Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
- Get off the crowded safari trail with a stay at Batian’s View.
- Lend a hand at local schools and be welcomed into family homes.
- Visit local farms and meet the farmers who produce flowers and organic herbs.
- Learn about species conservation on the largest sanctuary for black rhinos in East Africa.
- Take in the big-game safari experience in a remote, exclusive, and serene Laikpaia Reserve.
- Stay in a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful acacia valley in the Maasai Mara
Day 1: Arrival to Kenya
Ole Sereni Hotel
Pick up from the airport via private transfer and overnight at Ole Sereni near the airport. Ideally located between Nairobi’s domestic Wilson Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (the latter is less than 15 minutes’ drive), Ole Sereni also offers a taste of wild Kenya, overlooking the bushlands of Nairobi National Park. Hotel guests frequently see giraffe, zebra, antelope, and buffalo lounging near the nearby waterhole. This business-style hotel offers all the conveniences one might need upon arriving in Kenya.
Meals: for purchase.
Day 2: Depart Nairobi and Transfer to Batian’s View
Private Cottage
Today you will take an early morning transfer around 8:00 am to Nairobi Wilson Airport to connect with your flight to Safarilink to Nanyuki Airstrip.
Pick by your hosts and transfer to Batian’s View (15-25 minutes driving.) Introduction to your stay and volunteering and cultural program, settle in and then head into the village for the afternoon.
Batian’s View is a service and leadership-oriented educational center, dedicated to setting its visitors up for learning-filled adventures in Kenya – whether outdoors or in the local community. Batian’s mission is to link guests to meaningful service projects in surrounding schools and orphanages.
Batian’s View is situated on the banks of the Naro Moru River and the lower slopes of Mt. Kenya. The 17,000 ft. snowcapped mountain is the backdrop to Batian’s View eight acres of pristine forest, home to colobus monkey, bush buck, and crowned hornbill. Your accommodation here will be a fully furnished cottage. There is electricity and outlets in all rooms, and housekeeping will clean your rooms daily. The cottage has a fireplace, fully equipped kitchen and a bathroom with a bathtub/shower.
All meals included.
Day 3: Volunteering & Batian’s View
Private Cottage
Take several days to pursue a project while based at Batian’s View. Volunteer at the school or work with the kids at Lipela Children’s Home.
Additional activities and visits that can be arranged during your stay include:
- Visits to nearby schools to meet local kids and learn about their schooling.
- Welcomed visits to neighbors’ homes and farms.
- Experience the Batian’s View ropes course or zip line.
- Outing to Nanyuki (30 minutes away) for shopping at local markets or in town and lunch at a local restaurant or cafe.
- Tour a flower farm in Nanyuki that exports to Europe, and learn more about the horticulture sector works.
- Tour an organic herb farm in Nanyuki that produces herbal beauty products.
All meals included.
Day 4: Depart Batian’s View & Safari in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
After breakfast, meet your safari guide and then transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Today begins your exciting safari in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This fantastic non-profit is innovating the ways conservation, community development, and wildlife tourism can all work together. Its location in the Laikipia Region of central Kenya is the largest sanctuary for black rhinos in East Africa. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy provides a sanctuary for great apes, generating income through wildlife tourism and fully integrated livestock production. Proceeds are then re-invested in conservation and community development. A truly proactive and innovative approach!
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp is a small, boutique camp that is owner-run and operated by Alex Hunter. Ol Pejeta’s five newly renovated, stylish yet traditional East African safari tents offer an excellent base from which to explore the secrets of this renowned conservancy – from the pioneering conservation projects that have made it famous to spectacular sightings of black and white rhino and the Big Five.
Fully inclusive on shared basis.
Day 5: Safari in Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
This morning and afternoon, join other Ol Pejeta guests on game drives through the magnificent Laikipia Reserve, where you’re likely to see big game favorites as well as lesser-known species.
Laikipia is known for its remoteness, solitude, and exclusivity – the perfect context for spotting rare wildlife, especially the highly endangered black rhino.
Fully-inclusive safari on shared basis.
Day 6: Depart Ol Pejeta for Maasai Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp
Depart Ol Pejeta, transfer back to Nanyuki Airstrip, and fly to the Maasai Mara. Your guide will meet you at the airport and make your way to camp for lunch, enjoying a game drive en route. Later, join other lodge guests and head out on an afternoon safari.
Kicheche Mara Camp is a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful acacia valley overlooking the Olare Orok stream. With only eight tents, the intimate and relaxed atmosphere allows you to enjoy a unique experience in the prime wildlife area of the Mara’s North Conservancy.
Fully inclusive on shared basis.
Day 7: Safari in Maasai Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp
This morning and afternoon, enjoy game drives through the Maasai Mara Reserve. The Maasai Mara is second to none in terms of volume and diversity of wildlife. It is globally famous for its exceptional population of Maasai lions, African leopards, and Tanzanian cheetahs, and the annual migration of zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year.
Fully inclusive on shared basis.
Day 8: Depart Massai Mara & Ole Sereni in Nairobi
Enjoy a morning game drive. Depart Maasai Mara via flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Transfer directly to your hotel or to the international airport for your flight home.
Breakfast and lunch included this day (dinner for purchase).
Interested in booking this itinerary or customizing a safari to Kenya? Get in touch with a private travel designer!