Freeman Safaris
‘Yesterday’s Safaris Today’
Best of Kenya
This safari can start in either the Masai Mara or Samburu as the itineraries are exactly the same. However, the long or extra long safaris vary by adding more days in the Mara or Samburu. Please read this in conjunction with the days in the various locations in ‘My Safaris’ which explains the day in more detail.
Day 1
Fly out to the Masai Mara on the 10:00 flight from Wilson Airport, the Nairobi internal airport, landing at Ol Kiombo Airstrip at about 11:00. I will meet you and drive you to our camp, just 10 minutes away. I will then brief you, let you settle in and have lunch. We go out for the afternoon game drive, returning just before last light. Then, after showers, we all meet around the fire for drinks, followed by dinner and then to bed (see Camp Routine for more detail) I bet you’ll sleep so well that you won’t even hear the lovely night sounds!
Days 2 to 6 Inclusive
An early rise and breakfast then out in search of the game. As the camp is so central there are many available routes. We usually start looking for a particular cat, a male leopard for instance, but that can all change if maybe a cheetah is spotted out hunting. Rest assured that we will spend time with the game and will stay on if action is anticipated. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching an active pride of lions in the morning light, especially if there are cubs. Please read A Day in the Mara.
During the migration we check on the huge wildebeest herds to see if they are moving down to the Mara river to cross. River crossings are so exciting as the build-up continues. Will they go this time? Just as the conditions are right something spooks them and they all turn and wander off. So there is yet another wait until eventually those at the water’s edge are pressured into the water and the drama starts as the momentum increases. The crocs move into position and, I tell you, it’s nail-biting action!
The wait for a crossing can take anything from 10 minutes to 5 hours and many times I have called up lunch as we didn’t dare to leave. Having lunch under an acacia tree within sight of thousands of wildebeest and zebras is quite something!
Please read A Day Following the Migration.
The Mara is full of surprises. The cats, the game and the birds are all truly amazing. I don’t think there is a better place in Africa that matches up so well to people’s expectations. We nearly always enjoy the thrill of a cheetah hunt, we always see lions and see the ‘big 6’ frequently.We will hunt for black rhino and that is exciting, particularly if we find a bull or a mother with calf. Black rhino are very grumpy and can charge us so I often say, “Keep filming, I’ll look after you safely!”
Day 7
After breakfast we say goodbye to the Mara and head off to Nakuru, a drive of seven hours or so depending on the state of the road. This is an interesting drive across the Rift Valley, through the Masai capital of Narok, a scruffy, dusty town which is always full of action.The road continues right across the Rift Valley to the eastern wall where we turn left and pass Naivasha and reach my home in Nakuru at about 15:00. Then time to relax and enjoy the garden with tea on the lawn!
Day 8
Up early and into Nakuru Park, only 15 minutes away. This is a small but very interesting and beautiful park. In good light the flamingoes on the lake are just idyllic and you won’t be able to stop taking pictures. The hope is always to catch them flying! The park is great for rhinos and the breeding programme for both black and white has been very successful and I promise you will see many. As for birds they are very plentiful and each time I visit I see additional species as the lovely acacia trees hold many surprises. Back to the house in the evening. Please read A Day in Nakuru Park.
Day 9
Usually this is a day of rest with time to recover and sort yourselves out. You can spend the day just relaxing in my lovely garden or go for a walk into the town. Nakuru is an interesting town full of history and colour.
You could also choose to return to the park. This is what usually happens as yesterday was enjoyed so much by all.
Day 10
I aim to leave by 07:00. We travel north up the Rift Valley wall to Thomson’s Falls and then east to Nanyuki at the foot of Mount Kenya where we stop for a cool drink. We then drive north, climbing to about 8000ft. around Mt Kenya before dropping down to the hot plains and the town of Isiolo, a fascinating place. This is the end of the tarmac road, the frontier post where we sign in and out. The road for the last 40ks is corrugated and dusty, an introduction to the Northern District of Kenya. The camp is on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River, a welcoming sight. I aim to arrive with enough time to go out for a game drive although I have to admit that, more often than not,many prefer just to sit by the river and enjoy the camp. In the evening, sitting around the fire on the river bank is just magical.
Day 11-13 Inclusive
The daily routine is very similar to that at the Mara. We are out at first light, making the most of the cool morning. The park consists of a beautiful but scorched landscape. Here conditions are ideal for Grevy’s zebra, oryx, gerenuk and many more dry country mammals as well as a huge variety of birds such as the vulturine guineafowl.
The river is the lifeline here and, depending on the time of year, it can be a raging torrent or as dry as a bone, but you will never be disappointed. Please read A Day in Samburu Park. Samburu is the place to see huge numbers of elephant and boy, do we see many! We will spend a couple of hours under a tree on the river bank watching ‘elephant action’, the crossings, drinking, playing, fighting and chasing.and even being charged by the ‘totos’ - baby elephants, and particularly the baby bulls.! Please read A Morning by the River. The glades produce great leopards. I have seen a leopard here on every safari for the last four years. Samburu is usually very hot, dry and dusty so take good precautions for yourself and your equipment! During lunch at the camp you will enjoy watching the elephants in the river from your tent, especially our large bull ‘Bumper’, who feeds from the dom palms between the tents!
Day 14
Your flight will be at 11:30 from the airstrip on the other side of the park from the camp. We leave camp early for a final game drive on the way and arrive at the strip in ample time to have a cup of tea and pack the rest of the kit away.
You arrive in Nairobi at about 12:30 and I suggest that you have lunch at the Carnivore, then visit the Nairobi Museum, which is fascinating. After a quick Nairobi tour ending at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, you check in early before the rush starts.
Alternatively, you could take a hotel day room to relax and refresh before your evening flight to London.
I always check in early by about 19:30 as it is quiet, easy and misses the congestion and hassle that can occur later.
© Freemansafaris.com
This is a twofold message. First to thank you all for such a wonderful experience.
Lin and I saw more interesting game than we ever thought. Leopards, Cheetah and cub
on a kill, the birth of an Impala right through to its first steps and great Elephants.
I could go on and on but suffice to say that, thanks to the efforts of yourself and
David our driver and of course hawk-eye Esther herself, we saw something new every
day and were given all the time we wanted to watch and photograph it from the very
best angles. Nothing was too much trouble.
Thanks to the reporting of the political
situation in Kenya we were on the very first Safari this year that has run, and to
be fair Kenya’s loss was our gain as we had the parks virtually to ourselves. None
of Brian’s white ants were to be seen anywhere and I believe it was on only two days
out of the 14 that we even saw another vehicle.
Mike and Lin
