11 Days Mount Kenya Trek & Masai Mara Safari

Drive Nairobi – Sirimon Gate (250km / 4 hours)
pm. Walk 10km / 2.5 hrs from Sirimon Gate (2,600m) – Old Moses Hut (3,340m)
Your 11 day Mount Kenya climb and safari to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha begin with early breakfast before Tranquil Kilimanjaro staff pick you up from your hotel, lodge or airport. A drive to the slopes of Mount Kenya starts and on reaching the Sirimon Gate, you will go through the paperwork and a brief introduction to your mountain crew that includes your guide, porters and cook/chef.

Trekking ensues with a short walk to Old Moses hut, the first hut that you encounter along the Sirimon trail, reaching there after a 2-4 hour hike, gaining an ascent of 740m at an elevation of 3,340m. the trail traverses various vegetation zone of Mount Kenya, among them, rainforest, bamboo, giant heather zones then reaching an open field of moorland. The trail condition is dusty but well maintained by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for better efficiency during emergencies on Mount Kenya. The trail surroundings are a dense rainforest that is rich in wildlife and a ton of bird species. You might spot some elephants, buffaloes, monkeys or a variety of birds.. (L, D)

Walk 14km / 8 hours from Old Moses Hut (3340m) to Shipton’s Camp (4236m)
You cook will prepare energy-giving breakfast before you leave camp in the morning for a days trek along the open filed of grassland that is favoured by grazers like buffalo and Eland. The view is amazing as the sun shines over the plains below and trek over a gently sloped trail that cuts across two valleys. After trekking for an hour you reach the first valley that is gradual and easy to cross then onto the second valley that is somewhat challenging. It involves descending dramatically then rising to climb out of it dramatically at an average height of about 100m. It may be challenging but worth the challenge as you are rewarded with beautiful views of twin peaks shining in front of the sun overlooking the glacial valley.

The trek progresses for another 2-3 hours towards a broad valley beyond some medieval-like vegetation of giant lobelia and Senecios. This region on Mount Kenya is home to a variety of birds and the timid Hyrax, a close relative of the elephant. You end the day with a brief trek past Mackinders Caves before reaching your resting camp of the day at Shiptons Camp for coffee/tea, rest then dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Walk 7km / 4-5 hours from Shipton’s Camp (4,200m) to Hausberg Col (4,600m) and return.
Shipton’s camp will be the accommodation and base for 2 days, providing enough time for resting as you prepare for summiting. This aids in acclimatizing tom minimise the risk of altitude sickness and with the summit withing sight, we would want anything to hamper our efforts. We take the highly recommended hike on the summit circuit trail that leads up to the Hausberg col (4,6OOm) Or go advance past Oblong and Hausberg Tarns to Nanyuki and Two Tarns where you will be rewarded with panoramic vistas of peaks Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m). This gives enough room for proper acclimatization methods of “Climbing high and sleeping low” which is very beneficial in acclimatization efforts. (B,L,D)

Climb 749m up and 3km in length to Point Lennana (4985m)
Descend 685m and 3.5km to Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) or onto Met Station (4hrs) to decrease the walking distance on the last day.
D-Day is here and we wake up early for the summit attempt to the peak of Mount Kenya, Point Lenana.  At around 3 am, we begin our push to the summit after a cup of tea and some snacks. It is usually in total darkness, chilly and windy so layering of clothes for extra warmth is highly recommended. The reason for beginning the summit attempt in the wee hours is to make it to the summit just in time for sunrise as the climb takes at least 3 hours on a scree filled trails and rock outcrops. making it to the summit at sunrise also is a great way of avoiding the cloud cover that usually appears mid-morning. After a steady climb, we reach the summit of Mount Kenya to astonishing views of the sunrise, shimmering glaciers, tarns and jagged peaks. On a clear sky, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro from a distance. At the summit, it may be windy and chilly with temperatures dropping to a low -20 degrees C. We spend a brief moment at the summit to take some pictures and cherish the moment of making it to the top of Kenya’s highest mountain then descend afterwards. A 2-hour descent past the glacier down loose scree takes us to Mackinder’s Camp for proper breakfast. optionally if you have the energy you can descend further for another 9km to the Met Station for overnight, if not you can choose to rest and overnight at Mackinder’s. (B,L,D)

Am. Walk 22km / 6 hours from Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) to Naro Moru Gate (2,600m)
Pm. Drive from Naro Moru park gate to Nairobi 210km / 4-5 hours
Descending from the mountain carries on traversing attractive vegetation on the windward side of the mountain. The trail meanders across various vegetation of the infamous vertical bog, dense bamboo and virgin rain forest towards Naromoru gate at the park’s headquarters. You reach Mountain Rock Lodge just in time for a hearty lunch, take a proper shower, have a rest for the rest of the day. Dinner and Overnight at Mountain Rock Lodge (B,L,D)

Am. Drive 200km / 3 hrs from Nairobi to Rift Valley
Pm. BBQ lunch, wildlife walk in tea plantation, evening game drive
Early in the morning, you will take breakfast then our driver will take you for a coffee and tea plantation tour close to Lake Nakuru.  The plantation is an evergreen, lush environment, perfect for farm lunch that blends in with the fresh air. After lunch, you will be taken around for a walk whereby you will experience birding tours before finishing the coffee/tea tour with a visit to the see how coffee/tea is processed.  The tea/coffee estate features an old colonial guesthouse that will be your accommodation for the night. The estate has an evocative colonial guesthouse where you will be staying the night. You can opt for a night game drive safari around the estate grounds where you can spot hyenas or leopards by chance. Dinner and Overnight at Sunbird Lodge (B,L,D)

Am. Long morning game drive
Due to abundant wildlife and strategic location, the flamingo filled Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s most popular wildlife parks. The small park engulfs a lake in the middle that is home to thousands of pelican and flamingos as well as other wild animals around it like Lions, Zebras, Rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes among others. Lake Nakuru packs a punch for a park its size as it boasts abundant wildlife, good sightings and a beautiful landscape filled with classical African Acacia Woodlands and grasslands. After a long morning game drive accompanied by boxed lunch, you will rest in the afternoon at Lake Nakuru Lodge which is great for relaxing at the pool in the afternoon.

Dinner and Overnight at Sunbird Lodge (B, L, D)

Am. Lake Naivasha boat safari
Pm. Drive 300km / 5hrs from Naivasha to Loita Plains
Rise and shine, early in the morning for breakfast then a boat ride on the expansive lake Naivasha afterwards. Alake Naivasha is a freshwater lake surrounded by most lakes that are soda lakes. It is breeding ground and a natural habitat for a handful of birds like fish eagles, pelicans and love birds. After the boat ride, you will be taken to the Loita plains on the edge of the Masai Mara Game Reserve with a lunch break mid-way for lunch. Accommodation for the day will be at the lush green Olanganayo wilderness camp that is located by a small stream. On reaching the campsite, you may take a short walk to familiarise yourself with the endless plains of the Masai mara as your camp crew set up camp. The area around the campsite is part of the corridor by which Wildebeest migrate to and from the Maasai Mara National and the Serengeti national park in Tanzania. The area is blessed with plenty of wildlife sightings. After setting camp, you will be accompanied by a Maasai host for an early evening walk to the nearby Maasai village and watch over through the night for lions. After dinner at Olanganyo Wilderness Camp, you will spend the evening away around a camp bonfire then overnight Olanganayo Wilderness Camp (B, L, D)

Am. Short bush walk & drive to Maasai Mara
Pm. Sunset walk or night game drive
Day 9 begins with the lively sights and sounds of the bush and of course, some lovely breakfast then you will embark on a 2-3 hour walk following a small river course curring through the open savannah for game viewing. Your guide for the day will be the native Maasai that will take you through the wilderness as you view some animals like the giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. A drive to the Maji Moto Camp, an interesting community-run eco camp nearby a hot spring will give you the much-needed lunch break for lunch. As part of cultural immersion tours, you will get to visit the Widow’s Village & School for Girls rescued from female genital mutilation (FGM) afterwards you will proceed to the Maji Moto Eco camp in masai mara, a permanent tented camp. You will drive into the game reserve for a late afternoon game drive in the Siana Conservation area then participate in an evening hike up to the Naumare Hills to for a sundowner as you watch the beautiful sunset over the Mara plains. Dinner and Overnight at  Ilkeliani Camp (B, L, D)

Your 11 day Mount Kenya and safari tour is almost coming to a close and on this day you will spend the whole in the Masai mara reserve doing game drives in our customized safari jeeps. This tour will be conducted by a professional naturist guide and driver and while on the game drive you will have the chance of spotting plenty of wild animals among them, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Cheetah, Rhino, hippo, crocodile and many others. Then the main attraction of the Masai Mara, the Mara river, where the wildebeest migration takes place, attempting to close between the Serengeti national PArk and the Masai Mara in Kenya, a crocodile-infested river stands between them.

Dinner and Overnight at Ilkeliani Camp (B, L, D)

Early game drive in the Mara
250km / 4-5hr drive back to Nairobi
We end the 11 days Mount Kenya trek and safari to Masai mara with an early morning game drive in the Masai mara game reserve. Early game drives are the best because predators are more active in the really mornings and late evenings when the sun is not so hot and they can use their energy fully for hunting. Apart from wildlife viewing, the mara is home to plenty of birdlife. After the game drive, you’ll return to camp for a late breakfast then drive for about 4 hours back to Nairobi City where you will dropped at your hotel or airport.