The sheer adrenaline thrill of mountain-biking through the bush is hard to beat: smelling the heat and dust of Africa around you, seeing if you can keep pace with a cantering zebra, and watching eagles float on thermals up above. In this suggested itinerary, which we can tailor to your own requirements, we’ve combined the adventure of a three night mountain bike safari with three nights of serious game viewing from the luxury of Governor’s Camp in the Masai Mara.
DAY 1: Fly overnight from London to Nairobi.
DAY 2: When you get to Nairobi whizz across town, and hop into your light aircraft for a scenic flight out to Nanyuki. Here you get even more remote, driving for two hours out into the utter wilderness to Tumaren, on the Laikipia Plateau, the base for your mountain bike safari. Here meet your bikes, guides, camels and cooks. Take a short walk to survey the terrain and stretch your legs, then stop for sundowners on a high rock, looking out for kudu on the plains below. In the evening head back to camp for dinner under the stars.
DAY 3: Start early this morning and begin biking to your next camp, marked by a huge stone outcrop (named Nayasura by the local Maasai) which can be seen for miles around. Your camel train will come carrying the camp behind you. After lunch, give your bottom a break, and head out on foot looking for wildlife and reading the tracks in the bush. As the sun starts to go down, you’ll finish your walk high on Nayasura, with drinks and nibbles, watching the sun set as baboons come home to roost in the rock.
DAY 4: This morning’s cycle takes you along the Ewaso Nyrio River, looking for eland, zebras, and giraffe, and if you’re lucky, the predators: wild dog, lion and leopard. After a hard morning’s cycle, spend the afternoon beside the river, swimming and fishing. End the day with sundowners looking out towards Mount Kenya
DAY 5-7: Today it’s time for a sad farewell to guides, crew and camels, and heading back to Nanyuki for your flight down to the Masai Mara. As you come down to land, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife- there’s so much game here it’s not unusual to see some of the larger animals even before you touch down. At the airstrip you’ll be met by your four wheel drive and expert wildlife guide, for three nights of unadulterated bliss. Staying in your luxury safari camp, you’ll be woken at dawn with a steaming cup of coffee (African, naturally), head out to enjoy some of the best game viewing in the world, before heading back to camp for a leisurely lunch and a snooze. In the evenings, head out again with your guide to look at some more impressive wildlife, and find the perfect spot to watch the sun set, G+T in hand.
DAY 8: Squeeze in a final, blissful game drive and a long lazy lunch before catching the afternoon flight back to Nairobi. Have dinner (head to Carnivore for ostrich and crocodile), before flying back to London overnight.
Make your trip extraordinary by… Adding in a dawn hot air balloon flight over the Masai Mara. Followed by a champagne breakfast, naturally. Alternatively, time your visit for September, to coincide with the wildebeest migration.
COST FROM £3,720 per person
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EXTRAORDINARY AFRICA 