Adventure
Kenya Explorer - 9 Days
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You will be met after clearing immigration and customs formalities and transferred the short distance to the Norfolk Hotel, possibly Kenya's most famous hotel. The Norfolk has been drawing the rich and famous to its hallowed doors since they first opened on Christmas Day 1904. In many respects, Nairobi grew up around the Norfolk, which occupies a central but quiet location opposite the National Theatre.
The afternoon is free to relax or, if time permits, do some sightseeing.
Option: If desired, arrangements can be made for a professional wildlife photographer to share experiences and give some
tips on photographing wildlife and scenery in Africa.
Overnight: The Norfolk Hotel
View The Norfolk Hotel, Kenya »
A beloved landmark dating back to 1904, Fairmont The Norfolk has played a pivotal role in Kenya’s historical legacy notably as the town and later the modern city of Nairobi grew around the property. A hidden gem with alluring old-world charm and elegant contemporary design, Fairmont The Norfolk offers guests a sophisticated retreat in the city with easy access to key business districts of Gigiri, Westlands and Upperhill in addition to leisure hubs and the bourgeoning Nairobi art scene.
The hotel boasts of 27 luxurious suites and 143 rooms set around tranquil tropical gardens, a heated outdoor swimming pool and a health club with a fitness centre and indulgent spa facilities. The rooms combine classic elegance and modern design with discreet technology. Many rooms offer breathtaking elevated views of the landscaped courtyard, while the signature suites are an excellent choice for guests seeking to experience luxury intertwined with the rich history of the city.
After breakfast, begin your drive south to Amboseli and arrive at Amboseli Serena Lodge in time for lunch. Situated in the formidable shadow of Africa's highest mountain, the lodge offers luxurious rooms and fine dining in one of Kenya's purest natural settings. Accommodations are in spacious rooms designed in the style of traditional Maasai manyattas and decorated with authentic Africana and attractive murals painted by a local artist. A natural spring and waterhole in the lodge's immediate vicinity draw a steady stream of lion, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, and even some of Africa's largest elephant herds. The lodge also features a sculpted swimming pool and several protected jogging trails.
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge »
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was created for adventurers with an African dream. With Mount Kilimanjaro soaring majestically just beyond the golden, acacia-specked savannah, the safari lodge offers a graceful blend of stark beauty and lavish comfort in the heart of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. Nestled in an acacia grove by a gentle mountain spring, our hotel, comprising a Maasai-inspired design, a garden restaurant and a palm-shaded swimming pool and sundeck, provides uninterrupted views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding landscape. In every detail, the ambience captures the essence of Maasai culture, warmth and indomitable spirit. The setting our Amboseli safari lodge is breathtakingly beautiful, the wildlife abundant and the cuisine, hospitality and amenities unrivalled.
Today is a full day to explore Amboseli National Park. Amboseli lies southeast of Nairobia at the foot of Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 meters/19,340ft). The Tanzanian border runs along its base and forms the boundary of the park. Amboseli has five main wildlife habitats- open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland. A photographer's paradise, the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rises above the clouds and dominates every aspect of the park, providing a backdrop to a spectacular display of wildlife – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo and a host of plains game.
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge »
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was created for adventurers with an African dream. With Mount Kilimanjaro soaring majestically just beyond the golden, acacia-specked savannah, the safari lodge offers a graceful blend of stark beauty and lavish comfort in the heart of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. Nestled in an acacia grove by a gentle mountain spring, our hotel, comprising a Maasai-inspired design, a garden restaurant and a palm-shaded swimming pool and sundeck, provides uninterrupted views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding landscape. In every detail, the ambience captures the essence of Maasai culture, warmth and indomitable spirit. The setting our Amboseli safari lodge is breathtakingly beautiful, the wildlife abundant and the cuisine, hospitality and amenities unrivalled.
Amboseli is beautiful at sunrise, providing excellent photo opportunities. After an early breakfast, drive to Nairobi for lunch. Following lunch, continue to Lake Nakuru, descending into the Great Rift Valley, making sure to take in the stunning scenery. Then continue driving through Lake Nakuru National Park, best known for its visiting flocks of flamingoes which sometimes number in the millions, to Lion Hill Lodge. The Lion Hill Lodge is set on a plateau overlooking the lake and is the perfect place to experience one of the world's largest ornithological spectacles, the pink flamingo. There is also a rich concentration of wildlife including the endangered rhino. After lunch, there is time to relax or take a dip in the pool before your game viewing drive.
Overnight: Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Sarova Lion Hill Lodge »
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is nestled along the Lion Hill overlooking the spectacular flamingo pink rimmed Lake Nakuru. Its location affords panoramic views of the lake and the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park. It is cleverly laid out in such a way that most rooms and sitting areas afford stunning views of the lake and the park. The Lodge incorporates natural landscaping with tall acacia trees, winding walkways and greens dotted with bird feeds.
Spend today exploring Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is host to what is widely regarded as the world’s greatest bird spectacle – more than a million flamingoes flock to the lake seasonally, painting the green waters of the lake a fluttering pink. Nakuru is also home to some of East Africa’s rarest creatures, including fast-growing populations of black and white rhino, the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and lion. Lake Nakuru enjoys a reputation as one of the best places in the country to spot the elusive leopard. For the photographer, in addition to the amazing wildlife and birdlife, the park offers a diversity of landscapes from the beautiful wooded and bush grasslands around the soda lake to the rocky escarpments and clusters of yellow thorn acacias under carpets of beautiful green grass.
Overnight: Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Sarova Lion Hill Lodge »
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is nestled along the Lion Hill overlooking the spectacular flamingo pink rimmed Lake Nakuru. Its location affords panoramic views of the lake and the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park. It is cleverly laid out in such a way that most rooms and sitting areas afford stunning views of the lake and the park. The Lodge incorporates natural landscaping with tall acacia trees, winding walkways and greens dotted with bird feeds.
Enjoy an early breakfast before beginning your drive to the famous Masai Mara, traveling through beautiful scenery and past small towns and villages along the way. Sarova Mara Camp is nestled in the hills overlooking the wide plains of the southeastern section of the Masai Mara. The luxurious tents are beautifully decorated and set amidst lush gardens. All tents have en suite bathrooms with flush toilet, shower and washbasin. Freshen up and enjoy lunch at the camp before your afternoon game viewing drive.
Overnight: Sarova Mara Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Sarova Mara Game Camp »
The rolling plains around the camp are teeming with wildebeest, gazelles and zebras during the migration months, and the camp is situated right in the center of their migration path. A wildlife safari puts you right in the middle of all this action. Get a first-hand account of this epic phenomenon and live to tell the tale. A safari also helps you acquaint yourself with the landscapes of this beautiful African setting. By virtue of its location and layout, the camp offers an unparalleled plethora of activities and experiences from luxury tented living to bird-watching, mini golf, sport fishing and a unique insight into the Maasai culture at the adjoining Maasai village.
You have the next two days to enjoy game viewing as you venture out into the park led by your driver/guide.
The Mara is a photographer's dream; the wildlife is abundant and the swaying grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Elephants browse amongst the large herds of wildebeest, topi, gazelle, eland and buffalo. The plains offer a rich variety of food for the dominant predators: lion; leopard; hyena and cheetah. In the Mara River, hippos submerge to snort and grumble while crocodiles sunbathe on the riverbanks. Between July and September (depending on the rain), the Masai Mara is host to the famous wildebeest migration which is one of the few remaining mass migrations of mammals in the world. During this time, herds of over a million wildebeest will trawl their way through this region and become the major focus for predatory activity as drama unfolds at every corner.
During one of these days, we will visit a Maasai village where the village elder will invite you to learn about the Maasai culture in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The Maasai still live a very traditional lifestyle and will discuss the medicinal uses of the trees and herbs in the area, the social structure of the homestead, the role of women in their society and other aspects of their daily life. Interaction and discussion is encouraged and often guests will join in the dance or try to learn how to make fire using sticks and stone.
There are also options for a morning balloon safari or a half-day visit to Lake Victoria:
Balloon Safari: As the balloon is inflated against the first rays of sunrise, your pilot will discuss the safety procedures. Once aloft, the balloon will float gently over the plains, giving a bird’s eye view of the game below as the sun creeps slowly over the horizon. After approximately one hour, the balloon will land and nearby, breakfast will be prepared and glasses of bubbly will be available to toast your flight in a tradition initiated by the Montgolfier brothers, inventors of the first practical hot air balloon.
Lake Victoria Adventure: This adventure begins early in the morning with a transfer to take you to the airstrip for a flight by light aircraft to Lake Victoria. Upon arrival, enjoy an appetizing full English breakfast prior to boarding the boat which is captained by an experienced and knowledgeable fisherman. There will be an opportunity to fish for the legendary giant Nile perch found in these waters as you explore the myriad of tiny islands in this region of the lake. There is also a chance to stop at a traditional fishing village and experience the day to day lives of the villagers before returning to the airstrip for your return flight to the Masai Mara.
Overnight: Sarova Mara Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Sarova Mara Game Camp »
The rolling plains around the camp are teeming with wildebeest, gazelles and zebras during the migration months, and the camp is situated right in the center of their migration path. A wildlife safari puts you right in the middle of all this action. Get a first-hand account of this epic phenomenon and live to tell the tale. A safari also helps you acquaint yourself with the landscapes of this beautiful African setting. By virtue of its location and layout, the camp offers an unparalleled plethora of activities and experiences from luxury tented living to bird-watching, mini golf, sport fishing and a unique insight into the Maasai culture at the adjoining Maasai village.
As above.
Overnight: Sarova Mara Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
View Sarova Mara Game Camp »
The rolling plains around the camp are teeming with wildebeest, gazelles and zebras during the migration months, and the camp is situated right in the center of their migration path. A wildlife safari puts you right in the middle of all this action. Get a first-hand account of this epic phenomenon and live to tell the tale. A safari also helps you acquaint yourself with the landscapes of this beautiful African setting. By virtue of its location and layout, the camp offers an unparalleled plethora of activities and experiences from luxury tented living to bird-watching, mini golf, sport fishing and a unique insight into the Maasai culture at the adjoining Maasai village.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you will be driven to the Norfolk Hotel where dayrooms have been reserved. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or to go sightseeing and shopping. This evening you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight.
Meal Plan: B
To receive the most up-to-date pricing of this itinerary, please call one of our travel advisors at 888-437-8456 or email us at travel@newadventures.com
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