Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Nairobi - Mount Kenya - Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara
100% customisable for you
You'll have a warm welcome and assistance with customs formalities at Nairobi airport, followed by a private transfer to your hotel. You arrive early, so we've made sure your hotel room is already available. Enjoy an overnight stay in a large hotel in the residential area of Parklands. The architecture of this iconic address reveals the charm of the colonial era, while the sweet-smelling garden is full of life. The colonial-style is complimented with contemporary touches and facilities for total comfort. There's a swimming pool, fitness room, sauna and beauty salon. You have just touched down from a long-haul flight, and you will soon be in the middle of the African bush; so, enjoy a relaxing massage, a few strides on the treadmill, a refreshing dip or a manicure.
Included in the itinerary - In the morning, explore Nairobi's three main areas of interest. First, revive the memory of Baroness von Blixen by visiting her old house which is now a museum, in the neighbourhood that today bears her name. Leave with an insight into the fascinating world of this pioneering woman, made famous by her autobiographical novel which was adapted into the must-see film 'Out of Africa'. Then, make your way to the Giraffe Centre, which is dedicated to protecting Rothschild's giraffes in the heart of a sanctuary for nature and tranquillity. An opportunity to literally come face-to-face with these gentle giants. A detour at a Kazuri bead workshop concludes this half-day tour. The workshop employs nearly 300 Kenyan women. They make the stylish hand-made clay beads that you'll find in all the big stores when you return home. Enjoy lunch in the shade in the pleasant garden of Tamambo, a restaurant next to Karen Blixen's museum house.
In the morning, after a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day, your driver and private guide will pick you up from the hotel. Jump into your 4x4 and set off on a journey of about four hours through fabulous highlands. A real land of plenty, the areas leading to the highest point of the country are among the most fertile on the continent. 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. These are landscapes that you won't be able to forget in a hurry. Overnight stay on the mountainous volcano, standing a little over 6,500ft. The lodge is built on stilts for spectacular views over the forest. With their wooden partitions and kikuyu crafts, the rooms have a strong character. The restaurant serves international cuisine with an East African accent. From the windows, galleries and terrace, marvel at the animals as they come to drink side by side at the watering hole slightly below the lodge. Elephants are often thirsty so keep your eyes peeled. The special thing about this place is the peace and quiet. Here, there are no 4x4s clustered around the same animal. You're wonderfully alone. As you sit back and relax, inquisitive animals come closer to you at their own leisure: it's a truly unforgettable experience.
Leave the mountainous landscapes and forests behind and head to the country's mid-west region to explore its lakes. The road leading to the Great Rift Valley winds through green agricultural landscapes. Herds closely guarded by their Maasai owners can be spotted across the land. Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park after 220 miles and almost five hours of driving. Lake Nakuru is a jewel of Africa's Great Rift Valley and a flamingo paradise. The national park was created around this lake to provide maximum protection for the recently reintroduced black rhinoceros. Many animals can be found around Lake Nakuru: zebras, baboons, ostriches, jackals and even Rotchschild's giraffes. Overnight stay in a beautiful hybrid hotel halfway between a lodge, camp and hotel perched on a cliff overlooking the lake. A special experience due to its concept and pleasant decor, which combines traditional African furniture and European influences. The days pass peacefully between day and night 4x4 safaris (of course), but also yoga sessions in the early morning, lengths in the outdoor swimming pool, workouts in the gym, relaxing massages, aperitifs in the outdoor lounge; all before settling down in your tent for a tranquil night under the stars. There are ten tents in total and each one is spacious and comfortable, with the added bonus of a wide balcony overlooking the lake.
The journey is around 150 miles, taking six to seven hours. Make your way south through a few villages that allow you to experience the daily lives of Kenyans. On your way, pass large tea plantations, lakes, rocky highlands and vast farmlands. After Narok, the rugged and green landscapes gradually disappear to make way for the bush of the Mara, which ends in Tanzania's Serengeti around 310 miles below. 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. which is crossed by numerous animals 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. Their one aim is to reach the great grass plains of Tanzania's Serengeti at any cost. The spectacle is one of harrowing beauty and violence. Two-night stay in an elegant camp with luxurious canvas tents, decorated in brick and white tones. True to the typical African style, they open onto the savannah for true bonding with the animal world. It's the perfect base for viewing the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras in late summer. A swimming pool helps guests to cool down during the hot hours of the day.
The Mara, still inhabited by the Maasai people, is no ordinary park. With the contrast of immense plains and hills, the typical landscape of the region is a plain dotted with acacia trees and bush, offering fabulous landscapes as far as the eye can see, especially at sunset. These open savannahs offer endless spaces for herbivores to graze. All the large African mammals can be found here, particularly during the Great Migration, a legendary natural movement that moves millions of wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and vice versa. This unique event is the opportunity to see the rolling landscape filled with animals, including an impressive number of big cats. Gazelles, hartebeest, damaliscus and elk also freely graze here, which is ideal for their predators: all wild animals quickly learn that nature is cruel to those which don't run fast enough. Hyenas, jackals, vultures and marabouts then make light work of the remains. Elephants' majestic size commands respect, while the hardiness of warthogs also keeps them safe from predators. The park is not just a wildlife display, it is a complete ecosystem that's alive, abundant and breathtaking. You'll have an incredible view from your open 4x4.
It's time to travel to Nairobi. It's a seven-hour drive to Kenya's capital. The second half of the drive is pretty and interesting, as the road leads through larger towns and villages, allowing curious visitors to get a glimpse into the daily lives of Kenyans. The landscapes gradually become steep and green. Then, enter the country's capital. Welcoming you with its usual hustle and bustle, Nairobi is a city that reflects Kenya's tremendous economic dynamism. Your night flight takes off late. Spend the evening beforehand in a comfortable hotel room specially reserved for you at the international airport. From the hotel rooftop, watch the planes landing on the airstrip. 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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