Overview
Join this unforgettable 11-day exploration of Kenya, experiencing the best of this amazing land, and seeing all of Africa's "Big Five." Stay at Elsa's Kopje, named for the famed lioness, and enjoy excursions along the Tana River to explore Meru National Park. Next, safari into the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. Set in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro, these wildlife conservatories are home to elephants, giraffes, zebras and more. You'’ll also view the carved rock drawing and meet the Samburu people. Then, venture into the incomparable Masai Mara, acres of fabled African grasslands dotted with acacia trees. Explore this exciting wilderness by 4x4 and on foot, and meet a Maasai tribe. Ending in Nairobi, round out your Kenya experience with visits to a Rothschild Giraffe breeding center, and the renowned David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to interact with baby elephants in the orphanage.

Tour Details

DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Starts any day. January to December

11 days from $5295.00

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Itinerary
Day 1

Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

Welcome to Kenya! You are met upon arrival in Nairobi, and taken to your deluxe hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Day 2

Nairobi to Meru National Park

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Meru. You are met upon arrival and escorted to the elegant Elsa’s Kopje, named for Joy Adamson’s ‘Born Free’ lioness. One of the most elegant lodges in Africa, it blends into the rocky crags of the “kopje” (small hill), built above the site of George Adamson’s original campsite.

Relax and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, and your cottage. Every cottage is the ultimate ‘room-with-a-view’, uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside.

Tonight venture on a night game drive to spot local wildlife. (​B,L,D)

Day 3 & 4

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is wild and beautiful, straddling the equator and bisected by 13 rivers as well as numerous mountain-fed streams. It offers a diverse range of scenery - from woodlands on the slopes of the 3,000-foot Nyambeni Mountain Range, to wide open plains with wandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms.

Spend these two days adventuring on game drives, bush walks, and Tana River excursions in this spectacular thorny bush region. Look for lion, rhino, elephant, zebra, leopard, and more than 427 species of birds. In the rivers it is easy to spot the hippo and crocodile.

Visit the Adamson Camp to learn about the author, her trails and the real Elsa. Explore the local native villages with an expert guide. (2B,2L,2D)

Day 5

Meru to Samburu & the Kalama Conservancy

This morning, you are taken to the airstrip for the scheduled flight to Samburu. You are met upon arrival, and escorted on a drive into the Kalama Wildlife Conservancy, 245,000 acres set in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Arrive at your luxury accommodations at Saruni Samburu, a designer lodge perched on top of a spectacular viewpoint overlooking a breathtakingly vast landscape.

Enjoy the exclusivity of this private, hilltop lodge. Relax by the swimming pool, or perhaps enjoy a game drive this evening. ​(B,L,D)

Day 6 & 7

Samburu & Buffalo Springs National Reserves

Relish two days in this lush, wildlife rich environment.

Venture on day and night game drives into the nearby Samburu and Buffalo Springs national reserves, looking for elephant, giraffe, zebra and oryx. Walking safaris are conducted by professional Samburu guides, who integrate the traditions and semi-nomadic heritage of their people into their tours.

Visit the site of the painted and carved rock art of the semi-nomadic Samburu people. ​(2B,2L,2D)

Day 8

Samburu to Maasai Mara

Take a morning flight from Samburu to the magnificent Maasai Mara. You are met upon arrival and escorted to your unique and intimate (12-guest) luxury lodge, set in a remote valley.

Enjoy lunch and time to settle into the camp, before adventuring on a late afternoon game drive. Set in the heart of Africa’s Great Plains, the Maasai Mara boasts 650 sq. miles of unspoiled wilderness – with views across rolling golden grasslands studded with acacia trees, rivers and forests, offering excellent game and bird viewing.

Return to the camp as the sun sets. ​(B,L,D)

Day 9 & 10

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara, the ʺspotted landʺ of the Maasai people, is home to the greatest migration on earth. Enjoy two unforgettable days of 4-Wheel-Drive or walking safaris through these plains rich with flora and fauna, including all of the Big Five. Spot the big cats, including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena, as well herds of wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, elephant and more than 300 bird species.

Take time for other included activities, such as a cultural visit to the Maasai village (or engang) to learn about the local culture and traditional ways, to meet the Maasai warriors. You can also visit to a local school, and take guided nature walks. (2B,2L,2D)

Day 11

Maasai Mara to Nairobi & Depart

Enjoy a last morning game drive before transferring to the airport for the scheduled 11:00 am flight to Nairobi. You are met upon arrival, and escorted to your dayroom accommodations at the Hemingway’s.

After lunch you are taken on a visit of the Giraffe Center, a wildlife conservancy and breeding center for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Learn about their educational programs, and watch the giraffes, as well as and a variety of other birds and animals including warthogs, hyenas and leopard in this preserved natural habitat.

Next, visit the nearby David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Established in 1977, this is a small, flexible sanctuary is run by his widow, Dame Daphne Sheldrick, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned baby elephants and rhinos. Meet the orphaned animals and the people who handle and care for them – a truly loving staff. Watch feeding and bath times, and perhaps a chance to see the calves playing with footballs and chasing each other.

Enjoy an early dinner before you are transferred to the Nairobi airport for your flight home or onto your next destination. ​(B,L,D)

Accommodations

Fairmont the Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi

No other hotel in Kenya captures as much of Nairobi’'s splendid past and exciting present, and few hotels anywhere can claim a more romantic history. Adventurous visitors such as 26th American President Theodore Roosevelt, Lord Baden-Powell, the Earl of Warwick, Lord and Lady Cranworth, and the Baron and Baroness von Blixen have all been part of the Hotel’'s history. Renovated in 2004, the Hotel boasts 165 luxurious guest rooms, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped health club, elegant public areas and the choice of four dining venues. Luxuriously furnished with plush carpeting, your air-conditioned Deluxe Room features a veranda, a desk, a private en-suite marble bathroom. Other amenities include an in-room safe, direct-dial telephone, satellite TV and hairdryer. A 2015 Travel+Leisure World's Best Hotel

Elsa's Kopje, Meru National Park

Elsa's Kopje is named after Elsa the lioness, made famous by George and Joy Adamson's biographical book and film "Born Free". Winner of the Good Safari Guide's 'Best Safari Property in Africa' award, Elsa's Kopje is renowned for being one of the most elegant lodges in Africa, with the most spectacular setting. It is the best upmarket location to view rhino in their natural habitat in Kenya. Elsa's Kopje is almost invisible to the eye as you approach its home on Mughwango Hill. It blends into the rocky crags of the "kopje" (small hill), built above the site of George Adamson's original campsite. Every cottage is the ultimate 'room-with-a-view', uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside. Each cottage has spacious double or twin beds with en suite, elegantly appointed bathrooms. There is an open bar, lounge and dining room with an exceptionally inviting infinity pool overlooking the Meru plains.

Saruni Samburu, Kalama Wildlife Conservancy

Considered one of the most beautiful and innovative lodges in Kenya, Saruni Samburu is a 5 villas/16 beds lodge in the heart of the Kalama Wildlife Conservancy. Perched on the top of the Kalama Mountains with an all-around view of Northern Kenya all the way to snow-covered Mount Kenya, Saruni Samburu is a design lodge that is introducing a fresh concept to a well-known safari destination. The lodge offers first-class safari experience in a totally un-spoiled environment, far from the beaten tracks but very close to the wildlife. There exists a large swimming pool with dramatic view over Samburuland, a waterhole that attracts elephant, reticulated giraffe, zebra, oryx and all the species that make Kalama so special.

Saruni Mara, Masai Mara National Reserve

Saruni is an eco-friendly and community-friendly deluxe safari lodge in the Masai Mara, the most exciting wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Located inside the Masai-owned Mara North Conservancy, the lodge offers the thrill of a real African adventure coupled with the highest standards of style and comfort. With accommodation for only 12 guests in six cottages, Saruni is set in a remote valley of forests and hills, overlooking the open savannas. On safari, guests will drive or walk among elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras and endless other species of wild animals, accompanied in total safety by professional guides in the magic of old Africa.

Hemingways Nairobi, Nairobi

This new boutique hotel, only a 40-minute drive away from Nairobi’s international airport, will elevate the standard of luxury service for travelers in the region.  Magnificent in its symmetry and beautifully flooded with natural light, this plantation-style hotel will surely leave a lasting impression for all who visit.  Beyond the balustrade of your private balcony, overlooking the iconic silhouette of the Ngong Hills, a breathtaking view of The Green Hills of Africa, as described in Hemingway’s novel, awaits you.