africa - Rose Tree Cottage

Kenya
A
F
R
I
C
A
Rwanda
June-July, 2008
Rose Tree Cottage Tours
present
A Classic Photo Safari to
KENYA
21 June - 4 July, 2008
With optional Rwanda Gorilla Trek: 4-11 July
A departure from our traditional excursions to Britain,
yet planned to the same high standards our patrons have come to expect.
From acacia woodlands to art galleries ~ leopards to literary haunts ~
~ Sunrises on the Mara, Sunsets over the Rift Valley ~
‘Colonial’ hospitality and fine food ~ We will show you a very special view of Africa!
Kenya
Africa — OPTION A:
You will depart the U.S. on Saturday, 21 June, arriving in London Heathrow on the morning or afternoon of the 22nd; then flying out that evening
to Nairobi, arriving at Nairobi International Airport early in the morning of Monday, 23 June — You will be met by our driver and transported to Ngong
House — a private home & lodge with luxury accommodations — African Safari style!
• Afternoon visit to Karen Blixen Museum (OUT OF AFRICA) and tea on the lawn of the Coffee Garden.
• Time for shopping and a private visit to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, visiting our baby elephant and rhino adoptees.
• An elegant dinner together and overnight at Ngong House.
(Or, you may choose to leave U.S. on Sunday, 22 June, arriving in London on 23rd for overnight to Nairobi, arriving for...)
Day 1 — SAFARI BEGINS: Tuesday, 24 June —
(If you arrive on this morning, you will be met at Nairobi International after clearing customs and transferred
After breakfast, our guide and Safari expert, Tony Church. will meet us and escort us to Wilson Airport, Nairobi,
where we will fly on a private chartered plane to Shaba National Park with views of Mount Kenya en route. We will arrive in time for lunch in
our tented camp. After lunch, we will have time to relax — getting to know our surroundings and the wonderful staff!
• An afternoon rest followed by a cup of tea and we will be off for our first exciting game drive — cameras ready!
• Three nights will be spent in our luxury mobile tented camp.
Day 2 & 3 — Wednesday & Thursday — 25 & 26 June — Exploring this wild and beautiful park. In addition
to the rugged splendour of Shaba’s landscape, the very name ‘Northern Frontier District’, in which it is located,
conjures up an atmosphere of mystery and adventure. It is a wild and little visited game reserve, where travelling,
even nowadays, is tough and where the nomadic tribes have changed little over the centuries. The region is mostly
semi-arid plain covered in thorn brush and with scattered rock mountains. Permanent water available from the
Uaso Nyiro River and surrounding springs ensures an abundance of wildlife. In addition to the big game species, this
reserve is one of the best places in East Africa to view typical northern species of Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx,
reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. More than 300 species of birds inhabit this wilderness, among them the Somali
ostrich and the martial eagle.
Day 4 & 5 — Friday & Saturday, 27 & 28 — From Shaba, we will drive to Borana Lodge. This luxurious lodge is
situated on a wilderness ranch on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, just 20 kms from the equator. Its unique
geographical location makes it a haven for a wide diversity of wildlife: lion, elephant, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffalo
and herds of antelope roam the plains while the cooler forest shelters bushbuck, colobus monkeys and leopard.
Borana’s combination of privacy, natural beauty and abundance of wildlife has won it plaudits all over the world.
The lodge has seven cottages decorated in unaffected but magnificent up-country style, each with its own open
fireplace and private verandah. Small and exclusive, you are encouraged to treat Borana as your home. A beautiful
swimming pool, walking, riding and night game drives are some of the activities to be enjoyed. Our hosts are Anthony
Reticulated Giraffe
Kaschula and Rawana Pye.
Day 6-9 — Sunday - Wednesday, 29 June - 1 July — We will leave Borana Lodge on Sunday, flying by chartered plane to the Masai Mara
where we will spend the next three nights in camp, which will be set up for us once again!
For most people, it is the Mara that they picture in their mind when thinking of East Africa. The landscape of the Masai Mara Game
Reserve and Greater Mara Conservancies is one of rolling savanna, intersected by dark green veins of riverine woodland on the banks of the
Mara and Talek rivers. This wilderness is an extension of the Serengeti (Tanzania) ecosystem and is considered by many to be Kenya's best
wildlife sanctuary, where animals can still be seen in vast numbers. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo, crocodile, antelope and gazelle are
some of the many species to be found. The annual migration of up to one million wildebeest is most dramatic and considered to be one of the
greatest wildlife spectacles in the world. Needless to say, both wildlife and bird viewing are phenomenal. The Mara is also home to the colourful
and handsome Masai people who, with their herds of livestock, are synonymous with the region.
to our private charter plane.)
From our tented camp, we will have full days exploring the Masai Mara — from Sunrise to sunset and after — delicious dinners and chats
around the campfire.
• Afternoon educational visit to a traditional Masai manyatta, with "shopping" amongst the makers of the colourful beaded wares the Masai
are known for.
Day 10 & 11, Thursday & Friday, 2 & 3 July — We will make our way to Longonot Ranch, arriving in time for a late lunch on the lawn.
Straddling the slopes of Mt. Longonot and bordering Hell's Gate National Park to the west, lies a private ranch of 80,000 acres where this colonial
style ranch house is situated. The warm and friendly atmosphere of this family home sets our safari apart from any other, as you will be
treated to a very personal view of the history of Colonial Kenya.
• Afternoon siesta, reading, horseback riding and/or walking.
• Have a morning boat launch on Lake Naivasha for bird and game watching.
• Visit the home of two artists — a husband and wife team — a watercolourist and sculptor.
• Spend time with the school children of our adopted primary school — a highlight of the safari!
• Evening 'sundowners' and a night game drive.
• Wonderful breakfasts, lunches and dinners with our hosts, Tony & Susie Church.
Day 12, Friday, 4th July — We will drive into Nairobi for day rooms and lunch at the famous Giraffe Manor, known around the world for its
elegance, warm hospitality and the remarkable Rothschild giraffes — recently featured on PBS in “Tall Blondes”.
• Afternoon at leisure to shop, visit a wonderful Bronze Foundry — the last opportunity to find those special gifts and reminders of your
wonderful African experience!
• A light supper and evening transfer to Nairobi airport for our overnight flights to London and on to the US (or, depart for Kigali, late
afternoon)
Sadly, the SAFARI ENDS... or, join us for Option B and more African delights!
Rwanda Gorilla Trek
OPTION B: We have arranged an amazing trip to the “Land of 1000 hills”. Having visited this fascinating country recently,
we are eager to return and take a few friends with us. It is safe and it is spiritual.
Friday, 4 July — Overnight, Karen B&B.
Saturday, 5 July — We will have some time for shopping and lunch in Karen, prior to our late afternoon departure for Kigali, Rwanda.
On arrival, we will be met by our driver/guide and transfer to the Serena Hotel, Kigali.
Sunday, 6 July — Set off for the Volcanoes National Park following two stops in the capital city:
• A visit to the Genocide Museum.
• Lunch at a local hotel.
• Drive to Mountain Gorilla’s Nest Lodge. After settling in, dinner in the lodge and an early night.
Monday & Tuesday 7 & 8 July — Two incredible days...
• After breakfast, we will drive to the office of the National Park to be assigned a Gorilla group.
From there we will drive to the beginning point for our hike to visit our group.
• Golden Monkey trek — a rare treat to see members of this endangered species.
• Drive to Gisenyi and spend time around Lake Kivu.
• Overnight stays at Gorilla’s Nest and Kivu Sun Hotel.
Wedmesday & Thursday, 9 & 10 July, Kigali
• Drive back to Kigali on Saturday afternoon for overnight in a luxury hotel.
Mountain Gorilla
• Spend the day & a half touring Kigali, visiting an Orphan Centre, and relaxing by the pool.
• Overnight, Kigali.
Friday, 11th July a.m. — Early return flight to Nairobi, where we will have day rooms and time for
shopping prior to our evening departure.
For a detailed itinerary and application, contact Mary or Edmund Fry at:
Rose Tree Cottage • 626-793-3337 (toll free 877-793-3337) • [email protected]
Jambo!
This is more than a Safari Itinerary... it is an invitation to join us on another personal and exceptional excursion. We find that being in
Africa is truly a spiritual, magical and wondrous life experience.
From the moment we awake (often before dawn for the sheer wonder of it) until the moment we fall asleep in the comfort of our tent or
lodge at night, we are truly in awe of all that we see, hear, eat and feel. The fascinating landscape; the huge ever-changing sky;
wonderful, thrilling animals; the lovely, hospitable people; the bird song’ and the silence. The amazing food — full English Breakfasts,
lunches, tea and cakes, and delicious dinners. And, the warmth of companionship and campfires. All memorable.
The safari experience is not complete without nights in tents under the magnificent stars. But, not to worry, we are beautifully looked
after throughout! Like our trips to Britain, we design our Safari, especially with our clients in mind. In Kenya, we join forces with Tony
and Gordon Church — a father and son team who have spent their lives in the country they know and love. We will experience their
homes and family life, meet friends, artists and many fascinating characters along the way. The Church family and their wonderful
staff look after our safety and our comfort throughout. We would not trust a Rose Tree Cottage tour to any other Safari company!
Another aspect of our Safari will be the “Give back” visits: First, the Sheldrick Foundation Elephant Orphanage at the edge of the
Nairobi National Game Park, where we will visit our little elephants and rhinos. It is not easy to resist adopting one of these
enchanting, intelligent creatures! Also, each of our camping experiences provide more than fun and excitement for us... not only does
the staff of our movable feast depend on their jobs to provide for their families, but the park fees paid for our stays help to keep the
environment safe for the animals.
And, the visit to “Our school” near Lake Naivasha will be a highlight of the Safari. We will be taking books, pencils and more dollar
donations to the school we have been looking after and improving over the past five years, with Tony’s help. The Rose Tree Cottage
African children’s foundation — Bloom where Planted — has been established just in time, as we can now be of even more assistance
to the children who have been affected by the recent problems in Kenya. Nearly $30,000 has been donated up to now (as well and
many books and other supplies) and we know we can achieve much more in the future. The children look forward to entertaining us as
much as we look forward to seeing their smiles and the progress we’ve made with their learning environment and their welfare!
If you join us for the Rwanda gorilla trek as well, you will also be helping to ensure the survival of the incredible mountain gorillas.
Without the fees paid by tourists to visit them, the National Park and the security forces against poachers could not exist. This visit is
a truly amazing experience and one that few people have the opportunity to achieve, as the numbers have to be controlled. We have
our tickets, so do take the opportunity to join us... first come, first served!
In addition, we will visit an orphan organisation we also provide assistance to and meet the wonderful people involved with caring for
children and ‘orphan heads of household’ whose lives were forever changed by the Rwandan genocide. With the help of such young
people as these and our wonderful guide, Danny, you will find Rwanda to be a beautiful country where forgiveness hangs in the air.
You can certainly find a more expensive safari and, no doubt you can find a less expensive safari, but you will not find one as personal
and hospitable, we assure you. We hope you will join us in Africa... we promise an unforgettable and life altering holiday!
Yours sincerely,
Edmund & Mary Fry
“Our school” in Kenya
Dancing children in Rwanda