Magic of Kenya Safari Holiday by Diplomatic Travel

Itinerary Information

The Magic of Kenya Safari

October
Call for your own personalised itinerary

Our 11 night safari holiday visits some of the least exploited and most diverse areas of Kenya. Staying in 4* lodges at Lake Nakuru and Samburu National Park and a luxury tented camp at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Excellent game viewing and birding is assured and the variety of game watching experience in the company of other wildlife lovers will provide a truly memorable holiday.

The itinerary visits the fertile highlands of Mount Kenya and Meru National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in East Africa. You will see for yourself how local community based projects are bringing mutual benefits to the land, its people and wildlife

Highlights of the tour

Experience the conservation projects that have revitalised indigenous wildlife at Lewa
Game drives in 4 x 4 vehicles including night drives
Chance to see the "Big 5"
See traditional and modern Masai lifestyles at Il'Ngwesi
Visit Elsa's Kopje made famous in the film "Born Free"
Spectacular scenery

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Check in late afternoon at Heathrow Airport in time for your overnight flight to Nairobi (ETD 20.00).

Day 2

Arriving into Nairobi (ETA 06.25) you will be met by your driver/guide for the journey to Lake Nakuru in 4x4 vehicles, travelling through Kenya's fertile highlands, where rolling tea and coffee estates abound, opening up to a spectacular view of the Great Rift Valley, with the dormant Longonot volcano taking centre stage.

Your panoramic journey will then take you past Lake Naivasha, with its Crescent Island and onto Lake Nakuru where you will stay at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for two nights on Full Board. Set high on a plateau the lodge offers panoramic views of the shimmering lake and its surrounding national park, meals are served inside the lodge, by the pool or under a forest of towering acacia trees.

Lake Nakuru is often coloured a shimmering flamingo pink from thousands of the beautiful flamingos, pelicans, marabou storks and other birds lining its shores. Following lunch, the remainder of the afternoon will be spent on a game drive exploring the park and the lake shoreline.

Day 3

Today will be spent exploring the park on morning and afternoon game drives.

Day 4

After breakfast, drive to Nyahururu, still known to many as Thomson's Falls for its 237 foot cascade, and on to Nanyuki town, where you'll cross the northernmost foothills of Kenya's highest mountain, Mount Kenya. You'll pass through the busy outpost of Isiolo before reaching Samburu in time for lunch. After time to settle in and relax, enjoy tea and cakes before departing on an afternoon game drive, returning to the lodge as the sun sets.

You will stay at Samburu Serena Lodge on a Full Board basis for the next three nights. The lodge overlooks the muddy waters and sandbanks of the Uaso Nyiro River, where pods of hippo and massive crocodiles congregate. The rooms have private verandas overlooking the river. There is also a swimming pool with beauty treatments and massages available. Fascinating slide shows, lectures and tribal dancing are performed nightly, as well as crocodile feeding.

The surrounding terrain is extremely scenic with acacia woodlands, ravines and open grasslands, as well as some volcanic rock cones and craggy hills. Sightings should include long-necked gerunuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa oryx, while leopards are frequent visitors to the lodge.

Day 5

This morning there will be an early morning game drive followed by a ‘bubbly’ bush breakfast, and then time to relax or spend another few hours on a game drive. After lunch there will be another game drive, returning to the lodge as the sun sets.

Day 6

This morning you’ll rise early again to enjoy a bush walk with the local naturalists. After breakfast, the remainder of the morning will be spent on a game drive. After lunch, time to relax in the lodge before an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets.

Day 7

Depart after breakfast and enjoy a game drive en route to the border of the park. From here head south arriving at Lewa Downs Conservancy by lunchtime.

Your activities here will be very flexible and will depend on the groups’ interests and what is happening at Lewa whilst you are there. Options include game walks and game drives, horse riding, camel riding, a visit to local pre historic sites or simply enjoying the beautiful setting.

This evening there will be a night drive. You will stay at Lewa Downs Safari Camp on a Full Board basis (including local beers, soft drinks and wines) for the next four nights. The camp's twelve luxury double tents are comfortable, with twin beds and en suite bathrooms. The emphasis is on freshly cooked home fare with locally available ingredients.

The warm and cosy lounge overlooks a floodlit wildlife waterhole. In the evening guests sit around a campfire under the stars. Game drives are in customised 4x4 drive vehicles and because it is a private conservancy, you may also go on night drives, which will allow you to see nocturnal animals.

Walking safaris are also fascinating. Horseback safaris allow close encounters with the wildlife, while a camel safari is not to be missed! A visit to an archaeological site is also possible. Experienced guides accompany all activities.

Day 8

The following three days will be very flexible and based on the many activities available but should include a trip to Il N’gwesi Cultural Village.

Day 9

After a full morning of activities and lunch, a safari cruiser will transfer you to Nairobi, arriving late afternoon. Upon arrival, you’ll enjoy dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant before being transferred to the airport in time to check in for your international flight home (ETD 23.40).