The Very Best of Kenya

Depart for Nairobi from London Heathrow with British Airways, with regional connecting flights available at no extra cost from Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the charming Movenpick Residences for an overnight stay.

Tour Highlight

This morning, we meet our fellow travellers over breakfast followed by a short safari briefing with our Local Guides. Then, it’s time to board our safari vehicles and journey northeast. We stop at Aberdare Country Club for lunch, then take our small overnight bags to our unique accommodation in Aberdare National Park. Tucked into the forest of the National Park, The Ark overlooks a waterhole and salt lick, attracting herds of elephants, rhinos and buffalo, which can be seen from one of three viewing decks. Guests will love the optional ‘game viewing wake-up call’ – where a small alarm will sound to alert you of any special wildlife experiences in the night, giving you the chance to wake and head to one of the viewing decks.

Following breakfast, we begin our journey further north. En-route, there may be an opportunity to view Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, if cloud coverage allows. We cross the equator as we travel into the arid landscape of the tranquil Samburu National Reserve. The Ewaso Ng’iro River provides hydration for the abundant wildlife that call the reserve home, attracting elephants, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles as well as the rare northern ‘special five’ (Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk). We enjoy our first game drive this afternoon before dinner at Samburu Simba Lodge, our home for the next two nights.

An early start for our morning game drive in the reserve. Wild dog sightings are common in Samburu, as well as a vast variety of birdlife, with over 450 recorded species. We return to our lodge for a hearty lunch. In the afternoon, perhaps take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool to cool off, with its beautiful views over the savannah and a further chance to spot wildlife. This afternoon we embark on our second game drive followed by the obligatory cocktail and dinner at the lodge with views of the stunning sunset.

After breakfast, we drive south to the thundering Nyahururu Falls, with their 72 metre plunge set against the lush green forest, making an impressive sight. We travel onwards to Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley. Famous for its dense population of hippos, at times the lake turns a magnificent shade of pink as an abundance of flamingos congregate on it’s waters. We arrive at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge for a two-night stay. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure, so why not relax by the pool or take a stroll around the grounds, where you may spot wandering giraffe and grazing hippos.

Tour Highlight

Another day in paradise with a half day of game viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake is famous for its population of millions of flamingos as well as 400 species of birds. We may also see the protected white and black rhinos, as the park was designated a rhino sanctuary in 1987. As well as the endangered Rothschild giraffe, hyena and leopard sightings have increased in recent years. Following lunch, we enjoy a boat safari on Lake Naivasha in search of wildlife and birdlife, including fish eagles, pied kingfishers, spoonbills and white-breasted cormorants to name a few. Return to the lodge for dinner and our final night in the hotel’s impressive surroundings.

We travel south to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, renowned for the two million wildebeest, antelope and zebra that make up the Great Migration. Maasai Mara is a fantastic destination for wildlife viewing most of the year, whether it’s a pride of lions stalking the savannah, a cheetah racing after its prey or gigantic crocodiles wading in the Mara River. We enjoy an afternoon game drive followed by a sumptuous dinner at the Mara Maisha Camp, our home for the next three nights.

Tour Highlight

This morning, we have a once in a lifetime chance to visit a traditional Maasai village. Welcomed with vibrant song and dance, we explore the circular village layout, constructed from mud and grass huts and learn about the Maasai’s deep connection to their land and cattle, symbolising wealth and cultural identity. Engaging with residents, we learn about the traditional craftsmanship, culture and heritage of this renowned tribe. After lunch at our hotel, we take an afternoon game drive led by our expert Local Guide, in search of the reserve’s abundant wildlife.

Our final day in the Maasai Mara. Guests have the option to wake early and climb aboard a hot air balloon to fly high in the skies over the Maasai Mara (additional cost). With an incredible birds-eye view, you experience the never-ending savannahs with a beautiful sunrise in the background. Of course, this also gives you a fantastic vantage point of the wildlife on the earth’s surface below, followed by a delicious bush breakfast. A true bucket list experience! If you choose to partake in the optional hot air balloon ride, it will replace the included morning game drive. For those taking the game drive, we journey into the Game Reserve in our 4×4 vehicle with binoculars in hand, keeping an eye out for great herds of elephants, big cats and hyenas. In our downtime before our afternoon game drive at Mara Maisha Camp, time may be spent relaxing by the pool or enjoying their ‘cocktail of the day’ and taking in incredible vistas over the savannah.

We Recommend  – Hot Air Balloon Safari

Take to the skies over the Maasai Mara for truly enviable views, spotting the wildlife below. Additional cost applies. 

On our journey to Nairobi, we make a stop for lunch at Cultiva, an eco-friendly farm-to-table dining experience, boasting a delicious seasonal menu. This afternoon, we take part in a cultural tour of Nairobi, a social enterprise run by former street children, who have been trained as tour guides. The Nai Nami Street Tour takes us on a walking tour through some of Nairobi’s informal settlements, where we learn about the daily lives of the residents and gain an insight into the challenges faced. The tour includes visits to community projects and local businesses, as well as interactions with residents and local children. We discover the history and architecture of Nairobi, including landmarks such as the Nairobi Railway Museum and City Hall. The tour concludes with a visit to a traditional African restaurant, where we sample Kenyan cuisine and enjoy cultural performances. Our overnight stay is at the Movenpick Residences.

We start our journey eastwards today as we travel to Amboseli National Park. On a clear day, as we start approaching the National Park, we will be rewarded with views of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. We arrive at Kibo Safari Camp for check-in and lunch. Our home for the next two nights is located in Amboseli National Park and boasts truly unforgettable views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is famous for its large population of big-tusked elephants, and this afternoon, we enjoy our first game drive in the National Park in search of big game and birdlife.

Tour Highlight

We depart the lodge after breakfast for a full day of game viewing in the National Park, with a picnic lunch so we can make the most of our time searching the wetlands, swamps and wide-open plains for a vast array of wildlife. Set against the glorious backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, we have the chance to spot the tallest land mammal, the Maasai giraffe, as well as lion, cheetah and leopard. As the skies start to darken, we return to our lodge for dinner, which can be enjoyed under the night sky if you so wish.

Today, we set off for Tsavo West National Park. We make a stop at a Rhino Sanctuary to learn about its conservation efforts and how their numbers are steadily increasing thanks to the sanctuary’s important work. Next, it is onwards to Mzima Springs, a blissful oasis of green within the National Park and home to hippos and nile crocodiles. A delicious lunch will be provided at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge before an afternoon game drive in the National Park, where our guide will help us spot leopards, buffalo, elephants and hopefully much more. We arrive at Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa in time for dinner and the first of our two-night stay.

We awaken in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, where our hotel is based. Once used as a game hunting ground, the sanctuary was established to allow for conservation and to promote wildlife viewing across the beautiful mountainous landscapes. After breakfast, we enjoy our first game drive of the day, with bird watching a real highlight in this area of 350 different bird species, three of which are endemic to Taita itself, the Taita thrush, Taita apalis and Taita white eye. Taita Hills also boasts a unique World War I Museum, playing out the war as it happened in East Africa, with artefacts and archival photos to view. This afternoon, we journey into the sanctuary for our final game drive in Kenya. In the evening, perhaps enjoy a glass of something bubbly to toast a fantastic journey through this mesmerising country.

An early breakfast this morning before transferring to the station to climb aboard Kenya’s only standard gauge railway, the Madaraka Express. Enjoy Kenya from a new viewpoint as we are whisked off westwards, travelling through Tsavo East National Park, with a chance to spot wildlife from our seat. As we pass small towns and villages a boxed lunch is provided, before arriving into Nairobi. We are met by our guide, and transferred to Hilton Garden Inn. There’s an opportunity to freshen up, relax and enjoy dinner before we are transferred the short distance to the airport for our flight to the UK.

Stay a little longer?

Why not complete your holiday with a relaxing beach extension to Diani Beach, Mombasa?

Arrive into London Heathrow this morning, with the option of connecting onward to your preferred regional airport, bringing to an end our incredible tour of Kenya.