Kenyan Horse Safari (Recce Tour) with Jonny Bealby
8 days starting on Sat 13 Oct 2012This exciting new trip takes place predominantly around the Laikipia Plateau, one of East Africa’s undiscovered natural treasures. Second only...
Group Tours in Kenya
Starting in October 2012
Kenya Travel Guide
Masai Mara
The Masai Mara is Kenya's largest game reserve and is situated in the South West of the country. It is a continuation of the Serengeti National Park game reserve in Tanzania and named after the traditional inhabitants of the area, the Maasai. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including all the big five. It is especially well known for its population of big cats and the "Great Migration" - an annual journey of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle which is one of the most spectacular migrations of its kind in the world.
Samburu
The Samburu Reserve stretches stark and rugged towards the Chalbi desert. The country here is empty and wild, a place of baked brown earth and parched vegetation and it is one of Kenya's most rewarding reserves. Running through Samburu, the Ewaso N'giro River is surrounded by a permanent ribbon of green with doum palms and acacia to provide respite from the sun. Elephant, buffalo and waterbuck frequent the woodland, impala herds graze under the trees and Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, giraffe and gerenuk, lion, leopard and cheetah can all be found while up above martial eagles, bateleurs and pygmy falcons patrol the skies.
Northern Frontier
Kenya’s Northern Frontier covers huge tracts of the North and is the nations last great wilderness - full of extraordinary and contrasting landscape. Huge expanses of arid desert and semi-desert are inhabited only by nomadic pastoralists such as the Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Soyei, living a life little changed for centuries. Camels walk along rutted dusty tracks alongside hardy cattle and their herders through miles of harsh unforgiving wilderness and desert-adapted animals abound with Grant's Gazelles, Gerenuk, Oryx and rare Golden Jackal particularly striking. In the midst, the Mathews mountain range rises out of the desert, covering approximately 1,000km² and rising to an altitude of 7500 ft. Stunningly picturesque and thickly forested, these mountains hide a range of wildlife including elephant and buffalo and are ideal for hiking. To the far North is the vast expanse of Lake Turkana, known as the "Jade Sea", surrounded by volcanic boulders and purple hills under a brilliant sky by day and star-bright nights. Lake Turkana is a 270 kilometre stretch of sparkling water where bio-diversity is at its best: ornithology, anthropology, archaeology, culture, fishing, game viewing, astronomy - a photographer's dream.
Laikipia
Laikipia is a plateau district North West of Mount Kenya in the Eastern part of the Rift Valley. The landscape includes open grasslands; acacia bush land, basalt hills, cedar forests and kopjes. This diverse habitat creates a good home for a variety of wildlife including over fifty percent of Kenyas Black and White Rhino population. The area is populated by several tribal communities including the Maasai, Kikuyu and Pokot. The area is also at the forefront of Kenya's eco-tourism movement with many of the properties in the area being community owned.
Coastal Kenya
Lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the coastal area in Kenya offers sun, sand, bustling cities and an UNESCO world heritage sites. Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city, is the centre of the coastal tourism industry and a good base for those wanting to explore the area. The town of Lamu is one of Kenya's oldest settlements and a traditional Swahili town. The town has an interesting history having undergone a Portuguese invasion and an Omani domination. It is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site and is a great place to take a step back in time. Lastly small coastal towns such as Malindi and Watamu offer serene beaches, quiet resorts and a Marine national park to explore.
Meru
Remote and alluring, Meru National Park covers 1,800 sq km, beginning in the foothills of Mount Kenya and extending southwards to the Tana River in eastern Kenya. It is best known as home to Elsa, the lioness reared by Joy Adamson and made famous in the film Born Free. It is extremely picturesque with numerous rivers and waterways and varied habitats of swamp, riverine forest and savannah, supporting a huge diversity of wildlife including lion, cheetah, elephant, some of Kenya’s largest herd of buffalo and black and white rhino. The rivers abound with hippo and crocodiles and the birdlife is abundant. Due to the lush vegetation, you have to work a little harder to spot wildlife, however the real beauty of Meru is that it still receives delighfully few tourists.
Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya’s mile-high capital is only 45km south of the equator. Founded by the British little more than a 100 years ago, the city now has a population of more than 2 million. It’s a cosmopolitan, lively, interesting and pleasantly landscaped. Its central business district is handily compact and it's a great place to tune into modern urban African life. Unfortunately, it's also a great place to get mugged. Originally little more than a swampy watering hole for Maasai tribes, Nairobi grew with the advent of the railway and had became a substantial town by 1900. Five years later it succeeded Mombasa as the capital of the British protectorate. Today it's the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg.
Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru
Home to a wide variety of wildlife the Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake situated in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. With over 400 species of bird and a large colony of hippos the lake is a fascinating place for visitors. The main type of agriculture in the area is floriculture and fishing is also a form of employment. The Lake Nakuru is a smaller lake also situated in the Rift Valley and is famous for being one of the few soda lakes in the country. The abundant alga in the lake attracts millions of flamingo to the area every year in one of the greatest bird spectacles on earth. The lake and surrounding national park is also home to a wide variety of other flora and fauna including black rhino and cheetah.
Amboseli
Amboseli National Reserve, is set against a backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. The snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds dominates every aspect of Amboseli. Set in Kenya's Rift Valley, close to the Tanzania border, this picturesque park encompasses dry lake beds, savannah woodland and extensive swamps constantly fed by springs emanating from the mountain. The water and seasonal lakes attract a wide variety of bird and animal life, in particular large herds of elephant. Amboseli is one of the best parks to observe family groups of elephants and iconic old bull with their long tusks at close quarters.
Marsabit
Marsabit is the last bit of civilisation in the vast desert of northern Kenya. The town is situated on an isolated million-year-old extinct volcano which rises almost a kilometre above the sea of desert and is surrounded by the 2,090 square kilometre Marsabit National Park and Reserve. The hills here are heavily forested unlike the desert beyond and views from the summit are fantastic - the whole area is dotted with extinct volcanoes and craters, or gofs, which have bubbled up and left these monuments to themselves. The people of Marsabit are a colourful ethnic mix of Rendille, Boran and Gabra.
Maralal
Maralal National Reserve is one of Kenya's little known treasures. Tucked away in the centre of the country amidst the Ol Doinyo Lenkiyo Mountains. Within the reserve's boundaries, eland, impala buffalo and zebra keep a watchful eye on predators such as the leopard and hyena. Seasonally, elephant pass through the reserve descending from the forested hills to the north.
Maralal from all directions gives a good panoramic view and its processions of wildlife sharing land with Samburu herders is fabulous. Related to the Masai further south, the Samburu warriors of Maralal dress in their traditional clothing live in a mutual dependence with the environment and wildlife around them. Maralal National Reserve receives relatively few visitors in relation to the Samburu reserves to the east despite its beautiful landscape and wide assortment of wildlife. This helps make it a truly enjoyable destination.
Kenya Travel Information
Visa Information
British Nationals require a visa to enter Kenya.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
A single entry visa for costs US$50 at the time of writing, while multiple entry will cost US$100. These can be obtained on arrival, at the British Embassy or a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are obtaining your visa before arrival you should apply no sooner than 8 weeks before departure. Should you wish to do this please let us know and we will supply you with all the relevant information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit th
Malaria:
Malaria is highly prevalent in Kenya. If you choose not to take malaria prophylactics you do so at your own risk and you should carry a course of tablets as a cure " Malarone is now considered the best cure but Quinine and Fansidar can also be used.
Prophylactic tablets are prescribed by your doctor and should be taken as directed. It is your responsibility to provide anti-malaria tablets and other preventative measures.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us now of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Tour Leaders
Jonny Bealby
Growing up in England, Scotland and Canada, Jonny developed a passion for travel and upon finishing college journeyed extensively in Australasia and the Far... Read More
Dhala Campbell
Named after a Yemeni fort and pass, Dhala was brought up in Scotland and spent her childhood mucking about on horses.
The travel bug started when... Read More
Tom Skipwith
As a baby being taken around India on the back of a motorbike by his travel-crazed parents, the adventure bug was firmly embedded and a nomadic soul was... Read More
Dario Ghirlanda
Born in Rome from an Italian/Ethiopian family, Dario moved to Ethiopia at the age of seven. After graduating in 2002, his Ethiopian origins and the fact... Read More
