Best of Kenya Safari

Board your overnight flight from the UK to Nairobi Airport NBO.

Upon your arrival in Nairobi, your designated driver/guide will warmly greet you, and together you'll embark northward in your exclusive safari vehicle. En route, you'll journey through vast landscapes adorned with maturing pineapples in Thika. Your accommodation for the night will be at the remarkable Ark Lodge, offering panoramic views of a illuminated watering hole frequented by a variety of wildlife. Notably, this locale held significance as a favoured retreat for the British Royal Family in times past (notably hosting the late Queen during the poignant moment of her father's passing in 1952). Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge, while keeping a keen lookout for the arrival of the park's resident animals.

Accommodation: Ark Lodge or similar.

Meals included: Dinner

Following breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Samburu National Reserve, with a chance to catch sight of Mount Kenya, often veiled in clouds, along the route. Traverse the high plains, passing through grassy landscapes speckled with bustling market towns.

As you journey onward, you'll cross the Equator and be treated to panoramic views of the Laikipia plateau before descending into the dry lowlands leading to Samburu National Reserve. Nestled along the banks of the Ewaso Ny’iro River, the rugged beauty of Samburu offers a serene and captivating setting. It's a haven for diverse wildlife, including elephants, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, the distinct blue-legged Somali ostrich, and the elegant giraffe-necked gerenuk gazelle.

After lunch, join your driver/guide for an exhilarating game drive, included in your itinerary, before returning to the lodge in time to enjoy a sundowner before dinner.

Accommodation: Samburu Sopa Lodge or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Today is dedicated to exploring the wonders of the reserve. Opt for morning and afternoon game drives, returning to your lodge for lunch, or extend your safari adventure by spending the entire day out with a packed lunch. In addition to thrilling game drives, you'll have the opportunity to visit the village of Umoja. Founded in 1990, Umoja Uaso is a unique all-female matriarchal village in Kenya. Explore the village's huts and manyatta, visit the nursery school, napoo (village parliament), and women’s house. Immerse yourself in the Samburu way of life, history, and culture, browse the curio shop, witness blacksmith craftsmanship, and experience traditional songs and dances during an engaging exhibition.

Accommodation: Samburu Sopa Lodge or similar. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Embark on a journey through Nyahururu, Kenya's highest town, formerly known as Thompson’s Falls. Enjoy a scenic lunch at Thomson Falls Lodge before continuing to Lake Nakuru National Park. Along the way, indulge in an afternoon game drive, encountering black and white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, and various gazelle species. Lake Nakuru is a haven for birdwatchers, offering sightings of flamingos, pelicans, fish eagles, herons, and countless other species.

Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 

Continue South, pausing at spectacular, freshwater Lake Naivasha - one-time home of Born Free author Joy Adamson.

Board a boat to cruise on the lake’s waters, which are home to hippos, and keep a look out for its many bird species, and for giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and wildebeest on the shore. By early afternoon you will have entered the Maasai Mara, perhaps the world’s most famous protected game reserve, Enjoy a private afternoon game drive en route to your lodge.

The Maasai Mara is synonymous with Kenya's annual wildebeest migration, one of the most spectacular natural events on the planet. Every year, between July and October, over a million wildebeest move across the plains, accompanied by over 200,000 zebras, impalas, and antelopes.

Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, the Maasai Mara continues to boast wildlife numbers reminiscent of the pristine days of the 19th and early 20th centuries. From giraffes, zebras, hippos, and buffalo to elephants, ostriches, and the iconic big cats—lions, cheetahs, and leopards—the diversity and abundance of wildlife here is truly breathtaking.

Accommodation: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 

Savour your final full day with exhilarating game drives, opting for morning and afternoon safaris or immersing yourself in the reserve all day. Amidst your adventures, delve into the vibrant culture of the Maasai people with a visit to a traditional Maasai village. Connect with the locals, engage in insightful conversations about their way of life, and acquire locally crafted souvenirs to commemorate your stay. Conclude your day with a memorable farewell dinner at the lodge. 

Accommodation: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Ascend from the Rift Valley back to Nairobi. Take a brief stop at the captivating Giraffe Centre, home to protected Rothschild giraffes, managed by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your hotel tonight.

Accommodation: Golden Tulip Hotel or similar.

Meals included: Dinner.

Departure from Nairobi to the UK Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.