Details of the Art Safari Itinerary
Simba Safari
London Heathrow – Nairobi
Day 1 Depart London Heathrow on the International flight to Nairobi with British Airways in economy class
Arrive Nairobi where you will be met and transferred to the Famous Norfolk Hotel
10:10
21:20
1 night in the Norfolk Hotel in en suite rooms on a bed and breakfast basis
You will meet Carrolleannea Carrington after you have settled in and she will go through your art safari itinerary with you.
The Norfolk Hotel is one of Nairobi s oldest hotels, opened on Christmas Day of 1904.It is situated in the heart of Nairobi a short distance from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and from Nairobi s main business and shopping district .All rooms have an ensuite bathroom with bath and shower a mini bar, TV and radio, direct dial telephone and air-conditioning. The hotel has five restaurants and three bars, a swimming pool, hair and beauty salon, shops and news stands and a health club with a fully equipped gym, saunas, steam rooms, aerobics classes and massage therapy.
Tortilis Camp, Amboseli National Park
07:30
08:15
Day 2 After an early start you will be transferred to Wilson Airport where you will depart on the scheduled Air Kenya flight to Amboseli.
Arrive Amboseli where you will be met and transferred to Tortilis Camp
3 nights at Tortilis Camp in Luxury en suite tents on a full board basis.
Tortilis Camp is situated on a private concession area adjoining Amboseli National Park, which lies below Mt Kilimanjaro.There are over 1000 elephant in the park, one of the largest concentrations in Africa, as well as a diverse range of other game and birdlife. The habitats include swamps, lakes,acacia woodland and grass plains. Tortilis is a small permanent tented camp with en suite tents which are large and spacious and which have a veranda area. The lodge also has a small pool. Game drives and walks are taken in the private area as well as the national park.
We will have 2 full days to explore this beautiful part of Africa, expect to see huge herds of elephant and magnificent birdlife with the snow capped peak of Killimanjaro as a spectacular backdrop an it is an artists paradise. Your sketchbooks will be full and brimming with ideas and inspirations for your paintings.
Our camp will be waiting for us with hot showers, sundowners by the campfire and a delicious dinner under the starlit African sky.
Deloraine Nakuru
08:30
09:15
Day 5 You will be transferred back to the airstrip where you will depart on the scheduled Air Kenya flight to Wilson Airport.
Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your private charter plane and depart to Deloraine.
Arrive Deloraine where you will be met and transferred to the house.
3 nights at Deloraine in en suite rooms on a full board basis.
Deloraine is an old colonial house and was built in the early 1920s by a prominent early settler.It is situated in the Rift Valley near Nakuru and is surrounded by a magnificent 5,000 acre farm, seen at its best on horseback which is available.
Rooms are situated either in the house or in an outside cottage.
Farm drives, bird walks, tennis and croquet are also on offer here as are several interesting day trips to the flamingo lakes of Bogoria and Nakuru which are within easy reach by vehicle for those non painting partners.
A typical day on our art safari would begin early…Woken up by one of our crew with a cup of tea of coffee in your tent or room. The morning would be spent looking for wildlife with our specialist guides finding them studying and drawing them all very peacefully and calm just the sounds of nature around us.
Carrolleannea will be with you during the whole of your safari giving you one to one advice on your sketching and painting and tips on how to photograph and paint African wildlife learnt from many years spent in the bush.
It is important to be out early in the mornings as this is the time when the animals are at their most active, it is usual to see lions coming back from a nights hunting and the leopard looking for a quiet tree to laze away the heat of the day in.
We return to camp for a hearty breakfast or alternatively take a picnic breakfast with us and return for lunch but we are very flexible. During the heat of the day most animals take shelter and sleep so we will do likewise and use this time in camp to explore and develop our ideas for our painting or simply catch up on some sketching or just simply relax.
A late afternoon game drive will usually keep us out until dusk and then it will be back to the camp for those much needed sundowners by the campfire and that sumptuous dinner that marks the end of the day.
Mara Bush Camp Masi Mara
Day 8 You will be transferred back to the airstrip where you will depart on your private charter flight to the Masi Mara
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Mara Bush Camp.
4 nights at the Mara Bush Camps in luxury en suite tents on a full board basis.
Mara Bush Camp is located in the centre of the 3600 sq Koyaki wilderness area, part of the entire Mara/Serengeti eco-system. This area is typified by rolling savannah plains open woodland and bordered by the Mara River. There is resident game all year round but wildlife really comes to life in the months early August late November (as a guide line) when the vast migration comes up from the Serengeti. Included are two million wildebeest, 60,000 zebra Thomson’s gazelle as well as lion’s leopard and cheetah. In order to preserve the state of this wilderness the camp is seasonal and is dismantled for two months a year. Accomodation is for a maximum of twelve people in double ensuite walk in canvas tents that overlook the plains.
JKIA – London Heathrow
Day 12 After lunch you will be transferred back to the airstrip to depart on the scheduled Air Kenya flight to Wilson Airport
Upon arrival you will be met and taken to a recommended restaurant for dinner (dinner account direct) before being transferred to JKI Airport.
Depart Nairobi on the international flight to London Heathrow with British Airways in economy class.
16:00
17:00
23:00
London Heathrow
Day 13 Arrive London Heathrow
05:05
What to bring for your painting
· Sketchbooks
· Pencils and rubbers
· Watercolour paints, as they are good in the bush for colour ref
· Watercolour paper pads
· Brushes
· Oils and acrylics if you prefer
Although I paint in oils I find them too difficult to manage in the bush and use coloured pencils or watercolours to do rough sketches in the field
However once in camp oils can be used but remember you have to get the painting home and it may not be dry. There will be plenty of time to do painting but the medium I leave up to you, rolled canvas will be provided and easels but all other materials please bring yourself.
I know that you will have a magical holiday with us and see Africa from an artist’s perspective in all its richness and beauty.
We are happy to have non-painting partners and they will find much to do whilst we are painting.
Don’t worry about your ability, as beginners to professional artists are most welcome the emphasis is on having lots of fun and enjoying being in the company of other artists no matter what level they might be at.
I will be with you every step of the way during your safari and I know that we will end up being good friends so I look forward to seeing you soon on our next Art Safari to Africa;
Carrolleannea Carrington
We are now taking bookings for both the Simba and Chui Safaris for next year please contact for more information.
Simba Safari Details
Cost Includes:
Flights:
I international flights with British Airways in economy class:
London Heathrow / Nairobi / London Heathrow
Domestic flights within Kenya with Air Kenya:
Wilson / Amboseli / Wilson
Masai Mara / Wilson
Domestic flights in a private charter:
Wilson / Delorine / Masi Mara
Transfers
With two vehicles and drivers:
As per itinery
Accommodation:
1 night at the Norfolk Hotel Nairobi on a bed and breakfast basis including accommodation and breakfast.
3 nights at Tortilis on a full board basis inclusive of all art tuition, game drives, walks, park fees, and non premium drinks at dinner and with game drives.
3 nights at Deloraine on a full board basis inclusive of accommodation, non premium drinks, laundry and all activities.
4 nights at Mara Camp on a full board basis inclusive of daily park fees all drinks except premium ones game drives and walks.
Cost Excludes:
Airport departure fees (except from the UK) insurance, visas drinks (unless stated above, tips, items of a personal nature and those not mentioned above
Estimated Cost: £ 4,150 per person if 6 people travel
£ 4,010 per person if 8 people travel
£ 3,905 per person if 10 people travel
Airline Tickets
· Please note that as a tour operator we usually obtain special rates for air tickets but their may be restrictions applied by the airline
NB Please note that there is a 12 kg per person luggage weight limit to be carried in a soft bag on small aircraft charter flights.