TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE -SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK - TURKANA
DEPATURE DATE FROM NAIROBI: 27 OCTOBER, 2013
ARRIVAL DATE AFTER SAFARI: 05 NOVEMBER, 2013
Cost From: $ 3,800
Length: 9 days
Arrive: Jomokenyatta International air port, Nairobi
Depart: Nairobi
Lodging: 12 nights
Meals: All meals as stated in the itinerary.
DEPATURE DATE FROM NAIROBI: 27 OCTOBER, 2013
ARRIVAL DATE AFTER SAFARI: 05 NOVEMBER, 2013
Cost From: $ 3,800
Length: 9 days
Arrive: Jomokenyatta International air port, Nairobi
Depart: Nairobi
Lodging: 12 nights
Meals: All meals as stated in the itinerary.
(Please note this is a re-sellers program -means another company operates)
The total phase of a solar eclipse is very brief. It rarely lasts more than several minutes. Nevertheless, it is considered to be one of the most awe inspiring spectacles in all of nature. The sky takes on an eerie twilight as the Sun's bright face is replaced by the black disk of the Moon. Surrounding the Moon is a beautiful gossamer halo. This is the Sun's spectacular solar corona; a super heated plasma two million degrees in temperature. The corona can only be seen during the few brief minutes of totality.
To witness such an event is a singularly memorable experience which cannot be conveyed adequately through words or photographs. To witness a total solar eclipse is an unforgettable experience—and combined with this unique safari tourching the most beautiful parks of Kenya and the rich culture of pokot , samburu and finally the turkana people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure!
Our journey offers among the best weather prospects on the entire eclipse path and the most visible totality area even though lasting for only 14 seconds, safaris to the west side of Lake Turkana covering Lake Nakuru National Park, Lerochi Plateau, Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara Game Reserve and Lake turkana eclipse observation point.
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Areas of Interest:
Lake Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lerochi Plateau, Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Great Wildebeest Migration (Seasonal), Activity:
Game Viewing, Camping, Scenery, Photography, Culture, Bird Watching, Relaxation, Beach Life Country:
Kenya
A safari to see the best game parks in Kenya and also the world famous bird sanctuaries of the Great Rift Valley Lakes.
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.
Arrival day 26th of October
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Day 1 – Nairobi– Masai Mara 27th of October
Heading further south towards Narok, we camp at our semi-permanent Talek riverside campsite situated at the edge of the park (next to Talek gate). Here we pitch up tents on the camp grounds or use the small wood cabins if not already occupied. Hot showers and toilets are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning area.
Heading further south towards Narok, we camp at our semi-permanent Talek riverside campsite situated at the edge of the park (next to Talek gate). Here we pitch up tents on the camp grounds or use the small wood cabins if not already occupied. Hot showers and toilets are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning area.
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.
Dinner and over night at the Masai mara sopa lodge, Mara sarova lodge, Simba lodge or Keekorock lodge.
Dinner and over night at the Masai mara sopa lodge, Mara sarova lodge, Simba lodge or Keekorock lodge.
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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. Dinner and over night at the Masai mara sopa lodge, Mara sarova lodge, Simba lodge or Keekorock lodge.
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we leave soon after breakfast for 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 Sarova lion hill or lake Nakuru lodge.
Day 4: Lake Nakuru- Kitale. 31st of October
Depart in the early morning across the scenic Lerochi Plateau (with lunch enroute) towards kitale arriving in the evening. You have the opportunity to visit the Kenya smallest National park called saiwa swamp. The park is the smallest in Kenya’s National Park and located in Trans Nzoia District, Rift Valley Province with an altitude of 1,820-1880 meters above sea level. It is 385 km from Nairobi, 27 km from Kitale, 97 km from Eldoret and 21 km from Kapenguria.
This pleasant park was created to ensure the preservation of the Sitatunga antelope. The swamp is feed with water by two rivers such as the Kipsaina originating from Mt Elgon and the Kapenguria originating from the Cherangani Hills. Dinner and over night in kitale in the best accomodation possible.
Day 5: Kitale – lodwar 1st of November
heading further North towards lodwar after breakfast. We arrive in lodwar in time for lunch even though the road is not all that good. Check in our camp and relax for the rest of the evening.
Day 6: Lodwar – Kalakol 2nd of November
Depart in the early morning across the scenic Lerochi Plateau towards Lake turkana aarriving this fresh water lake in the late afternoon, we will enjoy our lunch in this small town and we enjoy an evening boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile, fish eagle and a variety of other birds. Dinnner and overnight at the camp.
Day 7: Kalkol 3rd of November
Board our buses and drive to the eclipse line which is not far from the camp. This will take place in November 3: 2013 at Maximum eclipse: 14:25:13.4 UT 012.2° 253.6°. The period of totality ends when the motion of the Moon begins to uncover the surface of the Sun, and the eclipse proceeds through partial phases for approximately an hour until the Sun is once again completely uncovered. After the eclipse, we will drive back to the camp for our overnight stay.
| Start Partial Eclipse | 16:13:03 EAT |
| Start of Total Eclipse | 17:25:12 EAT |
| Sun Altitude | 11.8° |
| End of Total Eclipse | 17:25:26 EAT |
| Approximate Sunset | 18:17 EAT |
| End of Partial Eclipse | 18:27:47 EAT |
| Duration of Totality: | 15 seconds |
Drive back to kitale arriving in time for lunch. Evening at restin your hotel.
Day 9: Kitale - Nairobi 5th of November
Kitale back to Nairobi arriving in the evening with lunch stopover in Nakuru. Check in at the intercontinental hotel for you’re over night stay or similar hotel. Or for those who will be going back will be dropped off at the air port.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy, in US dollars.
Trip Details at-a-Glance
Cost From: $ 3,800
Length: 9 days
Arrive: Jomokenyatta International air port, Nairobi
Depart: Nairobi
Lodging: 12 nights
Meals: All meals as stated in the itinerary.
Activity: Cultural Adventures, Wildlife adventures, eclipse watching,
Trip Level: Optional excursions including nature walks, balloon safari in masai mara and cultural exploration
BASIC TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
- Airport transfers if you arrive/depart with the group and have selected our international group air
- Accommodation as indicated in itinerary
- all tour features as listed in the itinerary
- All transfers and touring by private chartered coach with experienced driver / guide
- Airport arrival and departure assistance
- Meals only as indicated by (B) Full breakfast (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner
- Entrance fees at attractions listed in the itinerary unless otherwise noted
- Hotel Porter age
- Bus transfers to/from solar eclipse site
- Solar eclipse briefing
- Evacuation cover from the flying doctors services
- Beverages only where specified
- Passport fee
- International air (can be purchased separately) and the domestic flight Cairns to lodwar
- Meals not stated, drinks, visas,and travel insurance
- Any additional charge(s) and/or special documentations to be filled for importing/exporting telescopes (if required)
- Room use outside of normal check-in/check-out times
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Airport transfers
- Beverages unlesss specified
