8 Day Maasai Mara & Island Hopping

Beschreibung der Reise

Unterkunft

Reiseprogramm

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  Nairobi

  

  Arrive in Nairobi and check into the Trademark Hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you will be met by your driver for the short transfer to the hotel. Settle into your room, perhaps enjoy a swim or a massage at the spa, and take a gentle stroll through the hotel gardens or a nearby shopping area if your flight lands early enough. Dinner is at your leisure—Nairobi has excellent restaurants nearby, or you can dine at the hotel. Overnight at the Trademark Hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

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  Maasai Mara National Reserve

  

  Depart Nairobi after breakfast for Maasai Mara and your three-night stay at Elatia Camp. The scenic road trip takes you through the famed Rift Valley and brings you into the heart of one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. After a delicious lunch and a brief rest, you head out on your first afternoon game drive, searching for the Big Five across the open plains. Return to camp for sundowners around the fire, followed by a multi-course dinner under the stars. Maasai Mara Game Reserve—a place whose name means “spotted plains” in the Maasai language. This breathtaking reserve is home to the largest concentration of big mammals in Africa and is widely regarded as one of the continent’s ultimate wildlife sanctuaries. The vast savannahs and gently rolling hills provide an unparalleled backdrop for the incredible array of wildlife living here in their natural habitat. The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is also the northern extension of the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, world-famous for the spectacular annual Great Migration. This awe-inspiring natural phenomenon sees thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles journeying across the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds. As we make our way to the camp today, a short but exciting game drive awaits you. Enjoy the rich diversity of sights, and keep your eyes peeled for the majestic inhabitants of this unique wilderness—from graceful giraffes and powerful elephants to the sleek big cats that roam these lands. All meals and overnight at Mara Elatia Camp

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  Maasai Mara National Reserve

  

  After an early breakfast, you will embark on exciting game drives in both the morning and the afternoon, exploring the captivating Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The landscape of the reserve is predominantly open savannah, consisting of vast grasslands, with iconic acacia trees dotting the southeastern parts of the park. Gently rolling hills are traversed by the winding Mara and Talek rivers, adding dynamic beauty to the scenery. During the rainy season, numerous seasonal rivers flow through the area, transforming the landscape into a vibrant network of waterways. However, these rivers gradually dry up once the rains cease, creating a fascinating cycle that shapes vegetation and wildlife behavior throughout the year. The Mara is renowned for hosting Africa’s largest concentration of wildlife. Here, you will encounter the legendary “Big Five”—elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes—alongside vast herds of zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and many others. The reserve boasts one of the highest densities of African lions, including the rare and majestic black-maned lions that lend this region its unique character. Not only mammals, but also the birdlife of the Maasai Mara is extraordinarily rich. Over 400 bird species inhabit this remarkable ecosystem, offering birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts countless opportunities for awe-inspiring sightings. All meals and overnight at Mara Elatia Camp

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  Maasai Mara National Reserve

  

  Many guests choose this day for an optional hot-air-balloon safari at dawn—an unforgettable way to see the vast landscape from above—followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. Later, you can enjoy a morning game drive focused on photography or birding, then spend a relaxed afternoon at camp or on another drive. As the sun sets, reflect on your Mara adventures while sipping sundowners and savouring your last dinner at Elatia.

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  Rusinga Island, Lake Victoria

  

  Leave Maasai Mara after breakfast and travel to Lake Victoria, arriving at Rusinga Island, where you board a private boat transfer to Victoria Sands on a full-board basis. The scenic journey takes you across the open savannah before reaching the lakeshore; once on the water, the ride to the island is filled with views of fishermen, waterbirds, and the distant hills. Check into your accommodation at Victoria Sands (near Ruma National Park) and enjoy a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon, you can explore Ruma National Park by vehicle or on foot in search of the rare roan antelope and black rhino, or simply relax on the beach with a cold drink. Dinner is served overlooking the lake. All meals and overnight at Victoria Sands Hotel.

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  Mfangano Island, Lake Victoria

  

  Situated in the eastern reaches of the magnificent Lake Victoria, Mfangano Island rests at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. Surrounded by the lake's tranquil waters, this beautiful island is the perfect destination for travellers wishing to immerse themselves in nature. With plenty to do, visitors can view the intriguing 2000-year-old rock paintings, visit the Luo villages and school, admire the sunset from a traditional longboat, and enjoy a scenic birdwatching tour to spot the black-headed gonolek and the double-toothed barbet. Adventure seekers and nature lovers alike will be thrilled by the range of watersports and fishing for Nile perch and tilapia available. Don't forget to look for the majestic monitor lizard and the mighty hippopotamus. All meals and overnight at Mfangano Island Lodge.

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  Takawiri Island, Lake Victoria

  

  Transfer by boat from Mfangano Island to Takawiri Island and Victoria Sands on a full-board basis. The morning transfer is relaxed and picturesque, with time to spot more of Lake Victoria’s wildlife en route. At Takawiri, you settle into your luxurious beachfront accommodation and enjoy the private-island atmosphere—swim in the clear waters, lounge on the white-sand beach, or take a guided nature walk through the island’s forests. Afternoon options include a sunset dhow cruise or simply unwinding with a book and a cocktail. Dinner is served on the beach or on your private deck. All meals at Victoria Sands, Takawiri Island

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  Takawiri Island, Lake Victoria - Nairobi

  

  Enjoy a final, relaxed breakfast at Victoria Sands before your boat transfer back to the mainland and your onward road or air connection to Nairobi. The journey offers one last look at the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria before you arrive in the capital in the late afternoon or early evening and are dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward travels.