Essential Kenya

Arrive in Nairobi, gateway to your thrilling Kenya safari; transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to acclimate to your new time zone and prepare for the African adventure that awaits you. Overnight at Radisson Hotel or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast

Nairobi is a surprising city, with excellent large hotels, small boutique properties and world-class restaurants. There is a strong British influence with everything from high tea to their bit of formal friendliness.

With an extra day, we can arrange for visits to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center. Sheldrick's is located in the Nairobi National Park. It is here that orphaned or hurt baby elephants and rhinos are taken to rehabilitate back into their natural habitats.

Giraffe Center or AFEW, is a non-profit organization that has been established to educate visitors on Kenya's wildlife and environment. It is on the grounds of the world-famous Giraffe Manor.

Breakfast in the Hotel. At 0700hrs depart with your dedicated safari driver guide to Amboseli National Park arriving in time for lunch at Serena Amboseli Lodge with game viewing en-route. The Lodge is Set against the magnificent backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, the glittering Mount Kilimanjaro.

Amboseli is a place of stark contrast, the name meaning “salty dust” in Maasai. Amboseli, despite its sometimes dry and dusty appearance, has an endless supply of water filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Mt. Kilimanjaro’s snow melt. These underground streams converge into clear fresh water springs in the heart of the park. If you are lucky, you may get to see the shimmering dry lakebed with false mirages of populated horizons.

Do not miss the dawn game drives, when the plains are golden with the new day’s sun and the predators are most active. This is truly a magical time. Overnight at Serena Lodge or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Full day in Amboseli National Park with morning and afternoon game viewing drives. Up at dawn – the Amboseli plains are golden with the new day’s sun. This is also the time that the lions go on their hunts. Every turn will bring a new wildlife surprise. Elephant are a dominant presence in Amboseli. Here, you are able to spot some of the older “tuskers” lumbering almost delicately before the backdrop of highest free-standing mountain in the world - Mount Kilimanjaro. Herds of zebra and wildebeest are easily seen. Amboseli is also the home to Cape Buffalo, hippo, eland, giraffe, as well as cheetah. Overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After an early breakfast in the Lodge, check-out and depart to Nairobi then proceed north to the edge of the escarpment over the Rift Valley before descending into the valley and to Lake Naivasha, a large freshwater lake surrounded by grassy banks and olive trees. Cruise the lake on a boat, watching for hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo; and peer through your binoculars to spot lovebirds, ibis, and the African fish eagle. Step ashore at Crescent Island—a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake— and enjoy a guided stroll in search of wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes. Overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Travel to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve and arrive in time for lunch at our Camp, located in the heart of the reserve. This afternoon we will enjoy the first of several game drives in this remarkable game area. Returning to the camp for dinner. Throughout the year the Maasai Mara is a place of natural drama, a kaleidoscope of color and life. The famed "Big Five" - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo - roam the reserve, together with hundreds of other species, from the fastest animal on earth, the cheetah to crocodiles and magnificent birds of prey. Overnight at Mara Ashnil Camp or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

This will be a day of unlimited game drives over the golden fields and past the distinctive acacia trees adorning these plains. The Masai Mara is one of the most famous ecosystems in the world. This vast grassland is teeming with life; plains game including wildebeest, gazelle, topi, zebra and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah, and never far away lay the predators; cheetah, lion and hyena. Between July and September one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes place in the Masai Mara - the annual migration of more than 1.5 million of wildebeests, gazelle and zebra trampling their way across the long grass. Overnight at Mara Ashnil Camp or Similar. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Special Activity:
Hot Air Balloon Safari
We highly suggest the balloon safari at dawn over the Maasai Mara with a champagne bush breakfast, from $530 per person.

Breakfast in the Camp. Later depart and drive to Nairobi, drop off at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your scheduled homebound international flight.

Enjoy your Safari experience!!