Leanna McGrath and family
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
ARRIVE IN NAIROBI AND TRANSFER TO GIRAFFE MANOR
Giraffe Manor is located in Karen, a leafy suburb of Nairobi. Set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest, it is only 20 kilometers / 12 miles from the city center. Built in the 1930s, this luxury boutique hotel has maintained all the charm of the era and is now famous for its resident herd of Rothschild Giraffe.
Giraffe Manor offers you an unparalleled experience with the giraffes; they will be vying for your attention at the breakfast table, the front door, and even your bedroom window. Giraffe Manor is also home to many characters, including warthogs, bushbuck, dik-dik, and more than 180 species of birds.
Overnight Giraffe Manor
Day 2
VISIT DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
Enjoy an outing to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where baby elephants delight guests as they feed and play.
You will have the opportunity to adopt a baby elephant at the center and be sent email updates about its survival and progress.
You will also have a chance to visit the Giraffe Center, a breeding sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild giraffe.
Overnight Giraffe Manor
Day 3
LAIKIPIA
Today you will take a flight to Loisaba in Laikipia and transfer to Tumaren Camp for your first night in the wild. This evening, assess elephant locations with your host as they explain the planned route for the next few days so you can follow a family of elephants.
Laikipia is known for its diverse wildlife, specifically large mammals. Elephants, big cats, and other predators thrive alongside endangered species like the Grevy’s Zebra, wild dogs, and Highland Hartebeest.
Overnight Tumaren Camp
Day 4 - 5
ELEPHANT SAFARI ON FOOT
Over the next couple of days, stay close to the band of vegetation that follows the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. The river is an ideal location to approach elephant herds and other animals that are drawn to the water and lush habitat.
Your guides will help you find your way through the landscape, while a troupe of camels carries your camping gear. Even though you are focusing on one elephant herd, others will no doubt cross your path. Experience what it is like to live an elephant lifestyle and empathize with these singularly intelligent and nurturing animals, understanding their place in the animal kingdom.
Evenings will be spent around the fire sharing stories from the day while enjoying the delicious cuisine of your chef.
Overnight Mobile Camping
Day 6 - 7
SARARA CAMP, SAMBURU
Your final stop is Sarara Camp, 850,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the Mathews Range. This camp, located in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, sits amongst vast savannah plains and lush mountain slopes.
In this remote and dramatic landscape, you’ll find elephant, leopard, Somali giraffe, wild dog, and kudu. It is also home to the Samburu people. The people and their traditions are a part of this land as much as the wildlife.
While at Sarara, you will have the chance to visit the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, a new home to orphaned elephants in the Northern part of Kenya. The only community-owned elephant orphanage in Africa was established in 2016 within the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy.
Their goal is to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned or abandoned elephants with hopes to return them to the wild with continuous monitoring. It is also a symbol of the local Samburu communities uniting for wildlife, in recognition of the many values it has for them.
Overnight Sarara Lodge
Day 8
Departure
Today you will return to Nairobi for your international flight home, or if you cannot bear to leave Kenya just yet, extend your safari in the Maasai Mara.
