After breakfast, depart for the foothills of Mount Kenya, arriving at your hotel in time for lunch.
The afternoon is at leisure, with an opportunity to enjoy a nature walk around the hotel, included in the safari.
For those looking for a little more adventure, optional activities are available, including walking or horseback riding along the foothills of Mount Kenya, visiting the Mau Mau Caves and exploring the freshwater streams flowing down from the mountain. These activities are payable directly at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
OPTIONAL UPGRADE: ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB & THE ARK
After breakfast, depart for Aberdare Country Club, arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the country club — take a swim, walk around the golf course or hire a bicycle and explore the grounds.
16:30 hrs: Take the afternoon shuttle to The Ark, where your evening and night are spent overlooking the famous floodlit waterhole and salt lick.
From your comfortable viewing areas, watch as wildlife comes to drink throughout the evening and into the night. Depending on the season and conditions, visitors may encounter elephants, buffalo, rhinos, bushbuck, hyenas and other nocturnal wildlife.
Dinner and overnight at The Ark.
After breakfast, depart the Mount Kenya region and travel north towards Samburu, travelling through the scenic landscapes of northern Kenya.
Arrive in the Samburu region in time for lunch and some time to settle in.
15:30 hrs: Set out on your first game drive in the Samburu ecosystem, exploring the rugged landscapes along the Ewaso Nyiro River. We are on the lookout for some of northern Kenya’s distinctive wildlife, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, elephants, lions, leopards and other plains game.
Return to your lodge or luxury tent for dinner and overnight.
06:30 hrs: Rise early for a morning game drive, one of the best times to experience Samburu. The cool morning hours provide excellent opportunities to watch elephants as they make their way towards the Ewaso Nyiro River to drink and bathe. Return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy some leisure time at the lodge — perhaps relax around the pool or simply take an afternoon rest before heading out again.
15:30 hrs: Depart for a full afternoon game drive in search of elephants, big cats, reticulated giraffes, gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra and other wildlife. As the sun begins to set over the Ewaso Nyiro River, enjoy the beautiful Samburu landscape before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
7:00 hrs: After breakfast, depart Samburu and travel south towards the Great Rift Valley, making a stop at Thompson’s Falls, one of Kenya’s most impressive waterfalls. Continue to Nakuru, arriving in town in time for a hot lunch. After lunch: Proceed to Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is particularly well known for its large population of rhinos and the beautiful Rothschild’s giraffe, making this one of the highlights of your visit.
As you explore the park, keep your eyes open for buffalo, waterbuck, lions, leopards, monkeys and a wonderful variety of birdlife. The lake is also home to flamingos and other water birds, adding to the diversity of the park. After your game drive, continue to Lake Elementaita, arriving at your hotel where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Early morning: After breakfast, depart Lake Elementaita and journey towards the Masai Mara via Mau Narok, travelling through the scenic highlands and winding country roads as the landscape gradually changes from the lush Rift Valley to the open rolling plains of the Mara. As you make your way towards the reserve, enjoy sweeping views of the countryside, small farming communities and the beautiful changing scenery that makes this part of Kenya so memorable.
Continue to the Masai Mara, arriving at our Private Campsite in time for lunch. Settle in and take a little time to relax while our chef prepares a hot, freshly cooked lunch for you.
15:30 hrs: Set out on your first afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara. We are on the lookout for black-maned lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo and other plains game as we explore the reserve.
Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
06:30 hrs: An early start this morning as we head out for one of the best game drives of the day. After breakfast and a hot cup of Chai (tea) or Kahawa (coffee), set off into the Masai Mara while the reserve is still cool and quiet. The early hours offer excellent opportunities to observe wildlife at its most active. We are on the lookout for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and other wildlife as the morning unfolds across the plains.
Return to camp in time for a hot lunch.
15:30 hrs: As the afternoon cools, set off for your game drive across the Masai Mara. Explore a different part of the reserve, following the changing light and keeping your eyes open for wildlife along the way.
As the sun begins to set, pause to enjoy the beautiful Mara sunset before returning to camp. Gather around the campfire and share stories with your Maasai hosts, as the sounds of the African night and wildlife carry across the darkness.
08:00 hrs: After breakfast, head out into the Masai Mara for a full day of game viewing, with a picnic lunch enjoyed in the reserve. With the whole day ahead, there is plenty of time to explore different areas of the Mara at a leisurely pace, while being on the lookout for the abundant wildlife found here.
A highlight of the day will be a visit to the Hippo Pool along the Mara River, where you can leave the vehicle at a designated area and enjoy views of hippos and crocodiles in the river.
Conditions permitting you may also have the opportunity to take a short, guided walk with a park warden, offering a different perspective of the Mara and its surroundings. Continue exploring the reserve before returning to camp in the late afternoon for some time to relax, followed by dinner and overnight.
Optional: Instead of the full-day game drive, enjoy a morning game drive after breakfast and a second afternoon game drive, with lunch and leisure time back at camp in between.
After breakfast: Leisurely depart the Masai Mara and begin the drive back to Nairobi. Enjoy the changing landscapes along the way as you make your way back to the city.
On arrival in Nairobi, there will be time for some last-minute shopping for Kenyan tea, coffee, nuts, spices and souvenirs, before being dropped off at your Nairobi hotel / residence or the airport for your onward journey.
