Northern Rift Kenya (9 days)
Our 9 days Northern Rift trip brings you the highlights of Kenya. Expect to see the best of wildlife in the less explored National Parks and Game Reserves in northern Kenya, including the unique Solio Rhino Sanctuary, hiking in the Aberdare ranges and relaxing at the lodges’ swimming pools.
This trip specifically includes the most important and well-known national parks and other places of interest of Northern Kenya: Meru National Park, Samburu Game Reserve, Buffalo Springs Reserve, Solio Rhino Sanctuary and Aberdare National Park.
Highlights
- Game drives (safaris) in the beautiful Meru National Park
- Game drive in one of Kenya’s richest wildlife areas, Samburu Game Reserve. Samburu Game Reserve has all the big cats, African wild dogs and the ‘Samburu special six’: Grevy's zebra, the Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk, Guenther's dik-dik and the beisa oryx
- Game drive in the twin park of Samburu, Buffalo Springs Reserve which are separated by Ewaso Nyiro river
- Game drive and Rhino viewing at Solio Rhino Sanctuary.
- Game drives and guided hiking/walking tours in the Aberdare Mountain ranges
Video
Route
Day to day program
Nairobi Airport - Nairobi
Arrival at Nairobi airport. Your guide will be there waiting for you. Pick up and proceed to your accommodation.
Included: airport transfer
Nairobi - Meru National Park
After your breakfast, the day starts with a short drive through Nairobi city as you depart to Meru National Park, with estimated arrival for lunch. In the afternoon the guide will be waiting for you for a first game drive where you will catch a glimpse of this enormous area with a diversity of animals and plants. At sunset you return to the camp for dinner.
Meru is a huge park with a multitude of wildlife. In addition to large numbers of elephants, this well-protected area also offers lions, leopards and buffalo herds that are among the largest herds in Kenya. The landscape is characterized by savannahs, marshy areas alternating with acacia trees. Definitely worth a visit!
Included: game drive
Meru National Park
Today you can determine the day’s schedule in consultation with your guide. You may opt for a morning and afternoon game drive in the park and return to your lodge during lunch. Or you can go on a game drive all day and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the park itself.
Included: game drive
Meru National Park - Samburu Game Reserve
After breakfast, leave the Meru National Park and set off for the dry north. After Isiolo the road turns into the Highway to Ethiopia, ending in a gravel road, to the Samburu Reserve. During the drive north you will notice that the land becomes drier and the temperature will rise. In the afternoon you will arrive at the in Samburu in time for lunch and proceed to check in. After lunch you have plenty of time to relax before your game drive in the afternoon
Samburu Game Reserve is one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya, in terms of its natural beauty. Return to the camp at sunset, to dine in the open air. This park has temperatures of between 20 and 35 degrees all year round.
Included: game drive
Samburu Game Reserve
Early morning game drive after a cup of coffee / tea. Long game drives are not common in this park, as the game also crawls in the shade in the heat of the day, making an early morning game drive ideal before the sun becomes too hot. After the early morning game drive, head back to the camp for a delicious breakfast. When the animals crawl away in the shade, you have time cool off by the pool until the afternoon game drive that will take place in the afternoon. At sunset you return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
The Buffalo Springs Game Reserve and the Samburu reserve are separated by the Ewaso Nyiro river. During the mornings you will see large groups of elephants that daily go to this river for a drink and their daily bathing ritual. A beautiful sight and especially the baby elephants enjoy 'bathing' quite a lot. The landscape is dry with mostly small rocky hills that are covered with Acacia trees and dry bushes. This is the habitat of special animal species of Northern Kenya: the rare Grevy’s zebra, giraffe gazelle, Reticulated giraffe, bucks and the Somali ostrich. Both reserves are interconnected with a bridge, making it possible to visit the other part during a game drive.
Included: game drives
Samburu Game Reserve - Solio Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast leave Samburu Game Reserve and head to Rhino watch with arrival for lunch and afternoon game drives at Solio Ranch.
Your estimated arrival is in time for lunch. Game drive in this beautiful park afterwards.
Included: game drives
Solio Rhino Sanctuary - Aberdare National Park
After breakfast you Solio Sanctuary to the Aberdare ranges, a fairly unknown and unexplored safari area! The park offers numerous beautiful waterfalls, bamboo forests, wetlands and beautiful ranges. Depending on the morning program you arrive in the lodge for lunchtime, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch. After the lunch it is time to enter the park itself. Official park rangers will take you to one of Kenya's most unique safari destinations.
During the short game drive through the park you have a chance of seeing elephants, buffalo, lions and even leopards. The park also offers a unique opportunity for bird lovers to spot many species! According to the official estimates, more than 250 different species can be found here!
Included: game drives
Aberdare National Park
After breakfast embark on full day activities with picnic lunch. Take an option between game drives as well as guided hiking/walking tours during which you can visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Kenya.
During the game drive through the park you have a chance of seeing elephants, buffalo, lions and even leopards.
Included: game drives
Accommodations
Legend: BB = Bed and Breakfast / HB = Half Board / FB = Full Board
Prices 2020
Price on request, please send an email to mail@kazingatours.com
Includes
- Airport transfers
- Accommodations with meals mentioned
- Bottled drinking water
- Private 4x4 custom built safari vehicle with knowledgeable driver/guide and fuel
- Entrance fees to the included National Parks
- Activities mentioned as included
Excludes
- Flights
- Visa
- All optional activities
- Insurances
- Meals not mentioned and beverages
- Tips and personal expenses such as laundry and communication
A certificate proving that you have received a yellow fever vaccination is obligatory. Furthermore all required inoculations must be recorded by your health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate. You must carry this document with you throughout the tour. All visitors should take malaria prophylactic drugs. We also advise that you bring a mosquito repellent with you. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for up to date requirements, inoculations and personal recommendations!
Normally you need the following vaccinations (but please always consult a doctor):
- Yellow Fever (you must have this can even be checked on arrival, especially when flying within East Africa)
- DTP
- Hepatitis
For Malaria you need to take tablets, Malarone or Lariam. Malarone is mostly used (please always consult a doctor).
Hygiene is not at the same standard as in your home country, so we advise you to bring a disinfectant cream with you. Always drink bottled water instead of tap water.
On arrival on the airport our guide will be there waiting for you. During safari we use custom made safari vehicles, custom made for an optimal view of the wildlife. Safari vehicles (and small aircrafts) provide limited space for luggage. It is therefore recommended to travel with light bags since bulky suitcases will overload and might be difficult to be taken on board.
Kenya visa information
The Government of Kenya has an online visa application. When you are visiting Kenya you must apply for a visa online:
- Go to the website from Kenya Online Visa.
- Fill in the form (normally you need an “ordinary” visa, single entry) and pay online with your credit card.
- The Kenyan authorities will send you the visa in the email after they have approved your application (please check you SPAM folder too)
- Print this visa twice (2 copies) and bring it with you when you arrive at the overland border or at Nairobi or Mombasa International Airport.
Some nationalities do not require a visa, please check this in advance.
For more detailed information, please check FAQ on the website.
In most of the cities it is possible to withdraw money from an ATM. Travelers Cheques are not widely accepted and it is very difficult or impossible to pay by credit card outside the cities. The US dollar is traditionally the hard currency of preference. We advise to bring some Dollars for daily expenses and tips.
Dollar bills should not be older than 10 years.
The unit of currency is the Kenyan Shilling. Please check the latest exchange rates before you go to your destination. This will be a guideline. Please note you will get a better exchange rate in the bigger cities.
We advise you to apply for a Flying Doctors membership. The membership provides a quick and reliable air evacuation and medical care if needed.
AMREF Flying Doctors offers 2 covers (Annual and Tourist). You can choose between the Maisha Silver (Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar), Maisha Gold (Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi) or Maisha Platinum (Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Ethiopia).
Please check out the AMREF Flying Doctors website for more information and to become a member.
The national language of Kenya is Swahili but English is widely spoken and is the main language in the tourist areas.
A valid passport is mandatory (passport must be valid for at least 3 months after re-entry) and visa requirements for all countries you are planning to visit should be checked before you travel.
To make the most of your visit to the game reserves and national parks, we advise you to carry binoculars and field guides.
Photographers will need a zoom lens for wildlife (70-300 or more). Please make sure to carry enough memory cards with you. Toiletries and other essentials can be bought in the cities.
A torch (flashlight) can proof to be very useful
Please mind that washrooms along the road are sometimes not to European standards, for example squatting toilets, no flushing toilets or no toilet paper available. Like the locals say: T.I.A. This Is Africa.
Bathroom facilities and accommodations can be more basic when traveling on a medium to low budget. In the eco lodges mind that the water reserves are limited and in most cases there are no sockets in the room, but you can always charge your devices at the reception.
Tipping will always be appreciated. It is normal to tip 5-10% in hotels and restaurants. Guides, drivers and carriers should always be tipped. Indication: for carriers USD 1-3 and for your driver/guide USD 5-15 per day, depending on the group size, number of days and your satisfaction.
The Lonely Planet and Bradt Travel Guide are the most detailed guidebooks for Tanzania. For wildlife, the best guidebook is ‘Watching Wildlife East Africa’ from the Lonely Planet and The Bradt ‘East African Wildlife’. For birding, the best guidebook is ‘birds of East Africa’. It is advisable to get the most updated copy.
