Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy & Masai Mara — Untamed Landscapes

Nairobi

Upon landing in Nairobi, meet your airport assistant inside the terminal and proceed directly through immigration, baggage collection, and customs, bypassing the queues while all formalities are handled on your behalf.. For your added comfort, an English-speaking airport representative will meet you at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This representative will walk you through your welcome package documents and itinerary, and they will answer any questions you may have. They will be holding a page board with your name as you exit the arrivals hall.. A private transfer between your hotel and the airport in Nairobi is provided.. A Flying Doctors emergency evacuation insurance policy is included for all guests, covering the cost of an evacuation flight to Nairobi for treatment in the event of serious illness or injury. Medical treatment costs are not covered. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for full coverage.

Accommodation: Fairmont Norfolk Hotel (B) (Deluxe Room), Nairobi

Nairobi

Meet your safari guide this morning and set out on a game drive in Nairobi National Park. Kenya's oldest national park located just outside the city center is home to healthy populations of White and Black Rhino, Giraffe, Cheetah, Lion and Buffalo. During the morning hours, many animals are just beginning their daily activities and this provides for outstanding viewing and photography opportunities.. The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a world renowned rescue and rehabilitation initiative primarily focused on the well-being of elephants and rhino’s. Since 1977, the Orphan’s Project has assisted in the recovery and reintegration of more than 150 elephants, returning them to the wild herds of Tsavo. Today, stop in for a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, found at the Nairobi Game Park Headquarters. Arriving in time to participate the morning feeding, which takes place between 11am and 12pm, you will have the chance to meet the elephants as well as other endangered animals like the black rhino. This shared visit does not require the fostering of an elephant, however, if you are interested in contributing to the orphanages efforts, please visit https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp to learn more.. Make the trip to the Giraffe Center to learn about the world’s tallest terrestrial animal and to see these wonderful creatures up close and, if you so choose, to feed them by hand! After the Giraffe Center, visit the Karen Blixen Museum – a home once lived in by Karen – and made famous in the film “Out of Africa” featuring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford (consider watching the movie before setting out on your trip). After exploring this landmark, head to Kazuri Beads. An all-woman craft workshop renowned for making handmade ceramic jewelry and pottery, Kazuri – which means “small and beautiful” in Swahili – is a co-operative enterprise founded decades ago by an English woman who wanted to help single mothers become self-supporting. The clay beads, jewelry and pottery are as amazing as the story of its people, making Kazuri Beads the perfect place to round out your day in Nairobi.. Nairobi National Park is a remarkable wildlife reserve located just 4 miles (7 km) south of Nairobi’s city center, making it one of the only national parks in the world set against a capital city skyline. Covering approximately 117 square kilometers, it features open grass plains, acacia bush, and seasonal rivers that support a wide range of wildlife, including lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, and one of Kenya’s most successful populations of black rhinos.. There are numerous dining options during your stay in Nairobi, ranging from garden cafés to fine-dining establishments. Your Destination Expert can assist with making reservations. Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions, requirements, or specific food requests. Karen Blixen Coffee & Gardens – Set within lush gardens near the Karen Blixen Museum, this charming restaurant offers a relaxed ambiance and a menu featuring fresh local ingredients with a global twist. Perfect for lunch or a leisurely afternoon coffee in the shade of acacia trees. Carnivore – One of Nairobi’s most famous dining experiences and a long-standing favorite. Known as the ultimate “Beast of a Feast,” Carnivore offers an all-you-can-eat selection of meats roasted over charcoal and carved tableside. Enjoy everything from traditional cuts to more adventurous options, along with hearty side dishes and sauces. Cultiva – A modern, farm-to-table restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere and an ever-changing menu that highlights seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Expect bold flavors, creative plating, and a stylish yet laid-back setting. Tamarind – One of Kenya’s most renowned seafood restaurants, Tamarind Nairobi offers an elegant dining experience with exceptional service. Enjoy freshly caught seafood, prime meats, and Swahili-inspired flavors in a refined atmosphere. House of Waine – For a tranquil dining experience, enjoy a meal or afternoon tea at House of Waine, an elegant boutique hotel surrounded by manicured gardens. Guests can also book a lunch or dinner package that includes a welcome drink, a selection of teas or coffees, and access to the pool and garden area. Tin Roof Café – A relaxed garden café known for its wholesome, freshly made salads, wraps, sandwiches, and smoothies. With a focus on healthy, organic ingredients, it’s a local favorite for casual lunches and coffee breaks. The Talisman – A beloved Karen institution combining fine dining with a laid-back, artistic vibe. Once the home of wildlife photographer Alan Root, it now offers a menu of international fusion cuisine prepared with locally sourced, organic ingredients. The lush gardens and cozy interiors make it ideal for both lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Fairmont Norfolk Hotel (B) (Deluxe Room), Nairobi

Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy

This morning you'll meet up with your guide and head off to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The drive from the urban center of Nairobi, through the fertile highlands, the semi-arid frontier of Kenya is breathtaking and it is a great way to see the Kenyan countryside. The drive takes approximately 4-5 hours.. Enjoy a relaxed lunch at the Trout Tree Restaurant, a treehouse-style spot built around a giant fig tree. Set between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares, the open-air space offers beautiful views and a unique atmosphere, often shared with playful Colobus monkeys that swing through the branches nearby.. Enjoy afternoon game viewing in and around the Laikipia region. The area has more endangered mammals within its borders than any other area in East Africa. Half of Kenya's black rhino resides here, along with other endangered and northern species: Northern white rhino, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and silver backed jackal. Just imagine what you'll see!

Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena (BLD) (Morani Wing Tent), Nairobi

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Enjoy a game drive in world-renowned Ol Pejeta. The conservancy is host to all members of the African "Big 5" (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard), along with a wide range of rare species including the African wild dog, oryx, serval, Jackson’s hartebeest and Grevy’s zebra. Famously, Ol Pejeta is one of only eight sanctuaries in Africa will more than 100 black rhinos, so spotting these critically endangered animals is also possible while exploring the region; have your camera ready!

Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena (BLD) (Morani Wing Tent), Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

With distant mountain ranges and snow-capped Mount Kenya as a backdrop, set out into the picture perfect landscape of Ol Pejeta on an awe-inspiring game drive. Known far and wide for the fantastic variety of wildlife that roam the lands, this region is home to more than 70 different mammals, and is now yours to discover. Look closely to find unique species such as the Bat-Eared Fox who call this area home.

Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena (BLD) (Morani Wing Tent), Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Nakuru

Today you have the option of visiting the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary; the only place in Kenya where these highly endangered and remarkably intelligent primates can be seen. The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1993 in a negotiated agreement between the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute. Here the animals are carefully nursed back to health and integrated into families. The chimpanzees live in two large groups separated by the Ewaso Nyiro River. Watch them romp and play, visit the local shop, or even sponsor a chimp! Please Note: Visitors to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy have free access to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which is open daily from 9:00am to 10:30am and 3pm to 4:30pm.. Your guide will pick you up at your lodge in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and drive you to Nakuru. This excursion will past through the beautiful rift valley. The transfer will take approximately four hours.. Enjoy a picnic lunch (included in tour price).

Accommodation: Mbweha Camp (BLD) (Luxury Cottage), Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Nakuru

Meet your safari guide this morning and set out on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Set in the Great Rift Valley the National Park is best known for the thousands of flamingos that nest along the shoreline of Lake Nakuru. In addition to the flamingo's the park enjoys healthy populations of hippo, lions, buffalo as well as endangered species including the Rothschild Giraffe, Black and White Rhinos. During your game drive be sure to visit the rhino sanctuary.. Enjoy a picnic lunch (included in tour price).

Accommodation: Mbweha Camp (BLD) (Luxury Cottage), Nakuru

Masai Mara, Nakuru

Transfer between Nakuru and Mara park by road, with stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. During the rainy season this can be a long drive, usually taking 5-6 hours.. This afternoon, head out on an exciting game drive with your guide, keeping your eyes peeled for giraffes. Giraffes usually inhabit savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. They prefer areas with plenty of acacia trees, an important food source, and can browse at heights that most other herbivores cannot reach. While adults are nearly invulnerable to predation, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and wild dogs prey on baby calves. Giraffes commonly gather together to eat or socialize for a few hours and then roam off to graze separately. Males establish social hierarchies through "neckings," which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Based on these displays, dominant males gain mating rights to females, who then bear the sole responsibility for raising their young.

Accommodation: Mara West (AI) (Chalet (AI)), Masai Mara

Masai Mara

Just like the wildlife, your day’s adventure will begin bright and early this morning. Alongside an experienced tracker-guide, set out for the day’s first game drive and discover the dazzling bio-diversity of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The most recognized animals are known worldwide as the African Big 5, and this group includes the African elephant, Cape buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard, and the king of the beasts, the lion. The term “Big 5” was first coined by big-game hunters as a way to acknowledge that these species were the most difficult and dangerous to track and hunt, however, in subsequent years the term has been adopted and re-purposed by the tourism industry and painted in patently positive light, focusing now on the preservation and protection of these magnificent creatures. Numerous other species of bird and wildlife also inhabit this dynamic region, including hyenas, gazelles, impalas, giraffes, zebras, vultures, cranes, eagles, falcons, and ostriches, many of which you’ll spot on this morning drive through the Masai Mara Game Reserve.. On today’s afternoon game drive, the possibilities for adventure are endless! Search for the Big 5 or expand your horizons to discover some of the regions lesser known animals. The Masai Mara not only has a rich mix of mammals both large and small, but is also host to an incredible array of birdlife that includes approximately 450 different species, from the fierce bateleur (or short tailed eagle) to the musical sooty chat.

Accommodation: Mara West (AI) (Chalet (AI)), Masai Mara

Masai Mara

Start your morning at Mara West with a warm cup of Kenyan coffee or tea while you're given an overview of the current and future projects happening at Memori Hall Secondary School for Girls, Oloosinon Primary School and the AMS Maternity and Community Health Center. The experience continues as you make your way by vehicle to the schools and health center a short distance down the road. Memori Hall opened its doors in 2019 and we’re proud to report that enrolment numbers have been growing each year. This is the first secondary school for girls in the Trans-Mara region. Your Mara West guide will lead you on a tour of the school, provide an overview of the education program and answer any questions you may have. Continue the tour by walking next door to visit the Oloosinon Primary School which has hosted over 600 students before concluding your experience with a visit to the AMS Maternity and Community Health Center. Established in 2008, the health center has become the primary medical facility in this community offering emergency services, ambulance transfers, outpatient services, child immunizations and assisting over 500 women a year in childbirth. In June 2024 the health center will be officially opening its new upgraded facility to the community. You will have the chance to head inside for a tour of the brand-new facility. Upon conclusion of the tour, you can head out on safari with your guide or head back to camp for some time at leisure today. We ask that everyone contributes a minimum donation of $50 per person to the Mara West Foundation at the completion of this tour.. You will have a private vehicle and guide accompany you throughout the day as you tour through Masai Mara.

Accommodation: Mara West (AI) (Chalet (AI)), Masai Mara

Masai Mara

The famed Masai Mara Game Reserve was named after the indigenous inhabitants of this land, the Masai, and the provider of life to the area, the Mara River. Game viewing is almost guaranteed at some point along the Mara River, and your experienced tracker-guide will know all the best spots to explore to maximize your chances of seeing some of the many animals that call this land their home. Be sure to have your camera handy as amazing photo opportunities will present themselves; elephants on the riverbanks and hippos in shallow waters are common sights in this area.. Your expert guide will meet you at your lodge for an afternoon game viewing drive in and around the Masai Mara, today focusing on lions. Typically found in the savanna and grasslands, lions live on average between 10 and 14 years, and are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females, their offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, while the highly distinctive male lion is easily recognized by its mane and large face; one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture.

Accommodation: Mara West (AI) (Chalet (AI)), Masai Mara

Nairobi, Masai Mara

Your guide will drive you from Masai Mara to Nairobi, with short stops for refreshments and souvenirs along the way. The drive will take approximately 6 hours. Please note that the first half of this drive will be on rough and bumpy roads, and the second half towards Nairobi will be on paved roads.. The opportunity to explore the local markets and shops presents itself today so you can interact with the local vendors in search for the perfect handicraft or souvenir for yourself or your loved ones.