Sample Trip

Traverse Laikipia on Foot

“A fun and action-packed adventure suitable for children and adults, lead by experienced and passionate guides”
Budget level: Mid-Range
Country
Kenya
When to Go
All year
Duration
8 Nights
Safari Type
Fly camping, Lodge and Canvas, Mobile Safari
Location
Laikipia
Kids Min Age
8

This 8-night combo safari is ideal for families and small groups. It lets you stay at two great small lodges at the start and end of the safari, and in between traverse and explore Laikipia on foot. You are accompanied by an experienced Team with their camels, used to move the whole camp to the next location along the way.


Itinerary in Brief

1 Night Tumaren Camp
3 Nights Karisia Walking Safaris
1 Night El Karama Bell Tents
3 Nights El Karama Lodge

KarisiaSafariScenes 145 Karisia Laikipia Kenya camels 1

Arrive at Laikipia by road transfer from Nairobi or fly into the nearby airstrips followed by a road transfer to Tumaren Camp, your home for the first night. Relax in camp and do a slow walk or camel ride in the afternoon. Spend a glorious first night in the luxury tents that are Tumaren.

The next morning you will start the 3-night walking and mobile safari with your guide and the Team. The expedition is supported by riding and pack camels, the latter used to transport and move the whole camp every day to the next location. You will traverse the landscape of Laikipia on foot and explore all the great areas and varied terrain along the way. Wildlife abound and you will have some great sightings whilst learning from your guide. Sleep in large 4-person dome tents with two doors and fitted with sheets, blankets and towels. The team serve excellent two course meals.

The last day of the camel supported walking safari will see you walk onto the El Karama conservancy on their northern boundary. You will stay at their awesome bell tent camp for a bit more luxury than the previous three nights and some well-earned R & R.

The next morning awakening in the clean bright light of the bell tent, today you will walk through the conservancy via a delectable bush lunch, through plenty of wildlife and endless views, to El Karama Lodge.

Enjoy 3-nights at El Karama Lodge as guests of Murray and Sophie in their bush home. After five days on foot, you’ll be ready for some luxury and pampering. Swim in the pool, enjoy a massage by the river, read a book on your own private veranda. The pace of your safari can change as much, or as little, as you’d like. There are many activities on offer at El Karama for those that feel like more adventure.

On the last morning road transfer to Nairobi, or to the airstrip for a flight to Nairobi, and connecting flight home or the next adventure!

The memories of this unique walking, camel and lodge safari, will linger for a long, long time to come!

Detailed itinerary

Night 1: Tumaren Camp

Arrival at Karisia’s tented Tumaren Camp. Relax and enjoy your beautiful camp which is set on the edge of a wide plain and looks west to Losera Moru and Mukenya, granitic inselbergs that define the local landscape. Each tent is furnished uniquely, and all the tents offer sweeping verandas from which most of the plains game can be spotted. After lunch enjoy a relaxing walk or camel walk from camp. Overnight Tumaren camp.

Nights 2 - 4: Karisia Walking Safari

After breakfast you will depart early from Tumaren on your mobile Karisia walking safari with camels.

There will be riding camels with you and these can be ridden when you wish, and they also carry the refreshments for the walk. The pack camels with your mobile camp will have taken a more direct route arriving in camp ahead of you and setting up your tents and hot showers. You will arrive in camp in time for lunch and a cold drink. After lunch you can relax in the cool shade of acacia trees or enjoy a short loop walk with one of your guides.

Accommodation is in private Air B&C tents (air bed and camel!), with comfortable mattresses, crisp linens, hot showers, cool drinks and delicious food. It is the perfect way to unplug from busy lives and reconnect with nature under African skies.

The next three days are spent walking and exploring the conservancies of Laikipia working your way south with end destination El Karama Lodge. The route will take you past Mpala and Combretum and the mobile camp will be setup in a different location every night. On average around 15km is walked every day and the riding camels are always on hand if need be. The min age for the safari is 12 years, but children from 8 to 12 can be accommodated by taking a vehicle along too, which is at an extra cost.

You will experience amazing scenery along the way as well as great wildlife sightings whilst learning from your guide all the time.

Night 5: El Karama Bell Tent Camp

Your first night on El Karama will be at Combretum on the northern boundary.

You will say goodbye to the camels and be welcomed into the gorgeous bell tent camp. Have a hot bucket shower and change into clean clothes, stretch your legs by the fire. By now, you will be used to the many sounds of the African night, lulled to sleep by the night jar’s call and the distant howl of hyena. Hot water bottles warm your cosy safari beds, the smell of the campfire still lingering softly on the air.

Nights 6 to 8: El Karama Lodge

Awakening in the clean bright light of the bell tent, today you will walk through the conservancy via a delectable bush lunch, through plenty of wildlife and endless views, to El Karama Lodge.

After five days on foot, you’ll be ready for some luxury and pampering. Swim in the pool, enjoy a massage by the river, read a book on your own private veranda. The pace of your safari can change as much, or as little, as you’d like. The rooms are all comfortable, spacious and airy, with en suite bathrooms equipped with big baths for hot soaks. Remaining horizontal is 100% an option, and well deserved, but if you’d like to keep exploring, there are LOTS to do!

Early morning game drives are often rewarded with cat sightings, and a trip to the farm yields tasty, organic rewards to be enjoyed at lunch. You can go for walks, play volleyball, swim in the river (and try and catch a fish or two), take sundowners to some likely sighting spot, go lion tracking or learn about the leopard research programme. The chefs will prepare superb meals, all fresh and local, and the bar is well stocked with all the cool drinks you could possibly need.

On your final day on safari wake up at six and make the most of the dawn, photographing wildlife in exquisite, golden light. Take a picnic breakfast and stay out all morning, coming back in the heat of the day for a blissful swim in the pool and last, lazy, siesta after lunch. After tea, go for one more walk, followed by an evening by the fire, reminiscing on all your adventures.

The next morning, a leisurely breakfast and flight back to Nairobi for your connecting flight home, or the next leg of your safari.

When to go

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Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!