BIG CAT SAFARI - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Day 1
Depart London Heathrow on the scheduled service of Virgin Airways.

Day 2
We will be met upon arrival of our flight to Nairobi and will transfer towards the Masai Mara. As we leave Nairobi behind us we will start to make our way down the Rift Escarpment with fantastic views over Kenya's fertile country. The Great Rift Valley tears through the Middle East and East Africa stretching 6000km from Syria to Mozambique. As we descend into the Rift Valley we pass the impressive Longonot Earth Satelite before continuing to Narok and across acres of wheat and barley fields. We eventually arrive at the Masai Mara and our lodge in time for lunch.
We will rest a bit after lunch before going on our first game drive in the late afternoon.

Day 3 - 4
The next 2 days we will spend exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara, starting early with a game drive before breakfast and returning to the lodge for meals. This reserve is an extension of the Serengeti ecosystem to the south. Game abounds here, particularly when the migration is on, and millions of wildebeests and zebras make their way back and forth across the Mara River on their annual trek. The Mara is also noted for its abundance of lions - particularly the superb black manned males. We'll see lots of elephants here often in large herds, as well as, if we're lucky, leopard, cheetah and rhino. All of the Big Five are residents. We're sure to see the African buffalo. The huge expanse of grassland is dotted with distinctive flat-topped acacia trees, watered by two rivers, Mara River and Talek River. It is also home to the nomadic Maasai people, who can be see grazing their cattle, usually brightly dressed in red chequered capes. As a climax, there is the also the option of taking a sunrise balloon ride over the African plains (subject to the weather conditions and availability).

Day 5
This morning we head back the way we came towards Narok before going along the Mau Escarpment towards Lake Naivasha, looking out for giraffe and zebra along the way. As well as being the flower centre of Kenya, Lake Naivasha was also home to one of the most famous big cats, Elsa, from Born Free. After lunch at the lodge we will take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha looking for flamingos.

Day 6
Today we drive past the soda Lake Elementaita on our way to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is centred around Lake Nakuru, a shallow alkaline lake which attracts thousands of flamingos year-round. The park is also home lions, giraffes, zebra and various other animals including both Black and White rhinos which have been reintroduced to the area in recent years. We will spend the day in the park enjoying game drives and the magnificent views of the park before returning to Lake Naivasha late afternoon.

Day 7
This morning, we have the opportunity to visit Hell's Gate National Park, Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, or just relax by the pool at the lodge. Both Hell's Gate National Park and Crater Lake Game Sanctuary offer the possibility of exploring the area on foot, looking for various local wildlife. Hell's Gate inspired Pride Rock in the Lion King (where a baby Simba is first introduced to the world).
Early afternoon we head back towards Nairobi. This evening we will go to the world-famous Carnivore Restaurant (paid for locally) for our final meal in Kenya before heading to the airport for the overnight flight home.

Day 8
For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the same day.