Discover Barack Obama’s Kenyan Roots
Kogelo, where US President Barack Obama’s father was born, was just an ordinary sleepy village in Western Kenya. The tiny village off a dusty road from the main Kisumu-Siaya road was unknown to many Kenyans leave alone the outside world. Kogelo’s status changed overnight after Obama made history by becoming the first African-American to win the US presidency and his late father’s village has since then been basking in the international glory.
Obama has only made three visits to the village in his lifetime to trace his roots. But none of the visits propelled Kogelo to the international map as his win did. This is a special safari for adventurous travellers who want to discover Obama’s Kenyan roots as well as enjoy Africa's greatest wild animals – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
In addition to tracing Obama’s roots, discover how Kenya shot to the international limelight in 1952 after the current Queen Elizabeth II of the Great Britain ascended the throne after receiving news of the death of her father King Edward while on a visit to one of Kenya’s top wildlife park – the Aberdares National Park.
Visit Kenya and discover how the country helped shape the world’s history!
Day 1: Nairobi
Welcome to Kenya. On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, you will be met by a representative of Skyview of Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd and transferred to the Holiday Inn Hotel. You will enjoy sightseeing of Nairobi city as we transfer you to the famous Carnivore Restaurant for dinner.
Overnight at the Holiday Inn Hotel.
Day 2: Nairobi and Samburu National Game Reserve
Breakfast at Holiday Inn and then leave at 0700 Hrs for Samburu through Central Kenya and North across the equator to Samburu National Reserve. Arrive at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive at the park.
Dinner and overnight at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Samburu
Full day at Samburu National Reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives.
Samburu Reserve was one of the two areas in which world-famous conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness, which was made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free.
Once inside the reserve, there are two mountains visible: Koitogor and Ololokwe. Samburu National Reserve is very peaceful and attracts animals because of Uaso Nyiro River (meaning “brown water” and pronounced U-aa-so-Nyee-ro) that runs through it and the mixture of acacia, riverine forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation.
There is a wide variety of animal and bird life seen at the reserve. Several species are considered unique to the region, including its unique dry-country animal life: All three big cats, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard, can be found here, as well as Elephants, Buffalos and Hippos.
Other mammals frequently seen in the park include Gerenuk, Grant's Gazelle, Kirk's Dik-dik, Impala, Waterbuck, Grevy's Zebra, Beisa Oryx and Reticulated Giraffe.
There are over 350 species of bird. These include Somali Ostrich, Kingfisher, Sunbird, Bee-eater, Marabou Stork, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Guinea fowl and Vultures. The Uaso Nyiro River contains large numbers of Nile crocodile.
All meals and overnight at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 4: Samburu and Aberdares
After breakfast checkout and head to Aberdares National Park. On arrival, you will have lunch at Outspan Hotel and later in the afternoon transfer to Treetops Lodge. Aberdares National Park has a diverse topography that includes icy rivers, spectacular waterfalls and rain forests. The flora and fauna is quite unique and is not found elsewhere in the country, expect on Mount Kenya. Leopard, elephant, waterbuck, reedbuck, dik dik, rhino and the rare bongo can all be found here. You are sure to see elephants, buffalos and some other animals at the floodlit waterholes of Treetops Lodge.
Treetops has a rich history. It is here that Queen Elizabeth II of England ascended the throne in 1952 after the death of her father King Edward. The hotel offers guests a royal treat in the heart of the Aberdares National Park.
No trip to Kenya is regarded as complete without a visit or stay at the Treetops Hotel.
You can take pleasure in the safety and comfort of observation lounges, which allow you to photograph the territorial charge of rhino, protective matriarch elephant and bounding bushbuck. A family of lions, have on more than one occasion, made a meal of some poor unfortunate warthog to the fascinated horror of Treetops guests. A professional hunter can also wake you up on request when one of the “Big Five” visits the tree house at night.
Accommodation at Treetops Lodge.
Day 5: Aberdares and Lake Nakuru
After breakfast depart for Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is world famous for its stunning flocks of lesser flamingoes which turns its shores pink. Its birdlife is world renowned. On arrival in the park, have a game drive en route to Lake Nakuru Lodge, which is situated in the southeast ecological niche of the Lake Nakuru National Park. The lodge blends well with its surrounding and the animals often browse peacefully close to the gardens. After lunch at the lodge proceed for the afternoon game drive around the lake until sunset.
All meals and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.
Day 6: Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
Have an early morning game drive in search of leopard and rhino returning to the lodge for breakfast. Check-out after breakfast and continue to Lake Naivasha Bird Sanctuary arriving at Naivasha Crater Lake Lodge at midday for lunch. Lake Naivasha is one of the Great Rift Valley's jewels, reflecting the tranquil beauty of an African sky and the surrounding mountains is temporarily distorted as flocks of graceful flamingos and pink-backed pelicans settle on the water. Relax after lunch at the hotel and have chance to enjoy the hotel facilities and optional activities on offer.
All meals and overnight at Naivasha Crater Lake Lodge.
Day 7: Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara
Depart after early breakfast and continue to Masai Mara Game Reserve arriving at Mara Serena Safari Lodge in time for lunch. Later proceed for the afternoon game drive until sunset in search of the Big Five.
All meals and overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 8-9: Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drive. (Full day game drive is an option with packed lunch) in Maasai Mara.
The Masai Mara Game (Wildlife) Reserve is Kenya's most popular game reserve in Africa and world renowned due to the spectacular annual migration of wildebeests. Mara is always on the Must See List of every tourist.
The park is full of life with various types of animals, including the Big Five, and birds. Masai Mara is a rolling grasslands and acacia savannah have time and again been captured on film with the movie Out of Africa being the most famous.
The park is home the Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Rhino – Africa’s famous Big Five – and over 450 bird species. Apart from the big five, the Masai Mara is most famous for the spectacular annual migration of over a million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle etc from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania crossing the Mara River into Kenya in search of fresh feeding grounds, which takes place in late July or August.
During this crossing, hundreds of animals are swept away by the first moving Mara River and others are killed by the ferocious African Crocodiles.
All meals and overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 10: Masai Mara and Kisumu
Early breakfast at Mara Serena and then depart for Kisumu Town by road as you enjoy the countryside. You’ll stop at Kericho Tea Hotel for lunch and spend about 30 minutes touring a tea plantation. Continue with your journey and arrive at Imperial Hotel in Kisumu Town late afternoon. The hotel is on the shores of the World's second largest fresh water lake – Lake Victoria.
Dinner and overnight at the Imperial Hotel.
Day 11: Kisumu and Kogelo Village
Early breakfast at your hotel and then depart with packed lunch for Kogelo Village – the ancestral home of President-Elect Barack Obama. This is a typical Kenyan rural village with most residents living modestly by small-scale farming. After Obama visited the village some years back, a primary school, a secondary school and a health centre were named after him. Obama’s father is buried in the village. Previously the village had no electricity, but the Kenyan government connected power a day after Obama won the presidency.
Spend whole day at Kogelo Village and return to Imperial Hotel in the evening.
All meals and overnight at Imperial Hotel.
Day 12: Kisumu – Nairobi
Check out from your hotel after breakfast. Conducted to an hour’s tour of Kisumu city and Lake Victoria as you depart for Nairobi. Stop in Nakuru town for lunch at Flamingo Hill Camp and arrive at Holiday Inn Hotel in Nairobi late afternoon.
Diner and overnight at Holiday Inn Hotel.
Day 13: Depart Home
Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your scheduled international flight home.
