$3,483 to $3,595 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Nairobi to Nyambene Hills Forest & Forest Camp
Nairobi to Nyambene Hills Forest & Forest Camp
Morning: Depart Nairobi very early, driving north-east towards the Nyambene Hills. The landscape shifts from bustling towns to the winding, forested slopes. Arrive at Gatimene Gardens for a lunch stop—a cool, the perfect place to pause before heading deeper into miraa country.
Afternoon: Continue to Kangeta, the heart of the miraa (khat) farming region. Visit a local miraa farm, where you will learn the intricate art of harvesting this controversial and culturally vital cash crop. See how the tender young twigs are selected, stripped, and bundled for markets as far away as Mogadishu. From here, drive to Nturuba, then diverge onto rough tracks that climb into the Nyambene Forest.
Evening: Set up camp in a secluded forest clearing, surrounded by giant tree ferns and the silence of the hills. As darkness falls, the forest comes alive with nocturnal sounds. Cook over an open fire and fall asleep under a thick canopy of stars, with only the distant murmur of waterfalls for company.
- Main Destination:
- Nyambene Hills Forest
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Nyambene Forest Hike – Waterfalls, Fig Trees & Ikweta Safari Camp
Nyambene Forest Hike – Waterfalls, Fig Trees & Ikweta Safari Camp
Morning: Wake to the sound of birdsong and a forest draped in mist. Set out on a guided hike through Nyambene’s indigenous rainforest. The trail winds past hidden waterfalls and small, moss-fringed dams. The vegetation becomes magical: tall, prehistoric fern trees stand alongside gigantic fig trees, their buttress roots spreading like ancient buttresses. Keep an eye out for Colobus monkeys leaping overhead.
Afternoon: Continue exploring deeper sections of the forest, where the ecosystem remains untouched. Your guide will point out medicinal plants, giant podocarpus trees. After a late picnic lunch, descend from the hills and drive across the savannah towards the border of Meru National Park.
Evening: Arrive at Ikweta Safari Camp, a welcoming oasis on the edge of the wilderness. Take a refreshing dip in the pool as the sun sets. Enjoy a hearty dinner while listening to the distant roar of a lion, knowing tomorrow you will enter their kingdom.
- Main Destination:
- Nyambene Hills Forest
- Accommodation:
- Ikweta Safari Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Meru National Park – Full Day in an Ecosystem Like No Other
Meru National Park – Full Day in an Ecosystem Like No Other
Full Day: An early start with packed breakfast as you enter Meru National Park. This park is blessed with an ecosystem found nowhere else in Kenya. It transitions from lush, high-rainfall forests in the west to arid, acacia-dotted plains in the east, all fed by 13 permanent rivers that never run dry. Spend the entire day exploring riverine forests, swamps, and rocky kopjes. Spot the unique combination of moist savanna species and rare arid specialists—reticulated giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, elephants bathing in the Tana, and lions dozing under palm trees. Over 720 plant species thrive here.
Evening: As the sun turns the sky gold and crimson, exit the park and return to Ikweta Safari Camp. Dinner is a celebration of a truly wild day. Fall asleep to the memory of a park that feels undiscovered.
- Main Destination:
- Meru National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ikweta Safari Camp
Wildlife in Meru NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Morning Game Drive, Miraa Harvest & The Farmhouse Inn
Morning Game Drive, Miraa Harvest & The Farmhouse Inn
Morning: One last early morning game drive in Meru. There is magic in the dawn light as predators finish their night hunts and herbivores emerge to drink. Return to camp for a late breakfast, then check out.
Afternoon: Drive to Kawiru, a quieter miraa-growing area. Here you will experience the harvest of miraa up close—watch farmers climb the tall, slender trees, stripping branches with practiced speed. Learn how the leaves are sorted, packed into banana leaves or plastic wraps, and rushed to the airport. It is an authentic glimpse into a multi-million dollar industry that shapes local life.
Evening: Continue to The Farmhouse Inn, perched scenically on the Meru/Nanyuki border with Mount Kenya looming to the west. Settle into charming farmstead accommodation. Dinner is home-style and generous, with stories of the day’s contrasts echoing across the table.
- Main Destination:
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
- Accommodation:
- The Farmhouse Inn
Wildlife in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Rhinos, Chimps & Wide Open Plains
Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Rhinos, Chimps & Wide Open Plains
Full Day: Depart early for Ol Pejeta Conservancy, arriving as the gates open. This is not just a game drive—it is a conservation pilgrimage. First, visit the Rhino Sanctuary, home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, Najin and Fatu, guarded 24/7. Next, go to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a refuge for rescued chimps from conflict zones. Then spend the rest of the day exploring Ol Pejeta’s rolling plains. The predator density is exceptional: lions, leopards, and hyenas are regularly seen. Elephants, buffalo, and vast herds of plains game move against the backdrop of Mount Kenya.
Evening: Return to The Farmhouse Inn as the equatorial night falls. Over dinner, reflect on standing before creatures that are functionally extinct—and the fierce efforts to save them.
- Main Destination:
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
- Accommodation:
- The Farmhouse Inn
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Ngare Ndare Forest – Canopy Walk & Castle Forest Horse Ride
Ngare Ndare Forest – Canopy Walk & Castle Forest Horse Ride
Morning: Drive to Ngare Ndare Forest, a jewel of indigenous montane forest at the foot of Mount Kenya. Hike through ancient cedar and hardwood trees to a series of turquoise-blue pools connected by small waterfalls. Walk the canopy walkway, 30 feet above the forest floor, looking down at the giant figs and listening for elephants below. For the brave, a guided swim in the icy, crystal-clear waters is unforgettable.
Afternoon: Check out and drive to Castle Forest Lodge, a historic stone lodge deep in the cedar forests on Mount Kenya’s slopes. After settling in, embark on a guided horse ride through the forest. Riding beneath towering trees, past wild rosemary and giant heather, is an exhilarating way to see colobus monkeys and soaring eagles.
Evening: Dinner at the lodge’s warm fireplace, the night full of forest sounds. Retire to your room with the sense of having stepped back in time.
- Main Destination:
- Ngare Ndare Forest
- Accommodation:
- Castle Forest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Mount Kenya Forest – The Most Beautiful Trail to a Waterfall
Mount Kenya Forest – The Most Beautiful Trail to a Waterfall
Morning: After breakfast, set out on a hike through the Mount Kenya forest that your guide promises is “extremely beautiful.” The trail winds through moss-draped trees, bamboo groves, and giant lobelias. As you climb gently, the roar of the falls grows louder. Suddenly, you emerge at a spectacular waterfall plunging into a pool surrounded by ferns and orchids. This is the heart of the forest—untouched, quiet, and breathtaking.
Afternoon: Enjoy a picnic lunch by the falls before returning the same way, but the shifting light makes every step feel new. Back at Castle Forest Lodge by mid-afternoon. Rest in a lounge chair on the lawn, watching the clouds race across the mountain peaks.
Evening: A final sumptuous dinner at the lodge. The fire crackles as you share photographs and stories of the day’s beauty.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kenya
- Accommodation:
- Castle Forest Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Short Falls Hike & Return to Nairobi – Farewell at Safari Park
Short Falls Hike & Return to Nairobi – Farewell at Safari Park
Morning: Breakfast at 8:00 am. Then a short, gentle hike to a nearby waterfall hidden in the forest behind the lodge. It is a final dose of mist, green, and rushing water—a perfect closing to the mountain chapter. Return to pack and check out.
Afternoon: Drive back to Nairobi, descending from the cool highlands through Murang'a, then onto the busy A2 highway. Stop for lunch en route, watching Mount Kenya shrink in the rearview mirror. Arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon.
Evening: The journey ends not quietly, but with a farewell party at Kasarani Safari Park Hotel. A celebratory dinner, perhaps with live music or traditional dancing, toasts to fallen feet, roaring lions, giant fig trees, and the kindness of miraa farmers. It is an ending worthy of the adventure.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kenya
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
