Social Events & Excursions

*SAVE THE DATE!* Conference sundowners and dinner event ('Safari night') 
We will be hosting a conference social on Wednesday 4th September 2013. Tickets will be for 1000ksh/15USD including dinner and soft drinks. We hope you will keep this evening free and join us for some fun and food! 

Things to do:
- Tamarind dhow- http://www.tamarind.co.ke/tamarind-dhow/
Enjoy a dinner cruise aboard a traditional arab dhow whilst sailing smoothly through the Tudor Creek.
Tickets are 80USD per person (excluding drinks).This excursion must be booked directly with Tamarind (contact provided on link above). Those who book for Tuesday 3rd September 2013 and quote 'speech therapy conference' will be seated on the same table.

- Safari's and other excursions- Kenya is known for its amazing wildlife and beaches. These can be booked through the conference agents Wild Kenya Safaris (http://www.wildkenyasafaris.com). There are many amazing excursions available at special rates for conference delegates. If you are interested in going on safari whilst in Kenya please email info@wildkenyasafaris.com and quote 'speech therapy conference' to get the special rates. Below just some of the options available; more can be found on their website. 

• One Day Excursions:

One Day Safari: “Echoes of Shimba” 
Managed by the owners of the famous “Tree Tops Lodge” in Aberdare National Park, Shimba Hills Lodge is the only tree tops hotel on the coast.Leave for afternoon game drive and enter the cool rainforest of Shimba Hills national Reserve, followed by a PM drive before checking in at the forest lodge (in time for sundowner). Coming up next, is a fabulous dinner under candle and moonlight, overlooking the vibrant waterhole. Here you will find wildlife bustling all around you while you wine and dine: African Fish Eagles amongst a vast variety of birdlife, monitor lizards, on occasions elephants and bushbucks, and last but not least- the lesser Galagos that come to your dining table to say Jambo!  Several other resident/transient species have been spotted in and around the lodge.After a beautiful rest under the stars accompanied by sounds of crickets and other nightly residents- at sunrise the next morning, get set for an early AM game drive. There is high possibility to view large herds of Buffalos, Birds, Elephants, Giraffes, Heartbeast, Warthogs, and the famous Sable Antelopes which are only found in Shimba Hills and South Africa.10.00 a.m: Mini-trek accompanied by Ranger, to the famous and luscious Sheldrick Falls. After this refreshing walk, you will be driven back to the lodge for a scrumptious lunch. Post lunch, you will be dropped off to your hotel in Diani Beach/Mombasa.

One day: Pili Pippa Dolphin Adventure: *highly recommended by conference organisers* 

Full Day:  Your day will begin with a pick up from your hotel and a scenic drive to historical to Shimoni. Tea, coffee and biscuits are offered on the dhow whilst you are being fully briefed about small islands. When we arrive the snorkeling site, we may spot the resident dolphins up close, turtles, and thousands of species of colourful fish. After your snorkeling refreshments will be provided including fresh fruit and our famous home baked pizza bread. We head back to the private garden on Wasini Island for lunch.

This will truly be a meal to remember served by smiling Swahili ladies, with white wine and beer.  After  lunch you have time to relax over tea, coffee and patisserie in our 'Day Dreamer's Lounge'.

You do can do some bird watching or look up anything you have seen in the comprehensive marine library;l then finally prepare for a short bushwalk to the boat, and  return to Shimoni. There you may take some time to visit the slave caves before heading back to your hotel.

1/2 day: Mombasa, “The Ancient Arab Treasure”- 

8 AM: Pick up from your hotel and drive towards Mombasa Island to the historical Fort Jesus. Fort Jesus, which is now a museum and cultural center, was built by the Portuguese in the year 1593, in defense against the Arabs.

Further to the dhow harbor, (Old Port) a collection of vintage dhows can be viewed. Proceed to the Arabian Old Town with its maze of narrow streets displaying beautifully carved doors, jewels and curio shops.’

Next on the list is a short visit to the sacred Hindu Temple, proceeding on to the famous monument of the elephant “Tusks.” The tusks were built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952, as they lay directly on the path from the port to the town. Coincidentally the tusks also spell the letter “M” for Mombasa.

Proceed to the Akamba Handicraft Market, a local co-op society where ten thousand tribal craftsmen produce a great variety of fine-quality wood carvings, at very reasonable prices.

After the Akamba centre we carry on back to the north coast of Mombasa-to Haller Park (Baobab Adventure). For those of us who wish to visit this park, you may alight here and return to your hotel by local taxi at your own time, or continue with the tour bus to your hotel. Historically, Haller Park used to be a quarry previously excavated by Bamburi cement for cement production. It has now been transformed into a dense forest, nature trail, game sanctuary with crocodile & fish farms. With the best of eco-tourism, Haller Park is also home to hippos, antelopes, birds, reptiles, snakes, giant tortoise, crocodiles and giraffes. 

• Overnight Safaris:

2 Days Tsavo East Safari: “Go Wild in Magical Tsavo East” 

Price: USD 250pp for 4 pax, USD 240pp for 6 pax

DAY 1: Pick-up from hotel early morning and enter the gates of Tsavo East National Park. Game drive enroute to Aruba Dam. Here one can view Zebra, Elephants, Buffalos, Antelopes and a variety of bird species drinking water. Proceed to Voi Safari Lodge for lunch. At the lodge, variety of game can be viewed at the underground waterhole.

After lunch, get ready for another game drive taking you to different parts of the park, in search for wild animals. Dinner and overnight at lodge. There is a possibility to watch the nocturnal animals around the well-lit waterhole.

DAY 2: 6:30 am-early morning game drive then back to the lodge for breakfast.  Followed by a mid morning game drive until lunch time, which is served at Lion Hill Lodge. There after, proceed to the coast arriving at your hotel in the early evening. 

3 Days Tsavo East and West Safari: “The Complete Tsavo Journey”

USD 385pp for 4 pax, USD 350pp for 6 pax

DAY 1: Pick up from hotel and drive along Mombasa – Nairobi highway to Tsavo East National Park. Game drive will follow enroute to Aruba Dam, where there are is a variety of game e.g. zebras, gazelles, waterbucks, herds of the famous red elephants of Tsavo.

At Aruba Dam, one can experience a plethora of animals, such as hippos, drinking water. There is also a variety of bird life including hornbills, fish eagles, kingfishers, weaver birds, marabou storks.

Next, proceed for a game drive enroute to the lodge, after check in procedures. A comfortable resting break in the afternoon will be allocated to get ready for the safari. In Tsavo East, the Yatta plateau and Luggard falls, a habitat of crocodiles and fishes will be viewed.

DAY 2: After breakfast, proceed with a game drive leaving Tsavo East, and entering Tsavo West in time for lunch. Proceed to afternoon game drive and visit to the Rhino sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at Ngulia Safari lodge (or similar.)

DAY 3: Early morning breakfast, check out from the lodge. Then, morning game drive to Mzima Springs, the home of hippos and crocodiles. Here a special viewing facility allows the observers to view hippos wallowing with surprising grace from below the water line. Lunch is at Voi town, then drive back to coastal hotel in the evening.

3 Days Tsavo East & Amboseli Safari: “Jungle Nights” 

USD 480pp for 4 pax, USD 440pp for 6 pax

DAY 1: Pick up from hotel early in the morning and drive on to Tsavo East National Park. Game drive enroute to Aruba Dam, where wild animals e.g. zebras, buffalos, antelopes, large herds of the famous red elephants of Tsavo have been spotted. Lunch will be at booked lodge. Relax after lunch, until 4pm, where you will leave for an evening game drive until Sundowner. Back to Voi safari lodge (or similar) for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: After breakfast, depart for a morning game drive with a chance of seeing wild cats coming from their hunting areas. Arrive at lunch time to lodge. After a two hours rest, an evening game drive follows. This is a place of pristine beauty- as you are right at the doorstep of the highest and most breathtaking mountain in Africa~ Mt. Kilimanjaro. High chances of game viewing: including hyenas, gnus, lions, cheetahs and other type of wild animals. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

DAY 3: Early breakfast, then morning game drive in to Amboseli National Park till 9 am. Leave the park with a game drive enroute through Irimito gate. Lunch will be served in a hotel at Voi town. Thereafter, you will be driven back to your coastal hotel arriving in the late evening.

3 Days Tsavo West & Amboseli Safari: “Unforgettable Moments”

USD 460pp for 4 pax, USD 420pp for 6 pax

DAY 1: Depart from your hotel early in the morning driving to Tsavo West National Park. You will enter the park through Tsavo river gate with a game drive enroute to check in at Ngulia safari lodge for lunch. An evening game drive follows which will lead you to the famous Rhino sanctuary until sundowner, back to Ngulia lodge for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: After breakfast, a game drive will be made in this home of the leopards as it lead you to the known Mzima springs, the home for hippos and crocodiles here a special viewing facility allows the observers the view hippos wallowing with surprising grace from below the water line. After that you will join the convoy to Amboseli national park through the Shetani lava flows arriving at lunch time. After lunch an evening game drive follows with a chance of seeing a lot of wild animals e.g. gnus, elephants, wild cats, hyenas and also the highest mountain in Africa known as Kilimanjaro. Then, dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge, Optical lodge or Kibo Safari Camp (or similar.)

DAY 3: Early morning game drive then back to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast another mid morning game drive as you are leaving through Irimito gate. Lunch will be served at a hotel in Voi town; afterwards you will be driven back to your coastal hotel arriving in the evening.

Masai Mara overnight Excursions:

Maasai Mara (Masai Mara) is known as Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserve, situated in southwest Kenya. Famous for the abundance of lion, the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Maasai people, well known for their distinctive custom and dress, it is without a doubt one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations. Maasai Mara National Reserve stretches 1,510 sq km (580 sq miles) and raises 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level. The terrain of the reserve is primarily grassland and riverine forest with clumps of the distinctive acacia trees. It’s about 270 km from the capital city Nairobi and takes about 5-6 hours by road or 40-45 minutes by flight. The Maasai Mara Ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in world and this is where over TWO MILLION Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomsons Gazelle migrate annually. Its hosts over 95 species of mammals and 570 recorded species of birds.

BEST TIME TO VISIT With the wildebeest migration in July to October, this is the best time to see these incredible movement of animals. This makes your visit to Kenya for the conference a perfect time to view this most amazing natural spectacle. 

Visits to the Mara can be arranged by flight from Mombasa, or for those coming to Kenya via Nairobi, flight or drive options as available.

Prices:

Nairobi departure:  2 nights (3 days) to Massai Mara staying at Encounter Mara Camp at USD 1,190 per person sharing. We need minimum of 4 pax for this departure and the guests will be picked and dropped from Nairobi. This price includes return road transport from Nairobi to Mara, Mara Naboisho Conservancy Park Fees, accommodation sharing on full board basis, all soft drinks and local spirits and game drives in the open 4x4. It excludes, entry fees for optional visit to the national reserve (triangle), imported drinks and spirits, maasai cultural visit, health/travel insurance.

Mombasa departure: For 2 nights (3 days) including return airfares from Mombasa, accommodation, game drives and park fees, meals at the lodge it comes to USD 1250 per person sharing or USD 1410 for a single staying at Mara Timbo Camp.