An epic walk through the Tsavo National Park
A MTS Follow-the-Leader Trip with Iain Allan
Revisit the Africa of the explorers! Take an epic walk with our own legendary Iain Allan in an area strictly off-limits to other visitors. Trek 110 miles of game trails across the wilderness of Tsavo National Park, where two infamous lions halted the British Empire in 1895. In a land where elephants have learned to keep to themselves, your guide’s uncanny ability to read the wind will bring you amazingly close to massive herds. Be mesmerized by these incredible social beings as they wrestle, trumpet, spray water, and carouse along the Galana River.
Activities
11 days moderate to strenuous hiking
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Walking safari with Iain Allan through the remote wilds of Tsavo National Park, Kenya’s largest national park—an MTS exclusive and unlike any other trip you’ve ever been on!
- Hike along two of Africa’s most beautiful rivers and their attendant wildlife (great elephant herds!)
- Optional afternoon game drives maximize wildlife encounters for the greatest experience possible
- Search for the infamous “maneless lions”—the subject of Philip Caputo’s book Ghosts of Tsavo and the movie The Ghost and the Darkness
2010 PRICES
$5,295 (5-10 members)
$1,250 park fees
$400 internal airfare
$1,200 single supplement
Duration: 12 days Start Location: Nairobi End Location: Nairobi Best time to go: February, July - October
Itinerary
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Day 1 : Arrive in Nairobi
Meet in Nairobi, Kenya, and transfer to Karen, where we will overnight.
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Day 2 : Tsavo West National Park
Fly to Tsavo West National Park. Afternoon game drive to our camp below Mzima Springs.
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Day 3 : Begin the trek
Begin walking across the vast 8,300-square-mile Tsavo wilderness, following game trails along the Tsavo River. Many hippo sightings are possible, as well as plains game such as lesser kudu, gerenuk, and giraffe. Late afternoon game drive.
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Day 4 : Tsavo West
Continue our foot safari along the Tsavo River. Tsavo is the largest elephant ecosystem in the world, and the Tsavo River is a vital destination for them. This was also once the location of intense fighting during World War I and many old fortifications still exist.
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Day 5 : Tsavo West
A 10-mile walk takes us away from the peaks of Ngulia and Kichwa Tembo, as we enter drier country leading to Maji Ya Chumvi (salt water). As with every day on our foot safari, wildlife is continually encountered. Impala, Grant’s gazelle, zebra, and giraffe are frequently seen.
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Day 6 : Tsavo West
Today the Tsavo River leads us into the area of the famous “Man-eaters of Tsavo.” Our morning walk of about 7 miles takes us to the region where in 1896 two lions ruthlessly (and somehow inspiringly) halted the advance of the British Empire—literally in its tracks. We continue our foot safari in the late afternoon for another 4 miles to Tsavo Bridge.
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Day 7 : Tsavo East
Enter the semi-desert country of Tsavo East National Park. Here you'll walk along the wide sandy beaches and palm trees of the Galana River as well as big herds of zebra, hartebeest, impala, and fringe-eared oryx. We hope to come across the infamous Tsavo maneless lions during the safari.
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Day 8 : Tsavo East
Our walk today is about 10 miles and takes us to our camp located at the point of the Yatta Plateau. We game drive the river in the late afternoon.
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Day 9 : Tsavo East
Vehicles will meet us at the end of our 12-mile walk and return us to our camp for lunch and a well-earned rest. As is the norm, we’ll game drive along the river late in the day.
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Days 10 - 12 : Tsavo East / Depart
As our foot safari continues for 10 miles down the Galana River, it is highly likely we’ll be able to make contact with some of the famous and mysterous maneless lions.
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Macushla House
Karen, KenyaThis cozy bed and breakfast features open beamed ceilings, natural woodwork, 2 lounges with open log fires, and views over one of the last pockets of indigineous forest. Macushla's special ambience is ideal for those guests who seek an intimate accommodation experience.
Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.
Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.
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Iain Allan Field director of Mountain Travel Sobek Kenya, Iain has lived in Kenya since the age of nine. He is incredibly knowledgeable about African wildlife, speaks fluent Swahili, and is deeply involved in Kenya's wildlife conservation issues. A mountaineer of note, he pioneered new routes on both Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro and is the author of two books, Guide to Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro and Snowcaps on the Equator. Iain is also a central figure in Rick Ridgeway's The Shadow of Kilimanjaro, and was featured in the May 2000 National Geographic Adventure's article "Among the Man-Eaters."
photo credits:
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