi will assist us in connecting to
our homeward-bound flights.
Back
to Top
|
