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| FOCUS ON KENYA |
| 17 - 30 April 2010 |
When one hears the word safari, Kenya comes to mind. The word alone conjures up visions of acacia-dotted landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, covered with vast herds of elephants, zebra, and wildebeest. And there are tribal people who have called this part of Africa home for thousands of years and whose very survival has depended on their ability to life in harmony with nature. It is this part of Africa that most paleanathropologist believe that approximately 35,000 years ago the first homo sapiens walked north (probably because of a change in the climate) and began a journey that has resulted in close to seven billion of us inhabiting one small planet, of which few live in harmony with nature. During our two weeks in Kenya, we will have an opportunity to observe and photograph the large numbers and variety of wildlife in the four most popular game parks and reserves set aside for wildlife conservation. We will also see hundreds of birds as Kenya has over 1,200 different species. We will spend time visiting and photographing the indiginous cultures such as the colorful Maasai and Samburu. We will explore what customs and beliefs differ from ours in the Western world and what we may gain from their knowledge and wisdom. We will travel in custom built 9-passenger minivans with photographic viewing hatches with a maximum of five people in each vehicle. Our deluxe accommodation will be some of the best lodges and tented camps in East Africa. Accommodation will be simular to those feature in On Safari |
| Maximum Participants: 12 with 4 photographers per 7-passenger vehicle with photographer leader rotating between vehicles. |
| Photographer Leader: Mark Garbutt |
| Our Itinerary |
| Saturday, 17 April 2010 |
| Nairobi |
| Upon arrival in Nairobi, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. |
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| Sunday, 18 April 2010 |
| Nairobi |
| There is a time difference between the continents and the mind and body need time to adjust. A David Anderson Safaris representative will suggest optional tours in and around Nairobi. The Hindu Temple and Museum are very worth a visit as they demontrate a history of the world’s religions. Giraffe Center, the Karen Blixen Home and Museum, and Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage are also interesting. |
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| Monday - Tuesday, 19 - 20 April 2010 |
| Nairobi - Amboseli National Park |
| This morning we leave Nairobi and drive south to Amboseli National Park. This park is famous for its elephants and views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Our afternoon is spent game viewing. We have a full day of game viewing with Kilimanjaro dominating the landscape and providing a superb backdrop for our photographs. We watch for elephant, zebra, wildebeest and lion. We will also meet the colorful Maasai. Amboseli is justly famous for its big game and views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This park is one of the best places in Kenya to view large herds of elephant and buffalo as well as lion, giraffe and plains game. The scenic landscape is dominated by the sparkling, majestic snowcap of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 19,340 feet. Within Amboseli National Park, is the Cynthia Moss Elephant Research Center which has been instrumental in our ability to understand these magnificent beasts. A wild region where the pastoral Maasai and their cattle can be seen living in harmony with nature, Amboseli is a rich introduction to Kenya. |
| Amboseli Serena (BLD) |
| Wednesday - Thursday, 21 - 22 April 2010 |
| Amboseli - Samburu Game Reserve |
| This morning we fly to Samburu, the semi-desert bush country of the northern frontier district. Here we meet the nomads of the desert and the Samburu tribe. On our game drives in the reserve we will photograph the wildlife unique to this area of Kenya such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, warthog, gerenuk, oryx and, if we are lucky, a leopard. We will have an opportunity to hear a talk about the Samburu, followed by traditional African dances. |
| Samburu Serena Lodge (BLD) |
| Friday, 23 April 2010 |
| Samburu – Mount Kenya – Ol Pejeta Game Reserve |
| After breakfast, we take an early morning game drive and then head south towards the equator and Mount Kenya. We arrive at our tented camp in time for lunch. This afternoon we will photograph on a 110,000 acre private ranch. Within the ranch is Sweetwaters Game Reserve. Sweetwaters has lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and hippo. We will visit up close with "Morani", the tame rhino at the wildlife orphanage and observe chimps from an observation platform at the Jane Goodall Institute's Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. There is also a unique opportunity to view nocturnal animals on an evening game drive (optional-not included, estimated cost is $100 per person). Night game drives can reveal another side of life in the bush. Learn about creatures adapted to survival in the African night. |
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| Saturday – Sunday, 24 - 25 April 2010 |
| Samburu - Lake Nakuru National Park |
| We continue our safari with a drive into the Rift Valley. We will spend two days photographing in Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is known for its stunning pink vision as millions of flamingos congregate to feed in the alkaline waters. Visitors to this area will be taken with the beauty of the fever trees and the richness of the wildlife, which includes a rhino sanctuary with both white and black rhino. In recent years, Lake Nakuru National Park has also been a good place to see leopard. |
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| Monday – Tuesday, 26 - 27 April 2010 |
| Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara Game Reserve |
| This morning we drive into Africa’s best wildlife viewing area, the Masai Mara. During our five days, we will stay at two different deluxe safari camps, which will give us the opportunity to explore this great reserve in depth. We will see elephant, giraffe, prides of lion and thousands of impala, topi, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle. While in the Mara, we will have the opportunity to float above the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem on board a hot air balloon followed by a champagne breakfast. There is also an optional day trip to Lake Victoria where we can visit a village and fish for giant Nile perch. We may visit a Maasai village and photograph the proud Maasai. |
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| Wednesday – Thursday, 28 - 29 April 2010 |
| Masai Mara Game Reserve |
| We depart after breakfast with a picnic lunch and embark on a full day game drive ending at our final safari lodge. |
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| Friday, 30 April 2010 |
| Masai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi |
We depart this morning for Nairobi. Those who fly will be able to enjoy one final game drive in the Masai Mara, arrving at noon. Those who drive will arrive mid-afternoon. A day room will be provided so that we can prepare for our evening flight home.
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| Photographic Expedition Price |
| (Per Person, Double Occupancy) |
Retail Price: $6,495 Photographer’s Price: $4,495 per person Non-Photographer Traveling with a Photographer: $4,995 Single Room Supplement: $750 Non-Refundable Deposit to Reserve Participation: $250 per person Additional Deposit to Secure Participation Due 30 November 2009: $900 per person
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| Safari Options |
| (Per Person) |
Optional Flight on Last Day: $150 per person Hot Air Balloon Safari: $475 per person Excursion to Lake Victoria: $495 per person Nairobi City Tour: $60 per person Maasai Village Visit in Masai Mara: $30 per person Zanzibar: $1,700 per person |
Safari Price Includes: |
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| Not included: |
Not included are all items of personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills etc; tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and driver-guide(s); alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks; international flight and departure taxes; laundry services; visa fees; and, any other item(s) not included in our itinerary.
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| Carbon Offsets: |
| Focus on Africa understands that air travel contributes to increased green house gases and global warming. Therefore, we encourage our expedition participants to assist us in making each Focus on Planet Earth expedition carbon neutral. You can offset your air transportation carbon impact by purchasing carbon off-sets. To offset the emissions from your flights go to Carbon Off-Set Calculator. Use (NBO) (Nairobi) as your destination. |
| International Air Transportation: |
| You are responsible for booking your own international air transportation. To assist you, we have provided you with the airport codes and the dates you need to arrive or depart. |
| Arrival Airport Code: NBO on 17 April in the evening or 18 May in the morning Departure Airport Code: NBO on 30 April after 3:00PM if flying back from Mara or after 8:00PM if driving back to Nairobi. |
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