MIGRATION CAMPS IN MASAI MARA 2012 Welcome to the greatest wildlife show in the world – the annual migration of the big herds in eastern Africa. The migration is a phenomenon that started again in the early 1970s; after a widespread immunization campaign against rinderpest in cattle there was an unexpected disappearance of rinderpest among the buffalo and wildebeest. The wildebeest had, following periodic outbreaks, remained at around 250,000 animals but following this campaign and an increase in dry season rainfall, the population was able to grow in numbers and the migration spilled over into the Mara. Many visitors only want to see the river crossings but the true spectacle of the migration is 1,245,000 wildebeest, 200,000 Burchell's zebra, 18,000 eland and 500,000 Thomson's gazelle filling the entire stretch of Mara landscape. The shifting columns of the herds, as they traverse the valleys and the hills, can only be watched in awe. There is nothing else like this on earth. By the month of June a gentle wind ripples through the tall red oat grass, and the only animals easily visible are the slow moving elephants and giraffes, or a lone topi standing on an abandoned termite mound. One day, small specks rise up through the bushes by the river and within minutes become clouds of dust. A herd of a few hundred wildebeest swarms its way along and then down the dusty riverbank. Some of the herd settles for a few sips of water before the throng returns and takes the thirsty back to the top of the riverbank. The migration has arrived. Within a couple of days many herds of thousands of wildebeest are trampling their way through the long grass, snaking their way across to “Look Out Hill” and then down to the Mara River. The most spectacular scene of the entire migration is the crossing of the river Mara. Cost & Dates: Camp 1 - Jul 30 - Aug 5 (6N 7D) – US$ 2980 – Tour leader Aditya Singh Camp 2 - Aug 5 - Aug 11 (6N 7D) – US$ 2980 – Tour leader Shivang Mehta Camp 3 - Aug 11 - Aug 17 (6N 7D) – US $ 2980 - Tour leader Shivang Mehta Camp 4 - Aug 18 - Aug 25 (7N 8D) – US$ 3250 - Tour leader Aditya Singh Camp 5 - Aug 25 - Sep 1 (7N 8D) – US $ 3250 – Tour leader Amrish Wadekar/Aditya Singh Camp 6 - Sep 1 - Sep 8 (7N 8D) – US$ 3350 Photo workshop by Jagdeep Rajput Camp 7 - Sep 8 - Sep 14 (6N 7D) – US $ 2980 – Undecided All the groups start the tour from Nairobi at 07.00 hrs on Day 1 and finish at 15.00 hrs in Nairobi on the last day. These are group transfers and not individual transfers. If your flight reaches Nairobi in the day/evening, then you would need to book a room for overnight in Nairobi to join the tour early morning on day 1. We recommend the Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi @ 200 USD for dbl and 170 USD for sgl on bed & breakfast basis. This cost is not included in the tour costs. Inc luded in the pr i ce o f this safar i :

· Airport transfers in Nairobi · Transportation in custom safari built 4 x 4 Landcruiser with pop-up roof or roof hatches · Bean / Sand bags – a minimum of 02 per participant · An invertor and adaptors in the vehicle

· Guaranteed window seat in the Landcruiser · Well experienced, English speaking driver/guide for the duration of the safari · Unlimited game drives as per the itinerary · 06 nights on Full Board Accommodation at MIGRATION MOBILE CAMP on twin sharing basis. · 06 nights park entrance fees for Maasai Mara Game Reserve · Extra lunch from the Mara on DAY 07 · Mineral water on game drives (1/2 litre per Person per game drive) · Evacuation Insurance

Not inc luded in the pr i ce o f the safar i : · International flights to / from Kenya · Visa fees · Telephone calls · Laundry · Tips for lodge / camp staff & driver/guide · Travel and Cancellation & Medical Insurance · Beverages in the various Lodges/Camps · Change of itinerary

Travel Tips:

Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended although isn’t necessary. Would be best to double check with the high commission before travelling. Visa can be easily got on arrival in the International airport in Nairobi. All you need is a valid passport (valid for 6 months or more) and a US $ 50 fee in cash. Tips for guides and camp staff – A tip of US $ 15 per head per day would be decent for the guides while a tip of US $ 50 per guest would be good for all the camp staff pooled in.

Extensions recommended: 2 nights Lake Nakuru 2 nights at the beaches of south-eastern Kenya 2 nights in Amboselli and 2 nights in Tsavo East 4 nights in Samburu Payment terms You would be required to transfer the money in 2 parts to Sunworld's bank in Nairobi, Kenya: - 50% non-refundable Booking advance to be paid immediately – Bank details in the end of this document - Balance 50% payment by March 2012 - All bank fees will have to be borne by you.

Cancellation policy Cancellation fee: Deposit forfeited Cancellation fee from 90 – 60 days - 50% Cancellation fee from 60 – 00 days - 100% Location In the heart of the African savannah in the prime wild cat territory and wildebeest crossing points and with the best-in-class naturalists, photography guides so that you have that additional edge when it comes to shooting the biggest wildlife spectacle on this planet. Contact Aditya Singh/ Poonam Singh – Bagh Safari Tel: +91 9414030221 - +91 7462 224251 / 221728 Email: baghsafari@ranthambhore.com info@sunworld-safari.in

A typical day in Masai Mara Mara in the Masaai language means spotted. Masai Mara is a vast rolling plain (a part of the Serengeti plains) of Golden grass interspersed with trees that make the whole terrain look like a golden carpet with green spots. During the annual migration hundreds of thousand Wildebeest, Zebras and other ungulates cross over to the Masai Mara from Tanzania. This is “Christmas time” for the predators. During a typical safari you search for and find many predators from sunrise to about 1000 in the morning. Around 1000 you have breakfast under some tree and then check on the riverside to see if the herds are crossing the river. River crossings are generally attempted when the sun is high in the sky and the river is not so cold. The evenings after lunch are again spent looking for predators. The above routine may be described as “typical” but there is nothing typical about Mara during the migration period. At that time there are so many animals – vast herds of ungulates, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, scavenger vultures etc – in the Mara plains that forming an itinerary is a futile exercise. The main action is in the middle part of the Mara close to the river Mara. There are very few lodges in this part and all of them are exorbitantly expensive. The cheapest way to live here is to set up your own camp and that is what we do. We have a team of experienced Mara hands running the camp. The itinerary that we will ultimately follow will be decided by them based on the situation. Rest assured that this would be the “ultimate wildlife trip” of your life. Photography – Masai Mara is paradise for wildlife photographers. It is almost too easy to get great images in huge numbers. You cannot possibly get so many wildlife pictures in any other location in the world. On a typical day someone with a DSLR camera would get anywhere between 10 and 20 GB of images. Besides on some occasions you will fill up all your memory cards. It is advisable to carry spare batteries and many spare memory cards. You would need to download your cards regularly. Another great thing about the Masai Mara is that all the lenses that you have would be good. You will get lots of images from your widest lens to your biggest telephoto. It would be a bonus to have a big telephoto like a 400 or 500 mm but if you do not have one you will not miss out much. The light is great for most part of the day and the action happens close by.

THE CAMP

The Mara Migration Camp is a mobile tented camp situated in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Being a mobile camp, every guest has the opportunity to experience bush life at its finest, almost reminiscent of the explorers’ era. The camp is eco friendly with minimal impact on the environment. The camp, hired on exclusive use, provides a uniquely private setting with an intimate atmosphere, out in the wild.

Each of the 6 tents is en suite and caters for double or triple occupancy. The tents are spacious and equipped with comfortable beds, with mosquito nets, and have basic safari style showers and flush toilets. The washbasin and stand are located just outside the tents, with a jug of water provided for washing hands or shaving.

Lighting for the tents is via solar power, and a generator is provided for charging batteries and any other electrical equipment. The generator is switched on every evening and turned off before guests retire for the night. However, it can be turned on at any other time at an additional cost. All power points are provided in the mess tent. Sumptuous meals are served out in the open, weather permitting; or in the mess tent. A well stocked bar with cold drinks ensures that one can enjoy a chilled beer or glass of wine after a hot, dusty day out in the park; or a nightcap by the campfire after dinner. The cozy campfire provides an ideal setting for the exchange of the day’s events & sightings with the sounds of the night predators and insects providing the perfect “bush” orchestra to end the day.

 

WHY  4  X  4 VEHICLES  instead  of  Minibuses?    

Our perception of a true safari experience is traveling in a vehicle that is far superior to the usual minibuses used by the large safari operators. For us your safari experience is not mere buses ride, but an opportunity to see and feel Africa in a different way from the rest of the masses. You have several advantages in a 4 x 4 vehicle:

• High Ground Clearance allowing optimum views of landscape and Wildlife

• Flexibility and movement is much greater as the possibility of getting

stuck is limited. • The vehicle can easily maneuver off the beaten track to areas

inaccessible to normal Minibuses • Maximum Comfort and reliability are high on rough / bad road conditions - vehicles

have better leg space than the usual Minibus.

• Vehicles are equipped with High Frequency radio call for extra safety (with a range of up to 5000 kms), special shock absorbers & double springs.

• Vehicles are equipped further with green canvas seats and seat belts, cooler box, books on flora / fauna etc.

     

SUNWORLD’S  SAFARI  GUIDES:

The most important element in any Safari is your driver/guide, since he accompanies you during the entire trip. As you can imagine, this aspect can make or break a good Safari. HIS DUTIES: Throughout your journey, your safari guide takes care of you! He does not only know his way around East Africa, but also has vast knowledge about Flora, Fauna, History, Politics and local tribes with their fascinating traditions. He will assist you with check-in formalities at the various safari lodges / camps and tell you tales about African Folklore and life in Kenya. At the end of your safari you will have won a new friend! AT SUNWORLD: We pride ourselves in selecting the best safari guides in the industry. We employ our guides on a permanent basis and provide them with the opportunity of further education and field trips. EDUCATION: Our guides have not only visited local colleges and taken courses in wildlife education, conservation Management, Client Care, First Aid but also have a min. of 8 to 10 years driving experience in the field. All our guides are English speaking but we are currently educating German and French speaking Guides too. Our safari guides are members of the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association (KPSGA) and have obtained the bronze or silver levels, proudly displaying their badges.

Account  details:  US  Dollar  account      USD  –  PRIME      Beneficiary:      Sunworld  Safaris  Ltd      Account  No.      0800838019      Bank:                          PRIME  BANK      BRANCH:                RIVERSIDE  BRANCH      SWIFT                      PRIEKENX  (Africa  uses  SWIFT  CODE  instead  of  IBAN)  ADDRESS              43825  NAIROBI  00100