Departure date note: Due to the weather, this trip is
available only from October to April. October to March is the best time to
experience this trip.
Day 1 On arrival at the Nairobi
international airport, you will be met by your Eco-resorts representative and
transferred to Macushla House. Located in the suburb of Langata, Macushla House
gives a quiet, peaceful stopover in this busy city area. With six spacious
bedrooms, two lounges, a private study, bar, pool and dining room, Macushla
caters for both the business and the holiday travelers. A delicious range of
fresh, home cooked meals, served throughout the day, provide fine dining at your
convenience. Located close to the Giraffe Manor, Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi
National Park and the Animal Orphanage, Macushla is the perfect place to start
your safari adventure. Overnight at Macushla House.
Days 2 After breakfast you will be
transferred at 08:15 to the domestic airport, to catch the 09:15 Air Kenya
flight to Nanyuki. Here you will be met by your own private charter flight to
the Rutundu Cabins. Rutundu is situated on the northern slopes of Mt. Kenya at
10,200 feet, just above the forest line. These log cabins overlook Lake Rutundu
in total privacy, surrounded by alpine vegetation.
Lake Rutundu and Lake Alice, both a scenic
hike from the cabins, are stocked with rainbow trout, averaging 2-3 pounds, with
the larger fish weighing 6 pounds. Not many people can say they’ve caught a
trout within 5 km of the equator! There are three casting platforms and a
boat/punt, as well as plenty of keen and experienced hands to help you.
Rutundu’s two cozy log cabins, each with
open fires and two en-suite bedrooms, are ideal for small groups. The wonderful
staff will take care of your every need. Full board and overnight at the Cabins.
Day 3 Today, enjoy hiking
and fishing on Lake Alice. There is a beautiful walk around Lake Alice, through
Giant Groundsel and heather forests. In contrast to this moorland terrain, the
Cedar and Podo forest, a half hour drive below Rutundu, provides lovely walks
and picnic sites. Nearby, the Kizita River Gorge offers a crystal clear river,
with small brown trout. Full board and overnight at the Cabins.
Day 4 It’ll be an early
start this morning as you board your charter flight to back to Nanyuki, where
you will catch the 10:00 flight to the Masai Mara. It would be criminal to
travel to Kenya and not visit one of its best-known safari parks! The Mara is so
rich in game and bird life that even this short visit will provide you with some
spectacular wildlife memories to add to your fishing adventure.
You will spend the next two nights at
Little Governor’s Tented Camp. Enjoy bush walks and game drives, as well as the
pure luxury of this famous camp. Overnight and full board at the Camp.
Day 5 Located to the south of
Nairobi, and bordering Tanzania, the Masai Mara forms part of the huge Serengeti
eco-system. The Mara spreads over 1510 square km of rolling plains, sudden rocky
outcrops and green winding rivers.
Day 6 This morning you will board a
private charter for a 40-minute flight and then a relaxing 15-minute boat ride
to Mfangano Island on Lake Victoria.
Mfangano Island Camp, a small remote
hideaway on Mfangano Island, is a perfect place to explore fishing on Lake
Victoria. This great lake has romantic associations as the source of the River
Nile, ever since explorers such as Speke and Burton came to the area at the end
of the last century.
Mfangano Island Camp occupies an entire
secluded bay on the western shores of the island, situated under ancient fig
trees right by the lakeshore. The six rooms all offer complete privacy and
en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower. Decorated in the ethnic style, all
rooms have four poster beds and private verandas, which gives them a special
charm and romance. Each room is open to the lake and offers uninterrupted views
and spectacular sunsets.
The centre of Mfangano Island Camp is the
cozy sitting room and dining room, both open to the lake shore. Here you can sit
and listen to the waves, feel the breeze in your hair, read a book or watch the
dhows on the lake. The cormorants dive for fish or spread their wings to dry in
the sun and the fish eagles call from the treetops.
The meals in Mfangano Island Camp are
superb. Fresh salads and the daily catch served with fresh, crusty bread and
chilled wine.
The lush hillside and Camp surrounds are
abundant with indigenous plants and flowers. In the early morning, fleets of
multi coloured fishing boats gracefully sail past the bay, and in the evening
spectacular sunsets are seen as the sun dips below the unbroken lake horizon.
The fishing is excellent, the bird life is unsurpassed and seeing the families
of otters is an added bonus. You can also enjoy walks through lush vegetation on
top of the hills or along the lake shore. For those interested in culture, there
is the possibility to visit a Luo family and experience their day-to-day life or
the school in the next village. Overnight and full board at the Camp.
Day 7-8 Lake
Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world; only Lake Superior
in North America is larger. The lake is unusual in many ways. She does not lie
in a deep trough created by the Great Rift Valley, as do Lakes Tanganyika,
Turkana, Malawi or Manyara, but rather sits in a shallow basin that is rarely
more than 230 feet deep. Victoria is also a fresh water lake, unusual in an area
where streams that travel through highly mineralized lavas feed most lakes,
resulting in alkaline and undrinkable waters.
Lake Victoria was the object of European
exploration in the 19th century, as the source of the Nile became the object of
heated debate and much conjecture. The famous British explorers, Burton and
Speke, set out in search of the magical ‘source’. Speke claimed Lake Victoria,
but Burton disagreed, and voluble debates were held in the Geographic Societies
of Europe before Speke was proven correct.
The Lake is surrounded by gently rolling,
lush green hills. The area is known for its Nile Perch fishing and scenic
beauty, offering a stunning contrast to the yellow brown plains and semi-desert
savanna that surround it.
Mfangano has its own private fleet of 22
foot, open decked ‘Vixens’ made from specialized fiberglass, which are at your
disposal while on the island. Each has an experienced skipper and can take up to
5 people. This part of the lake is well respected for its year-round fishing
success, but the best times are usually in June and December. The average Nile
perch weighs in at 50 pounds…monsters have been reported! Directly in front of
the main lodge is a jetty, which takes you out into the clear waters where you
can cast or simply sit lazily waiting for that bite.
All activities and fishing trips from the
island are included. The camp managers will be happy to assist and advise you on
the best places and times to fish. Enjoy your two days here! Overnight and full
board at the Camp.
Day 9 Catch your private
charter back to the Masai Mara, where you will catch the 11:00 flight to Nairobi
and then later fly to Malindi and transfer to Hemingway’s Resort in Watamu.
Hemingways is world famous for its
luxurious accommodation, delicious cuisine and fantastic fishing. Just walking
into the bar offers you a fishing lesson with its original photographs and fish
trophies decorating every wall!
There are two sizes of fishing boats at
Hemingways: 23 feet for up to two anglers and 33 feet and bigger for up to four
anglers. All the boats are fully equipped with lifesaving and fire fighting
equipment, radio links between boats and shore, revolving fighting chairs with
footrests and all necessary fishing paraphenalia. The crew are well versed both
with beginning and experienced anglers. You’ll be in good hands all the way!
The East African coast offers you some of
the best deep-sea fishing in the world, including the opportunity to catch the
Fantasy Slam. Striped, black and blue Marlin are frequently caught near Watamu,
as well as Sailfish, Dorado, yellow fin tuna, Giant Trenally, Wahoo, sharks and
Kingfish. Overnight drift or troll fishing for Broadbill is a Hemingway’s
specialty; their boats hold all the world records for Broadbill Swordfish on
fly! Overnight and half board at Hemingway’s.
Day 10 Today you can do as little
or as much as you please. Hemingway’s offers very exciting activities but also
has an air of peace and relaxation. With two delightful swimming pools,
kilometers of white beach and luxurious rooms with terraces overlooking the sea,
you’ll find just the spot to put your feet up and relax! Overnight and half
board at Hemingway’s.
Day 11 Today you have a
full (10 hour) day out on one of Hemingway’s deep sea fishing boats with one of
their top skippers. Enjoy your day on the Indian Ocean and hopefully come back
with a Marlin, Sailfish or even a shark! Hemingway’s practice Billfish “Tag and
Release” so don’t be disappointed if you come back with merely a flag to show
for your efforts! Overnight and half board at Hemingway’s.
Day 12 Another early
start this morning as you enjoy another trip out into the deep. This time it’s
only a half-day out at sea, returning in time for a well-deserved lunch and a
relaxing afternoon at your leisure. Overnight and half board at Hemingway’s.
Day 13 Today you embark
on your final trip of your fishing safari. It’s your last change to catch that
giant! A full 10-hour day of fishing. Tight lines! Overnight and half board at
Hemingway’s.
Day 14 Spend the morning
at your leisure. Later today, you will catch the flight to Nairobi where you
will be met and transferred to the international airport for your return flight
home.
Includes: All
transfers, all accommodation and meals (full board at Rutundu Cabins, Little
Governors and Mfangano, bed & breakfast at Macushla House, half board in a
superior room at Hemingway’s), activities as listed above including all fishing
trips, equipment, skippers/guides, National Park entrance fees, local taxes and
all internal flights.
Excludes: All drinks,
lunch and dinner at Macushla House, lunch at Hemingway’s, telephone calls,
personal purchases, tips, visas and international flights.
NOTE: Due
to the weather, this trip is available only from October to April. October to
March is the best time to experience this trip.
