Kenya's two most famous parks & tribes

Ole Sereni is one of our top options for stopovers, as the hotel provides plenty of fine dining, a spa, and a swimming pool. So on Day 1 of this trip, you’ll touch down in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant and exciting capital, and stay at Ole Sereni for 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! Both its main restaurant and bar overlook the plains, so you can enjoy a little wildlife watching prior to your time in Samburu and the Mara region.

From Nairobi, you’ll fly to Samburu National Reserve and head straight out on safari into the elephant-filled park. You’ll stay at the aptly named Elephant Bedroom, which, though a very comfortable and low-key camp, is positioned right in the thick of the action thanks to its riverside location. As a classic safari camp, it offers activities that are typical of a wildlife-focused property, including game drives and walking safaris. There’s plenty of big game here, not least lion, leopard, and elephant. You can also look out for the ‘Samburu Special Five’ – reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. The reserve is home to hundreds of bird species too!

After your stay in Samburu, you’ll fly to the Maasai Mara and head to the classic camp and a true YZ favourite property, Offbeat Mara. Once you’ve arrived, you can relax in the camp’s spacious mess tent, which contains pleasant lounge and dining areas, both boasting spectacular river views! Offbeat provides game drives, game walks, cultural visits, and hot air balloon safaris (at extra cost). If you visit during the period from July to October, you can look out for the famous Great Migration, as huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles move up into the Mara region. However, even outside those peak months, this is a dream destination for wildlife viewing!