Kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 360 km² not-for-profit wildlife conservancy in Central Kenya’s Laikipia County. It is situated on the equator west of Nanyuki, between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya.
Tours and Walks on Offer: Adult -70$ and Children-40$
Transport-150$ in a 4×4 Land Cruiser
- Afternoon Ride with Rhinos –
Take an evening ride within the 600-acre Endangered Species Enclosure, accompanied by knowledgeable
staff on Ol Pejeta’s safari horses. This ride will take you on a journey through a predator-free area set aside by Ol
Pejeta for the recovery of the northern white rhinoceros as well as meeting the last two remaining northern white
rhinos on the planet
- Sweet waters Chimpanzee Sanctuary-
Enjoy a unique opportunity of viewing chimpanzees behind the scenes and learn more about the day to day care of the chimpanzees in our care. Chimpanzees are not indigenous to Kenya. Habitat loss and commercial hunting for bush meat has become the most significant immediate threat to the future of chimpanzees in the wild.
Feeding time starts at 7:30 AM
Booking Conditions
Group size restricted to 6 people and subject to welfare of animals at the time of your visit.
Absolutely no physical contact will be allowed between chimpanzees and visitors
- Meet the Northern White Rhinos (4:30PM – 5:30PM)
Come and learn about the endangered species on Ol Pejeta. This activity is only available to people with their own vehicles. This activity starts at 04:30 PM to 05:30 PM from the Morani Information Centre. Here, guests have a once in a lifetime opportunity to come face to face with last female northern white rhinos, and learn about their journey to Kenya from the Czech Republic. The 700-acre endangered species enclosure also protects small populations of Grevy’s zebra and the Jackson’s hartebeest.
This activity is only available to people with their own vehicles.
Samburu National Park.
Samburu National Reserve is situated at the southeastern corner of Samburu District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is bordered to the south by Ewaso Nyiro River, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
The reserve covers an area of 165 Km² and is located around 345Km from Nairobi.
Climatic Conditions
The Reserve lies within ecological zone V- which is classified as arid and semi- arid with moisture index of 42 to 57, which indicate that evapo-transpiration is greater than available moisture. The days are extremely hot while the nights are cool. The annual mean temperatures range between 18ºC and 30ºC, while the mean annual rainfall is 354mm with peaks in November and April. The dry season starts in late May, and goes up to early October during when large concentration of wildlife is found in the reserve due to availability of lush vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, the main source of water to the Reserve and the nearby communities.
Available game (and chances of seeing )
The reserve is reach in wildlife with fame for abundance in rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx (Also referred as Samburu Special). The reserve is also popular with a minimum of 900 elephants. Large predators such as the Lion, Leopard and Cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak the Miracle Lioness that adapted the baby Oryx is a resident in the reserve). Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique protected area. Birdlife is abundant with over 450 species recorded. Birds of the arid northern bush country are augmented by a number of riverine forest species. Lesser Kestrel and the Taita Falcon are species of global conservation concern and they both utilize the reserve. Five species categorized as vulnerable have recorded in the reserve. These are African Darter, Great Egret, White-headed Vulture, Martial Eagle and the Yellow-billed Ox-pecker. Critically endangered species under CITIES – Pancake tortoise (malacochersus tornieri) is found in the reserve.
Mt. Kenya
The Chogoria Route
4 nights / 5 days
Description
Mount Kenya stands alone in the highlands of central Kenya. Once an ancient volcano, estimated to have once been almost 22,000 feet tall, what now remains is a steep, eroded core, just over 17,000 feet in height, this is the massif. It’s nearby neighbour Kilimanjaro, though a couple of thousand feet higher and hence much better known, does not offer nearly the climbing challenge and alpine character of Mount Kenya.
The Chogoria Route approaches Mount Kenya on the Eastern side via Chogoria town. It is much quieter on this side compared to the busy western slopes. The route is longer and more gradual which is perfect for acclimatisation over a great 5 day trek. The scenery is so stunning on this route and it has a fantastic charm as it brings a feeling of solitude and peace into a magnificent mountain hike. This route brings to life some of the most beautiful and scenic sites on the mountain, the trek passes two of the most iconic lakes on Mount Kenya, Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson. Lake Michaelson is considered to be the most stunning location on this great mountain. Set at the head of the Gorges Valley surrounded by 200m rock walls on each side that make up the Temple.
The Lakes are regularly stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout, providing a unique opportunity for the avid fly fisherman or woman, and if you’re not it is an amazing place to camp and relax after a long days trekking.
In Brief
- Day 1:Special camp
- Day 2: Lake Ellis Camp
- Day 3: Lake Michaelson camp
- Day 4: Simba col
- Day 5: Summit attempt and descend to old Moses
Itinerary In full
- SPECIAL CAMP
START – 7,743FT / 2360M
END – 8,301FT / 2530M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 5 HRS
After an early breakfast, you will meet your driver and guide who will drive you to the start of the route. The first day’s walk takes you up through the forest for about two hours where you check into the park at the Kenya Wildlife Service entrance and then walk another hour to the campsite.
If it is a clear afternoon you can generally get a good sense of the landscape from this point; where the Afro- alpine forest ends and the moorland begins. The afternoon is a good opportunity to walk around the area and acclimatise.
- LAKE ELLIS
START – 8,301FT / 2530M
END – 11,417FT / 3480M
DISTANCE – 5 MILES / 8KM
TIME – 4 HRS
The walk starts with spectacular views of the rolling hills ahead and perhaps even a glimpse of the snow- capped peaks of Batian (5,199m) and Nelion (5,188m) high above.
This is a relatively short hike and you should be in camp a little earlier than the previous day, which gives you a great chance to sit back and relax after lunch and simply enjoy the views around Lake Ellis. We go by the general rule of thumb to “climb high and sleep low” to allow for better acclimatisation. An evening walk up to nearby Mugi Hill can be a wonderful way to end the day and will hopefully make your ascent a lot easier as well. You can even try your hand at a spot of fly-fishing in the lake.
- LAKE MICHAELSON
START – 11,417FT / 3480M
END – 14,075FT / 4290M
DISTANCE – 5 MILES / 8KM
TIME – 7 HRS
This day is a beautiful walk which takes you up along the ridge overlooking the Gorges valley and later on in the day Lake Michelson comes into view. We will break for lunch overlooking the Lake with a spectacular view, and then continue on a gentle traverse and descend to Lake Michaelson camp site. You can rest in the afternoon or have a wander around the Lake.
- SIMBA TARN
START – 14,075FT / 4290M
END – 15,256FT / 4650M
DISTANCE – 2 MILES / 3KM
TIME – 2 HRS
The mornings tend to be slow as the immense beauty at the breakfast table make for a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a late start. The walk up to the Simba Col is steep and short so best to find your slow and steady pace and enjoy the breathtaking views as you walk out of the Gorges valley. Simba col camp is nestled in a bowl on the shoulder of Point Lenana at 4500 meters. This makes for a great camp for an approach to the summit.
Timau Route
3 nights / 4 days
Description
Mt Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa ,standing at 5,199 meters above sea level, Mt Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa and provides a range of stunning challenging treks and some of the best technical alpine climbing in Africa. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian 5,199 meters, 17,057 ft., Nelion 5,188 meters, 17,021 ft. which are technical ascents and Point Lenana 4,985 meters, 16,355 ft.
The Timau route is one of our classics. It has a gradual gradient allowing for good acclimatization to the altitude. The route is also remote and underutilized. It is unlikely that you will see another group until you near the summit.
This itinerary is one of the best on Mt Kenya for good acclimatization and can also be extended with an extra day / camp between Marania and Major’s Camps OR two nights in Major’s camp (for example when acclimatizing for summit bids of Nelion + Batian).
In Brief
Day 1: Marania Camp
Day 2: Major’s Camp
Day 3: Simba col
Day 4: Summit attempt and descend to Met Station
Itinerary In full
Day 1: Timau to Marania Camp
You will be transferred from Nanyuki Town to the road head of the Timau route north of Timau town at 2,700m above sea level. This hike starts off at the start of the moorland zone and takes you up through patches of bamboo and heather. We will stop for lunch on the rim of the crater, which offers a chance to see some of the rare mountain species such as eland, zebra, buffalo and even the occasional elephant. The view as you ascend is breath taking, looking down across Kisima, Lewa Downs, Samburu and the great Northern Frontier beyond and up to the glaring peaks of Mount Kenya ahead. You will stop for a picnic lunch and continue on your way to Marania Camp on the edge of one of the mountain’s shoulders in heather moorland.
Distance: 8 km
Hours Trekking: 4 hrs.
Altitude gain: 500m, 1,640 ft
Overnight at Marania Camp (3,200 m 10,500 ft)
Day 2: Marania to Major’s Camp
We will depart the camp after breakfast, walking up through the moorland towards the peaks ahead,
that make up the Mt Kenya Massif.
A picnic lunch will be set up at the Marania Spring, which is the source of the river that runs by Marania camp, which is a beautiful lunch spot, especially if there are some curious zebra around.
You will arrive at Major’s Camp in the afternoon, which is located at the base of the valley near some very dramatic rock faces. Some wildlife has been known to frequent the area, previous guests have had sightings of the rare Serval cat.
Distance: 14 km
Hours Trekking: 8 hrs.
Altitude gain: 600m, 1,970 ft
Overnight at Major’s Camp (3,800 m 12,470 ft)
Day 3: Major’s to Simba Tarn Camp
You will begin the long, gradual hike up towards the Lower Simba Tarn. This walk is definitely an experience that resembles no other, with an extremely unique lunar landscape coupled with very distinctive vegetation; this will be your first glimpse of the fabulous Giant groundsels and Lobelias, particularly in the Hobley Valley, below the massifs of Terere and Sendeyo, which are named after two Maasai wise men. This vegetation is endemic to Mt Kenya with its unique adaptions to the vast day to day temperature changes. You will arrive at the Simba Tarn camp at the top of the Hobley Valley and aptly named Gorges Valley. The views from Simba Tarn camp are breath taking.
Distance: 12 km
Hours Trekking: 8 hrs.
Altitude gain: 850m, 2,790 ft
Overnight at Simba Tarn Camp (4,650 m 15,255 ft)
Day 4 : Simba Tarn, summit attempt and descend
An early departure at 5.30am for a sunrise summit is the best way to experience this climb and enjoy the expansive views of the mountainside, valleys, and country beyond – even the summit of Kilimanjaro – whilst sipping a nice warm drink.
The descent takes you down the southern side along the Naro Moru route where you will have brunch in the Teleki Valley. Then it’s a final walk down to the MET station for collection. Should the weather not permit, the guide may use the Sirimon route as the descent route.
Distance: 18 km
Hours Trekking: 12 hrs.
Altitude gain: 335m, 1,100 ft
Altitude at Lenana:4925m