Travel Service Safaris big cats of africa Kenya June 26 - July 6, 2021
26th June 2021: Nairobi arrival. Transfer to Ole Sereni Hotel. Overnight at Emara at Ole Sereni Hotel
27th June 2021: Tour of Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen Museum, & Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage: Our tour starts at the Giraffe Center, an elevated treetop aerie where we may hand feed giraffes, quite literally face–to–face. The Center has a feeding platform where they exchange kisses with visitors for pelleted food. Then we will proceed on to the Karen Blixen Museum. Karen Blixen Museum is located on the outskirts of Nairobi on Karen road. Its history dates back to 1914, during the First World War, with the arrival of Karen Blixen from Denmark. At the foot of Ngong Hills, Karen Blixen established herself as a farmer. After her departure in 1931, the suburbs retained the commemorative home of Karen. The Danish government donated the house, and the surrounding land to Kenya after independence. The house was restored by the Danish government, and was used during the filming of "Out of Africa" which immortalized Karen Blixen's book by the same name. The museum was opened to the public in 1986. From there we will go to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage for our visit with the baby elephants. Daphne Sheldrick is a world–class conservation figure and the premier authority on the successful raising of milk–dependent infant elephant and rhino orphans. During this time the baby elephants are brought out to play and to feed, and visitors can watch and interact with them. Wardens are on hand to explain the work of the orphanage and to answer any questions.
Overnight at Emara at Ole Sereni Hotel (BL)
28th June 2021: Fly to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. This morning we will be transferred to Wilson Airport for our flight to the Masai Mara where we will be met by our hosts and transferred to Topi House.
Here we will look for big cats as well as some of the smaller cats such as the serval and African wild cat. We will also be visiting the world famous Mara River watching massive crocodiles and hippos.
Overnight at Topi House (BLD)
29th and 30th of June 2021: Masai Mara. After the rains when the first flush of grass turns the Masai Mara’s golden savannah green, the most mesmerizing wildlife spectacle anywhere takes place here: The Great Wildebeest Migration. Between the months of July and October one and a half million wildebeest, accompanied by vast numbers of zebra and gazelles make the long and dangerous trek from drier lands in Tanzania, northwards to this corner of Kenya. Lines of animals stretch as far as the eye can see across the plains. They come to give birth to their young and the grasslands echo with the sounds of the new-born. It is a time of plenty. But it is a time too when the predators are drawn from all around. High above on the hot winds the carrion birds, the vultures and eagles, soar. In the long grasses lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena prowl. Most dramatic of all is the moment when the migration arrives at the Mara River. They must cross it to reach the rich grazing. As the animals throng, crocodiles cruise the waters. Then the bravest takes the plunge into the swirling currents and thousands follow.
Overnight at Topi House (BLD)
1st July 2021: Masai Mara. Transfer to Tangulia Camp we will be met by our host for the next five nights, Jackson Looseyia, and his staff, who will see to our needs throughout our stay at Tangulia Camp.
Here we will concentrate on the big cats and smaller animals of the Mara ecosystem.
The Masai Mara National Reserve was named for the Maasai people who inhabit the area, and for the Mara River, which flows through this great reserve. It shares a border with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and is essentially a continuation of this park, forming the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The Masai Mara is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game and is renowned for its annual visit by the two million animals that make up the Great Migration. Covering an impressive 1 115 km² (430 square miles), the Masai Mara is a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains. The Masai Mara was made famous by the book Out of Africa by Karen Blixen, which was later made into a movie starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. Immortalised through famous tales of olden day safaris, the Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the richest and most diverse wildlife areas in the world. Known as the ‘spotted land’ to the Maasai, the reserve is home to a vast number of resident wildlife, as well as part of the annual phenomenon of the Great Migration. The migratory wildebeest, zebra, kongoni and topi join abundant elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah in the Mara. Leopard and serval are frequently encountered, while endangered black rhino can be found in the dense bush thickets. The Mara River is also famed for its enormous crocodiles, which lay in wait for the wildebeest and zebra during the excitement and drama of the migration. Six species of primates and over 450 birds add to the Mara’s incredible natural diversity.
Overnight at Tangulia Mara Camp (BLD)
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th July 2021: Masai Mara. Overnight at Tangulia Mara Camp (BLD)
6th July 2021: Fly to Nairobi. Transfer to hotel for dayroom use. Day rooms Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport (B)
Cost per Person Sharing will be $8700 US Dollars. ***** Children ages 5-17 will be $6500 per child. ***** Price subject to change until 2021 rates are confirmed****
Terms and conditions: All payments are non-refundable. Medical evacuation insurance is mandatory.
This includes:
1. Accommodation at Emara at Ole Sereni Hotel, Topi House and Tangulia Mara Camp as stated above 2. Dayroom use on the 6th of July at Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport 3. Park and conservancy Entrance fees 4. Meals: All Meals beginning with breakfast on the 27th included except dinner on the 27th. 5. All airport and airstrip transfer in Nairobi and Masai Mara Game Reserve 6. Transfer from Topi House to Tangulia Mara Camp on the 1st of July 7. Bottled water in Nairobi and also on Safari 8. Flying Doctor Services 9. Internal domestic flight (Nairobi – Masai Mara – Nairobi on the dates indicated) 10. Nairobi Tour ( visit to Daphne Sheldrick/ Karen Blixen Museum/ Giraffe centre)
Not Included:
Roundtrip international airfare From the USA to Nairobi
Visa for Kenya
Tips to guides and drivers
Cancellation insurance
Phone calls
Sodas and Alcohol except where explicitly stated
Laundry
Dinner on the 27th of September in Nairobi
Deposit of $1000 per person due to hold your space. Group maximum of 6 guests. Remainder of money will be due March 15, 2020
About Tangulia Mara Camp:
Tangulia Mara camp is a cozy tented bush camp perched on a leafy hill overlooking the Olotulo-Murt salt lick, by the Mara River. It is located on private land and has an emphasis on authentic safari and African experiences. Tangulia is a Swahili word meaning “to lead.” Our camp’s mission is to be the leaders in African Safari by allowing our guests a comfortable private stay with an array of unique safari experiences that will remain in your heart for a lifetime.
We have a total of 8 luxurious tents, which includes one family tent. The camp is set to remain quaint to give our guests the ultimate, intimate experience. We have hand made large beds in each of our tents with an additional single bed in some. The salt lick is a favorite spot for a lot of the wildlife in the area and this is the reason why we take advantage of this view. The Mara River is seen from the front porch of most of our tents. Winding paths lead to each of our tents and with our camp being unfenced, wildlife is welcome to roam freely around camp. Or camp askaris escort guests back to their tents at night.
Running taps and hot showers are available throughout with permanent en-suite bathroom with shower, basin, and flush toilet.
Solar lighting and a Wi-Fi hotspot complete the amenities.
Our chef takes great pride in his culinary expertise, learned over many years of catering to an international clientele. We chose the name Tangulia – meaning “to lead” as our Vision Statement.
About Topi House:
Topi House borders the 23,000 acre Olare Orok Conservancy and the Masai Mara National Game Reserve. The site has been carefully selected for the views through the small thorn tree forest, in which the house sits, over the national park boundary and into the reserve beyond. The house lies just 45 minutes, as part of a game drive, from Ol Kiombo airstrip. From this coveted spot you get unrivalled access to the eastern side of the Masai Mara.
This is designed to be your very own private bush home in the middle of Africa's greatest ecosystem. It comes with a full complement of well-trained and experienced staff at your disposal including a chef, guide and house manager to ensure a fabulous and personal safari experience. The area, with its rolling hills, is ideal for bush picnics and sundowners with a view. The property is positioned directly on the wildebeest migration route and has been known to experience huge volumes of game right up to the front door.
The house consists of three well sized en-suite bedrooms which are linked by a large verandah running along the front. At the far end lies the living area, which is made up of an open plan sitting/dining room complete with an open log fire. Guests can also sit around the camp fire near the house, under the stars. Your team will prepare all meals to the usual high standard and will cater for bush picnics or lunches out on the lawn under the shade of the acacia trees. A fully qualified guide and vehicle will be on hand to assist with a wide range of safari activities which can include game drives and visits to local villages, schools and trading centers. Game viewing is done primarily in the Masai Mara Game Reserve and can be arranged in the conservancy, so offering a wide range of experiences.
About Jackson Looseyia:
Jackson was born in 1967 in the heart of the Masai Mara. He grew up surrounded by wildlife and from an early age found it a source of inspiration. Tracking wild animals is in his blood – he comes from a long line of master hunters and trackers.
Jackson's father was a particularly famous hunter who clashed with the park authorities and ended up being imprisoned for eight years. On his release he became the archetypal poacher turned game-keeper and was appointed head ranger in the Southern Mara.
It was at this time that Jackson was trained in the ways of the wild – his father took him into the heart of the bush for six months solid training. During this time he was shown how to track dangerous animals such as lion and buffalo. The trip had dramatic consequences as during the adventure, Jackson's father was attacked by a buffalo and had his right hand broken. Responsibility for the family was handed to Jackson.
As a young man, Jackson quickly rose to become one of the first Masai guides in the Mara and is now a partner in Tangulia Mara Camp.
Jackson has an intimate knowledge of all the wildlife in the Mara from the smallest insect to the largest predators, but the big cats are his particular favorites. especially the elusive leopard which Jackson describes as "an animal work of art". He has been ranked as one of the top 15 Legendary Guides in Africa by Conde Nast Traveler.
Jackson is probably most well known as a presenter on BBC's Big Cat Live and Big Cat Tales.