Kenya: Lewa Wildlife & Greater Mara Private Group Safari (9N) - Classic

On the first day of your holiday, you’ll touch down at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, receiving a VIP Meet and Greet. From here, you’ll transfer privately to Ole Sereni, for just one night before your safari begins. This hotel is not only close to the airport, but also a stone’s throw from Nairobi National Park! Its main restaurant and bar overlook the savanna, so you can enjoy a little preview of wildlife watching prior to your time in Lewa and the Mara region. Ol Sereni has a spa too, and a spacious swimming pool. The category of accommodation we’ve selected for you is the Superior Room, featuring comfortable bedroom, well-appointed en-suite washroom, and a host of modern amenities, guaranteeing a pleasant stay.

Board basis and activities:
B&B accommodation.

On Day 2, you’ll transfer privately from Ole Sereni to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, then fly out to Lewa Downs Airstrip (1 hr 30 mins) before a shared transfer to Borana Lodge. Owned and hosted by the Dyer family, this is a very friendly ranch property with a stunning location on the Laikipia plateau. Its communal spaces are found on two separate sites, one on each side of a hill. One site has rustic lounge and dining areas in addition to a swimming pool with waterhole views, while the other has more of an English country meets authentic Africa style. Guest accommodation consists of eight characterful cottages, each set well apart from its neighbour/s within Borana’s grounds and offering en-suite full bathroom plus veranda with amazing vistas over the plateau. While exploring the area you can expect to see lion, cheetah, elephant, zebra, black rhino, and hundreds of birds!

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, sundowner excursions, shared game drives (day and night), guided bush walks, horseback riding, mountain biking, transfers between the lodge and Lewa Downs Airstrip, Wi-Fi, and a laundry service.

Following your time in Lewa, you’ll have a shared transfer back to Lewa Downs Airstrip and you’ll fly to Olare Orok Airstrip in the Maasai Mara (1 hr 45 mins). Then it’s a shared transfer to Kicheche Bush Camp, in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. This is a traditional safari camp, with a classic feel. There’s a mess tent for lounging and dining, and guests often eat al fresco too, around the welcoming campfire. There are just six guest tents, also classic in style. All offer comfy wood-framed bed, separate seating area, and en-suite washroom complete with bucket shower! From this authentic base, you’ll enjoy expertly guided vehicle and walking safaris, and a hot air balloon ride if you wish (at extra cost). If you visit during July–October, you can look out for the huge herds of the Great Migration, pushing up into Kenya from Tanzania in their search for food! And anyone interested in culture will be keen to visit the local Maa Trust, to meet local women and observe their intricate beadwork.

Board basis and activities:
Game-package basis, including all food, drinks, and shared scheduled safari activities. Days are designed by the guides when you arrive in the camp, with standard game drives and guided walks included in the price.

Come Day 7, it’s time to hit the beach! You’ll transfer from Kicheche Bush Camp to the Maasai Mara’s Ol Kiombo Airstrip, before flying out to Ukunda Airport (2 hrs 25 mins) and transferring to Almanara Boutique Hotel. This property is accessed via a glass walkway over a koi pond, which really sets the tone for the high standards you’ll enjoy here. Among Almanara’s communal facilities are a sumptuous library, a bar, an ocean-view Jacuzzi, and an infinity swimming pool! You’ll stay in a Deluxe Ocean View Room, an option boasting super-king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe, marble bathroom, and private veranda. An exciting variety of activities is on offer here, from watersports such as kite- and windsurfing, to fishing trips and dhow excursions, to land sports including golf! And Diani Beach is a dream destination for simple relaxation during the last few days of a bush-and-beach holiday.

Board basis and activities:
Full-board accommodation, including bespoke daily dining (three meals daily incl. a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks), transfers between the hotel and Ukunda Airport, and chauffeur services within Diani.

On the last day of your trip, you’ll return to Ukunda Airport and fly back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport (1 hr 50 mins), before transferring privately to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your flight/s home.