MS 5: 5 Days Samburu - Rift Valley Lakes Safari
The three National Reserves of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba are at the beginning of the dry north where camels become commonplace.
However, it is not a completely parched area as it is watered by the Uaso Nyiro River or 'River of Brown Water' in Samburu. This is an essential and sometimes erratic water source for all the inhabitants, including a considerable amount of wildlife in the reserves and Samburu cattle and goats.
Out of the north Kenyan tribes of Samburu, Rendille, Turkana and Borana, the Samburu dominate this area. To the uninformed eye they could be confused with the Maasai - for they are closely related and wear similar bright clothing and jewellery and have the same cultural beliefs. They continue their nomadic pastoralist lifestyle as they have done for hundreds of years.
The scrub desert, desiccated savannah and small hills of this region create overriding colours of muted greens, dusty creams, sand yellow, earthen ochre and every shade of brown. Perfect camouflage colours for the many animals that inhabit these parks.
Day1:
Depart Nairobi in the morning and pass through the agricultural farmlands on the slopes of Mt. Kenya to arrive at the semi-arid and open savannah plains of Samburu Game Reserve in time for lunch. Proceed for an afternoon game drive in the park. Dinner and overnight at a permanent campsite beautifully set on the edge of the river under a canopy of trees.
Day 2:
Full day of game viewing in the park famous as the place for the Samburu
semi-nomadic tribesmen, the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy's zebra gerenuk, beisa oryx and a host of the big game including elephant and lion. Meals and overnight at the permanent camp.
Day 3:
Leave Samburu early in the morning to make a scenic drive to the west across the Lerochi Plateau with lunch enroute and later descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley and arrive at Lake Baringo in the afternoon . This a fresh water lake which supports a great variety of birds as well as Hippo and crocodile. Dinner and overnight at a camp.
Day 4:
Depart early in the morning and head south via Lake Bogoria which is a shallow soda lake with a beautiful scenery and home of flamingoes and arrive at the hot springs and the geysers all which contribute to the beauty of the lake. After lunch proceed to Lake Nakuru in the south. This is another shallow soda lake which inhabits more than a million flamingoes. The Lake Nakuru National Park also has a Rhino sanctuary. Other animals to be seen here are lion, buffalo, waterbuck, warthhog and hippo. Dinner and overnight at a camp at the Park.
Day 5:
After breakfast proceed to Nairobi arriving in the early afternoon.
