Treasures of Kenya

Your east African safari holiday begins at London Heathrow this morning, meeting the Tour Manager before boarding a daytime flight to Nairobi. Kenya has a staggering number of national parks and reserves, dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural habitat, and we will explore four of the best on this tour of the country's highlights.      

Landing in Nairobi this evening, we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the city's popular Westlands district, where we will enjoy our first dinner together.  

• Dinner

Waking in Nairobi this morning, you have a choice of how to spend to your day in Kenya's bustling capital.

After breakfast at the hotel, you can choose to join a morning safari into Nairobi National Park (payable locally). This unique wildlife park is less than five miles outside of the city, creating an interesting mix of the roaming wildlife backdropped by Nairobi's urban skyline. This optional excursion includes lunch at a local restaurant located in a serene garden setting.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a free day in Nairobi, exploring this fascinating city at leisure. You could head up to the top of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre tower for fantastic views across the city or visit Village Market, an upscale shopping mall designed to resemble an open-air market, to browse for souvenirs. If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city, you can stroll around the tranquil Uhuru Park, an oasis in the centre of the city, or head further afield to the Karura Forest, one of the world's largest urban forests.

• Breakfast

After breakfast, we are transferred by a private safari vehicle to the Aberdare National Park in Kenya's Central Highlands.    

Known for its wildlife, misty forests, river valleys and cooler climates, Aberdare is one of Kenya's most popular national parks. We arrive in time for lunch at the Aberdare Country Club, located on a slope of Mweiga Hill, offering fantastic views of the Aberdare Highlands.       

Later, we transfer by private vehicle to our accommodation, the Treetops Lodge. First opened in 1932, this beautiful hotel is built around an ancient tree and is famous as the site where Queen Elizabeth II was staying when she ascended to the throne. It is situated in front a watering hole and along an elephant migratory path, making it a perfect site to view the area's stunning wildlife.  

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our journey continues northwards after breakfast. Enroute, there may be an opportunity to view Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, if cloud coverage allows. We cross the equator as we travel into the arid landscape of the tranquil Samburu National Reserve.  

  After checking in to our lodge, we enjoy lunch and some free time to settle into our new accommodation. We have our first drive into Samburu this afternoon, providing an opportunity to spot some of the wildlife of the reserve and view the rugged beauty of this remote wilderness.    

We return to the lodge to enjoy a sunset dinner. Our lodge has a magnificent outlook, over the Buffalo Springs and Uaso Nyiro River, and the guest rooms provide fantastic views across the savannah, where elephants and rare wildlife graze.   

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our day in this exceptional reserve begins with an early morning safari into the park, followed by breakfast at the lodge. The rest of the morning is at leisure to relax by the lodge pool or enjoy the views from the terrace or balcony of your room overlooking the plains, before lunch is served. 

An afternoon safari into Samburu gives us another chance to spot some of the unique wildlife. In particular, we can look out for the Samburu 'Special Five' animals: the Grévy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk (also known as a giraffe gazelle) and the beisa oryx, all of which are mostly spotted in Samburu and northern Kenya. The most common mammals we are likely to see are elephant, present in large numbers across the reserve.

As our afternoon drive concludes, we return to the lodge for dinner. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we drive south to the thundering Nyahururu Falls, an impressive 230 feet of cascading water tumbling from lush green forest into the rocky gorge of the Ewaso Ng'iro river below. We enjoy lunch in this unique setting, before continuing our journey to Lake Nakuru National Park, where we will stay tonight - we enjoy a safari drive enroute to our hotel.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a protected area for both black and white rhino and the Rothschild's giraffe, with a 117-mile area fenced off to protect these animals from poachers. It is also possible to spot hyenas, lions or an elusive leopard here, as well as two species of waterbuck. Besides a large population of flamingos that often blanket the lake in brilliant pink tones, birdlife here includes African fish eagles, hoopoes, pelicans and other migratory bird species.   

On arrival at the Lake Nakuru Sopa Resort, you have some free time to explore. You may like to relax by the pool or take a stroll around the expansive grounds, where you may well meet wandering giraffes or grazing hippos, before we reconvene for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

One of the highlights of your holiday awaits today as we head to the renowned Maasai Mara, a diverse ecosystem of tropical grassland, acacia trees and patches of forest. This is an incredible destination for wildlife viewing through most of the year, whether it's a pride of lions stalking the savannah, a cheetah racing after its prey or enormous crocodiles wading in the Mara River.      

Named after the indigenous Maasai people, the Mara is one of the world's most popular game reserves, renowned for its outstanding wildlife conservation and its annual wildebeest, antelope and zebra migrations across the vast Serengeti plains. We arrive at Maasai Mara in time for lunch at Mara Maisha Camp, our accommodation for the next three nights.       

After lunch, we set out on an afternoon safari until dusk, the ideal time to spot wildlife as the sun drops towards the horizon. Home to Africa's Big Five, we may see herds of buffalo, zebra or a lounging family of cheetahs. Later, we return to our lodge for dinner.  

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Maasai are semi-nomadic people and one of the most recognisable tribes of east Africa. They are known for their red 'shukas' (woven cotton body wrappings), elaborately beaded necklaces, proud warrior heritage and tribal tradition of singing and dancing. Today, we meet with the village elder and members of the renowned tribe on a visit to a traditional Maasai village.     

We spend time in their circular village of mud and grass huts, known as a boma, hearing about the Maasai's deep connection to their land and cattle, a symbol of wealth and cultural identity. Meeting with residents of the village, we learn about their craftsmanship, culture and heritage.     

After lunch at our hotel, we take an afternoon safari into the abundant wildlife, led by a local guide. Later, we return to our lodge with time to relax before dinner.   

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our third day in this vast national park is free to enjoy as you wish, and you could continue to explore the extensive plains in search of the Big Five.    

To make the most of your time in the park and maximise the chance of viewing wildlife, opt for a full-day safari in the park. A picnic lunch will be provided before heading out to view wildlife in the Mara's vast savannah, returning to your lodge later in the day. Alternatively, you could take a morning and afternoon safari into the reserve, travelling in 4×4 vehicle and keeping an eye out for herds of elephants, big cats and hyenas.      

Between wildlife drives at Mara Maisha Camp, you could enjoy a relaxing time by the swimming pool with a refreshing drink, taking in amazing views across the savannah.  

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Maasai Mara this morning, we head to the Oloolua Forest for lunch. During Kenya's war for independence, this forest was a hiding place for Mau Mau freedom fighters, but today the forest provides a tranquil escape from the bustling city.      

We take a short walk under the canopy and, as we reach a clearing, birdsong is replaced by the sound of drums and a traditional song of welcome. Here, a storyteller appears, whose tales seem to weave a spell which will pull you into the magic of stories passed down through generations, of great warriors and tricky tortoises, among others. After listening to the folk tales, we have lunch.      

   Next, we visit the Giraffe Centre, established in 1983 as a sanctuary for the then endangered Rothschild's giraffe. There is an opportunity to learn more about giraffes and hand-feed them while watching a semi-tame family of warthog's snuffle with their hooves in search of edible scraps. We continue to Nairobi and dine at the city's famous Carnivore restaurant.  

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On this epic safari tour, we have experienced the highlights of four of Kenya's most popular national reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, home to hundreds of different bird and animal species that we have been able to admire in their natural habitats. As well as viewing an astonishing array of wildlife, we have also enjoyed insightful glimpses into Maasai culture and the Oloolua Forest folktales and soaked up the beauty of Africa's ancient Great Rift Valley.     

Enjoy a final breakfast at our hotel, then the day is yours to spend as you please until our airport transfer this afternoon. As we land in the UK, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to continue your journey home.  

• Breakfast