Overview
Masai Mara National Reserve is considered a “must see” for any visitor traveling on safari in Kenya. It is on the “to do” list of most Kenyan visitors because the park is graced by a wide variety of unique and exquisite wild life and birds.
Masai Mara is the best place to see all of the “Big Five” animals (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo) together. The famous wildebeest migration also takes place at the Mara.
Masai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara or The Mara) is situated within the Great Rift Valley in the southern part of Kenya. Measuring approximately 1510sq. kilometers (approx. 938sq. miles) in size, this unfenced savannah grassland is roughly 150 miles southeast of Nairobi.
Itinerary
On arrival at JKIA Airport met and transfer to the Nairobi Serena Hotel for the day. Safari Briefing and overnight. Dinner at the hotel or a city restaurant at own cost.
Overnight: The Nairobi Serena Hotel (Bed and breakfast)
After breakfast depart Nairobi in the morning and drive down the escarpment via the floor of the Great Rift Valley, to arrive at Maasai Mara Game Reserve in time for lunch, after lunch proceed for afternoon game drive.
Full day in the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. (You have options to visit the Masai village at an extra cost and have a feeling of the lifestyle of the Masai community.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge or a similar hotel on Full board basis.
Breakfast. Later, depart for Amboseli National Park with a stopover for lunch in Nairobi. Afternoon depart for the Amboseli National Park arriving in the evening
Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge or a similar hotel on Full board basis.
Early morning wake up call. Early morning game viewing drive returning to lodge for full breakfast. Relax at the lodge. Lunch. Afternoon game viewing drive with afternoon tea at the observation hill (from here the Mt. Kilimanjaro is visible on a clear day) (beautiful serene views from here of the Mt. Kilimanjaro and the ranges) returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge or a similar hotel on Full board basis.
Breakfast and check out. Game viewing drive enroute through Amboseli and to Tsavo National park to arrive in time for lunch Kilaguni. Afternoon game drive returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Lodge or a similar hotel on Full board basis.
Breakfast, Depart with picnic lunches game drive enroute to arrive Mombasa in the evening for a 3 Nights stay.
Dinner and overnight: Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel. (Half Board)
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
- Transportation to and from!!
- Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
- All the required permits and paperwork
The Cost Excludes
- International Airfare
- Visa Charges
- Hotel Expenses(In Kathmandu, some packages do include hotel expenses)
- Your travel and medical insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Food and accommodations in Kathmandu
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
FAQs
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
