December 2 – 12, 2011
Overnight in Nairobi before travelling past Lake Naivasha and Lake Elementaita in the Rift Valley en route to Deloraine House where we stay three nights. Built in grand colonial style in 1920 by Lord Francis Scott, a prominent early settler, it is set in the middle of a 5000 acre commercial farm on the lower slopes of Londiani Mountain, The magnificent gardens boast a croquet lawn, tennis court and swimming pool. With eighty horses on the farm, you can explore the ample countryside and mountains From this base, we gain insight into modern cashcrop & dairy farming at Madrugada Farm. Then daytrip to Lake Nakuru National Park to marvel at the flamingos, rhinoceros, buffalo, giraffes, elands, gazelles and leopards.
Next, travel through scenic tea growing areas to stay three nights in the farmhouse at Sosian Ranch, the heart of cattle ranching in Kenya. Relax at the swimming pool, tennis court & organic gardens. But be ready for an early evening game drive. This 24,000-acre private, working ranch sits on the Laikipia plateau, 80 kms west of Mt Kenya. More than 250 species of birdlife and an abundance of game species including four of the big five can be found at Sosian Ranch like rare species such as Wild dogs, Jackson’s hartebeest and Grevy’s zebra. Guests are also encouraged to participate in ranch life, such as dipping cattle or other activities like walking, horse-riding, camel safaris, game-drives, night-drives, fishing, archery, tennis and swimming in the nearby waterfalls. The ranch manager will give you a guided tour of their commercial beef herd, as well as their Boran cattle breeding herd which is fast becoming one of Kenya’s finest.
Next we transfer by road to Nanyuki airstrip and fly 60 minutes to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. Far from habitation, we stay 3 nights amid unspoiled Masailand in luxury tents at Offbeat Mara Camp situated on the Mara North Conservancy: an area full of wildlife with amazing game viewing. Each spacious tent has its own en-suite bathroom with hot bucket showers, wash basins and flush toilets, 24 hour solar lighting, and is furnished with large, handmade cedar beds. Informal dining is hosted in the mess tent or around the campfire. Guests can also relax in the bar and living room tent, From here, a full day visit to a nearby arable farm will be arranged, as well as a visit to a local Masai village where we can see traditional cattle farming practices still in use.
Finally, transfer to the airstrip for a 45 minute flight back to Nairobi and return with a dufflebag of new experiences. Accommodations limit this group size to a maximum of 10.
Images of Kenya
