10 Days Bush Sanctuary Expedition

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and assisted to transfer to Hemingways Nairobi. Overlooking the Ngong Hills in Nairobi’s tranquil and upscale neighbourhood of Karen, this luxurious boutique hotel is a haven of elegant charm. With great service and a tranquil atmosphere, Hemingways Nairobi makes an ideal 1- or 2-night stopover for travellers beginning or ending their Kenya safari. It is popular with high-level delegations and VIPs, and is a sought-after meeting place for well-heeled Kenyans.

You will be picked from your hotel for a picturesque drive to Amobseli national Park. Ona rrival you will check in at the beatiful and serene Tawi Lodge. Tawi Lodge lies on a beautiful private concession at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, only ten minutes away from the gate to Amboseli National Park. This eco-friendly lodge offers magnificent views from both its main guest areas and its beautifully appointed cottages. Each cottage boasts romantic four-poster beds, a lovely ensuite bathroom with a Victorian bath and a shower, a fireplace and a personal bar. A butler service is provided for that added personal touch.

Delicious meals are enjoyed in the main guest area, with menus created from the freshest ingredients (locally sourced where possible) and served to a symphony of African sounds. A waterhole, visible from the convivial bar areas, a dining room, sitting rooms and a spa all offer a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a spot of game viewing from the comfort of the lodge. Adventures include twice-daily game drives in 4×4 safari vehicles, nature walks, camel walks and fly camping.

The name ‘Amboseli’ comes from a Maasai word meaning ‘salty dust’- Amboseli National Park is a place of ever changing landscapes, from acacia woodland, giant palm forest, dusty dry lake beds, volcanic plains, to lush, cool, green swamps fed by the snowmelt of Kilimanjaro. Home to some of Kenya’s biggest elephant herds. These gentle giants stroll across the landscape in their hundreds, a wonderous and awe inspiring sight! Exceptional views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, excellent wildlife and exotic birdlife.

Board a flight to the Laikipia Plateau and continue to your private wildlife conservancy. On arrival, you will be transferred to Lewa Wilderness Lodge, settle in, and then take to the bush for an afternoon game drive. Lewa Wilderness is situated on the edge of one of Kenya’s most private game sanctuaries, the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy. Guests are accommodated in charming cottages which include spacious bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, fireplaces and verandas.

Guest areas include a cosy sitting room, an open-air dining area and a saltwater pool boasting breathtaking panoramas of the valley below. Healthy and delicious meals are prepared with fresh produce from the lodge’s verdant organic garden. Adventures include game drives into the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy, camel riding, nature walks, horseriding, tennis and cultural visits to a nearby Maasai village. Those in need of leisure time can simply relax with a book in the pretty garden or take a refreshing dip in the inviting pool.

There is an abundance of exciting activities to do at the Lewa conservancy, including impressive game drives tat showcase the variety and densities of wildlife. Keen bird watchers can look forward to the sight and sound of close to 350 bird species. Viewing wildlife on foot, accompanied by local armed guides, provides an up close and personal interaction with the wildlife and the flora and fauna. The ability to do a walking safari experience is one of the factors that make Lewa a truly unique safari destination. Sit quietly and watch elephant, impala, waterbuck and many other species come to drink water in the nearby marsh or chose to drive, walk or ride to a secluded area. The mouth-watering local dishes, the roaring bonfire on chilly evenings and the enchanting Maasai dancers are recipe for a memorable evening. Educational tours on the history and day-t-day operations of the area provide a fascinating insight into the running of conservancy.

Drive to Nanyuki, stopping en route at Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, a women’s self-help project with a mission to empower women to achieve sustainable livelihoods through social and economic empowerment activities. See how women learn to weave and create a wide range of handsome rugs and other accessories during this inspiring artisan visit. Arrive at Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. Check in and spend an afternoon at leisure, perhaps enjoying a swim in the heated pool, or try one of the many optional activities available, such as horseback riding on the slopes of Mount Kenya, golfing or trout fishing.

Set at the base of Africa’s second-highest peak, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club feels as elite as it was in its 1960s heyday. Movie idol William Holden founded the club so friends like Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill could escape their worldly cares. Escape yours on 100 landscaped acres with croquet lawns, stunning rose gardens and tranquil pools. Visit the animal orphanage next door, and explore the surrounding reserve on mountain bike or horseback. Expect to be lavished with attention, treated to elegant repasts and cosseted in your royally decorated guestroom with fireplace.

Fly to the Masai Mara Game Reserve and your award-winning luxury camp. Its 16 elegant tents feature four-poster beds and verandas overlooking a private stretch of the Mara River, where hippos wallow. After a late-afternoon game drive, return to camp for dinner. Olonana Camp is situated in the heart of Kenya’s Big Game country — rich with hippo, elephant, buffalo, hyena, giraffe, armies of gazelle and famed prides of lion. Immersed in this magnificent wildlife haven, 14 chic, contemporary suites are designed with clean lines and an organic feel, with floor to ceiling glass doors that fold open onto Mara River views. Featuring plush king-sized beds, overhead fans and an indulgent daybed on the deck for the ultimate relaxation, three suites offer an extra room which is ideal for families. Spacious bathrooms of slate and marble offer a tub, rain shower and double vanity, and mini fridges are fully stocked with an extensive array of drinks and treats.

Kenya’s most famous national reserve, the Masai Mara runs along the country south-west border with Kenya, just across the border from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. This gigantic ecosystem is shared by the two countries and protected with a combination of national reserves and community-run conservation areas. The Mara offers a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from tented camps to luxurious lodges. Some are located within the borders of the national park, while others are on conservancies that surround the park. Those located on private conservancies offer the added lure of activities not allowed within the park itself, including night drives, nature walks, off-road driving and the opportunity to enjoy dining out in the bush. The reserves are not fenced, meaning that game moves freely between the reserves and the conservancies, creating one vast wildlife area. During winter (June to September) and the migration months, the Mara becomes very busy and wildlife sightings become very crowded, with vehicles gathering for a lion kill or potential river crossing. During the quieter summer months and the green season (when there are heavy rains, particularly between March and June), the reserve is much quieter and visitors feel as though they have the Mara to themselves. Although the big herds of the Great Migration have moved off by this time, the abundant resident game can still be seen and wildlife sightings still rival anywhere in the world.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Nairobi. You will be met at the Wilson airport upon arrival and transferred to your dayroom at Emara Hotel Ole Sereni until your international flight.