$3,868 to $5,076 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
A unique experience at The Ark game-viewing lodge
A unique experience at The Ark game-viewing lodge
Depart from Nairobi and travel to Aberdares (approximately a 3-hour drive), a park situated in a mountain range offering spectacular views of Mount Kenya. The area features numerous waterfalls and mist-covered, lichen-draped trees. You may encounter elephants, black rhinos, and leopards, as well as long-haired colobus monkeys and mountain bongos if luck is on your side. You will arrive at the Aberdares Country Club for lunch, then be transferred to The Ark, a game-viewing lodge where you will spend the night. The Ark provides a unique game-viewing experience from the comfort of the lodge, with four viewing decks and a hide. Before dinner, the host conducts an interactive talk about the local fauna and flora. Dinner is available from 7:30 to 9 pm. Afterwards, you may continue to watch the wildlife or retire for the night. During the evening, the resident ranger remains on watch and will alert your room if an interesting animal visits the waterhole.
- Main Destination:
- Aberdare National Park
- Accommodation:
- The Ark Lodge
Wildlife in Aberdare NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2-3
Journey to the semi-arid Samburu with its unusual species
Journey to the semi-arid Samburu with its unusual species
After breakfast, you’ll leave The Ark and proceed to Samburu, a scenic yet less well-known reserve. It is a semi-arid region located along the Ewaso Nyiro River that draws wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains. Samburu boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including rare Northern species such as the gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. The area is also home to several large predators, including cheetahs, lions, and leopards. Additionally, you can spot 450 different bird species, including the lesser kestrel and the Taita falcon.
You’ll arrive in time for lunch at Intrepids Camp, situated on the banks of the great Ewaso Nyiro River. Each luxury en-suite tent is built on a raised wooden deck with a verandah overlooking the river, where elephants sometimes make an appearance and crocodiles can be seen lounging by the banks. After lunch, you will embark on a game drive and then spend the following day exploring the reserve.
- Main Destination:
- Samburu National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp
Wildlife in Samburu NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4-5
Track lions on the plains of Laikipia
Track lions on the plains of Laikipia
After breakfast, you’ll depart from Samburu and travel to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, situated on a vast plateau. It boasts the highest density of large mammals in Kenya, including rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, and Lelwel hartebeest.
You’ll spend two nights at the luxury Sweetwaters tented camp, located within the conservancy, offering stunning settings and views of Mount Kenya. The camp has extensive grounds, a watering hole, and a night-viewing bar. All tents are en suite, and some overlook the watering hole. You’ll embark on early morning, late afternoon, and night game drives, go lion tracking, and take part in gathering research data necessary for monitoring the collared lions (a fantastic way to learn about lions, with all the information shared with the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department). When not out on game drives or lion tracking, you can relax in camp and watch wildlife at the watering hole.
- Main Destination:
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
- Accommodation:
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Wildlife in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, you’ll leave Sweetwaters for the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha, arriving in time for lunch at the Sopa Resort. The lodge is situated close to the lakeshore and features beautiful gardens. Wildlife such as bushbuck, zebra, and giraffe often wander around the area. The lodge offers a restaurant, lounge and bar area with leather sofas and fireplaces, perfect for the cool Naivasha evenings. The rooms are spacious, Swahili-style chalets—either with a balcony or a glass-fronted lounge area for relaxing and wildlife viewing.
After lunch, you’ll set out on a boat safari across the lake, where you may spot hippos and many bird species, including fish eagles and pelicans. Towards the end of your boat safari, you will stop at Crescent Island for a guided nature walk. You’ll return to the lodge for the evening, enjoy dinner, and watch the hippos come up from the lake to graze on Sopa’s grounds.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)
- Accommodation:
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7-9
Track all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara
Track all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara
After breakfast, you will depart Naivasha for the Masai Mara, a reserve renowned for its biodiversity and home to a wide variety of bird species and wildlife. The Masai Mara is considered the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and hosts the annual wildebeest migration, involving over 1.5 million animals!
You will arrive in time for lunch at Mara Elatia, located next to the Mara Triangle to the west of the reserve; this is the ideal spot to witness river crossings during migration season. The camp is small, with just 12 luxury en-suite tents overlooking the savannah grasslands of the Mara. After lunch, you will go on a game drive and then spend the following 2 days exploring the savannah plains of the Masai Mara and searching for the Big Five, along with many other species of mammals, reptiles, and birds.
- Main Destination:
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Mara Elatia Camp
Wildlife in Masai Mara NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Transfer to Nairobi
Transfer to Nairobi
After breakfast you’ll head back to Nairobi by road (a 5.5-hour drive), stopping for lunch along the way. Alternatively, stay for lunch and fly back to Nairobi mid-afternoon (optional extra).
- Main Destination:
- Nairobi (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
