Email us or call now to speak
to one of our specialist travel team

01728 685 971

The art of travelling with respect

The Fair Trade Travel™ company

We have some stunning photos on this website - places, people, wildlife and accommodation.

In order to see the photos you need Flash Player 9, which is very easy to install.

Install Flash Player 9

Kenya Under Canvas

A camping safari staying in small private mobile camps is one of the best ways to experience Kenya's natural attractions. The small group safari holiday in Kenya has been designed to include a variety of habitats so that the widest diversity of wildlife can be seen. The camps are sited in private conservancies so that walking and night drives may be taken but are also conveniently located for easy access to Amboseli and Nakuru national parks and the Masai Mara.

Transport is in a comfortable 4wd land cruiser with pop up roof hatches and your guide is qualified by the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association.  Campsites are private, exclusive sites, so you will not be surrounded by hords of other tourists.  There are camp staff who assist at the campsites to erect camp, cook, boil hot water for showers, wash up, etc., but clients are asked to assist in putting their tents up. An experienced safari cook travels with the group and the food is of the same high standard as you would expect in a permanent safari lodge.  Drinks other than water are not provided but stops are made on the way to each camp to enable you to buy soft drinks, beers and wine.

Equipment is carried in a trailer behind the vehicle which is left in camp once on safari so game drives can be carried out without it. Tough, 2 person dome tents are used and all camping equipment is provided.  Clients should bring their own sleeping bag and towel, a high density mattress is supplied.

The areas where you camp on this safari are in private conservancy areas bordering each park.  The local communities received income by using the area for eco-tourism. Please click on the related camps / reserves on our website for more information or contact us.

Your first stop is The Selenkay Conservation Area which lies in the heart of Maasailand a few miles north of Amboseli National Park. It is an important dispersal area and rangeland for wildlife in the Amboseli eco-system. The local Maasai community has set aside the area for a reserve for wildlife so that the habitat can be protected and wildlife conserved. Amboseli National Park, at the foot of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, is one of Kenya's most popular national parks. It lies 150 miles south-east of Nairobi very close to the Tanzania border.

Next, heading north up the Rift Valley, your campsite is in the Congreve Conservancy, adjacent to Lake Nakuru National Park, which contains a large alkaline lake, world famous for it's mass of flamingos which turn the edges of the water pink. The national park surrounds the lake, offering a wide ecological diversity, from lakeshore, woodland, grassy plains to rocky escarpments and ridges. It now has one of the largest concentrations of rhinoceros in the country and a good population of leopard.

Finally, on to the Masai Mara. The campsite is located on land owned by the local Maasai people alongside the Mara Reserve in the Ol Kinyei conservancy. Day and night drives and walks with the Maasai are taken here. The conservancy holds a wide variety of the animal species for which the Mara is famous including a large resident pride of lions.

SMALL GROUP DEPARTURE DATES 2009: Jan 11 & 25; Feb 8 & 22; March 8 & 22; April 5 & 19; closed May; June 7 & 21; July 5 & 19; Aug 2, 16 & 30; Sept 13 & 27; Oct 11 & 25; Nov 8 & 27; Dec 13 & 27.

Maximum group size 12.  Everyone has a guaranteed window seat.

Trip highlights

  • Amboseli with Kilimanjaro and hordes of elephants!
  • Lake Nakuru with its stunning pink flamingos and good chance to see leopard and rhino
  • World famous Masai Mara
  • Comfortable vehicles and high quality mobile camping equipment

Itinerary

Day 1     You will be met and transfer to your safari vehicle to be driven from Nairobi to Selenkay Conservation Area (102 miles, 4 hours) next to Amboseli, arriving for a late lunch after setting up camp. Evening game drive to explore the Conservancy. Dinner and overnight in the camp at Selenkay.

Day 2    Early breakfast and then drive through the bush into Amboseli National Park for good views of Kilimanjaro and close-up observation of elephants, as well as many other species. Return to Selenkay after a picnic lunch. Afternoon escorted walk to an authentic Maasai village. Dinner followed by a night drive to seek out the nocturnal animals. Overnight in the camp at Selenkay.

Day 3     Morning drive back to Nairobi for lunch and on to Congreve Conservancy (190 miles) by Nakuru, arriving in late afternoon. Set up camp and then take an evening walk in the Congreve Conservancy. Dinner and overnight in the camp.

Day 4    Early morning departure after a continental breakfast for a full day in Lake Nakuru National Park, with a picnic lunch. In addition to the spectacle of the masses of flamingo we expect to see rhino in addition to many other species and have an excellent chance of sighting leopard. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 5    After breakfast, pack up camp and drive to Siana Group Ranch in the Masai Mara (170miles) to set up camp. This is a long drive over a rough road and a stop is taken in Narok town for lunch en route. After setting up camp take an evening drive into the surrounding area to see some of the wildlife for which the Mara is famous. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 6     An early breakfast followed by a full morning in the Mara, taking a picnic lunch. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 7    Breakfast, then pack up camp and return to Nairobi (180 miles, 5 hours), arriving about 2 pm.

 

Price

Guide prices for 2009, quoted per person based on twinshare accommodation. All year (except for December): £1175. December: £1330. These prices do not include international flights.

Call us for single supplement details

Duration and details

6 nights / 7 days

Is it for you?

This trip is suitable for anyone keen to see wildlife away from the crowds and prepared for some participation at the camp sites. Children 8yrs and over are welcome on this trip.

Best times to go

These group trips operate all year except May.

View Kenya climate chart

Included

All food and mineral water, park entry fees, game drives, qualified driver/guide throughout.

Not included

Drinks, flights, visas, travel insurance.

Getting there

Flights to Nairobi operate daily with 3 airlines, flying time 9 hours, fares from about £400 return from the UK, depending on the time of year.

View flight information

Comments

Shop at Tribes Trading

The Global Art of Ethical Living

The Tribes Foundation

Our charity aims to relieve the poverty of indigenous communities outside of the UK.

Receive our newsletter

Keep informed about superb places to stay, special offers and what is new. We send out our e-newsletter roughly bi-monthly.

Join
ATOL Logo AITO Logo