Kenya as one of the East African countries has all to offer like in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. This exclusive itinerary allows for up close and personal experiences with African wildlife in Kenya, with the option to extend to Tanzania to visit the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti (13 day itinerary).Visit Nairobi, Laikipia, Masai Mara, Lake Victoria. Optional: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti.

Itinerary

Day 1 -Arrive Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After clearing customs and immigration formalities, you will be transferred to the Norfolk Hotel. Probably Kenya's most famous hotel - and certainly one of its oldest - The Norfolk has been drawing the rich and famous to its hallowed doors since they first opened on Christmas Day 1904.

Just south of the equator, Nairobi's main avenues blaze with colour from tropical bushes and vines. Nairobi was established by 1907 and quickly grew as a white farming community. It also attracted world attention as the centre of big-game safaris for the rich and famous. The nearby Nairobi National Park boasts the presence of all but one of the`Big Five'. Shopping in Nairobi varies from African clothing and craft shops to open-air markets.There are excellent museums, offering insights into the fauna, culture and history of Kenya.

The rest of the day is free to relax or if time permits, enjoy some sightseeing.

Overnight:  The Norfolk Hotel

Day 2 - Nairobi - Laikipia

After breakfast, transfer to Nairobi's Wilson Airport for your private charter flight to Borana.
Fly northwards through the rift and up the western wall of the great escarpment on to the Laikipia plateau. The Laikipia region is a broad swathe of game rich grasslands and hills that reach Mount Kenya to one side and the wild deserts of the north to the other.
On arrival at Borana, you will be met at the airstrip and transferred to the lodge. Borana is a large private conservancy which has been the home of the Dyer family since the 1920s. The ranch was originally started as a cattle concern; however, in the last twenty years they have turned much of their energy to conservation and have a thriving predator population, elephant, plains game and smaller beasts. Borana Lodge is set on the edge of a valley with panoramic views across the plains and overlooks a watering hole for wildlife in the area. Your days will be busy with day and night game drives, walks, picnics and bush dinners, horse riding for both experienced riders and novices, mountain biking, or visits to the working ranch or the various community and conservation projects Borana is involved in. The ranch is an accredited member of the Eco Tourism Society of Kenya, is certified organic and plays an extremely active role in regional conservation.

There is time to freshen up and relax before lunch.Your hosts will be at hand to discuss your preferences and plan your activities for your stay. Spend the afternoon game viewing, relaxing or exploring the area.

Overnight:  Borana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 3 - Laikipia

Two full days to enjoy the various activities offered at the conservancy. Your days will be as flexible as you wish and there are also many options available for exploring the environment around Borana. 

On one of your days here, you can enjoy a scenic flight in a helicopter over the lodge or to the beautiful alpine lakes on Mount Kenya (with opportunities to land for the keen fisherman). Or take a nostalgic flight in a bi-plane of the golden era across this magical region. 

Overnight:  Borana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 4 - Laikipia

As above.

Overnight:  Borana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 5 - Laikipia - Masai Mara

After a leisurely breakfast take a scheduled flight to the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s greatest parks.

On landing at the airstrip, your driver/guide will meet you. Take a short game drive en route to your camp. You may be rewarded with sightings of elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a host of other plains game.

We have selected Olonana for you accordingly for its small size and privacy. The camp comprises of just 14 spacious and airy en suite accommodation tents; all with floor to ceiling mosquito net windows and river view verandahs. Olonana is at the forefront of eco-tourism in Kenya with solar power, bio degradable products and an ingenious wetlands project which allows for all used water to be totally recycled and returned to the river clean.

After lunch there is time to relax before enjoying an activity of your choice.

Overnight:  Olonana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 6 - Masai Mara

You have the next two days to enjoy game viewing as you venture out in open 4X4 vehicles led by your expert Olonana driver/guide. A wide range of activities are offered at Olonana and your day can be as active or as leisurely as you wish. You can visit the adjacent Maasai village and learn more about their traditional lifestyle, take a morning bush walk with an armed ranger or enjoy sundowners in the evening or even dinner under the stars in the middle of the African bush.
In the Mara, wildlife is abundant and the swaying grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Elephants browse amongst the large herds of wildebeest and topi, gazelle, eland and buffalo. The plains offer a rich variety of food for the dominant predators: lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah. In the Mara River, hippos submerge to snort and grumble while crocodiles sunbathe on the riverbanks.

Around July to September, rain depending, the Masai Mara is host to the famous wildebeest migration which is one of the few remaining mass migrations of mammals in the world. During this time herds of over a million wildebeest will trawl their way through this region and they become the major focus for predatory activity and drama unfolds at every corner.

There are also options for a morning balloon safari or a half-day visit to Lake Victoria.

Balloon Safari: As the balloon is inflated against the first rays of sunrise your pilot will go through safety procedures. Once aloft, the balloon floats gently over the plains, giving a bird’s eye view of the game below as the sun creeps slowly over the horizon. After around one hour the balloon lands and breakfast is waiting with glasses of bubbly to toast your flight in a tradition initiated by the Montgolfier brothers. 

Lake Victoria Adventure : An early start this morning with a transfer to the airstrip for a flight by light aircraft to Lake Victoria. On arrival enjoy an appetising full English breakfast before you board the boat for the morning. There will be the opportunity to try fishing for the legendary giant Nile perch found in these waters as you explore the myriad of tiny islands in this region of the lake. An experienced and knowledgeable fisherman captains each boat. There is the chance to stop at a traditional fishing village and see how the villagers live from day to day before returning to the airstrip for your return flight to the Masai Mara.     

Overnight:  Olonana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 7 - Masai Mara

As above.

Overnight:  Olonana

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 8 -Masai Mara - Depart Nairobi OR Extend to Tanzania

After a leisurely breakfast your driver/guide will transfer you to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Wilson Airport, transfer to Norfolk Hotel where dayrooms have been reserved for you. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and freshen up or go sightseeing and shopping.

This evening transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight.   
Option to extend to Tanzania.

On arrival in Nairobi take a connecting schedule flight to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. Today enjoy lunch at Kia Lodge before returning to the airport for your flight to Manyara. On arrival in Manyara you will be transferred to Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
Situated on the edge of the ancient crater rim above the cool, swirling mists, the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is a return to the noble elegance of the traveling colonials. Inspired in design by the Masai manyatta, three separate camps of 6 to 12 suites each remember a bygone era. The stilted structures are adorned with graceful antiques, grand chandeliers and treasures collected from travels through Africa. Each suite is discreetly tended by a personal butler, who will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fireplace and even draw your bath, scattering the water with rose petals, ready for your return from your safari.

Overnight:  Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 9 - Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Cater is the world's largest intact caldera. With an area of just 260 km² (102 square miles) the Ngorongoro is a true Garden of Eden. Highland forest covers the 610 metre (2,000ft) sheer sides of the caldera, a spectacular barrier encircling and protecting the roaming plains wildlife which patrols the flat crater floor. A world of wide grassland plains, acacia copses, pools and streams, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and even rhino can be seen here. The central soda lake attracts birds and sometimes flocks of flamingo.
Full day game viewing in the Crater.

Overnight:  Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 10 - Ngorongoro - Serengeti

This morning after breakfast drive to Olduvai Gorge to see the Cradle of Mankind. This is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. The museum at the site shows how this area played an important part in understanding early human evolution.
After your visit drive to the Serengeti, one of the most magnificent parks in Africa. On arrival drive to Kusini which is perfectly sited in a cluster of kopjes (beautiful outcrops of granite rock). Part of Kusini’s charm is its remote and private location within the park borders and with no other camps in the near vicinity Kusini offers exceptional and essentially private game viewing. 

Serengeti is the home of the great Wildebeest migration and the short grass plains around Kusini provide the perfect setting for the wildebeest as they mass around the area during the birthing of their young in the early months of each year. 

Overnight:  Kusini

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 11 – Serengeti

Two full days to explore the Serengeti.
The Serengeti’s abundance of game is legendary and it is famed for the wildebeest and zebra migration massing on its vast open grassland plains, dotted with acacia. 

Overnight:  Kusini

Meal Plan:  B,L,D

Day 12 - Serengeti

As above.

Overnight:  Kusini

Meal Plan:  B, L, D

Day 13 - Serengeti - Kilimanjaro Airport – Nairobi

After breakfast transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro Airport where you will take a connecting flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be transferred to Norfolk Hotel where dayrooms have been reserved for you. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and freshen up or go sightseeing and shopping.

This evening transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight.

BASED ON 10 – 15 PAX

COST PER PERSON SHARING (KENYA ONLY): $4,115

COST PER PERSON SHARING (KENYA + TANZANIA): $11,170