Kenya
Mount Kenya to the Masai Mara
$5,766.50 per person
A perfect first-time itinerary to Kenya which includes the dramatic landscapes of Mount Kenya and the Great Rift Valley lakes, as well as spectacular wildlife viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park and the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. Travel by road in a 4x4 safari vehicle accompanied by a professional guide, and at the end of your journey, you’ll fly in to the Masai Mara to enjoy game drives, walks, and cultural visits.
Day 1: Overnight: Hemingways Nairobi
Arrive at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport today, where a Penwell driver will meet you and transfer you by private vehicle to your overnight hotel. We can offer a range of activities in Nairobi if you have a full day or afternoon and wish to do some sightseeing – please ask your Penwell consultant for details.
Hemingways Nairobi
Located in the peaceful Karen district of Nairobi, this is a luxurious and stylish hotel with 45 rooms and suites. Guests can enjoy the pretty landscaped gardens, swimming pool, spa and the excellent service, which includes a butler service for each room.
Day 2: Overnight: Mount Kenya Safari Club
Your Penwell safari guide will meet you after breakfast this morning, and you will depart in your private 4x4 safari vehicle for the lower slopes of Mount Kenya. The drive will take approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic in Nairobi, passing coffee plantations and farmland on the way. Arrive in time for lunch at Mount Kenya Safari Club where you’ll stay the next two nights. This afternoon, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and views of Mount Kenya, perhaps swimming in the pool before enjoying afternoon tea, or if you prefer, enjoying a birding walk with one of the resident guides
Mount Kenya Safari Club
Part of the Fairmont Hotels group, this resort has 120 rooms and facilities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, tennis courts, and 100 acres of landscaped gardens. The resort is a popular starting off point for a safari, offering the chance to enjoy some spectacular scenery while recovering from longhaul flights in comfort and style.
Day 3: Overnight: Mount Kenya Safari Club
There are plenty of activities to enjoy during your stay here (some at additional cost, payable locally). You can visit the William Holden Animal Orphanage nearby which is home to rare species such as mountain bongo and white zebra as well as cheetah, black and white colobus monkeys and more. Horse riding and mountain biking are also possible.
Day 4: Overnight: The Cliff
Depart after breakfast with your driver-guide, driving through the Great Rift Valley and stopping on the way to enjoy a picnic lunch, reaching Lake Nakuru in the early/mid-afternoon. Settle into your accommodation and spend the rest of the afternoon unwinding and enjoying the spectacular views from the hillside position of your lodge.
The Cliff
A stylish lodge, perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Nakuru, with ten stylish tented rooms, each with a bathtub on the deck and modern interiors. Guest facilities include a spa, gym and infinity swimming pool.
Day 5: Overnight: The Cliff
Taking a picnic lunch with you, head out with your safari guide in your private vehicle in the early morning on a full day game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is home to an impressive population of white and black rhino, the rare Rothschild giraffe, and of course plentiful flamingos and pelicans on the shore of the lake, an iconic East Africa sight.
Day 6: Overnight Naboisho Camp
Enjoy breakfast in camp before you depart for the Naivasha Airstrip, an hour away, where you will say goodbye to your driver-guide. From here, you will fly to the Masai Mara by light aircraft, a flight of approximately 45 minutes (soft bags required, 15kg luggage limit per person), arriving on the beautiful Naboisho Conservancy of the Greater Masai Mara where your safari concludes. A guide will meet you here, and drive you back to camp, stopping to enjoy any wildlife sightings on the way and arriving in time to enjoy some lunch in your new surroundings. There’s time for a siesta during the heat of the day before afternoon tea is served and you can go out on an afternoon game drive (these drives are operated by the camp, and are in open vehicles and are shared with other guests in camp). The Naboisho Conservancy is home to a spectacular array of wildlife including good populations of lion, leopard and cheetah, herds of elephant and buffalo, and much more.
Naboisho Camp
A stylish safari camp with nine spacious tents, raised up to maximise views. It is located in a prime position in the wildliferich Naboisho Conservancy, with strong links to the local communities. Expect high standards of guiding as well as incredible walking safaris, delicious food and superb hosting.
Days 7 & 8
Enjoy morning and afternoon shared activities from your camp, exploring the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. Game drives, walking safaris and cultural visits to the local Maasai community are included and it’s also possible and really rewarding to visit one of the camp’s partner charities, the Maa Trust which works to empower local communities through various projects, and the Kenya Wildlife Trust which studies and conserves predators in the Greater Mara region.
Day 9
There is time for a final morning game drive in camp before you transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Nairobi’s Wilson Aerodrome (soft bags required, 15kg luggage limit per person). Here, you will be met and transferred to the international airport, a drive of approximately 1 hour depending on traffic, drawing an end to an incredible Kenyan safari.
What people say
“The trip itinerary that Penwell Safaris put together for me was the perfect balance of cultural and environmental explorations. Each camp I stayed in, from the Ngorongoro Crater to Central and Southern Serengeti, to the island of Rubondo, had a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff who celebrated the natural beauty of their surroundings. Their love and respect for their country inspired me to take in every moment with complete awe and appreciation for the diverse, intelligent ecosystems and majestic wildlife that thrived in the Bowl of Plenty and endless plains of the bush. Driving through thousands of wildebeests and zebras while they fed on grass and instinctively migrated through the great Serengeti was an overwhelming sight to behold with muffled sounds of hoofs and grunts, yet deeply peaceful at the same time. It sometimes took my breath away. Even the industrious dung beetles rolling their dung balls were as exciting to observe as the the big five and scavenging hyenas. But the strikingly beautiful faces and welcoming attitude of the Tanzanian people were the icing on the cake. Pure joy and a sense of belonging came through every “Mambo” greeting they shared with each other and with us as we wandered through their vast, abundant land. My trip was a life-affirming adventure that I would recommend to anyone. And I plan to go back for more!”
— Sue Baile
“We traveled to Africa in August 2018 and visited Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The tours were very well organized and could not have asked for a better experience or accommodations. Every guide and driver we had were knowledgeable, personable, and funny. They really wanted you to have the best Safari experience possible. In Uganda, it was such a great experience to see the gorillas in the rain forest. It was a hard trek but totally worth the experience. We got to see so much wildlife in Tanzania (lions, zebra, cape buffalo, hyena, jackals, cheetah, elephant and so much more), but most importantly we were lucky to see 5 Wildebeest migrations across the river!
We were really impressed with the food offerings and the chef at each camp was sensitive to the dietary needs of our party (vegetarian for one traveler and lactose sensitivity to another). From the early morning game drives and morning tea in the bush, to afternoon lunches at the camps, to beautiful sundowners in the evening, and delicious dinners we felt catered to at every stop. The staff at each camp was amazing! We look forward to our next trip over to Africa!”
— Marc Foreman
“I could not describe how magnificent my experience was on a 10 day safari through the Serengeti with Kathy. Of all of my world travels, this was the most memorable trip. From sundowners on top of beautiful rock structures, to an extraordinary lakeside breakfast watching the sunrise to the thrill of watching a cheetah hunt and kill. Every moment of the trip was memorable. Kathy brings a breadth of experience and opportunity that few other African safari companies can provide. I cannot plan my next trip soon enough! Happy Travels! Asante.”
— Michael Wilcox
“I met Kathy back in the late 1980s. One day 5 friends began talking about taking a trip together and Kathy mentioned Africa. How could anyone say “no” to tagging along with Kathy, since she was/is a world traveler and traveled to Africa tons of times. Kathy said she loved planning the trip and managed it all, from phone calls and tons of emails. She asked us if we wanted to rough it, go glamping or a bit of both. She arranged the entire trip and Oh Em Gee, WOW!! That was THE trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Arusha, where we met up with THE BEST safari guide (father, brother & uncle) there is, Jadim George Luangila. This was an amazing trip filled with wonderful people, 100% white glove customer care, the most beautiful animal kingdom you will ever witness, along with the most gorgeous night skies.
When you get that desire to travel to Africa, it’s a MUST you call Kathy Harvey!”
— Lisa Goldman