THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
KENYA
July 28-August 6, 2023
By Invitation Only
July 28th, 2023: Nairobi Arrival: Transfer to Four Points By Sheraton.
Overnight at Four Points
July 29th, 2023: Tour of Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, & Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage:
Our tour starts at the Giraffe Centre, an elevated treetop aerie where we may hand feed giraffes, quite literally face–to–face. The Centre 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 private 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 Four Points (BL)
30th July 2023: 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 host for the next seven nights, Jackson Looseyia, and his staff, who will see to our needs throughout our stay at Tangulia Camp.
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.
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.
Immortalized 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)
31st July, 1st-5th August 2023: Masai Mara.
Overnight at Tangulia Mara Camp (BLD)
August 6th, 2023: Fly to Nairobi. Transfer to hotel for dayroom use.
Day rooms Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport (B)
Cost per Person Sharing $7,500.
Covid protocols could change at any time - you must be prepared to abide by Kenya's protocol.
Terms and conditions: All payments are non-refundable. Medical evacuation insurance is mandatory. Comprehensive insurance highly recommended.
This includes:
1. Accommodation at Four Points and Tangulia Mara Camp as stated above
2. Dayroom use on the 6th of August at Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport
3. Park and conservancy Entrance fees
4. Meals: All Meals beginning with breakfast on the 29th of July through breakfast on the 6th of August included.
5. All airport and airstrip transfer in Nairobi and Masai Mara Game Reserve.
6. Transfers between Four Points and Tangulia Mara Camp and the airport.
7. Bottled water throughout
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 Center)
Not Included:
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Roundtrip international airfare From the USA to Nairobi
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Visa for Kenya
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Tips to guides and drivers
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Cancellation insurance
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Phone calls
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Sodas and Alcohol except where explicitly stated
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Laundry
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optional excursions in Zanzibar
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Dinner on the 29th of July in Nairobi
Group maximum of 8 guests.
Deposit of $1500 per person due to hold your space.
Final payment will be due by May 1, 2023
About Tangulia Mara Camp:
Tangulia Mara camp is the first and only camp in the Mara that is 100% owned and operated by Masai. It is a rustic and 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. We accommodate up to eighteen guests at full capacity. The camp is set to remain quaint to give our guests the ultimate intimate experience.We have handmade king size beds in our tents and an additional single bed in some of our tents. 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 view is seen from the front porch of most of our tents.
The leafy bushes surround the rest of our tents and leave each one feeling cool, private and intimate. Winding paths lead to each tent,and with our camp being unfenced, wildlife is welcome to roam freely around camp. Our camp askaris escort guests back to their rooms at night.
Running taps and hot showers are available throughout. They are 100% solar heated. Our baths and toilet areas are ensuite. Note that the water on the taps is ideal for washing up not for drinking. We provide clean drinking water in beaded glass bottles in each bedside table and bathroom vanity.
Our homey tents are cleaned every day with our dedicated team of staff and replenished with our eco-friendly handmade supplies. We source our incredible products locally and give our guests the best of hypoallergenic and gorgeously scented soaps and shampoos throughout their stay.
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 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.