Painting Safari in Kenya
Paint and photograph
The Great Migration
30th July – 5th August 2013
Award winning painter Alison Harper and The Essential School of Painting invite you to join us for an inspiring Painting Safari in Kenya! While there we will view and paint the beautiful landscape and the spectacular wildlife migration in the Maasai-Mara Game reserve. Non-painting partners and photographers welcome.
On our journey to the Mara we will take in the stunning views of the Great Rift Valley. We will travel down into the valley and spend two nights and a day along the scenic Lake Naivasha with its magnificent vistas of the blue lake populated by thousands of pink and orange coloured flamingos – perfect for painting and photographing.
Accommodation at Lake Naivasha is in the Great Rift Valley Lodge which features panoramic views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley.
Leaving Lake Naivasha we will fly to the Maasai-Mara to spend six days and five nights there and hope to witness one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on the earth, the once yearly Serengeti-Mara Wildebeest migration
Travelling by four-wheel drive jeep from our luxury tented camp we will visit river crossings where dramatic displays of nature are played out at their most intense.
We will see lions, elephants, cheetah and if we are lucky leopard, black rhino, crocodiles, hippo and buffalo. We will make sketches, watercolours and take photographs during the morning and evening drives which we will develop further during our afternoon painting sessions with our experienced tutor Alison Harper on hand to provide guidance.
At the Mara we will stay in a luxurious tented camp located in the exclusive Mara Naboisho Conservancy overlooking a stunning valley and salt lick frequented by wildlife.
Accommodation is in luxurious, spacious tents positioned for privacy as well as views over the surrounding plains. Each of the tents features their own private veranda with a view over the surrounding savannah. This is true “glamping” – luxurious camping.
The Camp provides trained Maasai guides who will accompany us on morning and evening game drives. There will be an option to do a bush walk with guide.
There will be an opportunity to visit a Maasai community. It may be possible to sketch the local Maasai with their permission.
Food and Drink
Daily Meal Schedule
The day starts shortly before sunrise and while guests enjoy a chorus of birds and a breath-taking African sunrise, there is a light continental breakfast consisting of fresh coffee and tea, assorted fruits, cereals and fresh baked muffins and pastries.
Alternatively you can request your breakfast brought to your veranda albeit a smaller breakfast menu.
Morning game drive activities then commence after which you return to camp without any pressure (from a meal schedule or hungry stomachs!) to ‘get back for breakfast’.
A hearty brunch is served each day at 11am (Elevenses) with a wide range of tasty food perfect for a late morning, including quiches, fresh salads, home-baked breads, fruits, cold meats and eggs to order.
After a wonderful relaxed and unscheduled mid-day siesta (12pm to 4pm) we return for ‘high tea’ which includes amongst other things iced teas, herbal tea and coffee served with a small variety of savoury and sweet delicacies. Topped up we leave camp to return at sunset or soon thereafter if we choose to add a night-drive en-route to camp.
Dinner is served and includes platters of delicacies brought to your table so that you can select you own portions. Some of you if not all of you may ought for a night drive between 8pm and 10pm in which case your guide may bring along a flask of hot chocolate
Booking, Costs and Itinerary
Dates: July 30th – 6th August
Cost: £2,850 and non-painting partners £2500
Bookings: are secured with a £480 deposit per person
To book or reserve your place please email Alison or if you wish to discuss anything about the trip please call me on 07906189855 or email alisonharper@theesop.com
Non-painting partners are welcome.
Flights to Kenya
Please arrange to arrive in Kenya on the morning of the 30th of July, if due to costs its advantageous for you to arrive on the 29th let us know and we’ll arrange to collect you and arrange your hotel bookings.
Helpful tips: It would be better to book your flights as soon as possible as costs are rising with upcoming school holidays, our travel agent has quoted available seats on return flights from Heathrow to Nairobi starting at £790 indirect and £1100 for direct. You can also check cheapflights.co.uk
A full list of things you will need to bring with you will be sent to you on booking.
ITINERARY
Day One 30th July
Pick up from Nairobi Airport and scenic drive to Great Rift Valley
Day Two 31st July
Day at Lake Naivasha
Day Three 1st Aug
A 45 minute flight to The Maasai Mara and drive to the camp which has been rated Outstanding by Which Travel awards. Our first day of painting and sketching.
Day Four 2nd Aug
This is our first full day on Safari. Morning drives begin at 6.00am and continue till about 10.00am. Then it’s back to camp for a hearty brunch. Time to rest and then a short tutorial around 3pm on how we can develop our sketches and paintings. A delicious afternoon tea at 4pm precedes the afternoon game drive during which we will partake of a sun-downer as we watch the sun setting. Upon our return in the evening we can relax after dinner 8-10pm in front of the camp fire.
Day Five 3rdAug
As on Day Four with optional visit to a Maasai village
Day Six 4th Aug
As on Day Five with optional bush walk
Day Seven 5th Aug
As on Day Six with final group review of our artwork.
Day Eight 6th Aug
Short early morning game drive and return flight to Nairobi. Depending on departure times afternoon and evening relaxation at a local Hotel before your transfer to Nairobi Airport for our flights home.
We look forward to spending this wonderful time with you and as we say in Kenya… Kabiru Kenya!
Andrew Wamae
END NOTES
The migration is on course to happen this year at the right time but we cannot guarantee which or how many animals will be seen, they tend to have a mind of their own.
Fees include:
1) Accommodation based on two persons sharing; Single supplement is available for an additional £388 per person for the week
2) Painting tuition, one to one and group lessons.
3) 2 nights, full board accommodation, at The Great Rift Valley Lodge in Lake Naivasha
4) Return flights to and from Maasai-Mara
5) Transfers in Maasai Mara
6) 5 nights full board accommodation in luxury tented camp
7) All soft drinks, local beers, local spirits and house wines
8) Game drives (Day & Night) in an open-top four wheel safari vehicle
9) Mara-Naboisho Conservancy fees
10) Airport transfer between the international and local
11) Transport in 8 seat safari van to Lake Naivasha and drop off at Wilson Airport
12) Services of ACTS drivers & trained Maasai driver/guides
Fees DO NOT include
a) External flights
b) Imported drinks and spirits
c) Maasai Cultural Visits
d) Compulsory Travel and Health insurance
e) Tips and gratuities
We can help you organize your flights
If you would like to extend your trip we can assist you with bookings and suggestions such as
a) Continue to the coast and stay at Mombasa, Malindi or Lamu to and relax and paint some more by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
b) If you would like to explore Nairobi and what it has to offer we can organize hotel for your budget and a driver who will act as your guide