Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
On arrival, transfer to your modern hotel to relax.
Dinner and overnight at Radisson Blu or similar.
Day 2: Nairobi
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before an insightful full-day trip to four of Nairobi’s key attractions. Your first stop will be the Giraffe Centre, a conservation center for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe where you’ll have the chance to feed these friendly giants. Next you’ll drive to the world-famous Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Spend some time with the elephants as they are fed by staff, who are on hand to answer any questions and talk about their experiences with these rescued baby elephants. The elephants are inquisitive, so expect a trunk heading in your direction! Have lunch at Tamarind Tamambo, and then visit the Karen Blixen Museum; the simple farmhouse home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa.
Your final visit of the day will be Kazuri Beads – a bead-making shop founded in 1975 to create employment for local single mothers. You’ll see how the beads are hand-shaped from clay, kiln-fired, and glazed before being strung together to create a colorful bracelet or necklace. Dinner tonight is at your own arrangement.
Dinner and overnight at Radisson Blu or similar on a bed only basis.
Day 3: Nairobi - Amboseli National Park
After breakfast, drive to one of the most popular parks in Kenya – Amboseli National Park, known for its huge elephant herds and dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. You’ll arrive at the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge in time for lunch. This a traditional lodge, where rooms are housed in single-story buildings. In the afternoon, head out on a game drive. Amboseli’s low vegetation makes for excellent wildlife spotting. Look out for lion, buffalo, and zebra, as well as a hippo in the swamplands. The park’s dry and dusty form is due to the volcanic ash that came from Mount Kilimanjaro on its last eruption, yet the lush green areas are a result of a continuous water supply from the mountain’s melting snow. Approx. journey time: 3 hours.
Accommodation at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge or similar on a full board basis.
Day 4: Amboseli National Park
This morning you’ll visit Ol Moti School, supported by the Born Free Foundation (you may like to bring small gifts for the children such as pens, books, and posters). Then visit one of the lion-proof Maasai bomas created by Born Free in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service. Amboseli is a region of high human-wildlife conflict, with lions destroying livestock, and the local community destroying the lions in return. Typically, Kenyan livestock is held in enclosures made of thorn bushes − which lions can find a way through. The difference with a lion-proof boma is that it is constructed of chain fences. So far, this method – piloted in Amboseli – has proved to be 100% lion proof. Drive back to your lodge for lunch and head out on a game drive in Amboseli.
Accommodation at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge or similar on a full board basis.
Day 5: Amboseli - Aberdares National Park
After breakfast travel back to Nairobi and then out towards the Aberdare Mountain Range, with lunch en-route at the Safari Park Hotel. Once you reach Aberdare you’ll check-in at the Aberdare Country Club in order to transfer to its unique sister property, The Ark, which will be your viewing perch for the night. Based on Noah’s Ark, The Ark overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, attracting wildlife both day and night. Approx. journey time: 5 hours.
All meals and accommodation at The Ark.
Day 6: Aberdares - Samburu National Reserve
Travel back to the Aberdare Country Club for check-out and continue north to the Samburu National Reserve and the Samburu Game Lodge on the western banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. This is the dry north of Kenya and the reserve attracts wildlife not often seen elsewhere. Look out for the gerenuk – a rare gazelle with a long neck that stands on its hind legs to feed. Approx. journey time: 3 hours.
Dinner and overnight at Samburu Game Lodge on a full board basis.
Day 7: Samburu National Reserve
Make the most of a full day in Samburu with early morning and afternoon game drives offering further chances to seek out the ‘special five’: the gerenuk, Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, and Somali ostrich.
Dinner and overnight at Sarova Mara Game Camp.
Meals and overnight at Samburu Game Lodge on a full board basis.
Day 8: Samburu - Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Drive south to Sweetwaters Serena Camp for lunch and a game drive, then visit the Chimpanzee and Rhino Sanctuaries. Within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the sanctuary is the only place in Kenya where the endangered chimpanzee can be seen. It also houses the world’s two remaining northern white rhino. Head back to Sweetwaters for dinner and to experience the charm of under-canvas living. Approx. journey time: 3 hours.
Meals and overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Camp on a full board basis.
Day 9: Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Today offers the opportunity for further game drives in the Ol Pejeta conservancy.
Meals and overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Camp on a full board basis.
Day 10: Ol Pejeta - Lake Nakuru National Park
Drive via Thomson’s Falls to Lake Nakuru for lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. Lake Nakuru National Park offers one of the best chances to see a rhino. Enjoy a game drive and take in the views from the park’s viewpoints. Stay at the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge overlooking Lake Nakuru. Approx. journey time: 3 hours.
Meals and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge on a full board basis.
Day 11: Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Today there’s the option of a hot-air balloon safari over the Mara at sunrise. Then head out on the early morning, mid-morning, and afternoon game drives in the Maasai Mara.
Meals and overnight at Sarova Mara Game Camp on a full board basis.
Day 12: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Drive to the Maasai Mara and explore the rolling plains on an afternoon game drive. You’re likely to spot a pride of lion basking in the shade, and may even be able to seek out an elusive solo leopard and other species including cheetah and hyena. Stay at the Sarova Mara Game Camp – a classic bush camp with traditionally-furnished canvas tents housed under tiled roofs. Approx. journey time: 5 hours.
Meals and overnight at Sarova Mara Game Camp on a full board basis.
Day 13: Maasai Mara - Nairobi
If you’re traveling on to Kenya’s coast, you’ll fly directly from the Mara to Mombasa in the afternoon. Otherwise, return to Nairobi. Approx. journey time: 5 hours. Spend the afternoon at the Eka Hotel where you might like to pre-book a day-room to freshen up before your return flight.
(End of tour).
Included in tour:
- Accommodation as per the above safari description
- Meals as specified on the itinerary above
- All transfers and transport, park fees, hotel accommodation
- Game viewing activities as stated in the above tour/safari description
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
Not included in tour:
- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- International flight
- Visa entry into Kenya or Tanzania
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratitudes to safari staff
