Academic Tours and Safaris in Kenya

Summary

Study tours itineraries are mainly tailored for international learning groups who are interested in learning safaris in Kenya.

Important Notes:

Class
All itineraries are based on budget hotels and camps. Or hostels in areas where we have decent ones

Timing
All these academic tours can start on any day and in any season

Bespoke
The tours are adjustable to fit your time and accommodate special interests

Game drives and transportation

Pop-up roof ordinary safari van or 4x4 vehicle

Activities
Each tour has a suggested list of activities for learning and leisure. Details are discussed for each safari and each group at the time of booking

10 Days - Rift Valley, Maasai Mara, Amboseli

Day 1 – Naivasha

Leave Nairobi for Naivasha. You spend one night in Naivasha at the

reserved budget camp
Learning opportunities
Horticultural farming around Lake Naivasha
Unique geology in Hell’s Gate National Park
Geothermal exploration in Hell’s Gate
Bird watching in Lake Naivasha
Elsamere Conservation and learning center

For leisure

Hiking at the gorge in Hells Gate
Swimming at the geothermal spa
Boat ride in Lake Naivasha
Walking in Crescent Island
Food and culture in Naivasha town

Day 2 and 3 – Nakuru

Learning opportunities

Kariandusi and Hyrax Hill pre-historic sites

Menengai Crater and geothermal exploration

Ramsar sites in Lakes Elementaita and Lake Nakuru

White rhino and Rothschild giraffe sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park|Colonial history at the Lord Egerton Castle

For leisure

Hiking and photography in Menengai Crater
Camel riding in Soysambu Conservancy
Cycling in Nakuru town
Visiting local restaurants/clubs in Nakuru town

Day 4, 5 and 6 – Maasai Mara

Learning opportunities
Ecology of an expansive savanna ecosystem
Wildlife migration between July and November
Large populations of big cats
Many research projects on elephants and predators, birds of prey etc
The Maasai culture

For leisure

Wildlife viewing and photography
Camping and picnicking
Walking safaris with local Maasai guides

Day 7 and 8 – Nairobi

Learning opportunities

National Museums of Kenya (Also Railway and Karen Blixen Museum)
Nairobi animal orphanage and Safari Walk
Nairobi National Park
Jamhuri Gardens
Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary and Giraffe Centre
Farm visits – Kiambethu in Limuru and Mlango Farm in Ngecha

For leisure
Visit local clubs and restaurants – food and music
Cycling in Limuru
Shopping
Walking and cycling in Karura Forest

Day 10 and 11 – Amboseli

Learning opportunities
Elephant research
Wildlife conservation and human activity interaction
Amboseli is Man and Biosphere Reserve
Maasai culture
Snow capped Mt Kilimanjaro
Community wildlife in conservancies

For leisure
Camping and wildlife photography
Hiking and walking
Border visits

10 Days - Amboseli, Tsavo, Indian Ocean

Day 1- 2 – Amboseli

For leisure
Camping and wildlife photography
Hiking and walking
Border visits

Day 3-4 – Tsavo West and Taita Hills

Learning opportunities
Geological features like Shetani Lava and Mzima Springs
Lava plateau
Savanna ecology
Community conservation

For leisure
Walking and hiking
Photography
Rock climbing

Day 5 – 7 – Mombasa

Learning opportunities
Historical monuments such as Fort Jesus
Coastal culture of hospitality
Marine ecology and conservation

For leisure
Snorkeling in marine parks
Ocean swimming, dolphin sighting, scuba diving
Sunbathing
Sample Mombasa nightlife

Day 8 – 9 Watamu/Malindi

Learning opportunities
Gede Ruins monument
Sea turtle conservation
Butterfly farming in Arabuko Sokoke
Geological marvels such as Hell’s Kitchen

10 Days - Mount Kenya, Samburu, Rift Valley

Day 1 -3 – Mount Kenya

Learning opportunities
Wildlife conservation
Cultural education
Horticulture and large-scale livestock farming
Chimpanzee sanctuary at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Equator straddling snow peaked Mt Kenya
Private conservancies

For leisure
Climbing Mt Kenya
Horse riding
Camping and photography
Glamping
Forest canopy walk

Day 4-5 – Samburu

Learning opportunities
Community conservation
Savanna and arid ecology
Unique North range species of wildlife
Samburu culture

For leisure
Climbing Ololokwe Sacred Mountain
Horse riding
Camping and photography
Wildlife viewing in Samburu Reserve
Forest canopy walk

Day 6 – Nakuru

Historical sites like Hyrax Hill
Geological features like Menengai Crater
Ornithologists’ paradise in Lake Nakuru
Unique wildlife like white rhinos and Rothschild giraffe
Ecology of saline lakes

For leisure
Hiking and photography in Menengai Crater
Camel riding in Soysambu Conservancy
Cycling in Nakuru town
Visiting local restaurant/club in Nakuru town

Day 7 – 8 – Baringo

Learning opportunities
Hot springs and geysers in Lake Bogoria
Cultural education –
Great diversity of birds and reptiles

For leisure
Boat riding in Lake Baringo
Hiking and walking in Kerio Valley
Cycling and camping in Tugen Hills

Day 9 -10 – Naivasha

Learning opportunities
Horticultural farming around lake Naivasha
Unique geology in Hell’s Gate National Park
Geothermal exploration in Hell’s Gate
Bird watching in Lake Naivasha
Ecology of fresh waters

For leisure
Hiking at the gorge in Hells Gate
Swimming at the geothermal spa
Boat ride in Lake Naivasha
Walking in Crescent Island
Food and culture in Naivasha town

15 Days - Rift Valley, Western Kenya and Maasai Mara

Day 1-2 – Nakuru

Learning opportunities
Kariandusi and Hyrax Hill pre-historic sites
Menengai Crater and geothermal exploration
Ramsar sites in Lakes Elementaita and Lake Nakuru
White rhino and Rothschild giraffe sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park
Colonial history at the Lord Egerton Castle

For leisure
Hiking and photography in Menengai Crater
Camel riding in Soysambu Conservancy
Cycling in Nakuru town
Visiting local restaurant/club in Nakuru town

Day 3-4 – Baringo

Learning opportunities
Hot springs and geysers in Lake Bogoria
Cultural education –
Great diversity of birds and reptiles

For leisure
Boat riding in Lake Baringo
Hiking and walking in Kerio Valley
Cycling and camping in Tugen Hills

Day 5 Eldoret

Learning opportunities
Beautiful landscapes
Eldoret is the home of world marathon champions

For leisure
Restaurant and club life in Eldoret
Cycling and walking

Day 6 – 7 – Mt Elgon

Learning opportunities

Legendary elephant caves;
Transboundary conservation of Mt Elgon
Forest ecology
Endangered primates

For Leisure
Climbing Mt Elgon
Camping and hiking
Cycling
Visiting local farms and recreation gardens

Day 8-9 – Kitale

Learning opportunities
Large scale agriculture – called Kenya’s food basket
Kitale Museum
Kenya’s smallest national park called Saiwa Swamp
Kapenguria Museum – history of Kenya’s independence

For leisure
Sampling local food
Cycling and walking
Farm visits

Day 10 – 11 – Kisumu

Learning opportunities
Lake Victoria – world’s second largest fresh water lake
Fishing industry
Kisumu Kenya’s third largest city
Ancestral home of Barrack Obama
Kisumu Museum
Impala Sanctuary

For leisure
Boating and water sports
Club and night life

Day 12- 14 – Maasai Mara

Learning opportunities
Ecology of expansive savanna ecosystem
Wildlife migration between July and November
Large populations of big cats
Many research projects on elephants and predators, birds of prey etc
The Maasai culture

For leisure
Wildlife viewing and photography
Camping and picnicking
Walking safaris with local Maasai guides

Day 15 – Nairobi

12 Days –Nairobi, Tsavo, Indian Ocean

Day 1 and 2 – Tsavo

Learning opportunities
Largest elephant population in Kenya
Unique geology – Shetani Lava/Mazima Springs, numerous rock outcrops
Black Rhino Sanctuary in Ngulia

For leisure
Hiking and rock climbing
Photography
Camping

Day 3 – 4 Mombasa

Learning opportunities
Historical monuments like Fort Jesus
Coastal culture of hospitality
Cultural village at Bombolulu
Marine ecology and conservation
Geology

For leisure
Snorkeling in marine parks
Ocean swimming, dolphin sighting, scuba diving
Sunbathing
Sample Mombasa nightlife

Day 5, 6 and 7 –South Coast

Marine ecology
Dolphin conservation
Elephant Sanctuary in Mwaluganje
Shimba Hills Reserve.
Endemic Roan antelope in Shimba Hills
Shimoni slave caves
Wasini pristine Island

Leisure
Walking in Shimba Hills
Diani shopping and nightlife
Dhow safaris and snorkeling in Kisite Marine Park
Cycling
Boat safaris

Day 8, 9, 10 – North Coast

Learning opportunities
Unique geological features like Hell’s Kitchen
Historical monuments like Gede Ruins
Butterfly farming in Arabuko Sokoke Forest
Sea turtle conservation programs
Marine parks and conservancies

For leisure
Swimming and sunbathing
Beach games
|Malindi restaurant and clubs

11 – Nairobi

15 Days – Kenya and Tanzania

Day 1- 2 – Amboseli

Learning opportunities
Elephant research in Amboseli National Park
Wildlife conservation and human activity interaction
Amboseli is Man and Biosphere Reserve
Maasai culture
Snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro
Community wildlife in conservancies

For leisure
Camping and wildlife photography
Hiking and walking
Border visits

Day 3 – Arusha

Learning opportunities
Mt Meru
Arusha National Park
International Conference Centre
Centre of Regional diplomacy

For leisure
Sampling Tanzania hospitality
Walking and cycling

Day 4-5 – Lake Manyara

Encounter with tree climbing lions
Rift Valley escarpment
Community land use activities
Flamingos in Lake Manyara – saline lake

For leisure
Walking and photography
Camping

Day 6- 7 – Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro Crater and its geography
Wildlife conservation and tourism
Archeological sites like Olduvai Gorge

For leisure

Photography
Walking and cycling
Nature walk

Day 8-10 – Serengeti

Savanna ecology of Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara
Migration of large mammals between Serengeti and Mara
Serengeti is one of the most famous national parks in the work
Serengeti has a great research centre

For leisure
Camping
Nature and wildlife photography

Day 11 – 13 Maasai Mara

Learning opportunities
Ecology of expansive savanna ecosystem
Wildlife migration between July and November
Large populations of big cats
Many research projects on elephants and predators, birds of prey etc
The Maasai culture

For leisure
Wildlife viewing and photography
Camping and picnicking
Walking safaris with local Maasai guides

Day 14 – 15 Naivasha

Learning opportunities
Horticultural farming around Lake Naivasha
Unique geology in Hell’s Gate National Park
Geothermal exploration in Hell’s Gate
Bird watching in Lake Naivasha
Ecology of fresh waters

For leisure
Hiking at the gorge in Hells Gate
Swimming at the geothermal spa
Boat ride in Lake Naivasha
Walking in Crescent Island
Food and culture in Naivasha town

Day 16 – Nairobi