from US$3,504
Kenya.
Nairobi.
After landing at Nairobi Airport, you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to the Sarova Stanley Hotel or similar. This legendary establishment traces its origins all the way back to 1902 when its late Victorian splendour made it Kenya’s first luxury hotel. The Stanley soon became a byword for opulence and sophistication, attracting big game enthusiasts and colonial administrators. Its immortal status was cemented by the experiences here of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway, whose short story, ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’, did so much to popularise safaris. Hemingway would gather with fellow adventurers at the Thorn Tree Café – named after the tree on which travellers would pin messages – to plan safaris or regale them with tales of ones just completed. The Stanley has long since been modernised but the spirit of the past is still palpable in every corner. Overnight in Nairobi.
Samburu.
Leave Nairobi early after breakfast and travel northwards to Samburu, passing near Thika. Continue through breathtaking scenery dotted with rushing mountain streams and plantations of tea and coffee in the shadows of Mount Kenya, the country’s highest mountain and second in Africa. Circumventing Mount Kenya, pass through the town of Nanyuki before reaching the dusty outpost of Isiolo, the last major stop on the journey to the remote northern frontier district. From here, it’s a fairly short hop to Shaba National Reserve. It earned worldwide fame in the 1960s as the setting of the popular movie, "Born Free". Arrive at Sarova Shaba Lodge in time for lunch and then head off for an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets. Surrounded by trees and located on a rocky bend of the River Ewaso Ngiro, the Sarova Shaba offers a luxury seldom found in a large African bush lodge. There are 80 chalet rooms and four luxurious junior suites as well as one honeymoon suite. The tranquil flow of sparkling spring waters throughout the grounds creates an atmosphere of peace and serenity as they collect and cascade, attracting a great variety of birds. Crocodile feeding demonstrations and evening entertainment are provided by local Samburu villagers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Shaba.
Samburu.
Breakfast follows an early morning game drive in the lush and verdant Shaba National Reserve, which was also the setting for the multiple Oscar-winning classics, "Out of Africa". There is a large pride of lions as well as elephants, leopards, gerenuks, and elands while rare species such as the reticulated giraffe also make this habitat their stomping ground. For the remainder of the morning, you can relax by the pool, which features an island reached by a bridge from the bar, or the terrace, which overlooks the river. After lunch, there will be another game drive, returning to the lodge for sunset. Overnight in Shaba.
Nakuru.
Bid farewell to Shaba National Reserve after breakfast and travel south through Isiolo, crossing the northernmost foothills of Mount Kenya, passing through Nanyuki, and continuing to Nyahururu, still known by many as Thomson’s Falls because of its 75-metre waterfall, which can be spotted in the distance. Your next stop is the spectacular Lake Nakuru; enjoy a game drive en route to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. The waters of the lake are often shimmering pink, from the thousands of flamingos that line the shores. After lunch, depart for an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Like all the beautiful flamingos, both black and white rhinos are being carefully protected and given a new lease of life in this fully fenced 188-square-kilometre park. The rhino population numbers more than 50 and continues to multiply. The Rothschild’s giraffe is another rarity that can be seen here, and the park has its fair share of buffaloes, leopards, zebras, elands, waterbucks and lions. Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is situated in the heart of what is Kenya's most densely populated wetland national park, which is one of six internationally protected marsh areas, known as Ramsar sites, in the country. The lodge boasts commanding views of the lake and what seems like millions of flamingos, pelicans and marabou storks. Lush gardens surround the lodge and cottage, and there is an exciting programme of activities and evening entertainment. Here the ornithological landscape appears to bloom as if it were natural foliage. The lodge has 65 modern en-suite bedrooms, and meals are served inside the lodge, by the pool or under a forest of towering acacia trees. The Rift Valley bar on the ground floor has great views of the lake. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Lake Nakuru area.
Serena.
Wake up to breakfast before leaving the flamingo-fringed Lake Nakuru to continue the adventure at the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Drive to the town of Njoro, where you begin your ascent over the top of the Mau Escarpment. Then, heading south, travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, covered with acres of wheat and barley, towards Narok, the gateway to the Maasai Mara. Check-in at Sarova Mara Game Camp and enjoy lunch before departing for an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge as the sun sets. The camp is located inside the eastern section of the Maasai Mara and hidden in a wonderful little-forested valley. During the annual Great Migration, the camp is teeming with wildebeests, gazelles and zebras as it situated right in the centre of their migration path. The 75 tents have a permanent roof and floor, zip-up fronts, attached bathroom, running hot water supply and electricity. Wooden walkways, built over wide lily ponds, link the tents and manicured lawns with the main dining and bar areas. Birdlife is abundant, with kingfishers particularly common. There is also a sparkling swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Massai Mara Reserve.
Serena.
Enjoy an early breakfast before departing on a morning game drive. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to millions of wild animals, including the fabled Big Five of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and black rhinos. There are also antelopes, gazelles, wildebeests, and many others. Return to the lodge for lunch and perhaps a siesta before setting off for an afternoon game drive and a visit to a Maasai village. Return to the camp as the sun sets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Maasai Mara Reserve.
Nairobi.
Say goodbye to Maasai Mara before passing through acres of rolling wheat and barley farms, heading to Narok. From here, cross the vast plains on the floor of the Great Rift Valley while keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle. Head up the rift escarpment and arrive in Kenya’s bustling capital at around midday. Once in the city, you’ll be dropped off in the city centre or at the airport for you to continue with your ongoing travel arrangements.
Operated with English-speaking local driver-guide throughout the tour (the assigned local driver-guide may change during the itinerary)
French German Italian or Spanish driver-guide subject to availability (airport transfers will be operated with English-speaking drivers)
6 night’s accommodation
6 breakfasts
5 lunches
5 dinners
Arrival and departure private transfer in an air-conditioning car from/to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof and guaranteed window seat during game drives and all transportation throughout the tour (maximum 7 persons per vehicle) on a private basis
All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: 1 game drive at Shaba Natural Reserve (Day 2); 2 game drives at Shaba Natural Reserve (Day 3); 1 game drives at Lake Nakuru National Park (Day 4); 1 game drive at Maasai Mara Natural Reserve (Day 5); 2 game drive at Maasai Mara Natural Reserve (Day 6)
Meet & Greet
All park fees and government taxes
1 bottle of mineral water (500ml) per person per day on game drives
Visas
Domestic flights
International flights
Drinks during meals (unless specified otherwise)
Any visit not mentioned in the program
Porterage and gratuities
Expenditures of a personal nature drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program
Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks mineral water camera/video camera fee (if any)
Travel Insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays accidents etc.
25% of total price from 40 days to 40 days before departure.
50% of total price from 39 days to 20 days before departure.
100% of total price from 19 days to 0 days before departure.