A Private Family Safari Adventure Through Kenya
Throughout your private Kenya safari a dedicated host will travel alongside your family every step of the way. Staying in exclusive-use luxury lodges, you will be introduced to expert local rangers and guides in each new region, where they will share their unmatched knowledge and expertise. Together, you will track the Big Five across private conservancies by foot, horseback, or camel. Witness ancient Samburu traditions at the Singing Wells in Namunyak, track rhinos in Laikipia and experience the thunderous scale of the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara.
Trip highlights
- Take unlimited game drives and night safaris to look for the Big Five
- Stay in exclusive-use villas and lodges, with private guides and chefs
- Observe Samburu warriors chant and dig for water at the Singing Wells
- View rare wildlife and track rhinos and elephants on foot and by horseback
- See flocks of flamingoes at Lake Logipi and picnic by the Jade Sea
- Explore remote corners of the Maasai Mara and witness the Great Migration
Privately guided Africa safaris
Your dedicated guide is handpicked for you by our specialists. Acting as your personal host, they will seamlessly handle every detail of your trip.
- A personalised match: ensuring your safari is utterly bespoke and perfectly suited to you.
- Shared passions: expect in-depth insights into wildlife tracking, photography, botany, astronomy and culture.
- Location specialists: meet the local team with immediate, on-the-ground knowledge of that exact landscape.
- Layered expertise: forge deep connections and leave with a profound understanding of every place you visit.
Itinerary in detail
Days 1–3
An urban safari in Nairobi
Your private Kenya family safari starts in the capital, Nairobi, whose modern skyline is an incongruous backdrop to its biodiverse national park. Staying in rural Karen, you can spend time exploring the city’s markets, art galleries and shopping districts.
You’ll also head out on bespoke game drives in Nairobi National Park with a private guide. Spot rhinos, lions and giraffes wandering the plains against a backdrop of skyscrapers. And end exciting days with sundowners on the rooftop of your luxury residence, with views across to the seven peaks of the Ngong Hills.
Days 3–6
Samburu family safari experiences from Namanyak Conservancy
The bushland of Samburu, bordered by the Ewaso Nyiro River in northern Kenya, is roamed by big cats, elephants and the ‘Samburu Special Five’: Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, beisa oryx, Somali ostriches and gerenuks (giraffe-necked antelopes). Seek them on horseback safari and unlimited day and night game drives, guided by experts with rich local knowledge.
Your group will have exclusive use of the community-owned lodge, Reteti House, in the wilderness of Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. Spend time with Samburu people here and visit nearby villages, learning about ancient traditions and sharing stories.
Exclusive-use lodges in Kenya
On your private Kenya journey, you’ll stay in exclusive-use lodges and camps. Your family will enjoy complete privacy and flexibility, taken care of by a dedicated safari team.
Selected for their secluded locations, these properties offer incredible wildlife viewing away from the crowds. Here, you can relax and connect. Come together for long, shady lunches under acacia trees and gather around a glowing campfire as evening draws in.
Go deeper
Singing Wells
Elephant sanctuary
Milk Mamas
Observe a rare ancient tradition in Namunyak
The ancient tradition of Kisima Hamsini or Singing Wells sees Samburu morans (warriors) chant and work perfectly in rhythm as they dig deep watering holes during the dry season. Watch – and listen – as they form human chains in the riverbeds, singing and scooping up water to give to their cattle.
Visit rescued elephant calves at Reteti
On a private visit to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, run by the Indigenous community, you’ll be led around the grounds by a keeper. Observe some of the rescued elephants as they play and feed, and learn about the deep connection between the species and Samburu people.
Learn about an initiative helping communities and wildlife
Launched in 2021, the Milk to Market initiative allows Samburu women to sell surplus goat milk to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Meet the ‘Milk Mamas’ behind the project, and learn how it offers an opportunity for financial independence while providing improved nutrition for the elephant calves.
Days 6–9
Wildlife viewing and cultural connections in Laikipia
Your Kenya family safari itinerary continues in the high plains of Laikipia, a remarkable example of community-led conservation efforts. This wildlife-rich region was once dominated by ranchland, and is now roamed by herds of elephants, big cats and rhinos.
Accompanied by deeply knowledgeable guides from the Samburu, Llailipiak and Mokogodo Maasai communities, you’ll explore the remotest corners by private vehicle and on foot, horseback and even camel rides.
Take a bush walk to ‘Frog Rock’, the outcrop that inspired Pride Rock in Disney’s The Lion King. And experience a Lewa family safari, tracking black rhinos and white rhinos in this private conservancy.
Where you could stay
Lewa Wilderness
Above and beyond
Foot safari
Rhino tracking
Jade Sea
Take guided bush walks with Maasai guides
Head out on walks around private conservancies, led by rangers and guides from the Maasai community. Exploring on foot allows you to really take in the wilderness while tracking rhinos, elephants and leopards. You’ll also learn about native flora, diverse species of birds and smaller creatures most people miss.
See rhinos and other rare wildlife in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
A former cattle ranch, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy works with local Maasai communities to revive populations of black rhinos and Grevy’s zebras. The grasslands, forests and wetlands of this private conservancy also provide habitat for the rest of the Big Five, plus rare reticulated giraffes.
Travel through remote, diverse landscapes to Lake Turkana
A helicopter flight unlocks some of northern Kenya’s wildest landscapes. See the giant sand dunes and painted valleys of the Suguta Valley. Spot flamingoes in Lake Logipi and explore ancient calderas. End with a swim and picnic at the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana. This desert lake is known as the ‘cradle of mankind’ due to its diverse fossils.
Days 9–12
A private Maasai Mara family safari in the savannah
On the Tanzanian border in southwest Kenya, the Maasai Mara is home to the Big Five. Between July and September, it’s also the stage for one of the most spectacular nature shows: the Great Migration, when around 1.5 million wildebeests and other animals trek here from the Serengeti.
All year round, helicopter transfers, night safaris and unlimited private game drives give you more time to observe the incredible wildlife here. Head straight out from your private villa to spot lions, cheetahs, aardvarks and pangolins.
Take guided nature walks and spend time with Maasai people, learning about the area’s rich cultural traditions and history. Or ride on e-bikes into Emarti village, learning about community-led conservation initiatives.
Where you could stay
More of the Maasai
Rhino sanctuary
Great Migration
Horseback safari
Capture the moment
Spot rhinos with a ranger in a community-run sanctuary
Learn about the conservation work and community-led initiatives focused on safeguarding endangered white rhinos and black rhinos. Walk through their habitat with a private guide and spend time observing them in a space designed for their long-term protection.
Observe the mega-herds without the crowds
Whisked deep into the park by helicopter, you’ll have extra time to observe this spectacle with fewer crowds. Watch from your private vehicle as over a million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras tumble across the plains and stumble through rivers on the final leg of their journey from the Serengeti.
Travel through a private conservancy on horseback
For a different view of the Maasai Mara, ride on horses stabled at the Mara Training Centre, a learning hub for local guides. Trot past grazing giraffes and explore the Enonokishu Conservancy, a community-led project focused on the relationship between agriculture and wildlife.
Learn to take incredible wildlife images
Your time in the Maasai Mara has many rich opportunities for spotting animals. And with various photography experiences on offer, you’ll have the chance to preserve those memories beautifully. Try out state-of-the-art camera gear provided by your accommodation, take a photography lesson to get expert tips on framing and lighting, or have a private photoshoot.
If I could give Jacada Travel more than five stars, I would. From the very beginning, our travel designer, Ellie, created an itinerary that was perfectly tailored to our family. Traveling to Africa can feel intimidating, especially with a 6-year-old, but she made every detail seamless. Once we arrived in Kenya, Robynne, our incredible on-the-ground support, ensured everything continued flawlessly.…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
