Wildlife Safari & Snorkeling
Naturalist Wayne Sentman has spent the past six years training undergraduate students in African wildlife conservation. He has developed a safari based on his experience that combines the untouristed reserves of Africa with the best traditional national parks, focusing on the densest concentrations of wildlife found in East Africa.
We start in the Laikipia region of Kenya. Laikipia, an area the size of New Hampshire, sitting on the equator and within view of Mt. Kenya, is made up of private ranches and conservancies, containing some of the largest congregations of wildlife found outside of national parks in East Africa.
Here healthy populations of elephants are found alongside less common animals such as African wild dogs and Grevy’s Zebra. The conservancies of Laikipia offer unusual pleasures in Kenya, walking safaris and night game drives.
From here we continue on to classic safari destinations such as Lake Nakuru, where flamingos and rhino are abundant. Next we fly to the Kenyan side of the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, and bear witness to one of the greatest migrations of the natural world. We stay in luxury-tented safari accommodations with daily game drives to observe herds of wildebeest and zebra, giraffes, and predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard. There will be plenty of opportunity for wildlife photography and animal behavior observations.
From Kenya we will move on to Zanzibar in Tanzania. On arrival we will be taken by boat to Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary. The whole of Chumbe Island is a nature reserve and activities include snorkeling through the shallow water reef sanctuary, exploring the Forest Reserve and historical monuments.
Chumbe is a model community-based eco-lodge and has been recognized worldwide for its success. Chumbe is known for plentiful biodiversity and is especially conducive to snorkeling, as the reef crest is only about six feet below water. Through Wayne’s experience and reliable country partners in East Africa, participants can rely on a comfortable and unique experience.
Itinerary:
Day 1:
Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Fly from Nairobi to Lewa Downs Safari Camp. Game drives in 4-wheel drive land cruisers. Lewa Safari Camp is a luxury tented safari camp located on the 45,000 acre, privately owned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
This non-profit conservancy has been one of the leaders in Black Rhino conservation in Kenya. Additionally, ongoing projects work to protect Grevy’s Zebra, and many of the threatened predators found throughout Laikipia. Daily opportunities for game viewing both on foot, and at night.
Day 3:
Lewa Downs Safari Camp. Day and night game drives.
Day 4:
Transfer to Sweetwaters Tented Camp on Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and day-trip to Mpala Research Center, lectures, walking safaris.
The Mpala Research Centre (MRC) is a facility for scientific research, education, and training in central Kenya. It is located on the Mpala Conservancy, which is a 48,000 acre property encompassing Mpala Research Centre and Mpala Ranch in Laikipia, Kenya. Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 90,000 acre wildlife reserve situated between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snowcapped Mount Kenya.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals including the non-indigenous chimpanzees and the big 5 (the endangered black rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion).
The existing Sweetwaters game reserve is now encompassed within the “Ol Pejeta Conservancy”. This has created the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa.
Day 5:
Morning visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1993. Sweetwaters, the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) established a facility to receive and provide sanctuary and housing to an original group of 3 chimps orphaned at a young age by the bush-meat trade.
With the evacuation of the JGI facility in Bujumbura due to civil war breaking out in Burundi, the chimps were brought to Sweetwaters. In 1995, 9 older chimpanzees arrived, followed at the beginning of 1996 by 10 younger chimpanzees. Afternoon departure to Lake Nakuru – Accommodations Maili Saba Tented Camp on Menengai Crater. Each, grass thatched tented banda, has its own unique view on the crater.
Day 6:
Full-day game drive at Lake Nakuru, with a picnic lunch in the park.
Lake Nakuru National Park is a 250-km square park known for its soda lake replete with Flamingoes, located in the Rift Valley. The Lake is home to populations of White and Black Rhino. Nakuru is also known for its wonderful forest of Acacia Fever Trees and abundant birdlife.
Day 7:
Morning departure to Nairobi for shopping then afternoon flight to Masai Mara. Accommodations in the Kicheche Mara Camp.
To experience a traditional luxury camp is a must on a Masai Mara safari. Unfenced and secluded in a thicket of African Olive and Croton trees, the camp impinges so little on the natural inhabitants of this prolific reserve that your Masai Mara safari is enhanced by the animals that wander through the grounds at any time unperturbed. Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 8:
Morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara. Game drives will take us through some of the most spectacular savanna ecosystems East Africa has to offer, with one of the densest concentrations of animal life on the planet.
Day 9:
Masai Mara AM game drive, afternoon flight to Nairobi, Group Dinner and overnight.
Day 10:
Fly to Zanzibar, Tanzania. Transfer to Chumbe Island. Snorkeling check-out session. Accommodations on Chumbe are in “eco-bungalows.” All bungalows overlook the sea and it takes just 30 seconds to stroll from your bungalow hammock to cooling off in the warm tropical Indian Ocean.
In 1994 the Zanzibar government officially gazetted the reef as the "Chumbe Reef Sanctuary" making Chumbe the first marine park in Tanzania. The Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary is now fully registered as a marine protected area by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (established by UNEP, WWF and IUCN) in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Days here will be spent snorkeling among the hawksbill sea turtles, with daily walks along the forest nature trails searching for the giant Coconut crab, and the Mangrove Kingfisher.
Day 11-12:
Chumbe Island. Daily snorkeling and coral reef ecology lectures.
Day 13:
Morning boat ride to Stonestown, Zanzibar for shopping, afternoon flight to Nairobi. Fly home.
Day 14:
Arrival in country of origin.
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