Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Kenya - Mount Kenya - Lake Naivasha - Masai Mara - Nairobi - Tanzania - Stone Town - Zanzibar South Coast
100% customisable for you
You'll have a warm welcome at Nairobi airport and assistance with customs formalities. Meet your private ranger-driver who will take you for a hearty breakfast in a bustling central neighbourhood in Nairobi. Then, drive to Mount Kenya (which takes around four hours), winding between the highlands. On a clear day, you can see Mount Kenya, known as Kirinyaga, and its snow-capped summit, which overlooks the valleys of small farming villages from its summit at over 17,000ft above sea level. Enjoy a two-night stay in the heart of one of Kenya's only private concessions on a traditional farm built in the 1930s on the ancestral lands of the Maasai people, near the slopes of Mount Kenya. Between the ranch and the master house, this beautiful four-bedroom property offers a charming base for adventures in the bush. A large swimming pool complements a lovely garden, the perfect way to relax after returning from your safari.
This extinct volcano, which stands at over 16,400ft, is Africa's highest peak after Kilimanjaro. On the equator line north-east of Nairobi, memorable treks are undertaken through plains, tropical forests, bamboo groves, meadows and snowy peaks. A variety of flora flourishes on the successive stages of the volcano, as well as large populations of elephants, monkeys, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, leopards, lions, as well as rare species such as bongos and suni. Stay at a private concession of nearly 99,000 acres, located at the foot of the Aberdares plateau. From there, go on safari twice a day in an open-top 4x4, a great way to spot the many rhinoceros that have been reintroduced there.
Head to Lake Naivasha (four-and-a-half hours) along the Aberdares Mountains, until you reach an altitude of 6,230ft. Two-night stay on the shores of the lake in a lovely little camp (eight tents in total), in the heart of an area popular with wildlife lovers. Parquet flooring, dark wooden furniture, canopy beds, elegant dining room under canvas from which a golden chandelier hangs... it all has a colonial and timeless air about it, which is perfectly in line with the spirit of 'Out of Africa'. Each tent is extended by a small terrace with a few deckchairs. Wake up and grab a pair of binoculars to watch, from the comfort of your bed, hippos yawning in the lake.
Included in the itinerary - Riding through the bush. Riding is part of the British colonial culture that is very prevalent, particularly in the lake area. Large properties and lakes are adjacent to traditional reserves and villages. This varied and contrasting area is perfect for riding adventures, especially within the private concessions, which are home to endless wild animals. Being in the saddle gives you the exciting opportunity to get much closer to the animals.
It was on the shores of this beautiful freshwater lake, bordered by hills and acacias, that naturalist Joy Adamson and her husband George settled to reintroduce the lioness Elsa into her natural environment. The success of Joy's novel 'Born Free' helped encourage wildlife enthusiasts to visit Kenya. Spend two days with a working population that shares this rich but fragile territory with wildlife. Lake Naivasha, derived from the local Maasai name 'Nai'posha', meaning 'rough water' because of the sudden storms which can arise, is renowned for its countless birds and hippos. Enjoy a canoe trip to Crescent Island is a unique experience to get up close and personal with giraffes, gazelles, zebras and wildebeest. Your private guide takes you on a safari during the cool hours of the day, dawn and dusk, when the animals are most active.
Included in the itinerary - Private tour of Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island. A lake cruise is an opportunity to experience the wildlife that inhabits the lake, including this impressive population of hippos and its many birds. Naivasha is dominated by the Crescent Island Reserve, which can be discovered on foot, among gazelles, zebras and giraffes moving in complete freedom alongside birds such as pelicans, ibis and herons.
Head to the south of the country in the direction of Masai Mara (around six hours). After the town of Narok, the rugged, green landscapes gradually disappear to make way for the immense bush of the Mara, which some 300 miles later, ends in Tanzania's Serengeti. The light becomes brighter, the heat intensifies: you have entered the region that has made the Maasai people known to the world. The Mara River forms the natural border with Tanzania. Enjoy a two-night stay in the north-west of the park, on the Oloololo Escarpment in the Great Rift Valley, where riparian forests meet the immense plains of the Mara. The camp is home to about 40 tents, erected on wooden platforms around the Sabaringo River. It's the ideal location to sit, relax and look out over the savannah. The vegetable garden produces delicious fresh vegetables and salads for the chefs to cook up for you. A swimming pool is available, as well as a massage tent. As a private concession established in a remote area of the reserve, the sense of immersion in nature here is powerful.
Bordering Tanzania, the Masai Mara is actually an extension of the huge Serengeti Park. The border is crossed by millions of wildebeest and zebras who trample it with their hooves every year during the Great Migration. when these frantic creatures throw themselves into the teeming floods of hungry crocodiles and along banks frequented by hunting lions. The spectacle is one of harrowing beauty and violence.
Included in the itinerary - Two safaris per day. The open savannahs of the reserve offer endless spaces for herbivores. Wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hartebeest, damaliscus and elk graze in freedom. Their predators, different species of wild animals, are quick to remind them that nature is cruel to those who don't run fast enough. Hyenas, jackals, vultures and marabous then make light work of the remains. The imposing and indifferent elephants reign supreme. The Masai Mara is a complete ecosystem in any season; it's alive, abundant and breathtaking. What you see from your open-top 4x4 will be etched into your memory forever.
Also included in the itinerary - A romantic dinner in the savannah, undoubtedly one of the most iconic experiences of the 'safari lifestyle'. Around a fire, far from civilisation and in the heart of the African bush, enjoy a gourmet candlelit dinner under the magic of the African sky.
Optional - A sunrise safari and breakfast in the bush.
Drive to Nairobi (six hours). Settle in for an overnight stay in a contemporary hotel near the airport. Ideal for this overnight break between the large parks and the second leg of your trip, Zanzibar Island. There's a small garden, swimming pool and fitness area, so you can recover from your journey through the African bush.
Private transfer to Nairobi airport and flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, enjoy fast track through customs formalities and a private transfer to your hotel in Zanzibar's Stone Town, the birthplace of this island's history. Overnight stay in the most beautiful bedroom of a house built in 1860 for a princess, the niece of Sultan Sayyid Bin Barghash. Closely linked to the historic monuments, the house benefited from a rejuvenation aimed at restoring the original spaces and decorations while restoring it to be modern and comfortable. In the afternoon, cool off in the small swimming pool on the ground floor. At the end of the day, head to the rooftop to relax in the shaded outdoor lounge, book in hand and a mint tea to go with it, against the bustling backdrop of the port.
Included in the itinerary - Foodie walking tour of the Forodhani Gardens food market, with a private guide. The Forodhani Gardens are part of Stone Town's cultural heritage. This beautiful beachfront park is home to a nightly street food market. Enjoyed by both the people of Zanzibar and tourists, this popular market offers a wide range of local food and drink stalls. During this experience, taste some of the island's most iconic dishes, including Urojo soup, pizzas made in Zanzibar, cane juice and bungo fruit juice depending on the season.
Included in the itinerary - Visit the old town in the footsteps of a local. A World Heritage Site, this maze of narrow streets reveals a blend of Swahili, Indian and Omani cultures. Palaces and houses with luxurious wooden doors are the architectural hallmark of the city, as are the elevated terraces and colourful spice markets. The ancient Sultan Palace and slave market recall a sad part of the island's history, which for centuries was unfortunately one of the main slave ports in East Africa. The area is best discovered on foot, with an expert guide, to experience Stone Town like a local.
Following this visit, private transfer to the beaches of the south coast. The Arabic atmosphere on the outskirts of the legendary city becomes clearly African as you delve deeper into the land. The trail makes its way through the lush Jozani Forest, populated by red Colobus monkeys, to reach the sparkling Indian Ocean and its pristine sandy beaches. Enjoy a four-night stay in the heart of 75 acres covered with tropical gardens and a vast coconut grove lined with one of the best beaches on the island. Your accommodation sets the standard in service, refinement and hospitality. Far from the crowds, in this sublime setting, spend lazy and happy days in your huge private villa with a swimming pool.
Zanzibar often boils down to its rich history, its past as an Omani principality, the heart of clove cultivation, or as a slave island. Although you can discover this side of the island in Stone Town, the less-populated coast bordered by powdery white sand and a dazzling turquoise sea shows a completely different side. In the far south, beautiful beaches, a dry climate, light vegetation and coral on the sea bed. The fishing village of Kizimkazi has a gentle way of life and is a perfect location for spotting dolphins from the coast or by boat. It also offers the chance to visit one of the oldest mosques on the East African coast, founded in the 12th century, or the island of Uzi and its small village untouched by tourism.
Transfer to Stone Town and return flight via Nairobi. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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