Africa Vacations - Luxury African Safari - Exotic African Adventures - Luxury Tent Camps.... Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia

This incredible trip highlights four very different areas in Kenya. From the beautiful Chyulu Hills to the wild and rugged bushveld of the Masai Mara to the shores of Lake Rusinga in the very heart of the Great Rift Valley, to the hauntingly beautiful lands of the Samburu and Pokot people in the Northern Frontier District. Each of these very different destinations offers something completely different

Day 1 - Nairobi		Kenya Giraffe Manor
Arrive at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the evening where you will be met by the warm, smiling face of your private guide Paul. Paul will transfer you to your homestead or lodge where you may have a light snack before settling in for the night. During your first night in Africa you will probably awaken to the sound of a territorial male tree hyrax who makes a very weird, electrifying call which you may think is some poor tormented soul! In actual fact they are delightful little furry brown creatures that look like a giant guinea pig and are also the closest living relative to the elephant

Days 2-4 (Chylulu Hills)		Campi Ya Kanzi
You will awaken to the sound of someone knocking softly on your door saying "hodi" - an Africa greeting announcing the arrival of your morning tea and coffee. You lie in bed reveling in the sensation of being in Africa as you sip piping hot Kenya Coffee gazing out at the Ngong Hills...your journey has begun! After a hot breakfast, you will be met and transferred by Paul, your private guide, to Wilson Airport where you will board a private charter flight to the Chyulu Hills. As you fly into the area to your right you will get your first glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's largest freestanding mountain which sits amidst the vast plains of south eastern Kenya. Your pilot will smile as you clamor for your cameras and then point out the airstrip, but you will have some trouble making out the airstrip at first as it is usually a grass airstrip, the pilot circles and then realizes that he has to "buzz" the runway as there are giraffe and zebra on the runway - he flies low and the animals lope off to the sides, indignant at the interruption of their lunch, your pilot comes in low again and lands smoothly and you look out at your audience - Zebra, Giraffe, Thompson Gazelle, Oryx, Eland.....you have arrived! As you step out of the plane and breath in the crisp fresh air of Africa, Jackson is there to meet you with the biggest grin you have ever seen! He helps load the car with your luggage and points out a a young Thompson Gazelle with a wicked scar running along the side of his chest and coyly remarks...he may not be so lucky tonight!! You immediately start to question, from here on out everything is new and there is so much to learn and your guides delight in sharing their experiences and knowledge with you! You arrive at the camp and are warmly welcomed by your hosts, a cool drink and then you are taken to your cottage or tent and left to settle in after a briefing. Lunch is usually served around 1:00 PM so you may decide to wander around camp, visit the horse, stroke the African Wild Cat "Woody" or visit Jo the Pishi (cook) in his kitchen and marvel at him whipping a cheese soufflé for lunch over a pile of charcoal! After a delicious lunch of Cheese Soufflé, cold cuts and fresh Spinach salad, and a scrummy Papaya and Honey Ice Cream, you may decide to wander off to your cottage for a little siesta or lounge around on the comfy overstuffed sofas in the mess areas, reading magazines or books, or just watching the Superb Starlings coming in for water. This is one of the most breathtaking areas in Africa! After a siesta your hosts will suggest the afternoon activities and it is always wonderful to go for a game drive on your first evening as that way you get acquainted with the area. At around 5:30 you may stop on a grassy hill, Jackson will break out a cool box and a blanket and some hors d'oeuvres and you can sit and watch the sunset behind Mount Kilimanjaro. After the sunsets it is time to clamber back in he car and with a spotlight you wind your way slowly back to the lodge whilst looking at the nocturnal animals coming out! Dinner is usually served around 8:00 PM and is a festive affair. After dinner and coffee you will discuss the next days activities and then enjoy a good nights sleep in - your first night in the African Bush!

Days 5-7: (Masai Mara Game Reserve)		Saruni Safari Lodge
After fond farewell you will once again you'll board a private charter flight in route to the Masai Mara. You'll probably be giddy with anticipation at arriving in this world- famous game viewing destination. While on route you'll have a good opportunity to observe the diverse landscape of Kenya as your flight takes you from North Kenya to Southwest Kenya. Your bush pilot will be able to tell you about the different regions and their histories. Along the way you'll pass over numerous herds of wildlife, Mt. Kenya, the Laikipia Escarpment, Nairobi, the Great Rift Valley and finally the Masai Mara. Upon arrival you will be met with a smiling face and enjoy a nice game drive with your professional guide through the Mara. The Masai Mara holds the greatest and most diverse concentration of wildlife remaining in Africa today. It is home to the Masai people and to small clans of Ndorobo, the traditional hunter-gatherers of East Africa. This place is guaranteed to take your breath away. The Masai Mara is home to several of our private properties, which are hidden in intimate parts of the Mara where you won't see matatus and other travelers. Each of our properties are located in different, remote regions of the Mara.

Days 8-9 (Rusinga Island)		Rusinga Island Camp
On your 8th day of safari you will be transferred from Saruni Camp to the Mara airstrip where you will take a charter flight to Rusinga Island. Rusinga Island Camp Lake Victoria is known for its abundance of exotic birds and huge Nile Perch. Caught daily, these fish have been known to weigh as much as 200 lbs.! For those who choose not to fish there are many things to do: Walk to the famous archaeological site where Dr. Mary Leakey discovered Proconsul Africanus, now Heseloni, said to be 1.75 million years old. Visit the Luo fishing village along the shore and feel yourself transplanted back in time. A wide stretch of lush lawn grows to the waters edge. There are a few huge trees and a wonderful open-sided thatched lounge area, three beautiful rustic cottages and a jetty stretching out into the lake. Rusinga Island Camp, run by the Roberts family, seems to be home to about a million birds, and along the shore you are likely to see otters and giant monitor Lizards. Rusinga Island Camp - with its large comfortable cottages and superb vistas over the lake - is a real treat.

Days 10-12 (Northern Frontier District)		Borana
On the morning of the 10th day you will hug your new friends good-bye and board a private charter flight to the Northern Frontier District. Upon arrival, you'll be met by your hosts or one of their guides who will take you on a scenic route back to the property. Once you arrive you'll enjoy lunch before your afternoon activities. As with the preceding property you can either rest or enjoy one of the property's several activities. You will enjoy three wonderful days exploring this incredible wilderness area with guides who will teach you about the plants, the interaction between man and wildlife! Each property is so uniquely different not only in landscape and wildlife but also in the personalities of the people that you will meet, these are all vital to making this the most incredible trip of your life! For the incurable romantics out there, you may decide that on one night you may like to have just have dinner on your own or perhaps you will be surprised by a bush dinner party under the stars with Samburu warriors chanting in the background. The Northern Frontier District is a peaceful wildernesss with incredible vistas and beautiful sunsets. It is host to more than fifty species of wildlife from elephant and kudu to klipspringer and the incredibly rare melanistic "black" leopard. The Northern Frontier District is rapidly gaining a fine reputation for big cat sightings with some exceptional viewing of lion, leopard and cheetah and even Wild Dog. People are an integral part of this wild tapestry. Staying here, in the very heartland of the nomadic Samburu, Borana, Maasai and Pokot people, whose, cultures and traditions still move to the beat of an ancient drum, is an experience that affords you a rare and captivating opportunity to interact with a way of life that has stood the test of time.

Day 13: Tour of Nairobi		Ngong House
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip where you will board the charter flight to Nairobi's Wilson Airport. Upon arrival you'll once again be met by that familiar smiling face of Paul which comforted you so much with your timid entrance into this strange world. Only this time you're well experienced with Kenya's landscape, language, wildlife and people. So this time you greet Paul with a hearty: "Jambo. Habari ako bwana" (Hello. How are you doing man?) And Paul will answer with laughter "Mzuri sana" (Very well). Now you feel like a true Kenyan as you share your experiences with Paul. At this point Paul will drive you around so that you can do some last minute shopping. Later that evening he will drop you off at a Nairobi restaurant for supper. After dinner you'll finally be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time to check in for you overnight flight back home. A tear comes to your eye as you give Paul a final hug, you embrace him as if you were embracing the entire nation - its people, its wildlife, its diverse topography. As you board the plane the culmination of events over the past eleven days begins to settle in. You begin to reflect on the whirlwind of experiences as you settle into your seat. And suddenly you realize how overwhelming and magical your whole experience has been, but you also realize that you didn't have near enough time to discover the secrets of the Dark Continent. As so many of our clients in the past have done, you begin to go over the plans in your head for your next trip to Africa and what you will do differently next time. And then you're eager to get back home to share your stories with your family and friends. You come home not quite the same person as you have experienced eleven days that have changed your life forever.

2 people.......................................$7,595 per person
4 people.......................................$6,995 per person
6 people.......................................$6,860 per person

Included: all accommodations, meals, land travel, all government and hotel taxes and service charges, intra-Kenya scheduled and charter flights, all park, reserve and conservation area entrance fees, all game-viewing activities; guided walks, horseback rides or 4x4 game drives in open top vehicles. All vehicle transfers to/from lodges/camps, airports, hotels, etc.
AMREF medical evacuation coverage

Not Included: Some alcoholic beverages and other personal expenses
Gratuities to drivers/guides and staff members (suggested $5-$10 per person per day), Intra-Kenya Airport departure taxes ($2 per flight payable at departures)
Kenya International departure tax ($40 payable at departure). Pre-trip inoculations
International Airfares, Travel Insurance

*Rates are per person (based on double occupancy) and subject to change in the event of serious currency fluctuations. Please always call for current pricing.

Back to Luxury African Adventures...