This classic safari combines some of Kenya’s most exclusive safari retreats, hosted by families historic to Kenya’s bygone era. The camps and lodges are all small and romantic, the landscapes rich in culture and the wilderness brought alive by knowledgeable guides who are generally from the area. Activities range from walking, camel-trekking, horse-riding and night game drives to perhaps feeding a rhino and camping outdoors over-looking a waterhole.
Safari Highlights
Because this safari uses small intimate properties, there are no fixed daily activities or schedules. Basically, the emphasis is to build each day around guests’ personal requirements, whether this involves a day out walking with a picnic lunch or a few hours relaxing around a swimming pool. All meals and most drinks are included. Activities include day and night game drives, visits to the rhino sanctuary, horse and camel-riding, picnics and bush dinners, sunset drinks, tennis, village visits, mountain-biking, sleeping under the stars and much more.
Additional remarks
- We may have to reroute the itinerary or accommodate in similar lodges in case of non-availability.
- We advise early booking to ensure accommodation is available as the specialist properties used are small with limited availability. When a property is not available we will be pleased to tailor-make a similar standard itinerary to suit your client’s needs and will advise costs at that time.
- Prices for domestic flights, airport taxes or park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you.
- Clients are limited to 15kg’s in a soft back for internal flights in Kenya.
Day 1 Nairobi
Upon Arrival at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by LVJ and transferred to Ngong House. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at Ngong House on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Ngong House
Ngong House lies on the outskirts of Langata, on the land once cultivated as Karen Blixen's coffee estate. Paul Verleysen, the charming owner, had the concept of a private home that would also offer exclusive and personalised service to a small number of guests. His creation complies perfectly with the self-imposed brief and, in addition, offers the ultimate luxuries of space, light and true style. Accommodation comprises five wooden houses raised on stilts with peerless views of the misty Ngong Hills and the surrounding countryside. There is also a further bedroom within the attractive original house. The furnishings and decorative artefacts are with very few exceptions, resolutely sourced within Africa, and primarily Kenyan. The furniture may be constructed from camphorwood, which mellows to a rich dark patina with age, or perhaps, romantically, made from hardwood sleepers from the old Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. Each "tree-house" has its own spirit and ambience. The beautifully intricate hand-carved furniture of Lamu features in one, whereas another features a clear and tranquil blue combined with the strong lines of wrought iron pieces. Generous four-poster beds graces the upper-level bedrooms, crisp cottons and feather pillows promise luxurious nights sleep. On the lower level the spacious living area has a large sofa to sink into, comfy chairs and an intimate dining area. The veranda is the ideal place from which to bask in the sun, take afternoon tea, observe the teeming birdlife or gaze into the sunset. The cuisine is of the highest quality, imaginatively prepared using mouth-wateringly fresh ingredients. Meals may be served in the elegant dining room, under the shady trees, or in the covered yet open-sided dining area in the gardens in which a roaring fire is lit on chillier evenings. Enormous care is taken with presentation; flowers, hand-made glasses and beautiful plates with rich glazes glow by the soft light of many candles. It’s a truly inspirational place.
Day 2 Nairobi – Lewa Downs
After an early breakfast you will be met by a LVJ vehicle for your transfer to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Once checked in you will board the morning schedule flight to Lewa Downs. Flight departs Nairobi at 0800hrs and arrives into Lewa at 0855. Upon arrival at Lewa Airstrip you will be met by a vehicle from the Lewa Conservancy and taken directly to the Craig Family residence - Wilderness Trails.
Overnight at Lewa Wilderness on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Lewa Wilderness - Lewa Downs
One of Kenya's original ranches, Lewa Downs has been the Craig family home since 1924 when the Craig grandparents came from England and began raising cattle here. Now incorporated in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which includes Anna Merz's highly respected Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary and the Ngare Ndare forest, the area is committed to the conservation of the extremely diverse indigenous wildlife and habitat, as well as benefiting the local community by providing employment, schools and clinics. Set in stunning arid landscape Wilderness Trails is an oasis of comfort and tranquillity. Six cottages in the grounds of the main house provide accommodation for guests. Cool and restful, the rooms all have the stylish wooden furniture that is made on the estate, fresh, simple fabrics and bathrooms in which to relax. The large sitting and dining room is eclectically decorated in true country house style. A highly polished games table, generous vases of brightly coloured flowers from the gardens, a vast coffee table, seriously comfy chairs - they all intensify the travellers sense of being a guest in a friend's house. The delicious meals are made entirely from the freshest of produce, all grown on the estate and are often taken alfresco in a pretty loggia with a twig roof covered in vines. Wilderness Trails is a wonderful base from which to explore the fauna and flora of the area. Game drives are in custom four-wheel drive vehicles and, because it is a private conservancy, you may also go on night drives which will allow you to see nocturnal animals. Horseback safaris, on very gentle steeds, allow close encounters with the wildlife, while a camel safari is not to be missed! Other facilities include a lovely swimming pool of muted aquamarine that is far more in keeping with the landscape than a brighter colour would be. The side of the pool appears to drop away to the valley below permitting fabulous panoramic views. A large thatched pool house contains colonial style furniture, games, magazines and an array of the softest straw-coloured towels. The tennis court is also popular.
Day 3 Lewa Downs
Full day of activities as listed below
Overnight at Lewa Wilderness on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
The full day will be spent enjoying any of the following:
- Day and night game drives
- Horseback riding
- Bush walks
- Camel treks
- Prehistoric site visits
- Swimming pool
- Tennis court
- All the above inclusive
Day 4 Lewa – Ol Malo
After breakfast transfer to Lewa airstrip for your charter flight to Ol Malo airstrip. Upon arrival you will met by a camp vehicle and transferred to the lodge. The remainder of the day to enjoy local activities offered here.
Overnight at Ol Malo on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Ol Malo Cottages
The four guest cottages are spread out along the cliff edge and are uniquely built out of natural rock and ancient olive wood, with thatched roofs and huge glass windows facing onto the view. Ol Malo can take up to eight people at one time. Rooms can hold up to three people, if families wish to stay in the same room. All the cottages are different and each room offers the maximum in privacy and comfort, with huge king size beds, luxurious en-suite bathrooms and each has its own private veranda. Some rooms are on a split level with the bathroom underneath the room, others have the bathroom on the same level. If there was ever a time one wished to soak in a bath and look out at a beautiful vista and at wild animals grazing then this is the place to do it!
Canvas Tents
Ol Malo has two tents, which are the most luxurious of tents made out of canvas and have small elephant motifs around the lining. Each tent has an ensuite bathroom made out of natural rock and a thatched roof covers the entire tent and veranda These rooms are just as comfortable and perfect if a large group wishes to stay at Ol Malo, since it allows guest numbers to reach a maximum of twelve.
Pool
One of the most stunning parts of Ol Malo is the very private swimming pool built on the cliff edge, with its water spilling over. The pool is warmed by the hot African sun and has a separate shower/bathroom and eating area.
Day 5 Ol Malo
Full day of activities arranged with the camp.
Overnight at Ol Malo on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
The full day will be spent enjoying any of the following:
Camel Rides
Ol Malo has a family of camels that can be ridden across the plains, or around Ol Malo.
Horseback Rides?Ol Malo’s ponies love both children and adults and there is no better way of experiencing the real Kenyan outback than on the back of one of these great friends
Local Samburu Manyatta
Ol Malo is home to the Samburu who love meeting Ol Malo’s guests. During your stay you can have the chance to meet the local Samburu children, visit their school, paint, learn tribal dancing, make beaded artifacts, and visit their manyatta (village). There is also the chance to learn about hunting with spears and try your hand at spear throwing.
Nature Walks
Africa is not only about the Big Five – at Ol Malo we will try and spot the Little Five too. Our guides are experts in finding the smaller things of interest – spiders, insects, harvester ants, flowers and plants.
Day 6 Ol Malo
Another full day of activities.
Overnight at Ol Malo on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Ol Malo offers the possibility to be a bit more adventurous with the following activities which are at a supplementary cost:
Camping under the stars
For the more adventurous and those who wish to leave the comfort of Ol Malo, why not spend the night under the stars? To listen to local stories by a roaring campfire, learn about the stars in the African sky and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild – this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Overnight in the look out hut
This fantastic hut lies just by a water hole which is visited by different types of animals. Fitted with bunk beds it can be an exciting place to spend the night and you never know who could wake you up in the morning. ?
Day 7 Ol Malo – Masai Mara
After an early breakfast transfer to Ol Malo Airstrip for your charter flight to Masai Mara. Upon arrival in the Masai Mara at Ol Kiombo airstrip you will be met by camp vehicles and transferred to Rekoro.
Overnight at Rekero on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Rekero
The Masai Mara holds the greatest and most diverse concentration of wildlife remaining in Africa today, and is particularly famous for its lion and cheetah population. Rekero offer a small, private, family/community run semi permanent tented camp that caters perfectly to guest who seeks exclusivity away from the main crowds of the Mara. The camp is set up seasonally and caters for between four and twelve guests. The spacious canvas tents are equipped with hot showers and toilets, together with a large dining tent. Wildlife viewing is by foot or by 4x4 vehicles. The guides are excellent and are all from this area. Here, you will get the feel of being closer to a more natural Africa. This is an experience not to be missed by the adventurous traveller. The rates here are all inclusive of everything except specially imported liquor, premium spirits and champagne.
Day 8 Masai Mara
You will have the opportunity to take various game activities as follows: Wildlife viewing and bird watching can be done on foot with experienced Il Dorobo and Masai guides, or in custom-built four-wheel drive vehicles which allow intimate yet unobtrusive access to the animals. Night drives, cultural visits, bush picnics and visits to local trading centres also feature.
Overnight at Rekero on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Day 9 Masai Mara
A full day of game activities or even a cultural excursion to a local Masai village.
Overnight at Rekero on a full board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines).
Day 10 Masai Mara - Nairobi
After breakfast transfer back to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Flight departs Masai Mara at 1100hrs and arrives into Nairobi Wilson airport at 1215hrs. On arrival in Nairobi you will be met and transferred to the international airport or a Nairobi city centre hotel for your onward arrangements
Extension Option
Instead of flying straight home you can extend their visit and spend a few days on the beach, Funzi Keys Island or the secluded Alfajiri, on Mombasa’s Diani Beach. Both offer extreme luxury and privacy.