O'Brien Safari Itinerary

O ’ B R I E N SAFA R I D E SI GN E D BY JA M E S RO BE RT S O N

1 1 th

K E N YA - 2 2 nd AU GU ST 2 0 1 9

I T I N E R A R Y

O V E R V I E W

NAIROBI - LAIKPIA - THE ARID NORTH - MAASAI MARA - CHYULU HILLS - NAIROBI 11th AUGUST 2019: NAIROBI

On arrival into Nairobi you will be met and transferred to our home, Hog House nestled within the peaceful Giraffe Sanctuary. You will be here for one night.

12th - 14th AUGUST 2019: LAIKIPIA

After breakfast we will transfer you to the little airport and �ly you by private charter north, past Mt.Kenya to Lewa Downs. You will have three nights at Lewa House.

15th & 16th AUGUST 2019: THE ARID NORTH

We �ly you north across Samburu to Sasaab overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River and the wilds of the arid north. You will be at Sasaab for two nights.

17th - 19th AUGUST 2019: MAASAI MARA

This morning we �ly you south, over the Great Rift Valley and into perhaps the best known area in the World for Big Game - the Maasai Mara. You will be based at Mara Expeditions Camp for three nights.

20th & 21st AUGUST 2019: CHYULU HILLS

We �ly you south west along the Tanzanian border to the Chyulu Hills overlooking Mt. Kilimanjaro. You will have two nights at Oldonyo Lodge.

2 2 n d A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 : T R A V E L D AY

We �ly you back to Nairobi and invite you back to Hog House for the rest of the day for you to relax before your �light home. We will transfer you to the airport in time for your �light.

R E G I O N S O ’ B R I E N I T I N E R A RY

This fabulous 12 day itinerary takes in four of Kenya’s very best wildlife areas and also showcases it’s extraordinary diversity in scenery and fascinating cultures.

D AY 1

NAIROBI

HOG HOUSE

D AY 2 - 4

L E WA H O U S E S

Lake Logipi

D AY 5 & 6

THE ARID NORTH SASAAB

D AY 7 - 9

MAASAI MARA

MARA EXPEDITIONS D AY 1 0 & 1 1

CHYULU HILLS

O L D O N YO LO D G E D AY 1 2

NAIROBI

HOG HOUSE

We invite you to stay at our home, Hog House for your �irst night. After which we �ly you north to Lewa which has superb wildlife great rhino viewing here and elephant too.

The big cats are all here and the northern species Rothschild’s giraffe and Grevy’s zebra.

Lake Turkana

LAIKIPIA

Lake Baringo

Ewaso Nyiro River

Samburu

Lake Bogoria

Lake Victoria

Equator

We then take you south to the Maasai Mara which in August will host the magni�icent wildebeest migration. You will be ideally located at Mara Expditions camp. Predator viewing, especially for leopard, is good here.

Mt. Kenya

Lake Nakuru Masai Mara

Then up to Sasaab which is stunningly located and where you will spend time with the colourful Samburu tribe.

Shaba

Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River

Lake Magadi Amboseli

Ts a v o Watamu

Mombasa

Lamu

Finally we take you to the beautiful Chyulu Hills with a splendid view south to Kilimanjaro. Here there are great elephants and again you can walk, also cycle and ride horses if you wish.

This is a beautifully balanced safari where you will stay in stunning luxury lodges and camps.

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

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.”

L A I K I P I A

I n t h e c e n t r a l h i g h l a n d s o f K e n y a , s t r e t c h i n g f r o m M o u n t K e n y a i n t h e e a s t t o t h e R i f t Va l l e y i n t h e w e s t is a 2.149 million acre area of semi-arid grassland and bush savannah known as the Laikipia Plateau.

This region serves as a portal to Kenya’s remote and wild, Northern Frontier and is a patchwork of cattle ranches and tribal lands that have been amalgamated under the umbrella of eco-tourism.

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum promotes this collaboration and is an incredible example of successful conservation whereby ranchers and pastoralists encourage the practical co-existance of people, livestock and wildlife. The desire to truly understand all the inhabitants of this natural environment is illustrated in the large number of research and community conservation projects within the area.

Straddling the Equator at altitudes of between 5,000 and 8,000 feet, this secluded part of Africa is incredibly scenic, comprising of magni�icent escarpments which descend into open grasslands, basalt hills, lonely kopjes and riverine forest, fed by rivers sourced on the slopes of Mount Kenya. This diversity attracts considerable animal numbers and is home to the highest number of endangered species in East Africa.

Half the population of black rhino, Kenya’s second largest elephant population, the fastest growing wild dog population on the

continent and the globally threatened Grevy’s zebra have all found their home in Laikipia. This is a unique and fascinating wildlife experience when adding the animals that occur solely in central and northern Kenya, such as the reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. With such an array of plains game come the predators and Laikipia is home to signi�icant numbers of lion, cheetah and the ever elusive leopard.

Lake Turkana

LAIKIPIA Lake Victoria

Mt. Kenya N.P

Masai Mara

Nairobi Amboseli N.P

Kilimanjaro N.P

Ts a v o N.P

L E W A

H O U S E

L o c a t e d a t t h e v e r y h e a r t o f t h e C o n s e r v a n c y, L e w a H o u s e i s s e t o n t o p o f a h i l l w i t h e x t e n s i v e v i e w s over gentle valleys. It faces Mount Kenya to the south, the rugged Mathew’s Range and the sacred mountain of the Samburu, Ol Lolokwe to the north.

The exclusive Lewa House is located to the east of the Laikipia district, and central within the 62,000 acre Lewa Wild life Conservancy. This acclaimed Conservation area comprises of semi-arid grassland, ridged escarpments, small kopjes and riverine forests and contains 10% of Kenya’s black rhino population, 15% of its white rhino population as well as the highest concentration of endangered Grevy’s zebra in the world.

4 single room cottages and 3 family cottages, which enjoy double and twin rooms, rest on lush lawns beneath the dappled shade of acacia trees. Each family cottage boasts lavish ensuite bathrooms with Victorian baths and a private viewing deck for outstanding bird spotting. The decor re�lects the wild surrounds with dark wood furniture, stone walls and bright bursts of blue, reminiscent of the cerulean day-time sky. The crystal clear waters of the swimming pool provide a welcome escape from the African heat whilst observing herds of lumbering elephants as they trample their way to the waterhole below.

The superb African style cuisine invites indulgences in the culinary delights offered either in an elegantly appointed boma area or alfresco beneath a star scattered ceiling.

Lewa House places heavy emphasis on time spent in the bush and therefore offers wildlife viewing by way of vehicle, walking safaris with expert Maasai guides, or both horse and camelback safari excursions. Each unique experience provides the opportunity to view endemic species including the gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and Somali ostrich, as well as the more fearsome predators such as the ever elusive leopard, high numbers of wild dog, lion and cheetah.

At the close of each day, adventures are shared while sipping sundowners with a backdrop of the breathtaking Mt. Kenya, as the setting Kenyan sun stains the sky pure crimson.

“A c e l e b r a t i o n o f s e r e n i t y and African passion,

Lewa House provides an intimate and

e x c l u s i v e s a f a r i g e t a w a y.”

K E N YA’ S

A RID

NO RT H

S a m b u r u , B u f f a l o S p r i n g s , M e r u a n d S h a b a a r e a l l w i l d l i f e r e s e r ve s w h i c h l i e i n a va s t a r e a o f o p e n , t h o r n b u s h c o u n t r y a n d d e s e r t t h a t s t r e t c h e s n o r t h f r o m M t . Ke n ya t o S u d a n a n d E t h i o p i a . I t i s t h e s t a r k c o n t r a s t between emptiness, wilderness and rising mountains that makes this area such a spectacular destination.

The lifeblood of the North is the Ewaso Nyiro River and the crystal clear springs that empty into it. Its banks shaded by graceful doum palms, poplars and Acacia elatior trees, the Ewaso Nyiro attracts more and more wildlife as the dry season lengthens from June to October, although it is beautiful at any time of year.

Here you will �ind animals like the Grevy zebra, Beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the tiny dik-dik; all species of northern Kenya which have adapted to the harsh arid conditions of the Northern Frontier District. With luck you will also �ind the 'big cats' staking out the favourite drinking places of their prey along the lovely palm-fringed banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.

Wherever you look mountains rise out of the plains in the blue distance, the conical ash cones of the Nyambenis to the south, Lolokwe and the rugged Mathews Range in the east and to the north the granite towers of Bodich, Kamanga and Tumtu that impose above the Ewaso Nyiro.

Samburu, Pokot, Turkana, Rendille, Gabbra – these are the tribes of the north. All are proud and tough. The Samburu are related to the Masai although they live just north of the equator where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the northern desert and slightly south of Lake Turkana in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The purported

bene�its of modern life are often undesirable to the Samburu. They remain much more traditional in life and attitude than their Maasai cousins. The Turkana, like the Samburu and Maasai, still maintain their undiluted traditional way of life. They are distinguished as being great survivors, living in harsh and inhospitable terrain. As with all other pastoralist tribes in Kenya, livestock, especially cattle, are at the core of Turkana culture, they live a nomadic life, always moving from one place to another depending on the availability of pasture and water for their animals.

Lake Turkana

K E N YA’ S ARID NORTH Ewaso Nyiro River Equator

Lake Victoria Masai Mara

Mt. Kenya N.P Nairobi Amboseli N.P

Tana River Ts a v o N.P

S A S A A B

S i t u a t e d a b o v e t h e b a n k s o f t h e E w a s o N y i r o R i v e r, i n t h e a r i d h e a r t o f S a m b u r u l a n d ,

Sasaab’s tranquil setting offers views towards the Laikipia plateau and of Mount Kenya.

Located in northern Kenya, Samburu has a wild beauty of its own. The descent from the lush slopes of Mount Kenya, into the semidesert of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, is breathtaking.

Sasaab is on Samburu community land, on the Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch, known as the West Gate Conservancy.

The main area sits on a high rocky ridge allowing one to enjoy the spectacular views through the Moroccan interior and courtyard.

Accomodation is 9 Moroccan tents, each over 1000 square feet comprising a bedroom, sitting room and fully serviced bathrooms, and private plunge pool. 5 tents have double beds, 4 tents have twin beds.

Electricity is solar powered, offering outlets for charging equipment in each tent. All tents have wireless internet connection and cooling fans.

Sasaab is where Samburu culture really comes alive. We will meet warriors, elders and youngsters all of whom love to dance.

This is a wonderful opportunity for genuine interaction with an tribe of people with ancient customs and a way of life almost incomprehensible to us.

Other activities include; excursions into National Reserves known for its large herds of elephant and the endangered Grevy’s zebra, day and night game drives, walks along the river, mountain biking, camel rides and cultural visits.

Sasaab’s spa is a little luxury halfway through your safari. Take the ultimate time out, and head for Kenya's hottest new spa.

“From your plunge pool watch across the river HERDS of elephant c o m e t o b a t h 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

M A R A

E X P E D I T I O N

This is a place where lions own the night and hippos stake claim to vast territories,

where we submit to the supreme power of wild Africa and take our lead from Mother Nature…

Lying just inside the north-central border of the acclaimed Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Mara Expedition draws the �irst time traveller and the safari connoisseur alike.

Known as “the Greatest Show on Earth”, Mara Expedition offers unrivalled access to the routes of the Great Migration, exhibiting the awe-inspiring movement of 200,000 zebra, 18,000 eland, 500,000 Thompson’s gazelle and over a million wildebeest, up close.

Resting just off the Ntiakatek River, the 5 entirely exclusive suites are caught up in the branches of a cluster of trees, each raised on wooden decking with three open sides and ensuite bathrooms complete with showers. The private verandas may display the serene sight of a herd of wildebeest grazing in the plains below, whilst the uncluttered design is complemented by red velvet throw cushions, natural wooden accents and white linen. Decadent cuisine may be savoured by candlelight in the elegant dining room after the wild appeal of a day in the bush.

Providing the ultimate draw card, there is no better way to end the day than around a roaring camp�ire reliving the day’s stories with drink in hand.

The �lexible nature of Mara Expedition makes each stay unique and personal; unwind in the lavish lounge areas, visit a local Maasai village for a taste of African culture or witness the riverine forests, grasslands and rolling hills by hot air balloon.

With incomparable predator activity aided by the high density of prey during the migration period, sightings of leopard, hyena and cheetah are at their peak. Night drives offer a rare nocturnal perspective whilst day safaris offer the opportunity to view over 470 bird species, herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe or the sight of a lion strutting right past the vehicle.

“There’s an air of yesteryear in Mara Expedition Camp’s

design, which draws stylistic reference from the old,

authentic expedition camps o f t h e c o l o n i a l e r a .”

O L

D O N Y O

L O D G E

W e d g e d b e t w e e n K e n y a ’ s Ts a v o a n d A m b o s e l i N a t i o n a l P a r k s i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e C h y u l u H i l l s ,

this is a place of timeless wild beauty presided over by the magni�icent summit of Africa’s greatest icon Ol Donyo Lodge is favourably located on the 300,000 acre Mbirikani Group Ranch and nestles between the great Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, in south eastern Kenya. This exclusive, safari destination rests on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills which form part of a 100 kilometre volcanic �ield and welcomes 333 bird species and over 7,000 animals, including the endangered black rhino.

10 thatched chalets all with private lounge and 2 double bedrooms nuzzle amongst the thorny arms of acacia trees and dense thicket. All suites have a lounge, veranda, indoor and outdoor showers, double wash basins, �lush toilet and bath, and “star-bed”.

All but 2 have their own pool. The roof top star-bed offers breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and is accessed from the veranda via a winding stone staircase. This is a fabulous sleep-out option, with utter privacy and all the amenities of the suite just below.

From the canopied beds adorned in crisp white linen to the eclectic paintings and oversized grass couches, the decor is lavish and �lavoured with African �lair.

– Mount Kilimanjaro.

Dining at Ol Donyo is a memorable affair, whether savoured by candlelight in the stylish dining room, alfresco on the veranda or in the heart of the bush surrounded by an orchestra of bird calls. The opportunity to ride across the verdant grasslands on horse back and witness a herd of buffalo or perhaps the long graceful necks of a family of giraffe or the rare fringe-eared oryx abound. Game drives may offer excellent opportunities for viewing predator activity with lion, cheetah and the typically elusive leopard; however guided walks provide a more intimate experience with sightings of a boisterous elephant herd and the timid gerenuk.

Ol Donyo Lodge encompasses all the wonder and exclusivity of a luxury safari experience in one snapshot.

“It is at Ol Donyo

where some of Africa’s last giant elephant bulls roam freely”

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. The older orphans are based within Tsavo East National Park at either of 2 established rehabilitation centres for the gradual process of the re-integration, with others in early infancy are 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

J A M E S

R O B E R T S O N

T h i r t y - � i v e y e a r s a f t e r l e a d i n g h i s � i r s t e x p e d i t i o n , J a m e s i s c h a i r m a n o f t h e b o a r d a t K e r & D o w n e y, and an in�luential leader of the new movement in community-led conservation.

Like the safari industry itself, James Robertson was born and raised in Kenya, where his appetite for adventure has earned him a reputation as one of the modern pioneers of the global safari business.

James’ dependability for never following the same itinerary twice, and for continually searching out new experiences for his clients, has won him admirers across the industry, as well as an army of repeat guests (including two families who have each travelled with him 26 times!). Among his long-standing Kenyan crew, he’s known as “Ndorobo” after the fabled hunter-gathers of northern Kenya – a tribe renowned for their resourceful bushcraft, and their complete absence of fear for wild animals.

Although James’ �irst love and main base is Kenya, he is an “all-Africa guide” and just as likely to be found travelling through the game-rich parks, reserves and conservancies of eastern and southern Africa. In recent years, he has been supporting a number of Maasai and Samburu communities that have turned part of their grazing lands over to conservation – giving guests a chance to see some rarer wildlife species, and to experience an absolutely authentic immersion in two of the world’s oldest tribal cultures.

In 2001, James was a founder of The Mara Conservancy, a ground-breaking and widely-admired partnership between conservationists and the county government, which established a new public-private template to protect the critical wildlife dispersal areas north of the Maasai Mara Reserve. He sits on the board of the (removed the MMWCT) Kenya Wildlife Trust , and his unrivalled contacts enable his guests to meet some of the leading conservationists and wildlife researchers in the world.

Having been raised on the edge of Kenya's largest National Park, Tsavo is close to James’ heart.

His most recent focus is on protecting the last remaining Great Tuskers of which there are around 10 bulls each carrying in excess of 100lbs of ivory per side. He is working closely with the Tsavo Trust to protect these valuable elephants.

James and Abigail live within a wildlife sanctuary on the outskirts of Nairobi, where they host most of their guests personally. They work together as much as possible out on safari where their shared passions are apparent to anyone travelling with them.

TEL: +254 (0)720 911 143

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