This article has been written by Andy S Hayes one of my regular client who has been coming annually for several years. He always visits Meru and Samburu before travelling south to Mara.
Combine the days in Meru National Park with more at Samburu and instead of heading back to Wilson Airport, and onward home, you extend your visit by travelling to the Masai Mara, the home of Brian Freeman. Each location offers different landscapes and animal groups. The highlight of Meru is the Rhino sanctuary that has both White and Black rhino.
Oh, and by the way if you’re a photographer you’re in for an absolute experience of a lifetime!
A typical Northern Safari Itinerary
Day 1
The adventure starts with the flight from Wilson Airport Nairobi to Meru. The early morning flight gets you to Meru late morning depending on the route for that day. You land inside the park where you’re picked up by your guide and driver. Your camp is a short drive from the park, about 15 minutes but may take long depending on what you come across while driving through the park. Arriving to the camp, you’re shown to your appointed lodge for a chance to unpack and refreshment ready for the afternoon game drive. You return to the camp at last light.
Day 2-3
Up early, a light breakfast and out just before first light. Meru tends to be a very dry and arid landscape, so sightings of most animals are generally easy. Sightings of white rhino are, with the expertise of your guide, quite common. Often seen at close range and in family groups. Black rhino is a different matter. They are very skittish and not easily seen. Unlike the white rhino who graze openly the black rhino habitat is dense bush and difficult to see. Meru has many other species but is renowned for the big elephants and large herds.
There is the opportunity to visit Elsa’s grave, of Born Free fame, who was raised by Joy and George Adamson.
Day 4
From Meru you head to Samburu and Buffalo Springs. They are two reserves divided by a large river the Ewaso Nyiro and access to both is easy. The journey across is by safari vehicle and is comfortable. It takes about 4 hrs via Isiolo but there is a lot to see.
At the lodge in Samburu you check in and will be taken to your tent, where you will have time to unpack, freshen up and have lunch before an afternoon game drive which start at 3:30 until last light.
Day 5-7
The daily routine is very similar to that of Samburu in the Best of Kenya. 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, reticulated giraffe and is the place to see huge numbers of elephant and many more dry country mammals as well as huge variety of birds such as the vulturine guinea fowl. You will spend a couple of hours under a tree on the river bank watching ‘elephants action’, the crossings, drinking, playing, fighting and chasing and even being charged by the ‘totos’ – baby elephants, and particularly the baby bulls! Depending on the weather leopard sightings can be variable.
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Day 8
We say goodbye to Samburu and you have an option of traveling to Mara via Naivasha by road or catch a flight direct to the Masai Mara.
By road, we drive to Isiolo, travelling up and around Mt, Kenya to Nanyuki where we stop for a cool drink before continuing west to Thomson’s Falls where we stop for lunch. We then proceed south down the Rift Valley wall to Naivasha, arriving by late afternoon. We stay at Elsamere, the former home of George Adamson (Born Free) right on the lake shore. There is time for a boat trip on Lake Naivasha taking pictures of Fish Eagles swooping down and Hippos close by before retiring to bed for the next morning travel.
Day 9
After breakfast we head towards the Mara, a drive of six hours or so depending on the state of the road and traffic. We arrive in the Mara in time for a late lunch before an afternoon game drive. Returning to the camp at last light to shower before the tradition of drinks and samosas around the fire before dinner.
DAY 10 ONWARDS
nb: No specific end date to your mara stay
All Inclusive
The Masai Mara routines begin. Up early, a light breakfast and out just before first light – you can never anticipate what will happen from hour to hour. Within a short distance of the camp, you may encounter any of the big cats, big game or a herd of gazelle.
Mara Photographic Safaris offers much more flexibility than other safari companies as our location means you are in amongst the action – not spending 2 – 3 hours travelling just to get into the park. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching an active pride of lions in the morning light – especially if there are cubs. Click here to read more about a typical Mara itinerary .
