Kenya Air Safaris - Kenya Flying safari packages:

These are designed for those yearning for an African safari experience but constrained by time. The safaris may be extended dependent on demand.
 
ASS F01 - SAMBURU - 1 ½ DAYS
Day 1:  Flying for approximately 1 ½ hours over Mt Kenya and across the equator, descend into the ruggedly beautiful reserve of Samburu, to enjoy game drives and overnight at your Lodge, Samburu Serena Lodge, L,D

Day 2: Early morning transfer to the airstrip for your return flight to Nairobi. B

Safari price: US$ 680 per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 50

 

Included in the Samburu air safari price:
-Guarantee price/guarantee safari on confirmation
-All ground transport whilst on safari in a comfortable Samburu Serena Lodge 4x4WD land cruiser
-Full board accommodation whilst on safari and meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodation in double/twin room
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-All game drives as detailed in the itinerary
-Specialised services all through
-Return air transfer, Nairobi-Samburu-Nairobi

Excluded:
-Tips
-Laundry
-Beverages/Drinks
-International flights
-Visas to Kenya
-Items of personal nature
-Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary

 

ASS F02 - AMBOSELI - 1 ½ DAYS
Day 1: After your early morning 1 hour flight to Amboseli National Park, enjoy morning and afternoon game drives and a chance of spotting the Big 5 with the dome of Kilimanjaro forming a perfect backdrop, Amboseli Serena Lodge, L,D

 

Day 2: Early morning transfer to airstrip for return flight to Nairobi. B

Safari cost: US$ 615 per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 50

 

Included in the Amboseli air safari price:
-Guarantee price/guarantee safari on confirmation
-All ground transport whilst on safari in a comfortable Amboseli Serena Lodge 4x4WD land cruiser
-Full board accommodation whilst on safari and meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodation in double/twin room
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-All game drives as detailed in the itinerary
-Specialised services all through
-Return air transfer, Nairobi-Amboseli-Nairobi

Excluded:
-Tips
-Laundry
-Beverages/Drinks
-International flights
-Visas to Kenya
-Items of personal nature
-Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary

 

 

ASS 03 - MAASAI MARA - 1 ½ DAYS
Day 1: Transfer to Wilson Airport for an early morning or afternoon 45-minute flight to Maasai Mara. On arrival, view game en route to the lodge. The afternoon game drive reveals the remarkable concentration of wildlife found in this unspoilt wonderland, Mara Serena Lodge, L,D
 

Day 2: Early morning game drive. After breakfast proceed to airstrip for the return flight to Nairobi and onward transfer to your hotel, B.

 

Safari price: US$ 695 per person sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 55

 

Included in the Masai Mara air safari price:
-Guarantee price/guarantee safari on confirmation
-All ground transport whilst on safari in a comfortable Mara Serena Lodge 4x4WD land cruiser
-Full board accommodation whilst on safari and meal plan as described, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodation in double/twin room
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-All game drives as detailed in the itinerary
-Specialised services all through
-Return air transfer, Nairobi-Masai Mara-Nairobi

Excluded:
-Tips
-Laundry
-Beverages/Drinks
-International flights
-Visas to Kenya
-Items of personal nature
-Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary

 

 

THE MASAI MARA MIGRATION OF WILDEBEESTS:
The Wildebeest arrive at the Mara River around July and cross over onto the Masai Mara plains. The wildebeest remain here until October, when they return to Tanzania. Gazetted in 1961, the Reserve is located west of the Rift Valley and is a natural extension of the Serengeti plains. The Mara River, the reserve's backbone, traverses north to south. This river course is the natural barrier crossed every year by the large herds of wildebeest and zebra during their migration.

May & June
In late May, the herds leave the Western Corridor for the northern Serengeti plains and woodlands. The fresh, tender and mineral-rich pastures on the other side of the humans' border, in Masai Mara, are the irresistible bait for the animals to finally invade the Kenyan reserve, an event which usually starts in late June to early July. The troops coming from the south meet here another migratory contingent: the resident wildebeest herds of the Mara region. These animals reside in the Loita Plains and Hills, northeast of the Mara, until the dry season brings the tougher days and it is time to seek the evergreen Mara basin.

July to October
Throughout the month of July, the herds cross the Sand River, a mostly dry tributary of the Mara which roughly follows the boundary line between Kenya and Tanzania. The parade takes the eastern sector of Masai Mara, surrounding the Keekorok Lodge area. The trek follows westward, leading the herds to face the major challenge along their quest: crossing the Mara river and frequently also its tributary, the Talek. By then, the rains at the Mau Escarpment, where the Mara rises, have fed the stream to its highest levels.

The steep banks are populated with trunk-looking basking crocodiles that seem almost to be expecting their annual banquet. The operation of fording the river is the most delicate along the migration, and as such seems to plunge the gnus in a state of anxiety that only relieves when the whole herd has crossed. The trekkers walk along the left (eastern) bank of the Mara looking for a suitable point to cross. There are plenty of preferred crossings along the course, which are easily identifiable by the lack of vegetation, the depressed slopes and the deep grooves carved by the animals' hooves. These are the most secure places to ford the river, those that ensure a minimal mortality. Nonetheless, the apparent programming of the whole process sometimes seems to collapse, and the nervous herds occasionally choose places where the banks are too steep and many of the animals break their legs down the cliff or fall flat into the waters. The herds gather at the suitable points and wander around nervously, their grunts sounding loud in the air. Eventually, one animal takes the lead and approaches the rim, scanning the opposite edge to analyze if any danger awaits after the crossing. When it finally dives into the stream, this seems to haul the rest of the herd. More animals follow in a single line across the river, while the lagged ones throw themselves towards the stream until the rearguard pushes the troops to a frantic race that ends up with some animals trampled to death, lying aside the course. Along the boreal summer, the crossings repeat over and over, and the survivors graze peacefully on the Mara Triangle grasslands unless disturbed by the early-morning and late-evening hunts of lion and cheetah, the latter preying on the calves.

By October, the rains are heading south back to the Serengeti. This is when the pace of the march reverses, bringing the herds to face once more the quest for the southern grasslands. The rite of fording the river is again part of nature's call. In the last days of October, the migration heads towards the vast plains of the southern Serengeti, where a new generation of calves will be born to start the cycle of life all over again. Normally the route is down the eastern side and the pace is fast. Quite often a million animals can be seen stretched out.

BALLOONING OVER THE MASAI MARA:
Visitors to the Masai Mara can experience the rare excitement of game viewing from a hot air balloon. In the crisp air of dawn, the passengers drink coffee while the crew partially inflates the balloon with enormous fans. The gas burners are then ignited and the balloon fills with hot air slowly raising the baskets. Before departing, finalized checks are made, and the passengers then climb into the balloon basket for a take off.

The balloons lift off just before sunrise when the breeze on the plains is still cold. Once airborne, the balloons are blown by the prevailing winds across the broad landscape. Apart from the hiss of the burners, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. The pilot controls the height of the craft by regulating the flow of hot air into the balloon. Sometimes the balloon will descend over the plains for a close up view of the wildlife; on other occasions, it rises to clear a tree canopy and rise over the reverine forest.

At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast, complete with flowers. China and crystal are set out on the table that is placed under a convenient acacia tree. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the lodge or camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. Over a dozen balloons depart from sites near six of the lodges and tented camps. Our customers are often able to view four of the 'Big Five' while ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon safari.

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