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Peregrine Travel Centre

Kenyan Parks to Southern Ethiopia

Kenyan Parks to Southern Ethiopia

From $ 3,590 AUD

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Description

This adventure through Kenya is one for the explorers, a journey heading north from Nairobi to the Ethiopian border and beyond to the World Heritage listed town of Konso. Spend time in the high-altitude Mount Kenya region, trekking towards the summit through forests inhabited by the endangered Grevy’s zebra and searching for rhinos, elephants and more in the surrounding grasslands. Visit Samburu, a lesser-known but incredible nature reserve known for the Samburu Special Five, which is home to the Samburu people – a sub-tribe of the Maasai. Continue north through the spectacular landscape to the Ethiopian border and through small villages.

Trip Name
Kenyan Parks to Southern Ethiopia
Last Updated
2019-03-18
Days
9
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Embark on an afternoon game drive in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a rhino sanctuary with 24,000 acres of savannah grasslands dotted with acacia trees.
  • Get up close to Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, with a hike through entrance gate up to Old Moses Camp at 3000 m in altitude.
  • Enjoy a game drive though Samburu National Park, passing by Samburu tribes’ people wearing traditional dress, and spotting rare wildlife such as reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra and long-necked gerenuk.
  • Venture into South Ethiopia and stop at the Chew Bet crater lake. Here we hike down to the crater floor and witness workers gathering muddy, black salt as they have done for centuries.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES: Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you print and review a final copy prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. ROAD CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA: Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on our vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. The travelling times indicated in our Essential Trip Information is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders. DRIVE TIMES: The travel times listed in the day to day itinerary are a guide only. Please be aware that delays may occur and please be patient - it's all part of the experience afterall! Additionally, the travel times do not include time spent on game drives as these can vary with each departure.

Day 1 - Nairobi
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, but if you arrive early then why not head out on an Urban Adventure. Not only is Nairobi an energetic capital city, it's also the only major city in the world to contain a game reserve – Nairobi National Park. After you've met your fellow travellers, join them for an optional group dinner at a local restaurant with your leader.
Day 2 - Nanyuki (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)
Rise and shine: it's your first morning in Kenya! Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before the group travels to the Mount Kenya region, arriving at the hotel in time for lunch. Mount Kenya is Africa's second-highest mountain, rising to an elevation of 5199 metres, and the national park in which it sits is circled by a number of communities including Nanyuki, where you'll be based. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy, a 24,000-acre rhino sanctuary. Here, among the acacia trees and 'whistling thorn' shrubs, you'll see giraffe, zebra, elephant, jackal, hippo, rhino, baboon and gazelle roam the savannah grasslands and the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River.
Day 3 - Nanyuki (Mt Kenya)
Today, after breakfast, you'll set off for hike in Mount Kenya National Park. Begin walking from the park's entrance gate and continue through the forest to Old Moses Camp at an altitude of 3000 metres. If the weather's right you'll have fantastic views of Mount Kenya and the surrounding high country. It's a favourite spot for ornithologists thanks to the opportunities for bird watching, and there'll hopefully be an opportunity to see Grevy's zebras as you walk through the forest. Also known as imperial zebra, they were given the name 'Grevy' after Jules Grevy, the French president in 1882, who was given one as gift. These are the largest and most threatened of the three zebra species, and are found almost exclusively in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. 
Day 4 - Samburu NP
Drive north after breakfast to the Samburu National Reserve, where you'll be spending the next two nights, via an optional visit to the Ngare Ndare forest canopy walk and waterfalls. Samburu is a rugged, remote reserve that provides some of the best game-viewing in the entire country. Covering an area of 104 square kilometres, it's home to a number of northern Kenya specialities including Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the beisa oryx – known as the Special Five. Have lunch at the lodge on arrival, then take an afternoon game drive through the reserve keeping an eye out for not only the Special Five, but also leopards, elephants, hyenas and an abundance of birdlife.  
Day 5 - Samburu
Head off in search of the Special Five, this time on a full-day game drive through the reserve. Keep your eyes peeled for lions too, and crocodiles stalking the waters of the Ewaso Nyiro River that flows through the park. This region is home to the Samburu people, semi-nomadic pastoralists who live to the south and the east of Lake Turkana. They're a sub-tribe of the Maasai people and speak the same language, and can often be seen in their colourful dress leading cattle around. Return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Day 6 - Marsabit
Pack your bags for a four-hour drive to Marsabit, a small town bordering Marsabit National Park and Marsabit National Reserve. The views of the plains during the drive are phenomenal, and you'll stop by the appropriately named Lake Paradise on the way. Arrive in the late afternoon and, after settling in at the hotel, the rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy. Perhaps take a stroll through the small town.
Day 7 - Moyale
Today the group will take a long drive through the highlands, allowing plenty of time to appreciate the beautiful scenery. Your destination is Moyale, a market town on the border of Ethiopia and Kenya that's split between the two countries. The larger section is in Ethiopia, where the hotel is located, so after crossing the border and checking in at the hotel, the evening is free to check out the town.
Day 8 - Konso
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in Moyale before driving to Konso, a journey of approximately six hours. Stop en route at the beautiful El Sod Crater, which locals have been extracting salt from for centuries. After arriving in Konso, you may wish to join your group for a farewell dinner before saying your final goodbyes tomorrow morning.
Day 9 - Konso
Your journey comes to an end today. Post-tour accommodation is available if needed, as well as transfers to Arba Minch. Perhaps leave some some time to check out this World Heritage-listed town, known for its traditional wooden grave markers where the features of deceased warriors are carved then enhanced using teeth made from animal bones. Alternatively, spend some time exploring the hillside villages in the surrounding countryside.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
24-09-201902-10-2019AUD $ 3,590-
22-10-201930-10-2019AUD $ 3,590-
04-11-201912-11-2019AUD $ 3,590-
15-12-201923-12-2019AUD $ 3,590-
29-01-202006-02-2020AUD $ 3,590-
26-03-202003-04-2020AUD $ 3,770-
08-10-202016-10-2020AUD $ 3,770-
29-10-202006-11-2020AUD $ 3,770-
10-12-202018-12-2020AUD $ 3,770-

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights),Lodge (3 nights),Permanent Tented Camp (2 night)

Transport

Overland vehicle

Map

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