Africa Backpacker Adventures and Budget Travel

The backpacker is not left behind but rather we have customized the best possible budget travel packages in Eastern Africa with several itineraries that take you off the beaten track to the place of interaction with rural communities in regions rarely visited by the regular tourist. Those who wish to travel across several countries in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa there is the opportunity to join our regular overland trips that depart on schedule. These trips are favorably priced with value added incentives that make them a "must do!" Kenya budget camping safaris, Adventure wildlife camping safaris Maasai Mara, camping safaris Samburu, camping safaris lake Nakuru and budget adventure trips to Lake Turkana


13 Days Kenya Wildlife Trail
A safari to see the best game parks in Kenya and also the world famous bird sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes before taking you down to the Coast to enjoy at leisure the beautiful sunny beaches of Mombasa, Malindi or Lamu.

Day 1 – Samburu:
Depart Nairobi in the morning heading north via the shoulder of Africa's second largest mountain, Mt Kenya to the Samburu Game Reserve. Accommodation in our semi-permanent campsite is beautifully set under a canopy of trees or we may pitch tents on the edge of Uaso Nyiro River (meaning Brown in Samburu). Cold showers are available which are amazingly refreshing in the hot, dusty climates.

Day 2 – Samburu
Day spent game viewing in the park appreciating the diverse landscape and variety of animal species.
Samburu is part of a lava plain that includes a diverse landscape of thorn scrub, red dirt, dried river beds, broken volcanic rock, steep hills and rocky outcroppings. The region is home to the uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephant and crocodile are guaranteed sightings, excellent bird watching with numerous varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sighting is also a special feature here.

Day 3 – Baringo
Depart in the early morning across the scenic Lerochi Plateau (with lunch enroute) towards Lake Baringo. Arriving this fresh water lake in the late afternoon, we enjoy an evening boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile, fish eagle and a variety of other birds.
Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya’s small Rift Valley lakes; creased with papyrus and well developed acacia forest. Hippos, crocodiles and monitor lizards are effortlessly seen from the shore, as is a magnificent display of water birds. This is Kenya's bird watching centre with over 1200 different species native to the country and more than 450 sighted here. A bird watcher's haven but beware, this is malaria land so its best to come prepared with plenty of mosquito repellent !

Day 4 – Lake Nakuru
A 30km drive south to the spectacular Lake Bogoria with hot springs and geysers being the main attractions. The lake has been called ‘the new home of the flamingo’ with a nomad population of up to two million birds. Lunch and then proceed for an afternoon game drive at the Lake Nakuru National Park.
This small park (180 sq km) is home to warthogs, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and you will find white rhino at the southern end. The park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists’ delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. We spend the night at a campsite just outside of town.

Day 5 – Masai Mara
Heading further south towards Narok, we proceed towards our permanent campsite on the Talek River. Here we have stand-up tents with beds or small wood cabins for those after a touch more comfort. If all are occupied, we pitch tents.
On clear days, the Mara offers fantastic orange tinted sunsets and you will definitely want to capture this moment while sipping on a sundowner back at our campsite. The Mara reserve is 1510 sq km of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodland following the looping meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal; it is typical savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife.

Day 6 – Masai Mara
The day is spent exploring the Mara magic. Wherever you go in the Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in great numbers. It is common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.
The ultimate action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus in July and August when millions of these grass eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before turning south again in October.
Balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the savannah plains and the wildlife after which you come back down for a beautiful champagne breakfast. These trips can be arranged at our office upon booking.

Day 7 – Nairobi
We break camp and drive to Narok where Masai souvenirs can be bought, thereafter proceeding towards Nairobi. Overnight in the comforts of a hotel.

Day 8 – Amboseli
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive via Namanga on the Tanzania border to reach Amboseli early in the afternoon. We view game as we proceed towards the campsite for dinner and overnight. This small park (at 392 sq km) is the second most popular park in Kenya after Masai Mara, mainly due to the spectacular backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the southern boundary.

Day 9 – Amboseli
Day spent exploring this park. The waters from melted snow drain down the mountain under lava flows and surface on the Amboseli plains, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains. Here elephant, buffalo, lion, cheetah, wildebeest, hyena, jackal, warthogs, zebra and the Masai giraffe are likely to be seen.

Day 10 - Tsavo West
We leave soon after breakfast for Tsavo West National Park. Visit the Chyulu Hills and the Mzima Springs, which are favorite haunts of both the hippo and crocodile that can be seen from an underwater observation chamber if time permits. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya (at 22,000 sq km). Tsavo West covers a wide variety of landscapes, from swamps and natural springs to rocky peaks, extinct volcanic cones and rolling plains. The dramatic Chyulu Hills are a collection of ancient volcanic cinder cones with splendid views of Kilimanjaro and populations of elands, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest.

Day 11 - Tsavo West
Day spent exploring the park including the nature trails. In Tsavo West birds are very common - look out for the white-bellied go-away bird, red-beaked hornbills and bateleur Eagles. There are also large populations of elephants, zebras and leopards. Look out for dung beetles rolling huge balls of elephant dung along the tracks.

Day 12 – Tsavo East
Early in the morning we drive to Tsavo East. This park was famed for its large herds of elephant covered in red dust and fine scenery. We visit the scenic Lugards Falls, Mudanda Rocks (attracts elephants in the drier season) and Aruba Dam as we view game if time permits.
The landscape in Tsavo East is flatter and drier, despite having one of Kenya’s largest rivers flowing through the middle. Much of the wildlife is concentrated on the Galana River, which has plentiful crocs and hippos. Likewise, Kudus, waterbucks and dik-diks are common along the river banks.

Day 13 – Nairobi
Early morning game drive. Soon after breakfast we proceed to Mombasa arriving there in good time for pax to find their way to their hotels and the tour ends.

The Best of Kenya Game Parks Safari (11 Days)

Day 1 Nairobi - Tsavo West National Park
After an early breakfast, depart for Tsavo West National Park with game drive en route to arrive at campsite in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive then return to campsite for dinner and overnight.

The park is a vast expanse of savanna stretching from the Athi River, North of the Mombasa-Nairobi road and south to the Tanzanian border. The North Eastern boundary along the Athi adjoins Tsavo East National Park, but Tsavo West has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than its neighbour.

Day 2 Amboseli
Pre-breakfast game drive to view the beautiful Tsavo West Mountains. After breakfast, visit the famous Mzima Springs, spot the Hippos, Crocodiles and different types of Fish in the crystal clear waters. Game en-route to Amboseli National Park arriving in time for Lunch. Afternoon game drive in search of the big five. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Africa's highest snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Day 3 Amboseli National park
Spend the full day in Amboseli with early morning and evening game drives. Whilst in the park, you will have the opportunity to photograph the animals against the wonderful backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. All meals and overnight at a campsiteAmboseli means ‘the place of water’ in Maasai language. The park has an endless supply of water which is filtered through thousands of meters of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro. Animal species seen include elephant, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and leopard. The birdlife seen here includes pelican, bee eater, kingfisher, African fish eagle and pygmy falcon

Day 4 Mt. Kenya / Sweetwaters Luxury Camp
Depart Amboseli in the morning and proceed towards the slopes of Africa's second largest mountain at 5199m - Mt Kenya. Afternoon game drive at Sweetwater's game ranch to see the wildlife including rehabilitated chimpanzees. We spend the night at Mountain Rock Campsite. The private ranch at Sweetwater's is the only sanctuary for rehabilitation in Kenya of these widely abused chimpanzees with two groups living in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The site is also a dedicated black rhino breeding area.

Day 5 Samburu
Depart for Samburu soon after breakfast game is viewed as we proceed to the campsite/Lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 6 Samburu
Morning and afternoon game drive inside the park, Search for the stars of Samburu rarely found elsewhere including reticulated giraffe, grevy's zebra, beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich. In between meals optional visit to samburu villages. All meals and overnight at the campsite.

Day 7 Lake Nakuru National Park
Breakfast at Samburu and depart for Lake Nakuru, which is an armchair in the Rift Valley Lakes stopping at Thomson Falls arriving Nakuru for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 8 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Morning game viewing in the park moving to the baboon rocks for a spectacular view; see thousands of birds feeding in the alkaline water, look for waterbucks and warthogs as you. Leave the park. Breakfast at the campsite and depart for Mara crossing loita plains arriving Mara. Game viewing en route to the the campsite. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 9 and 10 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drive extending to the hippo point, in between meals optional visit to the Maasai villages. All meals and overnight at the campsite.

Day 11 Maasai Mara- Nairobi
Morning game drive then return to the campsite for breakfast . We drive back to Nairobi where the safari ends

6 Days - Rift Valley Lakes (Lake Baringo, Bogoria and nakuru) /Maasai Mara Wildlife Camping Safari

Explore the scenic lakes of the Great Rift Valley on the hunt for hippos, crocodiles and flocks of pink flamingos, and in the Masai Mara stalk the Big 5.

Day 1, Lake Baringo
From Nairobi we pause to view the spectacular Rift Valley from the top of an escarpment, dotted with its string of lakes, that is a great introduction to the natural beauty of the region. Camp next to freshwater Lake Baringo where there is the option of taking a boat trip to search for hippo and crocodile and view the abundant birdlife around the lake shore.

Day 2, Lake Bogoria /Nakuru
From Baringo it's a short drive to Lake Bogoria, a shallow soda lake set amidst beautiful scenery. Like the other Kenyan soda lakes, it has no outlet and the intense evaporation leads to high levels of salt and minerals, which flamingos love and from a distance the surface of the water appears bright pink. Next to the lake are steaming hot springs and geysers, but don't be tempted to put your hands into the water if you are at all fond of your skin! Continue south to Lake Nakuru National Park, another shallow soda lake famous for its birdlife, and the park is also home to lion, many rhino and if you're very lucky you may spot a leopard in an Acacia tree. Overnight at a campsite

Day 3 Maasai Mara:
We head south to Narok, Lunch en route then proceed to Maasai Mara -game is viewed as we proceed to the campsite for dinner and overnight.

Day 4& 5, Masai Mara
From our campsite, we explore the mighty Masai Mara on game drives and there is plenty of opportunity to search for the Big 5. You'll soon see why the Mara has such an excellent reputation for diverse scenery and abundant wildlife. The park has the largest population of well-fed lion in Kenya, and some of the biggest crocs in Africa are found in the Mara River - all thanks to the constant supply of ready-made meals in the way of hundreds of thousands of grazing animals.

Day 6, Narok/ Nairobi
Morning game drive then return to the campsite for breakfast .We drive back through the Masai town of Narok and stop for some souvenir shopping, before continuing across the plains to Nairobi where the safari ends