W E N DT FA M I LY SA FA R I I T I N E R ARY
9 t h
-
K E N YA 1 6 t h AU G U ST 2 0 1 9
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
T H E E M A KO KO - S I R I KO I - R I C H A R D ’ S C A M P - H O G H O U S E
N A I R O B I - L E WA W I L D L I F E C O N S E R VA N C Y - M A A S A I M A R A - N A I R O B I
9 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : N A I R O B I N A T I O N A L PA R K
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to The Emakoko located on the edge of Nairobi National Park. You will meet your guides here and stay for one night.
1 0 t h - 1 2 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : L E WA W I L D L I F E C O N S E R VA N C Y
After breakfast you will transfer to Wilson Airport where you will meet your two privately chartered aircraft and �ly north, over the Equator into the shadows of Mt. Kenya to Lewa Downs. You will have three nights at Sirikoi.
1 2 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : H E L I C O P T E R S A FA R I T O L A K E T U R K A N A
On your last day at Lewa we suggest a full day’s helicopter safari, this is a fabulous way to enhance your safari. You’ll �ly north into the Great Rift Valley and explore the spine of volcanoes and string of lakes in the Rift’s �loor. Stopping at many places en route from rockly pinacles to giant sand dunes, ancient rock art and lurid springs, �lamingo fringed lakes shores and �inally reaching the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana which extends up to the Ethiopian border. This exhilarating adventure would take months of planning and logistics to attempt by car and most places are completely inaccesible.
13th - 15th August 2019; MAASAI MARA
We will �ly you south west across the Rift Valley to the probably the best known area in the World for Big Game, the Maasai Mara. You will have three nights at Richard’s Camp.
1 6 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : N A I R O B I A N D T R A V E L D AY
You will return to Nairobi again by private charter and we wecome you to our home, Hog House located in the Giraffe Sanctuary for the rest of the day. We are close to many craft centres. We will transfer you to the international airport for your �light home.
R E G I O N S
W E N D T FA M I LY S A FA R I 2 0 1 9 This 9 day safari takes in two of Kenya’s very best wildlife areas; Laikipia and the Maasai Mara. We have selected these two areas for their abundance of wildlife and also the contrast between arid and savannah.
D AY 1
NAIROBI
T H E E M A KO KO
D AY 3 - 5
L E WA D O W N S S I R I KO I
Lake Logipi
D AY 6 - 8
MAASAI MARA
RICHARD’S CAMP
D AY 9
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
You begin with a night on the edge of Nairobi National Park at The Emakoko. Here you will feel as if you have begun your safari immediatly with a chance of wildlife even on the drive from the airport to the lodge.
Lake Turkana
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
We take you north to begin with to Lewa which boasts not only all the Big Five but also arid species such as Reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. Here you are in a private conservancy and so there is masses to keep everyone happy from horseback riding, to superb walking and exploring at night too to �ind nocturnal wildlife. Sirkioi, where you will stay is stunning and beautifully maintained.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
On your last day at Lewa we suggest a breathtaking helicopter safari to the Jade Sea stopping many times along the way in places normally completely inaccessible. This adventure really highlights how diverse this extraordinary country is.
We then take you to the Maasai Mara which in August hosts the Great Migration. You will doubtless witness some of the largest accumulations of wildlife seen anywhere, hundreds of thousands of herbivores with of course attendant predators. Richard’s Camp is small and attention is paid to every detail. We welcome you to our home in Nairobi on your �inal day to relax before we take you to the airport.
PR IVAT E
CHA RT ER
F L I G H T S
A t h r i l l i n g w a y t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e d i v e r s i t y o f E a s t A f r i c a i s f r o m t h e a i r.
Flying is the perfect way to optimize your safari time, without being limited by distances and time. All our private charter �lights are operated by trusted companies that we work with all the time. Experienced pilots, passionate about Kenya – its history, geography, people and wildlife – make every effort to ensure �lights are enjoyable and part of the safari experience. The pilots we use are some of the best bush pilots in the world. The geography of this country is dominated by the Great Rift Valley, it’s lakes and volcanoes and seeing this all from above really helps to gain a greater understanding of Kenya’s varied environments. We use Cessna aircraft almost exclusively. Its proven track record as a single engine aircraft, great performance on bush strips and robust design, make Cessna aircrafts the most suitable planes for Kenya and East Africa. It is capable of taking off from nearly all bush airstrips, made possible by the large wheels, very ef�icient wing and powerful engine. Cessna Caravan (C208) - 12 pax. We use the caravan 208 the most . The caravan is the best-selling, most-�lown airplane ever, due to its proven reliability, �light characteristics and reputation as the safest
general aviation aircraft ever built.
‘Baby’ Caravan (C208) - 6 pax. Extremely comfortable, with great visibility out of the large windows. It is versatile in all weather conditions with a turbine engine. Cessna 182 (C108) - 2 pax. Single-engine light aircraft. Its high wing position allows excellent visibility and it is comfortable, reliable and versatile.
Cessna 182 (206) - 6 pax. Single-engined aircraft, popular as bush planes for its powerful, rugged construction and large cabin. Cessna (F406) - 12 pax. Twin turboprop aircraft ideal for short �lights.
Beechcraft Super King Air - 9 pax. For those looking for luxury in the air, a spacious and well appointed twin engine aircraft.
Flying between destinations is a highlight of any safari. As you �ly over the ever changing landscape and ecotones, you get an incredible birds eye view of this incredible country.
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
S I R I K O I
Sirikoi is a spectacular game lodge situated on its own private estate in the centre of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya.
Lewa Downs, one of Kenya’s oldest ranches, is a 65,000 acre private game ranch and home to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Surrounded by an acacia grove and overlooking a natural waterhole fed from a mountain spring Sirikoi offers some of the best game viewing in East Africa, while Mount Kenya creates a wonderful backdrop for photography.
Sirikoi’s luxury tented rooms have been built spaciously and have fantastic views of the waterhole, so you can watch the passing game from your private verandah – your tent also has a �ireplace and an elegant bathroom, with a huge freestanding Victorian bath and a shower. The beautifully designed pool is also the perfect spot from which to watch game. There is also a 2 bedroom house, secluded from the main lodge, which is ideal for families or those guests wanting utter exclusivity. The front of each room enjoys a picture window almost the width of the room itself, which can be fully opened during the day. Whether game viewing by vehicle, foot or horseback, you are sure to see an array of wildlife. Lewa is home to many of Northern Kenya’s dry country adapted species and also numerous endangered white and black rhino.
There are roughly equal numbers of black and white rhino - the latest count numbers 106. The world's largest concentration of the endangered Grevy zebra resides on Lewa as well as elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, oryx, lion, leopard and cheetah amongst others. The Conservancy is teeming with birdlife with over 350 species across the diverse topography which includes rolling open plains, hills and kopjes, thick forest, valleys, escarpments, wetlands and rivers. Evening sundowners with incredible views of distant mountains, are an absolute highlight, preceding exquisite meals served under the stars or next to the roaring �ire.
“The lodge also has a 20 foot hide,
which is a great spot for
viewing the diverse landscape, having sundowners and S TA R G A Z I N G .”
H E L I C O P T E R
S A F A R I S
The possibilities are endless...wilderness, wildlife and
nomadic tribal communities of the untouched north of Kenya.
MAGADO CRATER Magado is an incredible volcanic crater in which salt deposits at the base are used by local Meru and Boran tribes people. This is a wild spot where we plan to explore and picnic on one of the days.
We could spend a day and go north to Lake Turkana – the Jade Sea – far up towards the Ethiopian border – and a place where very very few people ever go…. LAKE TURKANA This lake formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is the largest of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. Blue-green algae give the water a greenish tint and when you see it you will understand why it is also known as the “Jade Sea”. It is surrounded by volcanoes at its southern end, and Central Island is still active.
SUGUTA VALLEY We may �ly north over the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley and into the Suguta Valley where the river is lined with doum and barassus palms. The river snakes its way in slow meanders but is trapped by the walls of the Great Rift. Its headwaters lie south of Lake Turkana in a land dominated by sand dunes.
LOGIPI Just south of Lake Turkana and separated from it by a volcanic barrier, lies Logipi – a shallow lake which is home to many thousands of �lamingos and other water birds. This part of Kenya is incredibly remote, very few people have ever seen this lake. The helicopter allows unbeatable views of the birdlife. We do hope to maximize your safari by using the helicopter – certainly it will give you the very best view, enable us to spot game from the air, and appreciate the enormous diversity of this country – from snow capped mountains, to dusty deserts, plains covered with game and lush river valleys.
L A KE
T URKA NA
I n t h e n o r t h e r n m o s t p a r t o f t h e K e n y a n G r e a t R i f t Va l l e y i s L a k e T u r k a n a . It is widely known as the Jade Sea due to the remarkable greenish-blue colour of its waters, an ethereal mirage immerging from the sweltering arid desert surrounds. Lake Turkana is the largest alkaline desert lake in the world, 300 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide with the main tributary, the River Omo, entering from the north and contributing more than 90% of the total water in�lux.
The lake lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, established originally to protect some of the world’s most important paleontological and archaeological sites. Turkana has one of the longest living histories and is regarded by many as the birthplace of humanity; the humanoid fossils unearthed by the Leakey family in the 1960’s are around 2.5 million years old. Lake Turkana offers a cultural glimpse at colourful tribes unaffected by the 21st century, utterly reliant on the lake as the only permanent water source in the area. Sibiloi National Park has excellent game-viewing, a refuge for a number of dry country species including gerenuk, oryx, Lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and Grevy’s zebra. Along the shorelines an abundance of topi and Burchell’s zebra entice the resident predators, including lion, cheetah, side-striped jackal, spotted hyena and the rare striped hyena. Three South Island from
volcanic islands in Lake Turkana – Island, Central Island and North – provide incredible vantage points which to experience the rich
lacustrine wildlife supported by the lake itself. Central Island, with its stunning scenery and three crater lakes, is a breeding ground for the world’s biggest population of Nile crocodiles. There is proli�ic birdlife and at certain times of the year, well over 300 species can be observed as African and Palaearctic migrants break their northward journeys. Scenic beyond belief, surrounded by cliffs, gentle beaches, desert and volcanic rock outcrops, Lake Turkana is certainly one of East Africa’s best kept secrets. LAKE TURKANA
Buffalo Springs N.P Lake Victoria Masai Mara
Shaba N.P Mt. Kenya N.P
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Ts a v o N.P
THE
G REAT
RIFT
VAL L E Y
T h e G r e a t R i f t V a l l e y, a l a n d s c a p e i n t u r m o i l , t o r n a p a r t b y t h e t w i s t i n g a n d b u c k l i n g o f t h e E a r t h ’ s c r u s t . I t i s a l s o a l a n d s c a p e o f h u g e u n p r e d i c t a b l e c h a n g e , t h a t f o r c e s a n i m a l s d a y b y d a y, s e a s o n b y s e a s o n t o gamble with their lives, but for those that win, this is one of the most fertile landscapes on Earth. The Great Rift Valley was the name given by British explorer John Walter Gregory, to the continuous geographic trench, approximately 6,000 kilometres in length, running from northern Syria to central Mozambique in South East Africa. The East African Rift Vally has two branches – the Eastern branch which runs through Kenya and Northern Tanzania, and the Western branch through DR Congo, and Western Tanzania. The Western Rift is edged by some of the highest mountains in Africa including t h e V i r u n g a M o u n t a i n s i n Rwa n d a , a n d a l s o includes the Great Lakes. These are some of the deepest lakes in the world and all of the African Great Lakes were formed as the result of the rift.
In Kenya, the valley is at it’s most dramatic to the north of Nairobi, the ancient volcanoes of Longonot and Suswa are easy to see from the road. Most lakes in northern Kenya are shallow and poorly drained and therefore have become alkaline. Their waters are rich in blue - green algae which
David Attenborough
feed insect larvae, small crustaceans and massive �locks of �lamingos. The Kenya Lake system is also a key location on a route followed by huge numbers of birds in their annual migration from breeding grounds in the north, to wintering places in Africa. The lands around the lakes include large populations of Black rhino (Lake Nakuru), Rothschild's giraffe, Greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs. Lake Turkana
GREAT RIFT VALLEY Shaba N.P Buffalo Springs N.P Lake Victoria Masai Mara
Mt. Kenya N.P Nairobi
Amboseli N.P
Ts a v o N.P
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
R I C H A R D ’ S
C A M P
Located north-west of the Maasai Mara Reserve, on conservation land owned and managed by the Maasai, Richard's Camp comes with a reputation steeped in the history of a family that has lived among wild animals for the best part of 60 years.
A small, private and intimate camp from
There
viewing in admits breathtaking scenery. At
comfortable safari style and each tent has
which to discover and experience the ‘real Africa’ and days of heart-stopping game Richard’s
Camp,
traditional
African
hospitality meets understated luxury. Set
amongst a grove of enormous African olive
trees, Richard’s Camp overlooks the open plains which are so characteristic of the Mara and many species of wildlife visit the camp regularly. Days can be as relaxed or as
exciting as you wish them to be. The knowledgable and engaging guides lead bush walks as well as game drives and can
take you to the local Masai homesteads or out to the plains for a sundowner.
In the evenings you may wish to dine in the bush alongside hippo pools and then head back to camp on a night game drive with the
chance to spot the elusive zorilla, honey badger or genet cat.
are
just
7
tents
which
makes
Richard’s Camp both secluded and intimate. The 24
spacious
hour
tents
solar
are
lighting
furnished and
in
ensuite
bathrooms with �lushing loos and hot safari showers.
An
open
Victorian
bath
surrounded by �lickering candles and the sounds of the bush is the perfect indulgence
after a day on game drives. After this, cocktails around the open camp �ire precede
a delicious three course meal under a canopy of stars
“A c a s u a l l y l u x u r i o u s
tented camp, combining EXCEPTIONAL wildlife with a contemporary
‘ O u t o f A f r i c a ’ e x p e r i e n c e .”
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.”
K E R
&
D O W N E Y
“ S o m e t h i n k t h e b e s t l a r g e - s c a l e o p e r a t i o n a f t e r t h e w a r…
was the one launched over a drink or two on the veranda of the Imperial Hotel in Addis Ababa” – Bartle Bull, Safari: A Chronicle of Adventure, 1
Like so many great ventures, Ker & Downey Safaris was born from a chance encounter. Donald Ker and Syd Downey, two big game hunters from Kenya, had been �ighting with the British in Ethiopia shortly before the fall of Addis Ababa in 1941. Syd had just been released by the Italians and was celebrating at a local hotel when he bumped into Donald Ker. With one car and a lot of bravura, the pair made a plan to establish “the best safari company the world has ever known”.
and 70’s, the company continued to grow – extending its reach across southern Africa, east to the jungles of Congo, and north into the deserts of Ethiopia and Sudan. By 1977, when hunting was of�icially banned in Kenya, K&D had transformed itself into the leading provider of customised mobile photographic safaris in Africa.
In 1962, shortly before Kenya’s Independence, Ker & Downey spread its wings to Botswana, with Harry Selby and a couple of other guides offering safaris in this ‘new’, uncharted corner of Africa. Through the 60’s
“Because we’ve been doing
It was not until January 1946 that Syd and Donald, newly discharged from the army, took out their �irst safari. They were hired to run a camp in the Maasai Mara for the production of “The Macomber Affair”, the United Artists blockbuster starring Gregory Peck and Joan Bennett. It was the beginning of a long love affair with Hollywood, which would see “K&D” out�it some of the biggest �ilms ever to come out of Africa.
Today, Ker & Downey is celebrated as the longest-existing safari out�itter in the world, and the standard-bearer for unsurpassed luxury in some of its last great wild places. So successful has the “K&D” name been that it has been brazenly borrowed by a number of copycat companies in Africa and the West. Yet to this day, no one has come close to emulating the luxurious standards, the rich experiences, or the peerless guiding of “The Original Ker & Downey Safaris”.
t h i s f o r 7 0 y e a r s . . .”
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