S CHWE I Z E R 6 DAY SA FA R I D ESI GN E D BY JA M ES RO BE RT S O N
K E N YA 2 5 th Se p te mbe r 2 nd Oc tobe r 2 0 1 8
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
HOG HOUSE - TORTILIS - NABOISHO - HOG HOUSE NAIROBI - AMBOSELI - MAASAI MARA - NAIROBI
25th September 2018: NAIROBI
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International airport you will be met and transferred to our home; Hog House, on the outskirst of Nairobi. You will have one night here.
26th - 28th September 2018: AMBOSELI
After a very early breakfast we will transfer you down to Wilson Airport for your �light by scheduled aircraft to Amboseli. You will have three nights at Tortilis Camp.
29th September - 1st October 2018: MAASAI MARA
You will �ly, again by scheduled aircraft, via Nairobi, south west over the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara where you will be based at Naboisho Camp for three nights.
2 n d O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8 : T R A V E L D AY
You will return to Nairobi by scheduled �light and we welcome you back to Hog House for the rest of the day. We are conveniently located near craft shops and markets and we also recommend a visit to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. We will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International airport in time for your �light home.
R E G I O N S S C H W E I Z E R 6 D AY S A FA R I
D AY 1
NAIROBI
This fabulous 8 day itinerary includes 6 days on safari in two of Kenya’s very best wildlife areas. We have chosen Amboseli and the Maasai Mara both of which have superb wildlife concentrations.
Lake Logipi
D AY 2 - 4
AMBOSELI TORTILIS D AY 5 - 7
MAASAI MARA NABOISHO CAMP
D AY 8
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
After a night in Nairobi at our home, we take you south, into the shadows of Kilimanjaro to Amboseli. The emerald green swamps are fed by glacial meltwaters and sustain large numbers of wildlife. Great elephant viewing here and superb plains game with good lion sightings as well. Tortilis Camp is located on the edge of the park so you can enjoy walking and night drives here too.
Lake Turkana
HOG HOUSE
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Next we take you to the Mara, where in September the Great Wildebeest Migration should be in full swing. You’ll stay at Naboisho which has superb predator viewing and again allows for some great walking.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
At the end of the trip we bring you back to Nairobi and you’ll base at home. The Sheldrick Elephant orphanage is close by as are various craft markets.
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.”
A M B O S E L I
Against the magni�icent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro lies Amboseli, a national park and ecosystem. Meaning the ‘salty earth’ in the language of the Maasai, Amboseli is aptly named after the alkaline volcanic ash that spewed from the now dormant volcano Kilimanjaro. The 1.2 million acre ecosystem lies on Kenya’s boarder with Tanzania and incorporates habitats of dry lake beds, savannah grasslands, woodland and swamps fed by springs emanating from Mount Kilimanjaro.
The area is home to grassland dwellers such as buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle and warthog, while the resident predators include lion, cheetah and hyena. Amboseli is also a birding hotspot, with over 600 species recorded. The principal attraction at Amboseli however, is the large herds of free roaming elephants made famous by Dr. Joyce Poole who, through the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, put these intelligent giants on the map. Her long running large mammal research project in Africa combines 30 years of uninterrupted study and chronicles Amboseli’s elephant herds, from new born calves to 60 year old matriarchs and old bulls that carry some of the longest tusks in Africa. Contiguous with Amboseli National Park is the Kitirua Wildlife Conservancy, a partnership between a local Maasai community and the private sector.
Designed to protect wildlife, this private and exclusive conservancy enables both day and night drives, walking and an unparalleled opportunity to meet members of the Maasai community in a welcoming and culturally sensitive manner.
This is a quintessential African landscape of elephants and traditional tribes with the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds behind. Lake Turkana
Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi
AMBOSELI N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
Ts a v o N.P
T O R T I L I S
C A M P
To r t i l i s C a m p i s o n t h e e d g e o f A m b o s e l i N a t i o n a l P a r k a n d w i t h i n a c o m m u n i t y c o n s e r v a n c y,
surrounded by an Acacia tortilis woodland; the thorny umbrella tree from which the camp takes its name. An exclusive getaway, the camp is framed by the world’s highest freestanding mountain, the snow-capped and majestic Mt Kilimanjaro. Boasting over 300 bird species and over 1000 elephants, many of which are the largest in Africa, this particular mammal population is one of Amboseli’s most elite characteristics.
The 17 spacious tents with ensuite bath rooms and the palatial private house, with a dining area and stone laid �loors, are nestled amongst acacia trees along the side of Llimbarishi Hill. The decor is natural yet lavish, complimented with eclectic carpets and grass lamps. The main lodge offers elegantly thatched dining, bar and lounge areas as well as a sparkling pool. For further relaxation, guests may peruse the shop or indulge in a revitalising massage.
Cuisine is offered in the dining area overlooking the breathtaking surroundings, or in the form of a bush breakfast for
serene enjoyment. Game drives and bush walks, offered by the Maasai guides, within the Reserve and the almost 300,000 acre concession, provide a spectacular opportunity to view a variety of wildlife up close – dikdik, jackal, cheetah, leopard, lion, rhino, zebra and buffalo. However, the true wonder of Tortilis Camp lies in its setting, whether sipping sundowners in the bush surrounded by sounds of the wild, or enjoying an excursion to the Elephant Research centre.
“The natural beauty
and magni�icence of viewing the African elephant up close with
Mt. Kilimanjaro as a
b a c k d r o p i s u n s u r p a s s e d .”
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
N A B O I S H O
N a b o i s h o C a m p i s f a v o u r a b l y l o c a t e d a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e 4 9 , 4 2 0 a c r e N a b o i s h o C o n s e r v a n c y, which lies to the far east of the internationally acclaimed Masai Mara eco-system.
As part of the Narok South district, the Conservancy comprises of riverine acacia forests, savannah grasslands and rolling hills which welcome one of the highest densities of game in Kenya. 8 canvas tents featuring stone verandas, are set amidst the lush plains dotted with acacia and the forms of various ungulates from eland to buffalo. Each tan structure is spacious and uncluttered, possessing a well-appointed ensuite bathroom complete with safari style bucket shower. The decor is understated yet luxurious, re�lecting the hues of the bush in soft tones of beige, crisp white and the deep russet of the wooden furnishings – the ideal simplistic sanctuary. Dining is enjoyed alfresco with delicious bush�ire cuisine savoured to the sound of bird calls as the night draws closer. The distant roar of a lion or barking zebra and the setting sun provides an unforgettable show.
Traversing the plains by vehicle offers the opportunity for a high number of up close sightings, whilst guided walks provide a more personal and intimate perspective.
Boasting over 100 lion and numerous observations of the sleek form of the leopard, coupled with a reputation for sightings of up to 11 cheetahs in a 2 day period, predator activity provides an unmistakeable highlight in this area.
“Naboisho Camp offers all the magic and inspiring wildlife
viewing which characterises the b e s t t e n t e d s a f a r i e x p e r i e n c e .”
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
K E N YA
WILD LIFE
T RU ST
Fo u n d e d by a g ro u p o f Ke r & D ow n ey g u i d e s , Ke nya W i l d l i fe Tr u s t
is here to protect the country’s predators through a network of high-impact conservation initiatives In 2007, a small group of private guides decided to form a Trust, as a way to raise funds through their safaris for grassroots conservation projects around Kenya. The result of that pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit is Kenya Wildlife Trust.
Our long-term partnership with Ker & Downey re�lects the fact that the best private guides have conservation in their DNA. What we offer to both guides and visitors is a trustworthy pair of hands, focused on putting the right boots on the ground rather than into big of�ices. Remaining close to a range of safari partners, we are uniquely positioned to connect visitors from abroad to effective, grassroots conservation. Over the years, our team has developed a curated portfolio of high-impact conservation initiatives, with a strong focus on big cats. Since 2013, our two �lagship projects - the Mara Cheetah Project and Mara Lion Project - have been monitoring big cats with the long-term aim of stabilising the populations of both cheetah and lion. During your safari, you will spend time with both of our project teams at the Tony Lapham Predator Hub in the heart of the Masai Mara, learning about their focus, methods and �indings.
By raising funds through safaris, we can award grants to those projects (and people) achieving meaningful results across the three ‘pillars’ of Predator Conservation, Community Development and Conservation Education. Undertaking robust monitoring and evaluation of all our grants, we are the donor’s eyes and ears on the ground, ensuring every penny ends up where it should. Our team understands the importance of balancing scienti�ic research with community engagement, as well as the value of investing in people who live near wildlife. After all, conservation is really about people. “By donating to Kenya Wildlife Trust through their UK charity, I know and trust that my money is going straight to the cause.” Donor to The Friends of Kenya Wildlife Trust
Thanks to a sma ll number of donors who c o ver our c ore c osts, 100 % o f e v e r y d o n a t i o n g o e s d i r e ct l y t o o u r p r o g ra ms .
Moreo ver, for e ver y £1
we spend on c ore c osts, w e ra is e a t l e a s t £ 4 .
F R O M 2 0 0 7 T O 2 0 1 7 - C E L E B R AT I N G
1 0 Y E A R S O F C O N S E R VA T I O N I M PA C T.
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