CROZ I E R H O N E Y M O O N SA FA R I
D RC O N G O A N D K E N YA 1 9 th - 2 6 th Au g u s t 2 0 1 7
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
K I B U M B A C A M P - N Y I R A G O N G O H U T S - G I R A F F E M A N O R - S A L A’ S C A M P - H O G H O U S E VIRUNGA NP - NYIRAGONGO - NAIROBI - MAASAI MARA - NAIROBI
D AY S 1 - 3 : 1 9 t h - 2 1 s t A u g u s t - V i r u n g a N P
On arrival in Goma you will be met and transferred to Kibumba Camp. You will have three nights here and trek twice to see the Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga NP.
D AY 4 : 2 2 n d A u g u s t - N y i r a g o n g o
You will be transferred to the base of Nyiragongo Volcano and climb to the summit crater. You will spend one night in the huts at the top.
D AY 5 ; 2 3 r d A u g u s t - N a i r o b i
You will descent Nyiragongo and be transferred back to Goma International Airport. You will �ly via Addis Ababa to Nairobi. On landing in Nairobi you will be met and transferred to Giraffe Manor.
D AY S 6 & 7 : 2 4 t h & 2 5 t h A u g u s t - M a a s a i M a r a
You will be transferred to Wilson Airport for your scheduled �light to the Maasai Mara. You will be based at Sala’s Camp for two nights.
D AY 8 : 2 6 t h A u g u s t - N a i r o b i
You will return to Nairobi by scheduled �light and be transferred to our home, Hog House for the rest of the day. You will be transferred to Nairobi international airport in time for your �light home.
D R C
A destination for intrepid travellers; explore the heart of Africa,
great apes, mountain rainforests, �iery volcanoes and snow-capped mountains. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (also known as the DRC) is located in equatorial West Africa. Dominated by the planet’s second-largest rainforest, which sprawls across 500 million acres of Congo River Basin, with glacial mountains and savannah elsewhere, the DRC is enormous and supports a staggering range of wildlife and cultures.
It’s no secret, of course, that the DRC has suffered tumultuous ups and down over the course of its long history - a history that stretches back some 80,000 years. Fortunately, the DRC is enjoying a period of considerable peace and stability, even in the historically volatile east, and the growth of tourism is only helping to consolidate, its economic and cultural bene�its clear. This is great news as DRC really is a stunning country. From the vast urban sprawl of Kinshasa, with its high-end hotels and restaurants, to smaller conurbations like Goma in the east, as well as the fact that much of Africa’s most popular music comes from the country, there’s plenty of proof that the DRC isn’t only for nature-lovers.
Culturally, the Congolese have rich traditions that remain important in their modern day world and a real sense of character and charm owing to their French colonial heritage. French is also the national language, but there is a strong sense of African identity that coexists alongside this, no more evident than in the capital city of Brazzaville, where the hustle and bustle of market life prevails. Nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups exist and the region’s Ba’Aka people are among the most well known representatives of an ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The jungles and the foothills of the volcanic peaks are famous for their primate population, as well as okapi, giraffe and elephant, and the forests also offer an abundance of birdlife. There’s a different type of battle being fought, where rebel insurgents and the hunt for oil threaten the precious mountain gorillas. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, is helping to save one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems, by inviting the world in.
Sudan Chad
Central African Republic
Cameroon
Southern Sudan
Republic Of Congo
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
“ T h e l u n g s o f A f r i c a .”
VIRUNGA
Virunga National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on the planet. Half of all the biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa can be found in Virunga. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. The park’s 1.927 million acres includes forests, savannas, lava plains, swamps, erosion valleys, active volcanoes, and the glaciated peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.
The park is also a geologic wonder and contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes. For much of its long history, though, Virunga National Park has been severely threatened by armed con�lict. Thanks to the dedication of the park’s rangers and wardens, Virunga has been able to survive. The recent “Virunga” movie has so beautifully highlighted this extraordinary national park and was a nominee for an Oscar.
Virunga is home to about a 1/4 of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. The park’s 2 other Great Ape species, Eastern lowland Grauer’s gorillas and chimpanzees, make Virunga the only park in the world to host 3 taxa of Great Apes. Another prominent inhabitant of the park is the okapi, an endangered species that resembles a zebra but is more closely related to the giraffe. Large colonies of hippopotami, forest and savanna elephants,
lions, and numerous rare bird species can also be found in the park. The park was founded in 1925 by King Albert I of Belgium and originally known as Albert National Park. Virunga was the �irst national park on the continent of Africa. The park was founded primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif that were controlled by the Belgian Congo. Rwenzori Mountains DRC
VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Edward UGANDA
Gorilla sector
Nyiragongo (Volcano sector) Goma Lake Kivu
RWANDA
G ORILLA
T REK K I N G
Visiting gorillas in their natural habitat – the legendary Virunga jungle region, has b e c o m e o n e o f t h e u l t i m a t e w i l d l i f e e x p e r i e n c e s o f a n y t r a v e l e r.
A visit with a mountain gorilla family is a life changing experience. Mountain gorillas are highly intelligent, good natured, and fascinating to observe. The silverback’s powerful presence is awe-inspiring, yet his calm clearly earns him the title, “gentle giant”. People are equally struck by the tenderness and care that mothers show their young. And then, of course, there are the juveniles who spend most of every waking hour at play and never cease to make visitors smile. We believe your time with Virunga’s mountain gorillas will leave you feeling changed for the better. As David Attenborough points out in his illuminating BBC series on Africa, “given the rate at which they are being killed if you don’t see them soon, you might never see them at all.” Surprisingly, though, once you have seen them, you realise that, while these intelligent, man-like creatures are extraordinary to see, they are not necessarily the only highlight of the trip. Equally impressive are the conservationists dedicated to saving the gorillas.
Then there is the environment in which they work. It is while walking and kayaking through the untouched Congo Basin, with parrots squawking, chimpanzees screeching,
orchids lighting up the muggy greenery with vibrant pink hues, that you’re reminded of the real treat: of the privilege, in our crowded planet, of exploring such a beautiful, ancient virgin space.
All treks are led by park rangers and usually depart from Bukima patrol post. Treks usually require 1-2 hours of hiking in each direction, depending where the mountain gorillas spent the previous night and the dif�iculty of the terrain. The rangers communicate with the gorillas using deep guttural sounds – this warns the gorillas of their impending visit. You may �ind them playing, resting or lunching on tree bark, roots, and vines. Gorillas can be very curious and come up to investigate you. You will be advised by the rangers on how to react to any contact with them. As well as primates the forests of the Virunga NP are home to an extraordinary array of birdlife.
“ We h a v e t o j u s t f y
w h y w e a r e o n t h i s E a r t h .”
A n d r e B a u m e r, G o r i l l a c a r e t a k e r
N Y I RAG O NG O
CL I M B
Mount Nyiragongo is 1 of 2 active volcanoes in a string of 8 known collectively as the Virungas. Nyiragongo can, at times, contain a higher volume of lava than any other crater in the world.
The stratovolcano’s forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. Nyiragongo’s summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is frequently dusted with snow. From the rim, visitors can peer down into a churning lava lake and see and hear hot gases exploding up though a mosaic of molten lava. Although predictable and therefore safe for tourists, Nyiragongo is greatly feared during eruptions. Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongo’s lava �lows are extremely �luid. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongo’s lava �lows were clocked at 100 km/hr (62 mph) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu.
Treks to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano begin at the Kibati patrol post. Park rangers lead all treks and porters carry all the overnight belongings. For the �irst 2 hours of the walk you will traverse a lush pristine forest, where towering trees offer a welcome shelter from the sun until you emerge from the forest onto a small plateau with commanding views that stretch towards the in�inite horizon, with Lake Kivu, Bukavu, Rwanda and Burundi at your
feet. From here on, the climbing trail becomes �irmer and the forest gives way to several swathes of recovering heath with vegetation dominated by ferns, sedges, heather and everlastings. Shortly after noon, you will reach Mount Nyiragongo’s crater and your overnight cabins. The time required to reach the summit depends on the average �itness of each group, but typically takes 4 – 6 hours. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent exploring the craters edge. You will be camped on the lip of the volcano at 11,400 feet, in a small and basic A-frame hut, which has recently been modernized and made more comfortable. An overnight stay on the crater edge will allow you to enjoy this spectacle in the dark, but also at dawn and dusk when its alluring beauty is enhanced. You can feel the volcano’s energy, as it heaves and breathes. After a rather early cup of tea/coffee, and a last peek, you will begin the descent to Kibati, which generally takes 2-3 hours.
“If feels like you looking into the veins of the earth,
a v o l a t i l e , b e a t i n g h e a r t .”
K E N YA
‘ S A FA R I ’ i s t h e S w a h i l i w o r d f o r ‘ a j o u r n e y ’ a n d K e n y a e v o k e s n o s t a l g i a f o r t h e e a r l i e s t o r i g i n s
of the African safari. Romance and adventure are plentiful in the classic stories told in ‘Out of Africa’ a n d ‘ B o r n F r e e ’, i l l u s t r a t i n g K e n y a ’ s s c e n e r y, w i l d l i f e a n d p e o p l e , w h i c h h a v e e n d u r i n g a p p e a l .
Kenya is a sovereign state achieving political independence from the British in 1963. Since, anxious times have been de�ied, mainly due to its dynamic people who are amongst the most colourful in East Africa. Friendly and hospitable, the Kenyan people rely heavily on tourism.
Located on the east coast of Africa, the Equator bisects the country resulting in a tropical climate, although diverse geography provokes wide variations in temperature, rainfall and humidity. In relation to size, the assorted landscape is unparalleled and the multitude of national parks and reserves all have their own unique attractions. Marine reserves boast coral reef gardens with palm fringed beaches and turquoise oceans, while the savannah grasslands exhibit quintessential depictions of imagined Africa, harsh trackless expanses, solitary �lat - topped acacias and incredible concentrations of plains game.
Kenya remains one of the best places in Africa to see great wildlife – lions, elephants, leopards and of course the annual ‘wildebeest migration’ streaming into the Masai Mara from Tanzania. The East African Rift Valley runs through the country from top to bottom and provides stunning landscapes of giant volcanoes, hot springs and �lamingo sprinkled lakes.
Dominated by Lake Turkana, the ancient source of the Nile, the Rift Valley lakes are some of the most picturesque in Africa. The formation of the Rift created Mt Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, some three millions years ago. “The spiritual home of safari, Kenya is where it all began. From the big cats of the Mara to the elephants of Amboseli, combined with traditional tribes, real tented camps and an unparalleled physical diversity, Kenya has it all. ”
Uganda
KENYA Lake Victoria Rwanda Burundi
Tanzania
Zanzibar
“A c o n t i n e n t i n o n e c o u n t r y ” Sandor Carter
G I R A F F E
M A N O R
The exclusive boutique hotel, built in the 1930’s, is famous for its
magni�icent herd of resident Rothschild’s giraffes and the manor offers personal and unmatched experiences with these endangered mammals.
Giraffe Manor is beautifully located on a private 12 acre property on the outskirts of Nairobi. Amidst half a square kilometre, dry upland indigenous forest displaying Olea africana, Albizzia gummefera and Ficus thonningii trees, this is home to over 180 bird species.
Set within a lush garden and shaded by arching trees, the 2-storey stone house is characterised by parquet �looring and a sweeping staircase. The decor tells of a bygone era with its dark wood furnishings, velvet curved chairs, plush cushions and stylish art. The accommodation is comprised of 2 luxury suites, complete with double and twin rooms and a lounge area, and 8 further bedrooms each boasting a �ireplace and beautifully appointed ensuite bathroom with shower and bath. The extensive windows offer views of the Ngong Hills as well as the garden-roaming giraffes, warthog, dik dik and bushbuck. Dining is sensational. Breakfast is served in the sun room with giraffes comically poking their heads through the windows, whilst dinner is savoured either alfresco lit by
lanterns or, in the wood panelled dining room at the long table.
Activities vary from a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum, once home to the author of “Out of Africa”, to walks along the nature trail in the Giraffe Centre or, for a unique treat, watch the feeding and bathing of baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. The highlight however of Giraffe Manor is the ability to touch, feed and photograph the giraffes from the comfort of your breakfast table, bedroom window or the front door – a remarkable opportunity.
“English grandeur
meets AFRICAN MAJESTY a t G i r a f f e M a n o r,
a picturesque and
u n f o r g e t t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e .”
M A S A I
M A R A
Only in the Mara does the whole spectrum of life and death, birth and growth seem to be there for you, right before your eyes. Most documentary wildlife �ilmmakers choose the Mara due to the abundance and easy access to wild animals here.
Almost 450,000 acres of rolling grasslands make up the Maasai Mara and its surrounding conervancies, bordered by mountains to the north and east and the Siria escarpment to the west. The permanent meandering rivers traced by deep forest snake across the savannah. The Mara’s proximity to Lake Victoria, which creates its own weather patterns, ensures that the area receives much higher rainfall than the Serengeti ecosystem. This crucial fact enables millions of animals, including gazelle, zebra and antelope, to survive through the driest time of year. An estimated one and a half million wildebeest make the annual migration up from the southern Serengeti plains into Kenya and remain here from late June into October. You will be staying in one of the quitest parts of the Mara, a conservancy. Even during migration season you can be away from the crowds. An hour can pass in nail-biting anticipation as a cheetah conducts a painstaking stalk of her prey, only to lose her meal at the last moment when the wind changes.
Watch the peculiar quality of the light, and the shadows of the clouds on the plains, the strange optical illusions of the distant herds silhouetted along the horizon. Light and shadow, rock and grassland, predators and prey, this is quintessential Africa.
Lake Turkana
Lake Victoria
MASAI MARA
Mt. Kenya N.P
Nairobi Amboseli
Serengeti N.P Ts a v o N.P
S A L A ’ S
C A M P
Sala’s Camp is a tented camp that combines tradition with comfort and it’s a model of understated,
i n t i m a t e l u x u r y, r e n o w n e d f o r c o m b i n i n g a n a u t h e n t i c s a f a r i e x p e r i e n c e w i t h h o s p i t a l i t y a n d � i n e d i n i n g . Exclusively located at the heart of the Masai Mara, at the centre of magni�icent wildebeest migration routes, Sala’s Camp is ideally set on the meeting point of the Sand and Keekorok rivers. As one wonders of the Natural World, the migration is truly a sight to behold, with views of the northern corridor portraying the �irst glimpses of this phenomenal movement.
Tucked away within a shaded forest, the camp consists of 7 luxury tents, including 2 honeymoon tents & 2 family units, private plunge pools and all complete with ensuite bathrooms and idyllic views of the northern Serengeti. The spacious canvas tents are elegant and comfortable. A tempting hammock beside each tent, welcomes an afternoon laze in the thorny trees.
Dining at the main camp may be experienced indoors or alfresco, but for something special bush picnics can be arranged. A gift shop provides the opportunity to purchase Kenyan memorabilia, a permanent reminder of
African adventures. At the end of the day, a crackling camp �ire awaits welcoming tales of sightings or, for a wondrous experience, sundowners may be enjoyed in the heart of the bush.
The focus, however, is on the wildlife. With the extensive grasslands displaying a wide variety of animals, including various predators and birdlife and thousands of plains game, morning, evening and full day game drives provide the opportunity to view them all, as well as buffalo and the mighty elephant lumbering across the open veld.
“Sala’s Camp is a
tranquil and rich haven, A T H R I V I N G PA R A D I S E with an unforgettable vision of Africa’s
m a j e s t i c w i l d e r n e s s .”
H O G
H O U S E
Hidden in the 130 acre Giraffe Sanctuary in Langata, Hog House is a private home with incredible views across to the Ngong Hills. Serene and peaceful you would hardly believe you are in one of Africa’s largest capital cities.
Located close to both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Wilson Airport, this unusual family home is an ideal place to begin or end your safari. Its rustic décor and the fact that it is surrounded by wildlife will help to ease you in, and out, of your time here on safari. The straw bale construction uses plantation cedar and fallen African olive and blends with the wooded sanctuary perfectly. The house itself comprises 2 double bedrooms and a triple, all ensuite. There are a further 2 cottages outside in the garden for larger groups. Hog House is only available for exclusive use. The large open plan sitting/dining is cosy with a warm �ireplace and lots of seating for all to congregate. Daytime meals we normally take outside in the shade of the Euclea trees in the garden, and a beautiful horizon pool beckons on hot afternoons. Walking in the sanctuary is the perfect way to loosen up stiff joints from long intercontinental �lights and you have
every chance of seeing Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, dik dik, bushbuck, suni and Syke’s monkeys. Birds of every colour throng around the bird table and hyrax will doubtless entertain you at night! The Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen Museum, and many craft centres are all within a stone’s throw of Hog House.
“It is a privilege to stay in this unusual and
beautiful home within the G I R A F F E S A N C T U A R Y,
so close and convenient to all the classic
Nairobi attractions, and yet quietly tucked away in your o w n h a v e n o f s e r e n i t y.”
E L E P H A N T
O R P H A N A G E
Daphne Sheldrick was the �irst person in the entire world to successfully hand rear newborn fully
milk dependent African Elephant orphans, something that spanned 28 years of trial and error to achieve. Located on the edge of Nairobi National Park, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is home to some 20+ baby elephants. Ranging in age from a few weeks to several years, a visit here is a must for any animal lover.
To date, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully hand-raised over 200 infant elephants, and 17 black rhinos. It has also accomplished its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating over 100 orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo. These hand-reared elephants are fully established and living free amongst their wild peers in Tsavo, some returning with wild born young to show their erstwhile human family. Based at two established Elephant Rehabilitation centres within Tsavo East National Park others are still in the gradual process of the re-integration with others in early infancy at the Trust’s Nairobi National Park Elephant and Rhino Nursery.
The Trust has trained a team of competent elephant keepers who replace the orphans’ lost elephant family until such time as
the transition to the wild herds has been accomplished, something that can take up to
10 years, since elephant calves duplicate
their human counterparts in terms of development
through
age
progression.
Those that were orphaned too young to recall
their
dependent
elephant
longer,
but
family
all
the
remain
Trust’s
orphans eventually take their rightful place amongst their wild counterparts, including those orphaned on the day they were born.
“The world’s most emotionally h u m a n l a n d m a m m a l .”
Daphne Sheldrick
TEL: +254 720 911143
EMAIL: INFO@JAMESROBERTSON.CO.KE S K Y P E : J RS A FA R I S
W W W. K E R D O W N E Y S A FA R I S . C O M