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Spend time in a safari environment with a focus on inclusivity and exclusivity when staying at El Karama Lodge located in Kenya’s Laikipia region, at the foothills of Mount Kenya. A stunning setting amid a lush garden, guests feel relaxed and rejuvenated from the moment they arrive. Guests can indulge in some time-out lazing in and around the swimming pool, set in a walled area with slasto paving and sun lounges laid out under shady trees.
Dining is a real treat at El Karama Lodge, ingredients are locally sourced to create hearty and delicious meals which are served in the lodge’s dining room. The kitchen is open-planned and guests are invited to visit and discover with the friendly chefs.
El Karama Lodge has a fully stocked bar and a comfortable sitting area. Guests can enjoy a fresh juice, herbal tea, or signature cocktail made with herbs right out of the garden. There is a massage menu on offer and guests can enjoy a game of table tennis or simply sit back and read a good book absorbing the stillness of the environment. Outings include a walk to the rock hide on the dam where hippos are at play all day or a horseback ride are just two examples of the many activities on offer at El Karama Lodge. Accommodation options are exquisite, with eight cottages in total, The Hobbit House and Bandas all decorated with immense attention to detail.
El Karama Lodge is in the El Karama Conservancy in Kenya’s Laikipia region, where guests can fly into the Conservancy which is located around half a mile away. Other options include scheduled one-hour flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta into Nanyuki with a transfer to the Lodge from there, a drive of around 45 minutes. A drive from Nairobi along the A2 Highway will take approximately four and a half hours.
There are eight remarkable, spacious, and airy cottages at El Karama Lodge, each room made out of stone and wood, a thatch roofing with high ceilings. The decor is classic with African prints and designs visible in bedding and the art and extra touches in the rooms. Each cottage is unique and of varying sizes, all en-suite with showers and baths creatively set in a spacious bathroom. As the Lodge is eco-friendly the electricity is solar-powered, a key component to ensure their environmental responsibility is always adhered to.
There is the Hobbit House which comprises two bedrooms and is on two mezzanine floors and is part of the main lodge at El Karama Lodge. The master bedroom contains a large double bed while the second bedroom is ideal for younger children, containing two twin beds that can be put together to make a double. Both rooms share a beautiful large bathroom. The Bandas can be configured as a double bed or two twin beds and have a large, central area with grand windows commanding spectacular views. There is a sitting area and writing desk and outside a wonderful verandah overlooking the river and salt licks in the distance.
The River Cottages are gorgeous and offer exclusive use of the camp with two large cottages sharing a dining and living area, plus a kitchen, fire pit, and bar. Each room can be configured as a double or twin bed with the option to put an additional bed in the room.
A special touch to the cottages is that there is an outside bathtub made of riverstone and cement, a treat to bathe under the stars. The newest private house is the “Acacia Nilotica” which comprises two separate cottages, perfect for families or small groups. There is a patio for yoga and reading, a fire pit, and an active salt lick located close by.
Safaris are incredible in this area and can be enjoyed via game drives, walking adventures, and night drives, with fun activities such as horse riding and a visit to the ranch Headquarters to see some of the farming practices available to guests.
Hand-line fishing is a fun way to spend time out in nature in this area and guests can experience a cultural interaction with a visit to a local village. There are heli-safari and conservation activities for guests to engage in while staying at El Karama Lodge.
The best times to visit Tanzania are December through March or June through October during the dry seasons, when the game viewing is at its best. The rains usually last from April to May then occur again in November when there are fewer tourists and vegetation flourishes. During February, wildebeest are calving, giving you a front row seat to the baby's first moments in the savannah.
A mid-range safari with lodging runs $350 to $400 per person, per day while a high end luxury safari with all the trimmings ranges from $600 to about $1000 per person, per day. Read more about safari costs for Tanzania.
Both countries are reputed for outstanding game viewing. Tanzania’s jaw-dropping Mount Kilimanjaro, sweeping coffee plantations and the exotic island of Zanzibar make it unique from its northern neighbor, while Kenya's lush green landscapes make it a bit less tropical, climate-wise. The two countries are frequently combined into a single journey, given their proximity to each other and the fact that they are both locations for the must-see Great Migration. Read more about whether Kenya or Tanzania is better for a safari.
The Great Migration is a wildlife spectacle, sometimes called The Greatest Show on Earth by safari enthusiasts, during which hundreds of wildebeest and other mammals head towards greener grazing pastures during East Africa's dry season. It is heavily dependent on the weather, specifically the rain which brings new vegetation upon which the wildebeest feed. Generally-speaking, herds are in the Serengeti from November to May. In May, as the grass dries up, herds begin the 500-mile migration north and by June they are in the greener plains of Kenya’s Maasai Mara. They usually stay here until October. From January on, they alternate between woodlands and plains, depending on the weather. In anticipation of the short rains—and the greener grasslands that come with it—the herds begin their trek down to the Serengeti. In November and December, they arrive to a flourishing green landscape where they stay until the cycle begins again.
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season (December– February and June - August) when conditions are especially good for trekking to view mountain gorillas. Game drives in the national parks are also fruitful during this time.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Uganda safari. Dress in layers and bring a warm sweater for morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sunhat and gardening gloves are also a good idea; the jungle is dense and thick.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda with basic accommodations starting at $96 per person, per day, plus the Uganda gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips range from $10 to $20 per person per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
If you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek in Uganda, your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas or in regions close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Uganda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Uganda live at between 4,900 to 7,500 feet. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the country’s mountain gorillas, has a high point of 8,550ft.
The best time to go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda is during the dry season (June - September) when conditions are best for trekking to view the country’s highlight: the fascinating mountain gorillas.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Rwanda gorilla trek. Dress in layers and don’t forget a sweater for chilly morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, broken-in hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sun visor and protective gloves – such as gardening gloves - are also useful.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda with basic accommodations starting at $720 per person, per day, plus the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit which costs $1,500 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips for your guide are $25 per person, per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, particularly if you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek. Your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas. Cross-border travel into the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Burundi is not safe, however, so steer clear of this.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Rwanda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Rwanda live at between 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Volcanoes National Park has a high point of 15,000ft.
Contact us for more information
For more information about our safari excursions, or to book your dream safari trip with Natural World Kenya Safaris, simply get in touch with our friendly travel advisors. Give us a call on +254 704 001 122 or leave your details on our contact us page, and we'll reply as quickly as possible.
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