Save the elephant Safari itinerary 2014

Introduction:
This exclusive 17 day safari has been designed in conjunction with the Association “ Save the Elephants”. It is a remarkable opportunity for the sponsors of DAPHNE SHELDRICK’S ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE to visit the projects they support and have a unique experience close up and personal with their sponsored elephants. At the same time one has a chance to visit the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve which boasts of the highest concentration of Wildlife in Africa. We have included a FREE sponsorship of one orphan baby elephant in this package. Safari Itinerary:
Oct 23/24: Depart USA Enroute to Kenya. Oct 25: Arrival in Nairobi Arrival in Nairobi can take place any time of the day depending on your international flight. Upon arrival at the Airport, you will be met by a representative from Sunworld Safaris and thereafter be transferred to Eka Hotel for an overnight stay. A welcome cocktail and briefing is planned for at main bar at 9:00pm for the all participants to get to know each other before the safari begins. This is also a good opportunity for the Safari participants to have their questions answered. Overnight at Eka Hotel on bed & breakfast. Oct 26: Nairobi -­‐ Maasai Mara Game Reserve After an early breakfast, at 7.30 am you embark on your journey to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve to arrive in time for lunch at Mara Bush Camp. The Maasai Mara offers the highest con-­‐ centration of wildlife on the entire African continent. An extended afternoon game drive in this famous national reserve awaits you after lunch. Return to the Camp for a scrumptious dinner coupled with a drink by the Camp fire. All meals and overnight at Mara Bush Camp or similar Oct 27/28/29: Full days in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve Another 03 exciting days await you in the Masai Mara. Unlimited game drives daily are on our programme to experience nature at its best ! You will also visit the Maasai village and have first hand information on the culture and the way of life of the proud Maasai community. All meals and overnights at the intimate Mara Bush Camp or similar. Mara Bush Camp:
Mara Bush Camp offers you everything desired in an “authentic safari experience”. Discreetly ‘tucked away’ in a riverine forest on the banks of the seasonal Olare Orok River with an excellent location close to Ol kiombo airstrip, it is situated in heart of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. All 12 river front tents have been placed far enough apart to guarantee com-­‐ plete tranquillity and privacy. All tents are furnished with a comfortable 4 poster bed (double/ twin available on request) mosquito net, en-­‐suite bath-­‐ rooms and safari style shower, clothes rack & storage chest, writing desk & pri-­‐ vate veranda. Additional features are a comfortable Lounge and Bar Tent as well as a private dining Tent where a selection of f reshly prepared meals , mostly buffet style, are served by our in-­‐house chef, who caters for all dietary requests happily . Our chef will also ensure that picnic meals are readily available for all those who prefer to stay out in the bush all day long. For photographers, a separate photo-­‐Lounge to charge camera equipment and laptops has been set up. The little boutique shop compliments the set-­‐up and one can purchase unique souvenirs to take home. Unwind around a cozy campfire under the African stars whilst reminiscing about your day in the wild. The Camp is fully solar powered, but a generator (well tucked away to ensure complete silence) is available to provide power as a back-­‐up system. Mara Bush Camp is not fenced, therefore Maasai ‘Moranis’ (Warriors) will look out for your safety while you are sleeping. The little luxury Camp is for the visitor who appreciates maximum privacy away from mass tourism and wants to enjoy an authentic ‘safari’ experience rather than a large, touristic lodge with swimming pool & entertainment. Are YOU dreaming of “sleeping under canvas “a’ la Ernest Hemingway? If so, Mara Bush Camp is looking forward to welcoming you! Oct 30: Masai Mara Game Reserve – Nairobi Wake up early in the morning for the last game drive, followed by breakfast at your luxury camp. Freshen up and check-­‐out by 10:00am. Thereafter begin your drive back to Nairobi to arrive late in the afternoon around 4:00pm. Immediately proceed to Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage for the official evening visit, only available to baby elephant sponsors which starts at 5:00pm The public is not allowed in at this time. This exclusive visit provides a special opportunity for sponsors to learn more about the project, meet their baby elephants and spend time with them and ask the caretakers questions that they may have. Overnight at Eka Hotel. (Dinner at hotel not included) Oct 31: Full day Nairobi: After breakfast we pick you up from the Hotel at 10:00am and proceed to Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for the public hour visit i.e. from 11:00am – 12:00pm. You will get another opportunity to listen to each elephant’s personal tragic story of how it was rescued, touch them and adopt another if you like. Thereafter depart to Karen Blixen Coffee Garden a scrumptious lunch. A brief stop at one of the Supermarkets is planned for you to refill drinks and snacks for the last 03 nights since beverages at Ithumba Camp are limited. Wind up with another foster parents visit at the Daphne Sheldrick from 5:00pm At 6:00pm return to your hotel. Overnight at Eka Hotel. (Dinner at hotel not included.) Eka Hotel:
Located just 3 miles from the city center with easy access to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport, Eka Hotel N airobi is ideal for trav-­‐ elers on transit, conferences and good venue for hosting guests. The 170 rooms at Eka Hotel Nairobi are designed and equipped with the latest in-­‐room technology. Among them are 160 superior rooms, 4 junior and 3 executive suites, including 2 rooms for guests with special needs. The elegantly decorated rooms and suites include a f lat-­‐screen satellite TV, luxury bed linens, tea/coffee maker and small fridge. For conferencing, Eka Hotel has 3 halls with a capacity of 30-­‐200 people, and 2 boardrooms with a capacity of 15 people. Two restaurants in Eka ho-­‐ tel offer the freshest flavors of locally sourced produce. The Galaxy restaurant offers selected buffet breakfast and all-­‐day snack menu dining, and the Spur offers steaks, chicken, seafood etc. Other facilities at Eka include a gym and an outdoor swimming pool. Eka Hotel is adjacent Nairobi National Park and Wilson Airport is 4 miles away. Sept 01: Nairobi – Tsavo East National Park At 07.30 am we pick you up from your Hotel for a journey Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge. More comfort and variety of meals await you in the lodge . The Lodge offers a wonderful view of the magnificent Tsavo East National Park with its undulating hills and vast plateaus. After lunch explore the park with extended game drives leading to the third release center for the orphaned elephants at approx. 5:00pm. All meals and overnight at Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge. Sept 02: Tsavo East National Park Enjoy one more fantastic day in this magnificent park. A late afternoon visit to the Elephant Voi stockade at 5:00pm and unlimited game drives are guaranteed during your stay. Time permitting we can undertake an excursion to the famous Lugard Waterfalls on the mighty Galana River. At one point, you may leave the vehicle for a while and take a walk to the rapids and see the raging Galana River disappear u nderground. You will enjoy your Lunch in form of a picnic along the beautiful Galana River. (All other Meals and overnight at Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge) Sept 03: Tsavo East -­‐ Transfer to Ithumba Camp After breakfast begin your drive to Ithumba Camp located towards the northern side of Tsavo East National Park. We will try as much as possible to visit the Elephants frequently and increase our presence in the release station. A meeting at the wallow hole is planned for in the afternoon and another one at 5:00pm with the night keepers. This Camp is specifically self -­‐ catering without a swimming pool and has spacious, lovely tents. Our Chef will take care of you with delicious meals all the time. All meals and overnight at Ithumba Camp. Sept 04 &05: Tsavo East National Park Spend another 02 nights in this lovely intimate Camp. Your personal driver cum guide who takes care of you throughout the trip and your 4 x 4 vehi-­‐ cle will always be at your disposal and the daily visits to the Stockades are guaranteed. A number of spectacular and breatht aking wildlife sightings await you during the Safari. Our Chef will continue serving you with fresh delicious meals every day. All meals and overnight at Ithumba Camp. Sept 06: Tsavo East National Park – Nairobi Wake up early in the morning for a last game drive. We have included a packed lunch to be enjoyed en -­‐route to Nairobi where you will arrive at approx. 5:00pm. A farewell dinner is planned for you all at the Pampa Grill, that gives you a chance to recap on your just concluded safari and say last goodbyes to the friends you will have made. Thereafter drop off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your outbound flight home. Sept 07: Arrive USA Arrive home today to share fond memories and photographs of your safari with family and friends. Zomeni Lion Hill:
Situated on ‘Mlima ya Simba’ (Swahili for lion hill), and adjoining the world famous Tsavo East National Park at Voi Gate, is the ideally set wild world of the magnificent Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge. Enjoying spellbinding views over the renowned scenery and wildlife of the legendary Tsavo, the lodge is conveniently accessible from the main tourist routes. Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge boasts traditional architecture with makuti-­‐thatched roofs and natural logs. The encampment comprises of 8 luxury rooms, 4 luxury tents, a bar and dining room serving traditional & continental cuisine of the highest standards. Come for an unforgettable experience of the wild world, have it at the Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge with a breathtaking panoramic v iew of the wild theatre! The dining room and bar overlooks the panorama of the Tsavo East National Park with views of Wildlife immediately below in the Valley. During lunch, a buffet service is on hand and for dinner time, is a la carte service of the highest order. All kinds of Game including elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard and other small Wildlife is regularly seen from the dining room area. Ithumba Camp:
The Joint mass of Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks forms one of the largest National parks in the world and covers a massive 4% of Kenya’s total land area. Tsavo East the larger of the two, lies to the east of the Nairobi – Mombasa road, equidistant between Nairobi and Mombasa, and offers a vast and untapped arena of arid bush which is washed by azure and emerald meandering of Galana River and guarded by the limitless lava reaches of Yatta plateau and patrolled by some of the largest elephants. Ithumba Camp is situated between bush and acacia trees in the Northern Area of Tsavo East National Park above the Galana Rive r. The private Ithumba Camp belongs to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and has only 03 large safari tents(with an option of a 04th tent at an extra cost) of Makuti roof. The Camp is a self catering facility that can be booked on exclusive use, well furnished and you only n eed to carry your food with your private chef! From the camp you can spot the Dik Dik, Lesser Kudus and other little game and birds which come to the small waterhole! The C amp is completely fenced because there are many wild elephants around! The restaurant has a small roof terrace where one can view small animals that come to drink water at the waterhole. There is no swimming pool. Donators can visit the elephant orphans at their stockades three times a day. At 6:00am at 11:00am for the midday mud-­‐bath and the feeding of the lovely elephant orphans and at 5:00pm in the evening! The highlight and reason for going to Ithumba is to meet the elephant orphans from the David Sheldrick Foundation who are now being re-­‐introduced into the wild! Costs and conditions:
Price includes: •
International airfare from USA
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3 nights on bed& breakfast at Eka Hotel
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4 nights on full board (breakfast / lunch / dinner) at Mara Bush Camp
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2 nights on full board (breakfast / lunch / dinner) at Zomeni Lion Hill Lodge
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3 nights on all full board (breakfast / lunch / dinner) at Ithumba Camp (Daphne Sheldrick’s)
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All park entry tickets as per program
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All park enrty tickets for driver and
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English speaking Driver/guide (bronze / silver member of Kenya Professional Safari Guide
Association)
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Transport in a custom made 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-­‐up roof for game viewing
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Airport transfers in Nairobi
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Mineral water during game drives
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Game drives in your designated 4 wheel drive vehicle
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3 meals per day at Ithumba Camp inclusive of limited beverages
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Personal chef and freshly prepared meals at Ithumba Camp
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Lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens
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A visit to the Masai village in the Masai Mara Game Reserve
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2 visits to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphange in Nairobi
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A visit to the two release stations (stockades) in Tsavo East National Park
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Evacuation insurance (AMREF Flying Doctor’s)
Price excludes: •
Departure taxes
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Visa fee for Kenya (USD 50/-­‐ per Person)
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Telephone laundry & gratutuity
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Beverages in the various camps / lodges & hotels (except for Ithumba)
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Travel and cancellation insurance
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Dinner not mentioned in the itinerary
Price $6,980 per person (sharing double)