Kenya 2010 Annular Eclipse and Luxury Safari

Experience an annular eclipse and the beauty of Kenya on a luxury safari

Kenya is home to an astounding range of wildlife and landscapes; a true game viewer's paradise. This one off trip will include both the surging savannah of the Masai Mara – made famous by the yearly migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra – as well as the stunning lake Nakuru from whose shore we will view the eclipse.

This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the beauty of Kenya whilst observing the effect of the annular eclipse on local wildlife. Early morning on Friday 15th January 2010, an eclipse of the Sun will take place when the Moon is farthest away in its orbit around Earth, its path crossing Uganda and Kenya, and its duration at our observation point around eight and a half minutes.

As you have come to expect from Explorers, our Kenya itinerary will be a special one. We will be staying in a luxury tented camp in the Masai Mara for four days and three nights, taking in perhaps the world's greatest wildlife show in our 4x4 vehicles. Not for us the crowded minibuses and rushed itineraries of many safaris.

We then head for the breathtaking Lake Nakuru National Park for our eclipse observation. Shortly after sunrise, just as much of the big game is at its most active, the path of the umbral shadow will pass over us – not only will we be observing the Kenya eclipse in a beautiful natural setting, but we are in the perfect place to observe its effects on the rich bird and animal life - the view of the flamingo population on Lake Nakuru will prove particularly spectacular. This will be one to remember.

Book now to join us on safari in Kenya at the start of 2010

Kenya 2010 Itinerary

09 January – 17 January 2010 | 9 days

• Saturday 9th Jan - Depart the UK and fly overnight, arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, early Sunday morning where you will be met and transferred to your camp in the Masai Mara.
• Sunday 10th Jan - That afternoon we enjoy our first game drive in one of the world's most spectacular game reserves where you will get a chance to see lion, cheetah, zebra and wildebeest to name but some of the abundant wildlife found in the Masai Mara.
  
  With its rolling grasslands and wide-open savannahs, the Masai Mara is the kind of raw, sprawling wilderness found only in Africa. The reserve is unfenced and to the south reaches the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The two countries share the vast Serengeti plains, with the wildlife free to roam between Kenya and Tanzania.
• Monday 11th Jan to Wednesday 13th Jan - Experience three days of spectacular game drives starting early morning and finishing late in the afternoon before retiring to our luxury tented camp. There will also be an opportunity to go on game walks, night game drives and immerse yourself in local culture. On Wednesday evening, we drive north out of the Masai Mara towards Lake Nakuru, over-nighting in Naivasha.
• Thursday 14th Jan - We enjoy an unhurried breakfast before heading off on the second part of our journey north to Lake Nakuru. We arrive at Lake Nakuru and Sarova Lion Hill in time for lunch and enjoy a leisurely game drive before settling down for an early night. Dr John Mason will provide an eclipse briefing in the evening.
  
  Lake Nakuru is the most visited of the Great Rift Valley lakes and known throughout the world as the feeding ground of both the lesser and greater flamingos Having had its national park status ratified in the sixties, it is estimated that at times more than a million flamingos are present. Besides flamingo, more than 400 species of birds can be seen in the park. Hippo, reedbuck, waterbuck, black rhino, giraffe, lion, leopard, bushbuck are also all seen at Lake Nakuru.
• Friday 15th Jan - We will wake early and head down to our viewing location close to Lake Nakuru to observe the annular eclipse and its effects on local wildlife. During the afternoon we will enjoy game drives in the national park before heading back to camp for a well earned rest.
• Saturday 16th Jan - Having spent the morning in Lake Nakuru enjoying a final game drive, we will make our way back to Nairobi where we will stay overnight in a hotel before flying to the UK on Sunday morning.
• Sunday 17th Jan - Arrive back in the UK in the evening.

Accommodation

We will be staying in luxury accommodation whilst in Kenya, ranging from our quiet remote camps in the Masai Mara to beautiful lodges in the Lake Nakuru reserve.

Sarova Mara Camp

Sarova Mara Camp has 75 deluxe tents with permanent roofs and bathrooms with shower. All rooms are spaciously set amongst indigenous gardens with the open plains beyond. The restaurant offers a wide range of cuisine and special barbecues are held by the swimming pool beneath the star filled skies. The Oloip Bar is located on the ground floor; it is perfect in the evenings when a cosy log fire is lit in the fireplace. You will have a chance to witness traditional Masai performers with their rich cultural dances and musical entertainment.

Our Astronomy Expert

Dr John Mason - We are very lucky to be accompanied on our tour by acclaimed astronomer Dr. John Mason MBE, widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities in astronomy and who has an unparalleled knowledge of eclipses.

John has written or edited over 70 books, has appeared on television programmes including the BBC's The Sky at Night and Tomorrow's World, has given lectures on astronomy across the globe and has led numerous astronomy and eclipse-chasing expeditions. Those of you who have met John on previous Explorers eclipse tours know what an entertaining and enthusiastic expert he is.

Eclipse Path and Weather

The path of the moon's shadow first touches earth in the Central African Republic before passing through the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and on into the Indian Ocean. We will observe the eclipse from the shores of Lake Nakuru in Kenya, very close to the centre line of the annular path where the duration will be around 8 and a half minutes; this is a region of tall volcanoes, framed by Mount Elgon (4321 m) in the west and Mount Kenya (5199 m) in the east and cut down the middle by the Eastern Rift Valley. As locations for observation go, they don't get much better than this.

Weather – January falls in Kenya's summer and is in the heart of one of its two dry seasons. There is a good chance of sunshine at Lake Nakuru with historic data showing a 76% chance of sunshine and just a 3% chance of it being overcast. Scattered cloud is likely to be the feature that will prove most tricky, but with a reasonably long duration, we would hope we have an excellent chance of clear observation conditions.

Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC