8 Nights | 9 Days: Splendours of Kenya Safari

JAMBO – KARIBU!! It is ‘touch down’ at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Representatives of Twiga Tours, your hosts in Kenya eagerly await your arrival in traditional African style – wet towels and bubbly. It is a tradition in Africa to present a gift as an expression of our joy and happiness – what better gift than an authentic (branded) safari hat and other safari essentials! Thereafter transfer to your hotel in Nairobi, Kenya’s colourful capital city to check in to your city hotel. Rest of the day or evening is spent at leisure.

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel

After breakfast we set off to Mount Kenya National Park arriving at our ‘tree lodge’ for lunch. Serena Mountain Lodge is situated in the shadow of Mt Kenya, Kenya’s highest mountain. It is the only ‘tree hotel’ ever to be built on the slopes of Kenya’s legendary Mount Kenya. It offers a matchless game viewing opportunity whilst combining a glorious panorama of mountain vistas with the primordial splendours of an ancient rainforest. Floating high on the flanks of Kenya’s highest mountain and secreted deep within her largest forest reserve, the lodge offers not only the champagne-clarity of mountain air, the tranquillity of the forest and a colorful cavalcade of wildlife but also the chance of scaling the icy peaks of Africa’s second-highest mountain. You can awake to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole. Down the secret viewing hide by the water’s edge, you will experience the awesome thrill of being only meters away from some of the most massive beasts on earth – the savannah elephants. Enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Please note: A warm jacket/sweater and a good pair of hiking boots is highly recommended.

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge

After breakfast we depart north via Nanyuki for the Samburu Game Reserve set in the rugged, semi-arid northern region of Kenya, with spectacular scenic landscape. Arrive in time for lunch, a short siesta then head for an afternoon game viewing drive. 

The water of the great Ewaso Nyiro River, dotted with doum palms meanders through the reserve giving it an oasis setting and draws wildlife in great numbers to its banks. The verdant riverine forest is a stark contrast to the arid thorn studded plains. Samburu is visited by large herds of Elephants, drawn by the promise of water. In the dry season, the elephants use their tusks to dig deep into the dry river beds, unearthing precious water. These waterholes then become a focal point for other game. The Samburu region is the best place to find several endemic Northern species; including the Gerenuk (twiga gazelle) due to her long neck, the beisa Oryx, the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich and Grevy’s Zebra. Samburu is also an ornithological paradise, home to many birds including local species such as the Palm Nut Vulture and the Vinaceous Dove. Leopards are often seen at dusk. The Samburu culture is a truly fascinating one, sharing a great deal of ancestral and linguistic ties to the Maasai. The entire Samburu region is a place of breath taking and magical beauty, a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the doum palms along the river as a leopard emerges to hunt brings the perfect end to a day on safari. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your lodge/camp

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Elephant Bedroom Camp

Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing in both Samburu and Buffalo Springs game reserves. Leopards are often seen at dusk. The Samburu culture is a truly fascinating one, sharing a great deal of ancestral and linguistic ties to the Maasai. The entire Samburu region is a place of breathtaking and magical beauty, a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the doum palms along the river as a leopard emerges to hunt brings the perfect end to a day on safari…… Enjoy meals and overnight at our camp.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Visit to a Samburu Manyatta to see how the tribe lives in this harsh surrounding.

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Elephant Bedroom Camp

After breakfast depart south on a scenic drive towards Mt. Kenya, short game viewing enroute, arriving at your Sweetwaters Tented Camp in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, proceed on an afternoon game viewing drive within the reserve famous for plenty of plains game and the big five. It is also home to the endangered Chimpanzee and the Rhino Sanctuaries. Return to the lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Sweetwaters Tented Camp

This morning after breakfast, we drive to Lake Nakuru national Park. After breakfast we depart for Lake Nakuru National Park with a brief stop at the Thompson’s Falls for a breath-taking view of the great scenery. We arrive for lunch. This afternoon we enjoy a game viewing drive. The environment here is welcoming, one of the best places to relax, to unwind, to enjoy nature’s beauty. The scenery is breath-taking; a sight of the virgin forest is re-assuring. Some of the interesting places to visit include the baboon cliff, the lion hill and the Mau escarpment. The park is one of the best game viewing parks with various animal species including prides of lion, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, wart hogs, the endangered Rothschild giraffes, the black & white Rhino, the Burchell’s zebra, impalas, and the elusive leopard among many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here too. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places to see the endangered black and white Rhino. Enjoy dinner and overnight at our Lodge.

Meals: LDBB
Accommodation: Mbweha Safari Camp

A hearty early morning breakfast then drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve, offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. We arrive at the intimate, 20-tent Tipilikwani Camp to a very warm welcome for lunch, some leisure. This afternoon is the moment we have been longing for – we depart on an exciting game viewing drive. The Rolling plains and grasslands, stretching far into the horizons as far as the eye can see is home to the black-manned lion, the savannah elephant, the Cape buffalo, wildebeest, the elusive leopard, cheetah, the spotted & stripped hyena, the rhino, topi, burchelle’s zebra, the Maasai giraffe among many others. The Mara game reserve is one that can never disappoint. One is spoilt by the variety of bird and wildlife species in this game reserve….. For a long time, Mara Game Reserve has stubbed her authority as the ‘granary’ of wildlife in Kenya. We return back to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Meals: LDBB

Accommodation: Tipilikwani Luxury Tented Camp

Sumptuous breakfasts then we depart for a full day adventure. Be on the look-out for the big five that Maasai Mara is famous for. These include the lion, savannah (African) elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard and the black rhino. In the early 20th century, Kenya was a famous hunting destination. Killing any of the big five game one pride, a sense of class, a feeling of heroism. We may even be so lucky to witness a leopard or a cheetah sprint and make a kill! Tonight we will enjoy some private garden dinner. Overnight at the camp

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Balloon Safari
Today’s adventure begins just before dawn. Flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crew inflate their craft. The first, pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies and the hot air balloon fills then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a game-viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, a lion’s roar, elephants crashing through the bush, baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see something above them, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush, complete with flowers. China and crystal are set out on the table that is placed under a convenient acacia tree. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon safari. Back at Camp/lodge enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a well deserved rest.

Visit to an ‘off the beaten’ track Masai Manyatta
This afternoon, you may opt to visit a traditional Maasai Manyatta (off the beaten track) and experience the culture of this world famous community. The Masai still live as they did for centuries -interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions.

Meals: LDBB

Accommodation: Tipilikwani Luxury Tented Camp

This morning we enjoy our breakfast then check-out. Unbelievable but true, our good bush moments have come to an end. We bid farewell to our wonderful lodge manager and his team then depart to Nairobi. Not empty handed though. With us are photographs – a capture of the special moments we have had on this tour to immortalize the experience. Our guide driver will drop you at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport for your onward flight.

Meals: LDBB

Accommodation: Tipilikwani Luxury Tented Camp