AAKY32 Meru, Sweetwaters, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara – 6 Nights (ST79)

Day 1 Nairobi – Meru National Park (LD)

Your drive takes you round the east side of Mount Kenya en route to Meru National Park, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch.

Of all the Kenya parks Meru presents the widest variety of landscapes. The varied habitats contain a wide diversity of wildlife species including elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, zebra, some of Kenya's largest herds of buffalo and a variety of antelopes including waterbuck, oryx, lesser kudu, duiker and dik-dik. The rivers abound with hippo and crocodiles. Birdlife is also abundant especially during the northern migration (October-March).

Overnight at Elsa’s Kopje.

Elsa’s Kopje blends in to the rocky crags and bush, built close to the site of George Adamson's original camp where George and Joy Adamson released Elsa the lioness into the wild, the story made famous in the film Born Free.

Day 2 Meru National Park (BLD)

Spend a full day game viewing in the Park.

Meru National Park contains numerous rivers and waterways including the mighty Tana river and varied habitats of swamp, riverine forest, savannah and dry bush country. This vast park is one of the least visited of Kenya's wildlife areas and there are few tourist vehicles to be seen.

Overnight at Elsa’s Kopje.

Day 3 Meru National Park - Sweetwaters (BLD)

Depart after breakfast, driving west around Mount Kenya passing through Nanyuki to Sweetwaters Private Game Sanctuary and Camp. Enjoy afternoon and night game drives.

The reserve boasts a plethora of wildlife - over 400 species of birds, lion, elephant, rhino and cheetah to name just a few. Morani, a black rhino, was rescued as a baby after he was found wandering near his mother who had been killed by poachers in Amboseli National Park. After having been taken to three or four other locations where unfortunately his safety was put at risk by both the presence of poachers and attacks by other rhinos, Morani came to Sweetwaters where he lives in his own 100-acre enclosure, protected 24-hours by armed guards.

Overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp.

Sweetwaters Tented Camp lies in the heart of 24,000-acre Sweetwaters Game Reserve, with magnificent views across the plains to the snow capped peaks of Mount Kenya.

Day 4 Sweetwaters - Lake Nakuru (BLD)

After breakfast, drive through the sanctuary into the Great Rift Valley, arriving at Lion Hill Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive in the Park which is the seasonal home to millions of flamingo.

Lake Nakuru is home to thousands of pink flamigoes and pelicans. This exotic park boasts of a rich concentration of wildlife including black and white colobus monkeys and is also a Rhino sanctuary. Look for temperamental black rhinos browsing in the bushes, and larger white rhinos cropping grass along the lakeside. No where else will get a photo of a rhino with a back drop of pink flamingoes sifting food from a shimmering lake.

Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Lake Nakuru Lodge is situated in a wonderland, which lies in the heart of one of Kenya’s most densely populated wetlands and worldwide haven of birds.

Day 5 Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara (BLD)

Departing after breakfast, visit the Masai Colours for a short introduction to the Masai Tribe, then drive on to the Masai Mara for lunch. Enjoy an evening game drive.

Probably the most famous of the reserves, the Masai Mara boasts an astonishing amount of game. Gazelle, wildebeest and zebra graze in large numbers and where prey is found so are predators. Not only is this a great place in which to find game, but the wide greeny-gold savannahs spotted with thorn trees make it ideal for photography.

Overnight at Mara Intrepids Camp.

Sitting above a sweeping bend in the Talek River, at the confluence of the Masai Mara's four game-viewing areas, Mara Intrepids Club enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world's best-known wilderness.

Day 6 Masai Mara (BLD)

A full day game driving in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, either returning to camp for lunch or taking a picnic lunch with you.

The famous black-maned Mara lions are possibly the stars of the Mara show, but cheetah, elephant, kongoni, topi, Thompson's gazelle, waterbuck, hyena, and primates are all here too. As with the rest of Kenya, the birding is good.

Overnight at Mara Intrepids Camp.

Day 7 Masai Mara – Nairobi (B)

After breakfast transfer to the airstrip for the scheduled flight back to Nairobi, arriving before lunch.