In the Maasai Mara ecosystem
where millions
Home to 25% of Kenya's wildlife, the Maasai Mara is the final destination of the world's largest wildlife migration – when two million wildebeests, zebras and other herbivores fill the landscape. With 90 different mammal species and over 500 bird species, this is a biodiversity hotspot; the perfect place to take your safari experience even further.
what to expect
Join us for a 7 day, 6 night journey in the greater Mara ecosystem. Through game drives and walking experiences you'll get hands-on with conservation activities, including a rhino sanctuary experience, big cat tracking and bird, mammal and tree identification. We'll also visit Maasai communities and markets and learn about the rich local culture.
traverse over
This GVI Expedition will take you across the northern Mara ecosystem. We'll traverse across three unique protected areas: the Enonkishu, Ol Choro Oiroua, and Lemek Conservancies. Through community guardianship and wildlife management, these areas have rebounded in their abundance of animals and thriving habitats.
significance
The Enonkishu Conservancy, our home base for this GVI Expedition, is located on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara ecosystem. This area features innovative community-driven conservation, including sustainable rangeland management, to lay a foundation for the peaceful coexistance of people and wildlife.
Maasai Mara ecosystem,
no two days
are alike
Each day holds its own suspense, adventure and surprises. But one thing is guaranteed – magic. Every day on your expedition will be a combination of exciting conservation activities, safari experiences and relaxation.
Greet each sunrise with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Head out for your morning activity, then enjoy breakfast back at the lodge followed by free time to lounge around, read a book or take a nap. At the end of each day, you'll enjoy a delicious meal together and sit around the campfire to share stories under the stars.
Here’s an example itinerary of what you can look forward to:
Wide and vast African savannah
DAY 1
Welcome to base camp
Arrive at your home for the week, the Wild Hub in Enonkishu Conservancy. Your bungalow is placed ideally along the Mara River. Join a brief welcome orientation before freshening up for evening activities.
Game drive & biodiversity lesson
Embark on an afternoon game drive through the conservancy, as you learn about the habitats, the wildlife, and the importance of this landscape in the wider Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Dinner & bush safety
End your day with a meal around the campfire, as you discuss safety in the bush, wildlife alarm calls, and reading and responding to different situations.
DAY 2
Bird calls & identification
Head out for the morning game drive, as you learn about the 500 plus bird species found in the greater Maasai Mara. Identify different species by sight and sound while looking out for nests.
Wildlife photography
After brunch at camp, spend the afternoon picking up new photography skills. Learn the correct use of angles and light, capture the 'golden hour', and grow your video capture skills.
Sunset drinks & nocturnal species
Enjoy sundowners at a lookout point before heading back to camp. Listen out for the sounds of nocturnal bird and mammal life before dinner cooked over the fire.
DAY 3
The art of tracking
Your morning activity will focus on the tracks and signs left behind by animals of the Mara landscape. Learn to identify the footprints of different species and how to safely trail animals in the savannah.
Big cats of the Maasai Mara
There's an art to tracking big game – especially the iconic big cats of the Maasai Mara. Learn what it takes to identify and follow the signs left by species like lion, cheetah and leopard.
Sundowners & stargazing
Enjoy a drink with sunset at a waterhole, dam or other lookout point. We'll head out on a night game drive, listen out for nocturnal species and learn about the night sky, including traditional stories and folklore.
DAY 4
Walking with rhinos
Visit the only two Southern white rhinos in the Maasai while learning about the conservation efforts to increase their population. Learn about critical rhino conservation work and get a chance to walk alongside these enigmatic and endangered creatures.
Mammal behaviour
After brunch at the lodge, head out for an afternoon game drive focused on reading and interpreting animal behaviour. Understand what different alarm calls, body language and movements mean.
Community-led conservation discussion
After sundowners, head back to camp for a bush dinner. Discuss the role of community-led conservation and sustainable practices in the Enonkishu, Ol Choro Oiroua, and Lemek Consevancies.
DAY 5
Tree & plant identification
There's more to the Maasai Mara than mammals and birds! Learn about the different tree, shrub and plant species found here, identify as many as you can, and hear about their traditional medicinal uses.
Afternoon game drive
After a relaxing lunch and dip in the pool, the afternoon will be a test of your newfound knowledge, as you practice identifying flora and spotting animals along the way.
Return to camp
On your drive back to camp, stop for sundowners at a viewpoint and take in another incredible day in the Mara. Return to a delicious dinner as you wind down your evening.
DAY 6
Maasai community experience
Visit a local village, livestock market and the manyatta. Learn the Maasai traditions of making fires and building mud huts. Get a slice of rural Kenyan life!
Tailored afternoon activities
After lunch at camp and a bit of relaxation, spend your afternoon doing a custom activity, such as a game drive, guided walk, or discussion. Some conservation activities will incur additional costs.
Final evening competition
To close out an incredible week in Kenya's Maasai Mara, we'll run a friendly competition to see who captured the essence of the trip in their photographs. Followed by a roast dinner under the stars.
DAY 7
Departure
It's not goodbye...it's see you again soon! On your last morning, we'll wake up and enjoy a hot coffee or tea before a final morning activity focused on ethical conservation.
Journey onward
Guests will be taken back to our base camp, where you'll enjoy a hot traditional breakfast and an opportunity to freshen up. Then it's time to head back home or onward for the next part of your African bush adventure!
Wild and immersive
Your home for the week is at The Wild Hub in the Enonkishu Conservancy. Set on 50 acres on the edge of the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, this comfortable eco camp is perched ideally along the banks of the Mara River.
Accommodation units are bandas (traditional thatched units). Rooms are ensuite with twins or double beds, overlooking the Mara River. The natural amphitheatre along the river itself is the ideal place to relax and listen to the calls of birds at the end of a busy day.
We will have exclusive use of this lodge, allowing us full access to the communal pool, gazebo, bar and dining area. Meals include vegetables picked fresh from the Wild Shamba garden, and homemade pickles and chutneys are made on-site.
Included in GVI Expeditions?
Included
● Conservation activities ● Guided drives, hikes, and walks ● Highly qualified and experienced instructors and field staff ● Accommodation options from a range of choices ● Meals ● Pre-departure support ● 24-hour emergency desk ● Arrival and departure transfer
Physical rating: 3/5.
Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.
Excluded
● Flights ● Visas ● Vaccines ● Medical insurance ● Travel insurance ● Personal belongings insurance ● Cancellation insurance ● Personal gear and kit ● Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages ● Additional spending money
Our team of travel experts would love to talk to you about creating an
expedition to suit your needs and answer any of your questions.
Simply fill in the form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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