Kenya: Ultimate Elephant Experience (8N) - Classic

On the first day of your holiday, you’ll touch down at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), receiving a VIP Meet and Greet. From here, you’ll travel via private road transfer to Hemingways Nairobi. This plantation-style property is situated in the leafy suburb of Karen and all its rooms boast views of the Ngong Hills. Its communal spaces include sumptuous lounge and dining areas, a sunny terrace, a spa, and a heated swimming pool! Hemingways is renowned for its superb service standards, not least because a private butler looks after all guests throughout their time here. You’ll stay in a Deluxe Room, benefiting from a stylish bedroom, en-suite full bathroom, and private balcony with hills views. The hotel offers an exciting range of activities. For example, you can enjoy expertly guided game drives in Nairobi National Park, looking out for four of the Big Five, numerous smaller predators and herbivores, and ample birdlife. Visits to the city’s Giraffe Centre are another highlight, but our top tip for ele lovers is a trip to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, to meet adorable orphan elephants.

Board basis and activities:
B&B accommodation, including a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (by virtue of an elephant adoption included in the trip price, which allows access to 5pm feeding time and vehicle for the day).

Come Day 4, you’ll travel to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport via private road transfer and you’ll fly to Amboseli Airport. Once you’ve landed, you’ll have a shared road transfer to Tortilis Camp. This camp is spectacularly situated within its own wildlife-rich concession. Its communal areas are housed in a classic timber, stone, and thatch structure, and they include a large lounge, a smart dining room, and a well-stocked bar. The property has a spa too, as well as a fire-pit and a spacious swimming pool! Your accommodation will consist of a Standard Tent, which comes with a comfortable bedroom, well-appointed en-suite facilities, and spacious veranda with amazing views! Activities from Tortilis are all about viewing the wildlife of both the concession and Amboseli National Park, on vehicle and walking safaris. The park is famous for its immense concentrations of elephant, so it’s a dream destination for ele fans! You can also look out for lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, Maasai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, an astonishing assortment of antelopes, and hundreds of birds. Tortilis offers cultural experiences too, such as a visit to a local homestead, in an exciting cultural add-on to your safari.

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, featuring all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, shared and scheduled game drives, guided walking safaris, sundowners, bush breakfasts, conservancy fees, transfers between the camp and Amboseli Airport, and a laundry service.

For the final part of your trip, you’ll return to Amboseli Airport via shared road transfer and fly back to Wilson Airport, before continuing on to Samburu Oryx airstrip and having another shared transfer to Elephant Watch Camp. This excellent little eco-property is a bit of a favourite at YZ! Its main building is a distinctive thatched structure, containing comfortable and colourful living and dining areas. Guests can also relax, eat, and drink in a number of al fresco locations around camp, such as down by the Ewaso Nyiro river. Elephant Watch has just six thatch-roof tents, each featuring a vibrantly furnished bedroom, a washroom with bucket shower, and a lovely private veranda. From this fabulous base, you can head out on expertly guided game drives and walks, both focused on elephant sightings. Of course there’s a wealth of other wildlife to see in the Samburu, not least the reserve’s own Special Five – Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich. You can also enjoy camel walks, mountain hikes, helicopter rides, and village visits. And, most excitingly of all, you can take a trip to the Save the Elephants research centre, where you can find out all about efforts to conserve the gentle giants!

Board basis and activities:
All-inclusive accommodation, featuring all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, elephant watching and game drives, bush picnics, sundowners, guided bird walks and hikes, a visit to Save the Elephants research centre, manyatta and school visits, transfers between the camp and Samburu Oryx airstrip, and a laundry service. 

On your last day, you’ll return to Samburu Oryx airstrip via shared road transfer and fly back to Wilson Airport. Here you’ll have use of a half-day vehicle, enabling you to visit local curio shops or simply relax and enjoy dinner before heading to JKIA in good time for your flight/s home.