EAST AFRICA'S WILDLIFE AND BIRD DIVERSITY
Kenya and Tanzania

East Africa is home to the most remarkable large mammal fauna on earth; it is a view into the Pleistocene. This diverse wildlife is set against a magnificent backdrop - volcanic mountains Kenya and Kilimanjaro, vast lakes nestled in the Rift, savannahs of umbrella acacias, sculpted granite monoliths, and Indian Ocean coral reefs, estuaries and beaches. Our tour incorporates the best of both countries and a variety of natural history topics. We pass through the homelands of over a dozen distinctive tribes. Birdwatchers will see nearly 500 showy species.

Our accommodations include fully equipped, often splendidly located, hotels and lodges, and two nights in established tented camps, with large standing-room tents and attached bathrooms with flush toilets and showers. We will travel in one or two vans with excellent local driver-guides. Mark Smith has led over twenty tours to East Africa.

Highlights in Kenya include a stay at Mountain Lodge, high on the forested slopes of Mount Kenya; boating to see hippos and myriad waterbirds at Lakes Baringo and Naivasha, and Samburu National Park with its arid-land specialties like oryx, gerenuk antelope, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, and many raptors.

In Tanzania we visit Tarangire National Park, its many elephants wandering amongst gnarled, ancient Baobab trees, creating a fairyland environment. Ngorongoro Crater hosts the greatest density of large animals on earth; zebras and wildebeeste are constantly interacting with prides of lions within this 10-mile diameter volcanic caldera. And of course, the Serengeti, grandest of the parks we visit, where we spend four days. Over a million ungulates make an annual migration around the park following the rains. Our lodge is built into a natural kopje (granite outcrop) that wildlife still inhabit. And finally, on the surprising and idyllic Coastal Extension we fly from Nairobi to Malindi on the Kenya Coast. For five days we swim and snorkel Indian Ocean coral reefs, visit Giriama and Swahili tribes people, and explore coastal estuaries and Sokoke Forest Reserve, where wildlife and birds are entirely different than in the highlands.

February 18 to March 7, 2012
Indian Ocean Kenya Coast Extension
March 6 - 11, 2012

GROUND COST: $6550 (4-day coast extension: $1185)

LEADERS: Mark Smith & Regional Naturalists

LIMIT: 12