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EAST AFRICA's
WILDLIFE AND BIRD DIVERSITY
Ten Natural Areas: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater,
Rift Valley Lakes, Mountains, Northern Deserts,
Coastal Forests and Estuaries, Coral Reefs, Kenya and Tanzania
February 16 - March 5, 2009
Indian Ocean Extension: March 4-9, 2009
Led by Mark Smith, Benson Mugambi, and other Regional Naturalists
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, and sculpted granite monoliths.
This tour incorporates the best of both countries and a variety of natural history topics. Birdwatchers will see some 450 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 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 Lake Baringo, and Samburu National Park with its arid-land specialties like Oryx, Gerenuk Antelope and Grevy's Zebra.
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 Arusha, Tanzania, to Mombasa on the Kenya Coast, then drive north 90 minutes along the coast to Malindi. For four days we swim and snorkel Indian Ocean coral reefs, visit Giriama and Swahili tribes people, and explore coastal estuaries and Sokoke forest, where wildlife and birds are entirely different than in the highlands.
February 16 - March 5, 2009
January 2010
GROUND COST: $5285
Indian Ocean Coastal Extension (4-day coast extension: $1185)
February 22 - 27, 2009
January, 2010
LEADERS: Mark Smith, Benson Mugambi and Urio Amos
LIMIT: 12
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