Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
- Learn about elephant conservation from the most successful elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in the world, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
- Sip sundowners while you watch the sun dip below the horizon in the vast Laikipia Region.
- Experience nature close up on expertly guided bush walks.
- Fall asleep to the sounds of the bush in hanging tents during a night at a special fly camp.
- Visit a local girls’ academy to learn about life for girls in Kenya.
- Take a hot air balloon safari over one of the world’s most coveted wildlife areas, the Maasai Mara.
Day 1: Arrive to Kenya
Emakoko
Arrive to Nairobi where you will be met and transferred to Emakoko, located in Nairobi National Park. Begin your safari right away. This is the only national park in a major capital city in Africa! The Emakoko Lodge is a family-owned boutique luxury lodge, built into the side of the valley, which borders the Nairobi National Park — a 45 minute transfer from both airports in the city. The beautifully appointed rooms look out over the game park so one can fall asleep to the sounds of Africa—a lion roaring, or the cry of a lone hyena.
Overnight at Emakoko.
Day 2: Learn about Giraffes and Elephant conservation
Emakoko
This morning, your local guide will pick you up and escort you to the Giraffe Center, an education-focused organization where you can get up close and personal with these amazing animals!
This afternoon, visit the Daphne Sheldrick Orphanage. Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world today, as well as being a pioneer in the conservation and protection of wildlife and habitats in East Africa.
Day 3: Explore the vast wilderness in Laikipia
El Karama Eco Lodge
For the next five days, stay at El Karama Eco Lodge, an award-winning, intimate, and family friendly wildlife lodge located in the heart of the Laikipia. You will have access to 14,000 acres of private land that plays host to a spectacular variety of birds, mammals, and plants. The lodge prides itself not only on its extraordinary flora and fauna, but also on their warmth, hospitality, and exceptional value.
At 6:00 pm, your guide will find a high point from where you can watch the sun drop below the horizon. While you sip sundowners with your family, scan the land below through your binoculars for giraffe and other wildlife. The kids can eat their supper on a blanket in the early evening light.
Day 4: Enjoy a bushwalk and a specially prepared bush breakfast
El Karama Eco Lodge
You are welcome to take a walk this morning to get active after your long time traveling.
With direct views of Mount Kenya rising up over the plains and the sight of Grevy’s zebra, Laikipia hartebeeste, and running warthogs coming to the water’s edge, these walks are the perfect way to get you used to the great outdoors!
Walks often end with a bush breakfast under a boscia tree, once you have built up an appetite! Bush meals are freshly prepared on site and include homemade layered muesli and fruit pots, fresh breads with avocado and nuts, pastries straight out of the oven, cereals, and scrambled eggs and bacon sandwiches cooked on the spot by our chef.
This afternoon, head out with a pack including sundowners and kids’ meals, for a game drive in a different area of the ranch. End with a spotlight night drive and look for nocturnal species such as white-tailed mongoose, nightjars, bush babies, and the coveted leopard!
Day 5: Sleep in the bush in a fly camp
El Karama Eco Lodge Fly Camp
This morning, visit the dairy parlor, meet and assist with milking the baby calves, and tour the organic garden before heading out for a game drive in the southern section of the ranch where you’ll look for bat-eared fox, jackal, and aardwolf.
In the afternoon, embark on a longer bush walk to your camp for the evening.
This fly camp is like nothing you’ve ever seen before! The tents are suspended above the ground under the shade of the Euclea by the Murera Dam. The set-up is simple – a dug out long drop toilet, a hand washing basin next to your tent, and a simple lamb stew on an open fire served up in bowls with a nice cold beer.
Fall asleep under the stars, with warm blankets in our tree tents with the sounds of the wilderness all around you. This is one of the highlights of the trip and should leave you with memories of elephant browsing in the distance and lions calling back and forth over the ridges. There is nothing quite like sleeping in the bush.
Day 6: Day at leisure to enjoy your surroundings
El Karama Eco Lodge
Once you’ve watched the morning light emerge and the wildlife has started moving around, it will be time to check the camera traps you set earlier in your stay. Head back to the lodge and enjoy a full, hot breakfast while your guide finds any good photos of the wildlife to show you. It all comes down to luck!
Spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool and snoozing in one of the two-person hammocks!
Day 7: Visit a local girls’ academy
El Karama Eco Lodge
Spend a day at the local girls’ academy. Daraja is an assisted school for girls from all over the country. One of the students will meet you and take you on a tour of the school to see the dormitories, visit the organic garden, learn about their mentoring system, and generally get a feel for what life is like for young girls in Kenya.
Embark on one final game drive to see if you can find that last leopard or lion pride. Enjoy the sounds and smells around you and finish up with a candlelit meal under the stars as your last hurrah before your departure to the Maasai Mara!
Day 8: Transfer to the Maasia Mara
House in the Wild
This morning, depart Nanyuki for your flight to the Mara. You will be met at the Ngerende Airstrip by your guide and transferred to your accommodation.
After lunch, embark on an afternoon game drive in the Enonkishu and Ol Chorro Conservancies, followed by a sundowner out on the plains.
Day 9: Embark on game drives in the Mara
House in the Wild
Today, you are welcome to go on a peaceful horse ride around the farm, or on a morning walk along the river and onto the plains of the Enonkishu Conservancy escorted by your Maasai guide.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive through the Enonkishu, Lemek, and Ol Chorro Conservancies to look for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and big cats. After dinner, take another night game drive to look for nocturnal animals and elusive leopards.
Day 10: Full day to explore the Mara
House in the Wild
Today, enjoy a full day to explore the vast Masai Mara Reserve.
After breakfast, head into the park for the day. Enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to the house for drinks around the campfire and dinner under the stars.
Day 11: Hot air balloon safari
House in the Wild
This morning, you have the option of a hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast! Alternatively, you can go on a farm tour to learn about the Enonkishu Conservancy and conservation work being done through House in the Wild.
After lunch by the river, visit a local manyatta to learn about livestock and how to make fire and build bomas. You’ll also be able to watch some incredible singing and dancing!
Day 12: Morning game drive and departure
As today is your final day on safari, rise early to take full advantage of your last morning game drive in the Enonkishu Conservancy, followed by breakfast.
After breakfast, catch an 11:00 am flight from the Ngerende Airstrip to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, arriving around 12:05 pm. You will have a day room so you can spend your afternoon at leisure before your flight home.
Interested in booking this itinerary or customizing a safari to Kenya? Get in touch with a private safari designer!
