14 Days Private Running Safari in Kenyan Countryside

Day 1: Meeting at the Nairobi airport

1. Lake Elementaita
   1 day
   Meeting at the Nairobi airport. Transfer to Elementaita Lake, where we'll be having rest after the flight at the nice lodge.
   
   Lake Elmenteita is a soda lake, in the Great Rift Valley, about 120 km. northwest of Nairobi, Kenya. Elmenteita is derived from the Maasai word muteita, meaning "dust place", a reference to the dryness and dustiness of the area, especially between January and March. The lake is normally very shallow (less than 1 m. deep) and bordered by trona-encrusted mudflats during the dry seasons. The lake's shores are grazed by zebra, gazelle, eland and families of warthog. It also attracts visiting flamingoes, both the greater and lesser varieties, which feed on the lake's crustacean and insect larvae and on its suspended blue-green algae.

Day 2: Acclimatization day in Kenya

1. Lake Elementaita
   6h
   Acclimatization day in Kenya. Our morning recovery run will occure at the stunning scenery of the southeastern edge of the Great Rift Valley — along the shores of the lake or on the slopes of Ugali Hills.
2. Kariandusi Prehistoric Site
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Nature walk to Kariandusi prehistoric site with a museum in a day time. Located nearby Lake Elmenteita, Kariandusi is an African Early Stone Age site dating to approximately 1 million years ago. It's amongst the first discoveries of Lower Paleolithic sites in East Africa. There is enough geological evidence to show that in the past, large lakes, sometimes reaching levels hundreds of meters higher than the present Lake Nakuru and Elementaita, occupied this basin. Archaeological studies say that Kariandusi was a factory site where axes were created on site and then passed out or shipped to different communities around Kariandusi.

Day 3: Nakuru National Park, Ol Kokwe island

1. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
   12h · Admission ticket included
   Today after morning run, stretchings, exercises and breakfast we'll visit Nakuru National Park, which is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffes, black and white rhinos, lions, cheetahs, leopards and numeruos birds to watch.
2. Lake Baringo
   12h · Admission ticket included
   After midday let's move to another lake of the Great Rift Valley, Baringo, and enjoy a night on an extinct volcanic centre — the island Ol Kokwe, hot geothermal springs and tilapia cought by a local fisherman. Let's cook ourselves tonight and sleep in tents.

Day 4: Paddling Baringo lake, journey to Iten

1. Lake Baringo
   12h · Admission ticket included
   Morning run across the island. Breakfast. Paddling to the shore and taking off to our main destination — Iten, Home of Champions.
2. Iten
   12h
   We're supposed to reach Iten HATC by lunch time. Let's have a nupp or swim in a pool. In a few coming days we'be doing nothing special but training, recovering, traning, recovering and over again. And enjoing great food and kenyan hospitality of course.
   
   Nestled six hours northwest of the capital, Iten is marked with lush vegetation and striped with Kenya’s iconic red clay roads. Running champions are raised here that made the town an epicenter of long-distance running in Kenya and worldwide. Most runners come to Iten to elevate their running in training camps with a desire to compete in the world’s most competitive and prestigious races. That includes scores of Kenyan athletes, but also, at any given time, a handful of international runners seeking inspiration and, at least temporarily, uncomplicated focus on their training.

Day 5: Intensive training in Iten HATC

1. Iten
   1 day
   Intensive training in Iten HATC. Morning: easy jogging, speed work (fartlek). Evening: jogging and stretching.
   
   The most famous Kenyan workouts are the fartleks. The terrain in Iten is pretty difficult for fast running, it's more like a cross-country. They choose between two tracks, one of which is called "Boston", simulating the challenging hills of the famous marathon track and consisting of 50 minutes in these interval options: 1 minute "on"/1 minute "off", 2 minutes "on"/1 minute "off" and 3 minutes "on"/1 minute "off". We'll do the same. Amazing experience!

Day 6: Intensive training in Iten HATC

1. Iten
   22h
   Intensive training in Iten HATC. Morning: progressive run, exercise and core workout. Evening: jogging.
2. 2h
   The good style would be to combine intensive runs on tarmak or clay roads in the morning with jogging on soft paths in local Signore and Kaptagat forests which are vast and amazingly beautiful here. Local boda-bodas will take us there. The sundowns on foresty hills are unforgetabble!

Day 7: Intensive training in Iten HATC

1. Iten
   20h
   Intensive training in Iten HATC. Morning: easy jogging, track speed workout. Evening: jogging.
2. Kerio Valley National Reserve
   4h
   On this or other day we shall take a run on one of the most spectacular serpanit roads in Kenya — Iten-Kessap road going down alsmost a 1000 meters from highlands of Iten to savannah of Kerio valley. With very kilometer we'll be feeling the raise of easiness to breath and the raise of a temperature. At the end we'll be rewarded with ripe mangoes from local ladies selling them in the village.

Day 8: Intensive training in Iten HATC

1. Iten
   1 day
   Intensive training in Iten HATC. Morning: run, slope workout. Evening: exercise and stretching.
   
   Don't forget that Iten is a town where runners from different parts of the globe can not only run together, but also share ideas and passion. Go to a town center for whatever you have in mind from buying fresh fruits to making a haircut. The night life in town is not in our priority, but the middle of the day is at our disposal. New friends and reasons for the next running journey will be your reward.

Day 9: Intensive training in Iten HATC

1. Iten
   1 day
   Intensive training in Iten HATC. Morning: recovery run, stretchings. Evening: easy jogging and exercise.
   
   The training process is not only about running. We're welcome to use facilities for recovery procedures and strengh workouts: 25 meter swimming pool, gym fully equipped with a mixture of cardio and weight machines, free weights, medicine balls, steps and floor mats. There's also a sauna to aid recovery. And an all-weather synthetic tartan track.

Day 10: Tracking on the slopes of Mt. Kenya

1. Kenya Wildlife Service
   12h · Admission ticket included
   Today we'll be on our way to the foothills of the second highest mountain in Africa and spirit of the country — Mount Kenya (5.199 m.), where we'll apply our current sport endurance to a next level of challenge and above see level. :) But today we'll rest of running.
   
   At sunset of the day we're supposed to reach Old Moses Camp on the altitude of 3.300 meters. After dinner we'll set up a realistic plan for next 2 days, according to physical conditions of all athlets.
2. 12h · Admission ticket included
   Located at an altitude of 3300 m., the Old Moses camp is the first night halt of the trek. At the Old Moses there're dormitory bunkers and camping site. Both huts have a kitchen, dining area and well maintained bathroom. But the most important are the stunning views upon Mount Kenya, which is just within a distance of 10 k.

Day 11: Running safari or climbing on Mt. Kenya

1. 1 day
   Two main adventures are offered for today and next day applied to number of athlets or the whole group:
   
   1. Running safari on subalpine and alpine tracks of Sirimon Route of Mt. Kenya National Park offering some of the finest trekking and adequate relief as it climbs relatively gradually with only a couple of steeper sections. Mountaing running. Leed by running guide/coach.
2. 24m · Admission ticket included
   2. Climbing expedition to one of the peaks. Leed by a professional mountaineer. Departing to Shiptons Camp (4.200), located just below the main peaks of Mt. Kenya. Here mountain climbers can sleep in bunkers on their final day before approaching Pt. Lenana.

Day 12: Functional training or climbing on Mt. Kenya

1. Kenya Wildlife Service
   1 day · Admission ticket included
   This day we'll be having a schedule dependant on the plan we agreed the day before.
   
   Athlets accending one of the peaks will navigate the stony terrain to point Lenana. Ascents of Batian, Nelion or other peaks of Mount Kenya can be arranged also, but require previous experience of outdoor multi-pitch rock climbing from all the participants and relevant weather conditions.

Day 13: Trail running and wildlife watching on Mt. Kenya

1. 1 day · Admission ticket included
   The conquerors of the peaks will be descending this day to Old Moses camp for dinner and overnight rest. Other athlets will be enjoing their trail running in subalpine zone, open moorland or the MacKinder Valley of Mt. Kenya National Park.

Day 14: Descending from Mt. Kenya and farewell evening

1. Nanyuki Town
   12h
   Descending to Sirimon Gate through the rainforest and having lanch in Nanyuki, the most cosmopolitan countryside town in Kenya. It is located along the Great North leading to Addis Ababa. Besides being a popular safari destination in Kenya, the town is synonymous with road trips. If someone is looking for delicious food, well-brewed coffee or a place to relax, this town will not disappoint.
   
   Driving to Nairobi. Taking off home or resting before the next adventure. This time — 3 main Kenyan national parks: Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo.

Pickup details

Travelers can also find us in front of Nyayo National Stadium and Swimming Pool, where Sports Kenya is based. Address: Nyayo Stadium, Langata Rd, Nairobi.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness