Best of Kenya Luxury Safari

Arrive into Nairobi Airport, where you are met after passing through customs and immigration and transfer to the The Emakoko Lodge on the border of Nairobi National Park. Take the evening to relax and rest up for your morning transfer.

After breakfast meet your transferred to the regional Wilson Airport for the short flight to ol Donyo Lodge, in the heart of the 275,000 acre Mbirikani Group Ranch on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills National Park between the Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks in southeast Kenya. Its location is unrivalled with full views of Mount Kilimanjaro and in the path of seasonal elephant migrations. Strong populations of wildlife find their habitat in and around the ol Donyo Lodge environs. While the “Big Five” are here – rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo – they are frequently masters of elusivity; however, cheetah, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, and giraffe make for easy viewing. Guests are able to track wildlife by open game drive vehicles, by foot, or horseback. Late afternoon and early evening drives are featured for those interested in spotting the more elusive nocturnal species.

The real exclusivity of ol Donyo Lodge is apparent when out exploring the land. The entire area is reserved exclusively for ol Donyo Lodge guests – no other tourists, no fleets of mini-buses – it’s private, pure and wild. Each day is different, there is no set routine. It is there for the making – a safari of the guest’s design. While it may be tempting to laze around the lovely suites, and bask in the sun next to the private pool, the diverse activities at ol Donyo Lodge are equally as alluring. There is arguably no other lodge in Africa with this wide a range of options for the safari enthusiast. There is a range of activities available – from cultural visits, good quality wildlife viewing and tracking, horseback riding and mountain biking .

This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for the flights via Nairobi north to the Laikipia Plateau, where you will be met by a guide and vehicle from your lodge. Situated on 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of preserved land, Segera Retreat is a wildlife sanctuary that offers a unique experience of utmost luxury amidst natural beauty and personal enrichment from conscientious, sustainable living. A stunningly diverse and seemingly magical environment, the Laikipia region boasts woodlands, grasslands and fertile riverbeds where water flowing from the Aberdare Mountains long ago gave rise to the Mutara River to the north, and the Ewaso Nyiro, Suguroi and Segera Rivers to the south. A cascading waterfall flows from the Segera River and the natural Ivy Springs, found in the Valley of Kiseregai Creek, attract herds of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, warthog and many other native species throughout the year. Preserving the unique biodiversity in the Laikipia region is an essential cornerstone of the conservation efforts in Kenya as a whole. Here, wildlife populations and habitats are being conserved on mostly private and communal lands.

Each activity at Segera observes the 4Cs: from wildlife monitoring and species conservation, to renewable energy and recycled water efforts; from community training, employment and cultural preservation, to using locally grown produce and purchasing from socially responsible wine cultivars. Explore on game drives, walks, cultural excursions, even hands on conservation work if there is a project that could use some volunteers while you are there!

Today bid your Segera guide farewell as you return to the airstrip and meet the flight to the Masai Mara, where you will be met by your guide from Angama Mara and be transferred to your lodge for lunch before the afternoon game drive. No other place on earth compares with the multitudes of wild animals found in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, part of the vast Serengeti eco-system spanning Kenya and Tanzania. Head out at sunrise with a picnic breakfast and be back for lunch; head out after breakfast with a picnic lunch; or a favorite, pack two picnics and spend the whole day exploring the Mara.

During the months of July through October, the Great Migration of about 1.5 million wildebeest and several hundred thousand zebra make the Maasai Mara their home. Here herds of zebra, wildebeest, and topi mingle on the short grass plains keeping an eye out for numerous predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. Maasai giraffe and impala graze in the woodlands and hippos and crocodiles bask along the shores of the Talek and Mara Rivers. The Masai Mara is also home to one of the great fighting tribes of Africa, the Maasai whose culture is both fascinating and truly unique.

Many guests choose to discover the Great Rift Valley on foot. Leaving Angama Mara and heading South along on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, Maasai Naturalist offer guided walks through lovely forests and open areas in-between. The birding up here, high above the Maasai Mara, is especially rewarding. Guests learn the ancient ways of the Maasai people from the Naturalists: local legends, fables, traditions, customs, the medicinal use of plants, and are often treated to singing and dancing along the way. All the while, lovely views of the Mara 300m below offer glimpses of great herds of buffalo, or a solitary elephant melting into the forest. Walking safaris at Angama Mara are tailor-made for every guest, and every fitness-level is taken into consideration. Depending on the time of day, and the length of walk, they can include picnic baskets, blankets, or even a lift back to the lodge. From a gentle 2-hour stroll to a full day’s walk, guests can choose exactly how they would like to discover Africa on foot.

On day 11, sadly it’s time to depart. Enjoy one last game drive if time permits, or simply breakfast in the bush before it’s time to return to the airport for the flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. You will be picked up and return to The Emakoko, where we have reserved a day room for you to relax and refresh before the transfer to the the International Airport to meet your departing flights home. All meals included.