Adventure Alternative

Kenya Safari

In A Nutshell

The East African Safari is renowned for it's adventurous appeal, it's call of the wild, the lure of stunning scenery and it's fascinating culture. Adventure Alternative seeks to give you an experience that you will not forget easily and provide for you the service you expect on a high quality holiday.

We cater especially well for children and families. We have well trained staff and we offer itineraries that we have thought about to give you the best of all options.

Example Family Itinerary

Our Family Safari’s are designed to allow you as a family to explore wild Africa whilst learning and experiencing this beautiful country and her people from a safe and secure base. Our staff will be with you all the time and we have qualified staff to look after your children should you wish to dine out for an evening or spend sometime alone. We have CD players onboard the Nissan for long journeys and a good supply of board games to play around the campfire. You can even take your children to a Kenyan school for the day!

We have excellent relationships with lodge owners all over Kenya who are happy to welcome children especially in terms of safety, fun and diet. Or maybe you would like a family camping safari! The open fire, the stars above and lots of songs, dancing and drums – all Kenyan style!

Most especially we run our own charity which looks after Kenyan children who are from poor backgrounds. Our staff have particular experience of working with children and you will have an opportunity to see yourself schools in Kenya and your children can have a really unique experience of life for young people in Kenya, plus you can see the work of our charity Moving Mountains and learn about the concept of Aid in Africa.

Here is an example itinerary:

Day One         
Arrive into Kenya’s capital Nairobi and be met by the Adventure Alternative Team who will transfer you to your hotel. After some rest and relaxation they will show you around the capital and visit the Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Manor. These conservation projects allow you to see and learn all about the animals at close proximity. This is a fantastic introduction to the wildlife and your children will be fascinated by being so close to the animals as they learn about them and conservation in East Africa. There is an option to visit the Animal Orphanage at the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters and see how conservation works and have a lovely lunch there.

Overnight can be in a hotel or in our special travellers camp with hot showers, camping, TV, western style restaurant and really friendly staff. In the evening you can go to cinema or go out for a meal. Your children will be very safe in the camp with our staff and there is lots to do.

Day Two         
The Adventure Alternative team will collect you in the morning in your Safari vehicle. You will then drive northwest out of Nairobi towards Africa’s second highest summit Mt Kenya. We will then stay at either a local hotel, a campsite or a luxury lodge depending on your preferences. In the early morning and late evenings you will have fantastic views of the mountain and surrounding plains.

Day Three       
The region around Mt Kenya is famous for saving the Black Rhino. Once close to extinction a number of privately owned ranches in this area have turned this around. We will spend a full day in either Sweetwaters or Solio Ranch, which are home to not just Rhino but also Giraffe, Zebra, leopard, elephant and amazing birds; there is even Morani – the worlds only tame Rhino! This is a private reserve and plenty of time here to observe wildlife at close quarters. Overnight in a lodge or in a campsite or in a rural hotel close by which is very safe and pleasant and one we have used ourselves for years, we know the owners very well, and right on the slopes of Mt Kenya.

Day Four        
We will depart early and drive for 250km to Lake Nakuru. This wonderful soda Lake is most famous for the Flamingo which appear as a blanket of pink on the surface and can number in their millions. Also of interest is an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothchild giraffe and black rhinos. We again can camp on the shore or stay in a lodge or local hotel.

Day Five         
We will go on an early morning Game drive and enjoy all the wildlife around Nakuru which includes hippo, black and white rhino, buffalo, warthogs, zebra, giraffe, antelope…….
Then after lunch we will drive a short distance to Lake Naivasha. Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. At the beginning of the 20th Century, Naivasha completely dried up and effectively disappeared. The resulting open land was farmed, until heavy rains a few years later caused the lake to return to existence, swallowing up the newly established estates. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleep the day out in the shallows. Boat trips on the lake are widely available and are a great way to spend an afternoon or morning. Sunsets are always stunning, with the haunting call of a Fish Eagle high over the Lake bringing the day to a perfect end.

Day Six & Seven
Leaving Naivasha we drive for about 150km to the ‘home’ of the safari and the most famous of Safari Parks – The Masai Mara. The Mara is "The" park of parks in Kenya. Its grass-carpeted smooth hills, the chocolate Mara river waters with frolicking hippos, as well as the rich faunal diversity, fulfil the expectations of any visitor searching the African landscapes portrayed in motion pictures such as "Out of Africa". Each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. From July to October, the promise of rain and fresh, life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeest together into a single massive herd. They pour across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon.
We will spend two days in the Mara enjoying the many sights, great wildlife and the colour and flair of the Masai people.

Day Eight
After a fantastic safari in the Mara we will now head towards Nairobi. It is a five-hour drive through the Great Rift Valley. We will stop en route and enjoy the amazing scenery. Once back in Nairobi we can take you to a restaurant before your flight that evening. Or if you would like to stay longer you can explore some of our charities projects such as the schools, children, or spend a few days at the wonderful Kenyan coast.

Staff

Gavin Bate has been living in Kenya on and off for the last fifteen years, and he will personally work with you on your itinerary. With trucks, tour vehicles and all the equipment needed for the outdoors we have provided the logistics for family holidays, honeymoons, research teams, archaeological digs, photographers and mountaineers.

The Kenyan staff are all qualified and experienced. We do not use freelance operators, we employ full time staff and the company has a policy of helping the education and training of young people in the field of tourism. We work closely with the Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourism Board to ensure that our trips offer the best value and the best quality for the discerning client.

We have a team of motivated and efficient personnel to run the safaris. Mechanics, guides, cooks and helpers are all chosen for their ability, their honest and happy nature and their experience. We have offices and a store in Nairobi and Moshi in Tanzania with a strong administrative back up. Our vehicles are well maintained by our full time staff. The logistics are handled by our ground team who have many years of working with NGO's, charities, tourist companies and foreign expeditions.

Peter, Kelly and Rosie are the directors of our Kenyan company called ‘Africampers’. The three of them, alongside many of our other staff were once beneficiaries of our charity. They are now grown up, educated and experienced. They stand tall and proud amongst their community however more importantly they are shining examples to the children currently supported by our charity, Moving Mountains. They are living what was once an impossible dream and you can be assured of being in excellent hands!