Countries: Kenya
Destinations: Nairobi , Laikipia , Masai Mara
Group Size: 0
Duration (days): 12
Number of Adults: 0
Number of Children: 0
A high quality 12 day safari which includes the Lakipia and two camps in the Masai Mara.
Itinerary Outline
Day 1 : Nairobi
You will be met at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transferred to Tamarind Tree Hotel where you will spend the night on a bed and breakfast basis.
Kenya - The grand old dame of African safaris, Kenya has been at the forefront of the industry for decades, and with iconic reserves such as Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo, it has earned its place in safari royalty.
Kenya's wildlife is legendary, as is its hospitality, friendliness, and scenic beauty. With the Great Rift Valley running through the country, Kenya is home to some stunning landscapes, with lakes, valleys and mountains adding to the beautiful plains of the Masai Mara.
To add to the spectacular wildlife, Kenya is one of the best countries to experience the local tribes and cultures, in particular the Masai and Samburu.
Kenyan roads are notoriously bad however, so the majority of safaris we recommend are fly-in options to the various parks. The small group scheduled safaris all operate by road, so you would need to be prepared for what is called "the African massage".
The diversity of areas to visit in Kenya is astounding, with each game reserve offering something truly unique. And to top it off, the country has a splendid coastline which invites some pure relaxation after spending time in the bush.
One of Africa’s major cities, Nairobi is the UN’s fourth “World Centre,” East Africa’s commercial, media and NGO hub, and a significant capital in its own right, with a population of approximately 3 to 4 million.
Little more than a century old, it has real claims to Western-style sophistication and displays enormous vitality and buzz. On the surface the city accepts everyone with tolerance, and, in any downtown street, you can see a complete cross section of Kenyans, every variety of tourist, and migrants and refugees from many African countries.
If you plan to stay in Nairobi for any length of time, you’ll soon get the hang of balancing reasonable caution with a fairly relaxed attitude - thousands of visitors do it every year. If you’re only here for a few days, you’re likely to find it a stimulating city.
Ideally located just 5 kms southwest of the City within the spacious Carnivore grounds and its iconic Carnivore Restaurant, Tamarind Tree Hotel has easy access to Nairobi, its national park, and the country’s diverse attractions via the neighbouring Wilson Airport and Southern Bypass. The nearby Langata and Karen suburbs are among Nairobis liveliest and most popular with world-class shopping malls and excellent restaurants.
Day 2 : Laikipia
You will be transferred to Wilson Airport and assisted on to a light aircraft flying to
Kamok airstrip in Laikipia to the north of Nairobi. You will be met on landing and driven to Kicheche Laikipia Camp to spend 4 nights on a fully inclusive basis. You have the remainder of the day available to participate in some of the many activities offered at the camp, including shared game drives, night drives, escorted bush walks, canoeing, and mountain biking.
It is always gratifying when conservation efforts truly pay off, and the Laikipia Plateau is a place of much excitement!
Originally extensive farmland, a huge effort has succeeded in reclaiming much of the land between the slopes of the Aberdares and the snowy peaks of the mighty Mount Kenya. The area now boasts the second highest concentration of wildlife in Kenya - the Masai Mara topping the list!
Divided up into private concessions, the Laikipia Plateau consists of accommodation in tented camps, as well as lavish bush homes, allowing for a wonderful personalised experience.
An eco-award-winning small luxurious tented camp nestled in the shadows of Mount Kenya at the foot of an indigenous forest overlooking a waterhole. The camp’s squeaky green safari chic marries beautifully and sensitively with the natural highs of her surrounds in the wilderness zone of Ol Pejeta.
Children are welcome, but adults must be aware that as the camp is not fenced, there are no extra facilities provided to occupy them outside normal excursions.
Some additional activities available are visiting a successful breeding programme, lion tracking programme, and visiting an educational wildlife centre containing a range of exhibits and background on the conservancy and its operations - an interesting stop for children and adults alike.
With 90,000 acres of wilderness, the Conservancy is home to Kenya’s largest population of Black Rhino, large numbers of elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard, African wild dog and plentiful plains game. There are also a number of the rarer Northern species such as Grevys Zebra, Jackson’s Hartebeest and Beisa Oryx.
The Conservancy lies on the Equator 30 minutes drive from Nanyuki airstrip and affords wonderful views of Mt Kenya
There is an extensive range of activities available and there is an outstanding guiding team to look after you in the field.
The camp is in the low vehicle density wilderness zone of the conservancy and the wildlife viewing is a very private and rewarding activity. Not only is this East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary there is also a myriad of other wildlife to be seen including elephant, lion, cheetah, wild dog and abundant plains game. Ol Pejeta Conservancy also permits Night Game Drives which focus on species not seen on regular day drives.
While in Ol Pejeta, you can visit the Morani Center and the endangered species enclosure with the last remaining Northern White Rhinos on the planet, the chimpanzees sanctuary, or pay a visit to the anti-poaching dogs. (some activities at a fee). For the more active visitors, canoeing, horse riding, mountain biking and bush walks.
The Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers a home to orphaned chimps from West Africa and is an excellent venue to observe the 2 families and learn about the perils facing chimpanzees in the wild.
Day 3 - 5 : Laikipia
You have the next three days to enjoy the activities and facilities offered at the camp.
Day 6 - 8 : Masai Mara
You depart from Kamok airstrip in a light aircraft flying to the Naboisho Conservancy abutting the Masai Mara Game Reserve. You land at 12h00 at Ol Seki airstrip where you will be met and driven to Kicheche Valley Camp to spend 4 nights on a fully inclusive basis. After lunch you commence with the game viewing activities provided at the camp.
It is no surprise that the Masai Mara ranks up near the top of most famous game reserves in the world. The land of the Mara is consistently covered with herds of antelope, interspersed with prides of lions, journeys of giraffe, dazzles of zebra, and almost every other collective animal noun you can think of.
The sightings are nothing short of fantastic, and it is definitely the park to visit to tick off your "wildlife of Africa" list. The scenery of the park is similar to the open plains of the Serengeti, although the Mara is dotted with more trees, and the game viewing is equal to, or can be better than, its southerly sister.
Within the boundaries of the reserve, there are certain areas which can seem quite crowded with travellers, although there are places to escape from the crowds, and enjoy the Mara in some exclusivity. Private concessions surround the Masai Mara, allowing more private safari experiences, and additional activities.
The Masai Mara is easily accessed from Nairobi, with a number of scheduled flights operated each morning and afternoon. It can also be reached by road, but be prepared that it can be quite a bumpy 6 hour drive, with sections being particularly broken up.
Kicheche Valley, located in acacia woodlands in a secluded valley of the Naboisho Conservancy, is an intimate luxury tented camp. The six luxurious tents, built in a unique style incorporating high eco-standards, are set on platforms and provide the perfect base to see the stunning wildlife and wilderness.
The personal touch of our hosts and limited numbers of guests will ensure a memorable stay at this special location.
Day 9 : Masai Mara
You are driven this morning into the Masai Mara Game Reserve and have a game drive to
Serian’s Nkorombo Mobile to spend 3 nights on a fully inclusive basis.
Nkorombo is Serian’s tented mobile camp, set on a private riverside site in the Masai Mara Reserve. This snug little setup is chock-full of character with a view over the rushing Mara River, bursting with laughing hippo and languorous crocodile. Much like at Serian and Ngare Serian, life at Nkorombo is low-key and tranquil. Nestled among a stand of wild olive and orange croton, the camp is right next to a lively salt lick that regularly features black rhino, and lion and leopard on the lookout for kill… There is an abundance of prey in this area, and it’s the perfect spot for spectacular game viewing.
Day 10 - 11 : Masai Mara
You will be well placed to witness any wildebeest river crossings (mid-July to October), but big
cat sightings are also possible. The cooler, drier weather at this time of year makes getting out
on foot the perfect way to get to also explore the stunning landscapes beyond the river.