O ’ B R I E N SA FA R I 2 D ESI GN E D BY JA M E S RO BE RT S O N
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K E N YA 1 4 th SEP TEMBER 2 0 1 9
I T I N E R A R Y
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N A I R O B I - L E WA D O W N S - L A I K P I A - M A A S A I M A R A - T H E S O U T H E R N R I F T - N A I R O B I 1st SEPTEMBER 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.
2 n d - 4 t h S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 : L E WA D O W N S
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 Wilderness.
5th - 7th SEPTEMBER 2019: LAIKIPIA
We �ly you north across the Laikipia Plateau to Lemboyo Ranch and you will stay at Laikipia Wilderness for three nights.
8th - 11th SEPTEMBER 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 four nights.
1 2 t h & 1 3 t h S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 : S O U T H E R N R I F T VA L L E Y
We �ly you south west along the Tanzanian border towards Lake Magadi. You will have two nights at Shompole Wilderness.
1 4 t h S E P T E M B E R 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 2
This fabulous 14 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 D O W N S
L E WA W I L D E R N E S S
Lake Logipi
D AY 5 - 7
LAIKIPIA
LAIKIPIA WILDERNESS D AY 8 - 1 1
MAASAI MARA
MARA EXPEDITIONS D AY 1 2 & 1 3
SOUTHERN RIFT
SHOMPOLE WILDERNESS D AY 1 4
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
Ewaso Nyiro River
Lake Baringo
Then up to Laikipia Wilderness Camp which is stunningly located and where you will have lots of opportunity to walk and explore on foot spend time with the colourful Samburu tribe. You have a good chance of seeing African Wild Dog.
Shaba Samburu
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
We then take you south to the Maasai Mara which in September will host the magni�icent wildebeest migration. You will be ideally located at Mara Expditions camp. Predator viewing, especially for leopard, is good here.
Finally we take you Shompole Wilderness which is situated in the �loor of the Great Rift Valley. Here you can tube and kayak on the river and walk too. Your time here with the Maasai will be fascinating. This is a beautifully balanced safari where you will stay in stunning luxury lodges and camps. We have incorporated lots of activity so that you will be able to really explore and learn as well as relax if you wish.
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 E W A
W I L D E R N E S S
Lewa Wilderness rests on the northern foothills of Mount Kenya,
the second tallest mountain in Africa with the Batian peaks standing at 17,057 feet. Lewa Wilderness is one of Kenya’s oldest and most private safari ventures.
Situated on Lewa Downs, the privately owned 62,000 acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located on the Laikipia plateau, a 2 million acre amalgamation of semi-arid grassland, ridged escarpments, basalt hills, small kopjes and riverine forests.
The lodge has 9 exclusive rooms: 6 thatched cottages tucked into the hillside overlooking Lewa’s Eastern Marania Valley, and 3 thatched garden cottages set in the beautiful green lawns. Each cottage is tastefully decorated with antique and handmade furniture, giving rustic charm and the character of a ranch homestead. Canopied beds, patterned cushions, crisp white linen and wooden furnishings, comfort is at the heart of the decor.
Due to the private land ownership and minimal restrictions, a wide variety of activities are available, including camel rides to a nearby animal orphanage. The main lodge offers
a refreshing saltwater pool, tennis courts and an elegant dining area where organic cuisine may be enjoyed indoors or alfresco. Walking safaris with Maasai guides and night and day drives, offer views of endemic wild life such as gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Lelwel hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra and Somali ostrich. With the highest concentration of rhino in East Africa, notable numbers of lion, cheetah and the reclusive leopard, wildlife sightings are sure to amaze. Or, accompanied by knowledgeable Maasai guides and with a red sun setting in the distance, experience the Kenyan bush on horseback.
“Lewa Wilderness Camp offers a doorway to rare wildlife and a
culturally rich people from the comfort
o f a n A f r i c a n s a n c t u a r 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 A I K P I A
W I L D E R N E S S
L a i k p i a , m i l e s a n d m i l e s o f u n f e n c e d w i l d e r n e s s , b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y,
wildlife that is on the increase and in greater numbers than anywhere else in Kenya except the Mara. Laikpia has a perfect climate, wonderful people still very close to their traditions and proud, and the freedom to explore this haven any way you can imagine. A small and personal bush camp with just 5 tents catering for 10 guests, ensuite open air bathrooms with hot and cold running water. The camp has beautiful views of Mt Kenya and the wilderness and blends sympathetically into this stunning area of true wilderness. The tents are each built on a platform with a private veranda and behind the tent an ensuite bathroom made of natural materials which is partially open to the skies allowing you to shower under the stars.
The large mess tent is the central reception area with dining room, sitting room and library. Outside there is an open veranda on a wooden deck where we gather at night. There is a viewing point with a camp�ire where we often eat under the stars.
Each day is made an adventure, from game drives to walking safaris which can be focussed on speci�ic interests such as photography, tracking game on foot, following speci�ic species and watching animal behaviour. Amidst this scenery there are large numbers of elephants in smaller herds than in some parts of the country, a sign of being unstressed. Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, hippos, buffalo, warthog, lions, hyenas, bat-eared foxes and lots of antelope species are all commonly seen. Of the more exciting and interesting species you may not �ind elsewhere we are lucky to have excellent leopard sightings, striped hyena, aardwolf, aardvark and not least, some of the best wild dog sightings in Africa.
“Laikpia is like nowhere e l s e i n A F R I C A .”
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 .”
EAST E R N R I F T VA L L E Y L A K E S
T h e K e n y a n R i f t Va l l e y i s a s e c t i o n o f t h e 6 , 0 0 0 k i l o m e t r e G r e a t R i f t Va l l e y, a g e o l o g i c a l w o n d e r o f t h e w o r l d . T h e K e n y a n s e c t i o n c o m p r i s e s o f 8 l a k e s o f w h i c h 3 a r e f r e s h w a t e r, a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g 5 a r e a l k a l i n e . The lake series begins in the north on the Ethiopian border, where the Rift Valley is deepest, with the largest lake, Turkana, widely known as the Jade Sea due to the remarkable greenish-blue colour of its fresh waters. Still north of Nairobi are lakes Logipi, Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Elementeita and Naivasha, surrounded by a rugged, barren countryside contributing to the haunting nature of this spectacular scenery.
The shallow soda lakes of Logipi and Bogoria display the evidence of volcanic activity through the presence of spurting steam and geothermal pools, against the dramatic white shores of crystalised salts. Lake Baringo is the second largest of the Kenyan Rift Valley lakes, fed by 2 rivers, El Molo and Ol Arabel; its freshwaters providing an oasis in the extremely arid surrounds. At the heart of the lake is Ol Kokwe Island, an ideal base from which to explore by boat, as the lake is well stocked with �ish, hippo, crocodile and more than 470 species of bird. Nakuru and freshwater Naivasha are the most visited due to their famous �lamingo populations, a pulsing pink carpet of life feeding on crustaceans and the lake-bed algae. Nakuru has the added attraction of an abounding park which protects populations of the endangered Rothschild giraffe and both
black and white rhino, providing also the best chance of seeing leopard in Kenya. South of Nairobi, lies Lake Magadi, known for its stunning landscapes and exquisite colourations which echo the changes in the light. With many activities offered, including hiking, birding, boating, �ishing, biking, rock climbing and the observation of world class bird and wildlife; the rich natural bounty of these lake regions guarantees an exciting adventure from onset to conclusion. LAKE TURKANA LAKE LOGIPI
LAKE BARINGO LAKE BOGORIA Lake Victoria
LAKE NAKURU
LAKE ELEMENTEITA LAKE NAIVASHA Nairobi LAKE MAGADI
SHO MPO LE
WILDE RN E S S
A small luxury tented camp nestled in the shade of giant �ig trees on the banks of the
E w a s o N y i r o R i v e r i n t h e S h o m p o l e C o n s e r v a n c y o n t h e b o t t o m o f t h e G r e a t R i f t V a l l e y. Located between Lake Magadi and Lake Natron, the conservancy is a large, privately operated concession area in the south of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. The camp is located in the Shompole group ranch, and is collaboration between the local Maasai community and Shompole Wilderness Ltd, a company owned by established tour operators and safari guides and a Swiss trained hotelier. Your hosts at the camp will be the local Maasai and long-time supporters and residents, Johann du Toit and his family, who have lived and worked in the area for over ten years.
A dry climate, hottest in October and November and most likely to be wet in April and May, the �lora are adapted to semi-arid conditions and include umbrella thorn trees and the colorful toothbrush tree. The main source of water is the Ewaso Nyrio which orignates in the Mau forest to the north and �lows into Lake Natron. There are riverine thickets along the banks of the river. Wildlife include giraffe, buffalo, elephants and desert antelope such as gerenuk and oryx.
Early morning and late afternoon game drives enhance your chances of sighting a big cat and a visit to the Shompole swamps, waterfalls or soda lakes with fabulous �lamingos is a must. The camp is however, very aware of the fragile environment so tracking and walking based activities are high on the agenda. Floating down a river passing huge �ig trees, baboons and monkeys is a highlight as this river is surprisingly, crocodile free.
The 4 luxury tents stand in the shade of a giant �ig tree and are very private with plenty of space between them. Ensuite facilities have bucket showers and lighting in the tent is all solar. The camp has no electricity or internet access and the phone signal is extremely weak. This is a true get away from it all; a refuge from daily life where you can be at one with nature both in mind and body.
“A p h o t o g r a p h e r ’ s p a r a d i s e , an escapist’s UTOPIA,
b e a u t i f u l , w i l d a n d a u t h e n t i c .”
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