11 Day Mount Kenya Trek and Masai Mara Safari Combine

Walk 14km / 8 hours from Old Moses Hut (3340m) to Shipton’s Camp (4236m)

After an early cooked breakfast, you’ll head out of the camp. The first hour is easy going over gentle open grassland. In the early morning sun, the views over the plane below are stunning. There is a chance of seeing Eland and Buffalo grazing in the distance. After an hour you begin to cross two valleys, the first is easy, but the second involves a quick descent followed by a punishingly quick 100m climb out of the valley. The reward is stunning views up the glacial valley with the twin peaks shining in the sun.

The crew usually wait at this point to make sure you make it without any altitude affects. The next 2-3 hours are fairly easy going up the broad valley past a bizarre jurassic landscape of glacial features, giant lobellia and Senecio plants. There is a strong chance you will see beautiful sunbirds and the Hyrax, a close relative of the elephant, but more like a baby seal in size and shape. Finally, there is a further short climb past Mackinders Caves before reaching Shiptons Camp where you’ll enjoy a much deserved cup of tea. (B,L,D)

Walk 7 km / 4-5 hours from Shipton’s Camp (4,200m) to Hausberg Col (4,600m) and return.

You’ll stay at Shipton’s for two nights, and have a rest day. This is invaluable for acclimatization and will make the summit day more enjoyable. Highly recommended is a short walk on the summit circuit trail up to the Hausberg col (4,6OOm) OR go farther, passing between Oblong and Hausberg Tarns to Nanyuki and Two Tarns to enjoy panoramic views of peaks Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m). Having reached a high altitude of over 4600m the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear, Climbing high and sleeping low is excellent for acclimatization (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 reduce the walking distance on the last day.

The big day, after a very early 3am start and a quick cup of tea and biscuits it is time to don all the layers you can manage and head out into the pitch dark. The early start is designed to get you to the summit just in time for sunrise. It also increases your chances of summiting without cloud cover. The climb is a steady ascent up scree and rock, with a scramble up the last 30m. The views from Point Lenana are superb, showing off the tarns, glaciers and jagged peaks of Mount Kenya at their resplendent best. On a clear day you can see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

Temperatures can be very cold on the summit (as cold as -20 degrees C plus wind chill) so after quick photos and a moment to take it all in, you’ll head back down again. After a 2 hour walk past the glacier down loose scree you will reach Mackinder’s Camp and a very welcome hearty breakfast. If you are feeling up to it after a couple of hours rest you can head on down the further 9km to Met Station for the overnight, if not you can rest and stay the night 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 Maoru park gate to Nairobi 210km / 4-5 hours

A long descent through attractive vegetation on the windward side of the mountain. The trail winds through the infamous vertical bog, dense bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet the vehicles at the park headquarters at Naromoru gate. You will be back in time for lunch at Mountain Rock Lodge. Afternoon free to shower, rest, enjoy the gardens and do as you please! 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

After breakfast you’ll be driven from Mount Kenya to a tea and coffee plantation near to Lake Nakuru. The plantation is a lovely lush forested setting where you will enjoy a delicious farm lunch in the gardens followed by a guided bird walk on the estate and a chance to visit the tea and coffee processing operations. The estate has a evocative colonial guesthouse where you will be staying the night. You can take an optional night safari drive around the estate grounds with the chance of seeing hyena and if you are lucky, leopards. Overnight Woodlands Hotel (B,L,D)

Am. Long morning game drive

Lake Nakuru is Kenya’s second most popular wildlife park and for good reason. Although small in size it surrounds a beautiful lake that is teeming with pelicans and flamingos. The park plays host to a variety of terrain, shallows, mud flats along with classical African Acacia Woodlands and grasslands. Lake Nakuru is rich with big game and good sightings are virtually guaranteed. Lion, hyena, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and Zebra are all common. After a long morning game drive with a boxed lunch, spend a relaxing afternoon at Lake Nakuru Lodge. You’ll have time to enjoy the pool at the lodge in the afternoon. Overnight Woodlands Lodge (B, L, D)

Am. Lake Naivasha boat safari

Pm. Drive 300km / 5hrs from Naivasha to Loita Plains

After breakfast you’ll head out for a boat ride on the vast Lake Naivasha. Unlike the surrounding soda lakes, Naivasha is freshwater and has a large hippo colony and excellent birds with fish eagles, pelicans and love birds common. After returning to shore you’ll be driven to the Loita Plains just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, stopping for lunch along the way. You’ll be staying at the Olanganayo wilderness camp in a lush green spot by a small stream. Whilst the crew set up camp you’ll be free to take a short stroll and take in the vastness of the Maasai plains. This area forms the corridor by which Wildebeest migrate to and from the Maasai Mara National Reserve, so wildlife spottings are not uncommon. Our Maasai host will take us on an early evening walk to the nearbye Maasai village and stand sentinel through the night (lions are always a possibility). Spend the evening around the camp fire. Overnight Kongoni Lodge (B,L,D)

Am. Short bush walk & drive to Maasai Mara

Pm. Sunset walk or night game drive

After waking to the sounds of the bush and a full breakfast, you’ll enjoy a short 2-3 hour walk along a small river course and through the open savanna for wildlife viewing. The local Maasai will act as guides and you will often walk amongst giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest. You’ll then drive to Maji Moto a fascinating community run eco camp with a hot spring and a lovely spot for lunch. There is the opportunity to visit a widow’s village and school for girls rescued from female genital mutilation. Then onto the permanent tented camp in the Masai Mara. There will be time for a late afternoon game drive in the Siana Conservation area and in the evening you can enjoy a hike up the nearby Naumare Hills to glimpse a stunning sunset over the Mara. Overnight Maisha Luxury Camp (B, L, D)

The big draw. You’ll spend all today in the reserve on a game drive in rugged 4wd extended wheel base Land Cruisers with pop tops. With an experienced naturist guide and driver you’ll have every chance of spotting elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Cheetah, Rhino, hippo, crocodile and countless others. An undoubtable highlight is the Mara River, the scene of so many famous encounters between hungry crocodiles and migrating wildebeest. Overnight Mara Maisha Luxury Camp (B, L, D)

Early game drive in the Mara

250km / 4-5hr drive back to Nairobi

Another early morning game drive in the Mara at 6am to spot any animals you might have missed and an opportunity to spot the early morning birdlife. After this drive you’ll return to camp for a late breakfast then drive for approximately 4 hours back to Nairobi.