The Great Migration: A Luxury Safari
Experience one of Africa's most beguiling sights in true, luxurious style
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Every trip helps support Conservation
Every detail taken care of
Itinerary highlights
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A private tour of Nairobi
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Discover Africa's Big Five on safari in the Maasai Mara
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Witness the famous Great Wildebeest Migration
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Learn about how the delicate eco-system is protected in conservancies
What's included
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Game drives lead by specialist guides on safari
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Luxury accommodation throughout
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Meet and greet airport service
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Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
At a glance
Experience one of the greatest spectacles in nature, the Great Migration in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, all in the best spots and away from the crowds.
Begin with a night in Nairobi before flying into the famous Maasai Mara National Park where you’ll enjoy morning and evening game drives. Watch as thousands of wildebeest thunder across the plains and across rivers, creating not just an incredible sight but an awe-inspiring sound as well. Your guides and trackers will drive you daily into the reserve and position you at the best vantage points for the infamous river crossings and thrilling wildlife action.
You’ll then head to the Mara Conservancies for more game viewing and where you can also enjoy bush walks and night drives.
Example trip itinerary
Nairobi
Transfer
Meet and greet at Nairobi airport
Transfer
Private transfer to your hotel in Nairobi
Accommodation in Nairobi
- 10 Luxury Manor Bedrooms
- Library
- Wireless Internet Access
Originally build in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor is ideally located in south west Nairobi, just 20 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Situated in one of Nairobi’s most beautiful suburbs, this beautiful Manor House is located on 140 acres of pristine sanctuary land. Perfect for a quick stopover in the capital city, with an extra quirkiness to add to the convenience. What’s more, each guest’s stay directly benefits projects in some of the city’s poorest areas.
This lovely Manor is home to eight endangered Rothschild giraffes that make daily visits to the house and politely ask guests for snacks! This up-close experience is remarkably enchanting and a great way to begin or finish your safari in Kenya. The opportunity to visit a handful of local attractions such as the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Nyumbani Children’s Orphanage and the Karen Blixen museum (among others) are also available and a great way to explore Nairobi in more detail.
The style of this boutique hotel is modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge with a modern touch. The main Manor house has just six en-suite luxury bedrooms, each with its own character and very tastefully decorated. Four brand new luxury bedrooms have just opened in the garden manor and allow for a different view of these pretty grounds.
Each room is very comfortable, with subtle warm colours that give a very homely feel. Grand, four poster beds and large windows give an airy quality that allows you to simply relax and enjoy your time in Nairobi without the hustle and bustle of city life.
Giraffe Manor is well known for the excellent cuisine offered, with meals taken in the wood panelled dining room overlooking the gardens. Breakfast is the most important part of your experience here, as this is when the Giraffe are their most inquisitive!
- 11 Rooms
- 2.5 Acres of Grounds
Situated in an upmarket, peaceful and quiet residential area of Nairobi named after Karen Blixen, this property is ideal for travellers who need to spend a night in Nairobi pre- or post-safari.
With only eleven uniquely designed en-suite rooms, based in 2.5 acres of green gardens, this city hotel offers a comfortable base from which to explore the city. You can venture out on your own to visit the Giraffe Centre, Daphine Sheldrick Orphanage or any one of the city’s many markets and museums including the famous Karen Blixen museum.
The journey from the airport can be quite an adventure, with a real experience of the hustle and bustle of Nairobi city. Interestingly, the name of the house bears all the initials of the family who own and run this boutique hotel, in age order. The private home was originally built in the 1970s and was carefully refurbished over the course of nearly three years to make the property well suited for guests passing through the capital.
- 45 Rooms
- Outdoor pool
- Health club & steam room
- Restaurant
- Bar & lounge
- Wi-Fi
- Terraces
Set between the Ngong Hills and Jamhuri Park, the Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel far removed from the bustle of the capital. Expect excellent service and delicious food in this all-inclusive establishment.
Choose from one of 45 lofty rooms furnished in a classic style; vaulted ceilings and balconies are complemented by exposed timber, cotton drapes and neutral tones. The two, 240 square metre themed-suites improve upon this with well-appointed living rooms, study and dining areas, opening to large terraces. All rooms have views either of the rolling hotel lawns or the Ngong hills in the distance.
Dining at The Brasserie, you can enjoy a contemporary European menu boasting some of the best steak in Kenya and a relaxed ambiance. Head to The Dining Room for a more formal atmosphere and modern cuisine of local providence.
Overnight in Nairobi
We've selected the very best hotels and lodges in Nairobi from which you can choose. This means you'll have a very relaxing and comfortable stay in the best part of town, refreshed and ready to continue your onward journey. If you have time to venture beyond your hotel or lodge, there are a handful of intriguing attractions to discover in the city.
Transfer
Private transfer to Wilson airport
Flight
Flight to the Mara
Transfer
Transfer to your lodge or camp in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara
Lodges and Camps in the Maasai Mara
- 11 tents including two family tents and two honeymoon tents
Location is everything at Sala’s Camp. Nestled in the Maasai Mara National Park, but in a very remote southern-central corner of it on the tranquil banks of the Sand River, Sala’s boasts the most private of safari experiences within the reserve’s borders. The camp works in close conjunction with various wildlife projects in the area, so you can be sure your visit is making a difference.
The camp features 11 tents including two family tents and two honeymoon tents. All feature private plunge pools and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, running water and flushing loos.
Sala’s enjoys wonderful views across the northern Tanzanian corridor and Serengeti National Park, and it is one of the first camps in the Mara to witness the Great Migration. Your daily game drives are personalised to guests, depending on what you would most like to see, and the Mara River for the famed river crossings is only a 25-minute drive away.
The food is impossibly sophisticated for your surrounds, all in all holding true to the camp’s philosophy of combining tradition with elegance. Sala’s is also a wonderful camp for families. All children receive a welcome pack with games, paint sets and quizzes about the wildlife and the camp and kids can play in the shallow Sand River under the watchful eye of a Maasai askari.
- Sixteen tents including one family tent
- Social and dining areas
- Billiards room and library
- Wi-Fi
Sitting on the banks of the Sand River, this colonial Masai Mara camp echoes the decadent days of 1920’s safari in a sublime and secluded game-rich location.
Accommodation comes in the form of 16 luxury tents, each with their own sun deck for your own personal river view. While the camp provides communal dining and lounging areas, if complete seclusion is what you’re after, indulge in the private dining options of luncheons and dinners served out in the bush among the flourishing wildlife.
With a setting boasting the big five, the annual migration plus the world’s largest concentration of big cats, you can expect spectacular game viewing here alongside expert, friendly guiding.
- Ten Spacious Safari Tents
- Bar
- Curio Shop
Right on the Mara River in the heart of the reserve, Governors’ Il Moran Camp has just ten very spacious safari tents, upping the the exclusivity and privacy compared to other camps on the Mara.
The camp itself is hidden deep in the forest and attracts a few foraging warthogs who nuzzle for grubs in the neatly kept lawn. Each of the tents have their own veranda where you can sit and relax, listening to the grunt of the hippos and watching the odd stalking crocodile slip through the water. The tents are all primly decorated and are extremely comfortable, with beds that you can easily fall into after a nice long day enjoying the rich variety of game in the area.
The bar is an enticing spot for those ice cold midday beers, as too is the boma area after the sun sets. Three game drives a day will maximise your game experience and if you feel like a wander, a knowledgeable guide can take you on a very interesting game walk to try and spot the ‘small five’ after you have ticked off the big ones!
Three days exploring the Maasai Mara
Spend your time exploring the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve with morning and afternoon games drives. During the Migration season you'll be on the lookout for the infamous river crossings.
Hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara
Talk to us about adding an extra special element to your stay with a stunning, early this morning, scenic hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara to really appreciate its scale and gain a unique bird's-eye view of the game below. Note that this is a scheduled, shared activity and is weather dependent.
Flight
Light aircraft flight to the Mara Conservancies
Transfer
Transfer to your lodge or camp in the Mara Conservancies
Mara Conservancies
Lodges and Camps in the Mara Conservancies
- Four tents
- Private guiding and vehicle
One of our favourite camps in Africa. Alex Walker’s Serian in the North Mara Conservancy is beautifully perched on the Mara River. Ngare Camp is made up of just four traditional style but luxurious tents set on wooden decks.
What makes Serian stand out is that you will have a private guide and vehicle for the duration of your stay, this coupled with the quality of the local Masaai guides means that you are set for a truly exclusive experience in the Mara North Conservancy.
Guests are able to take bush walks and night drives in the private area near the camp, allowing for a more ‘involved’ and exciting trip to the Mara.
Alex has been guiding and organising expert safaris throughout East Africa for over 25 years and his keen enthusiasm for this wonderful land is reflected in his camps. Serian Mara’s tents have a comforting colonial feel to them, with furniture that depict that historical time. Spacious and airy with verandas to enjoy the passing wildlife drawn to the river, you have a really lovely area to simply relax in a stunning setting.
Ideally situated in a high density game area, this camp is a luxurious way to spend your time in the Mara. With over 450 bird species that flock here year round, it will be difficult for you to ever be without some sort of wildlife in your immediate sights. Lion, leopard and cheetah are resident even when the migration have moved on, and provide some awesome photographic opportunities. Guests at Serian will receive exclusive use of a private safari vehicle and guide at no extra cost.
- Six luxury safari tents, all en-suite
- One honeymoon tent, very spacious and with a large private verandah
- Four family safari tents, each with two ensuite bedrooms and a shared living area
- Swimming pool and spa
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp is located within a beautiful community-owned concession close to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and the Kenyan border, a timeless setting with incredible views over the game covered plains that surround it. Adding an extra layer to this camp is the fact that is closely involved with local community and conservation efforts, meaning that your stay is benefitting many.
The camp itself, colonial in style with dark woods, swathes of canvas and antique pieces, is made up of ten tents, spaced out to ensure privacy. Of the ten, four are family suites with their own living rooms and fireplaces and there also a unique honeymoon suite. All have en-suite showers and safari baths and showers can be set up in the savannah for unforgettable ablutions.
Two main mess tents sit at the heart of Cottar’s with areas for fine dining, drinking, reading and relaxing. There’s also a swimming pool and spa.
The Cottar family have decades of experience here and they count the highest number of Gold (the highest professional level) Safari Guides within one camp in Kenya, each chosen for their unique skillset and personalities, meaning a safari here, whether on foot or game drives, is always a fantastic.
Cultural interaction with the local Maasai community, with whom the Cottars have worked in partnership with for years, is authentic and not at all touristy. The award-winning camp also has some of the highest ecotourism ratings going.
- Six luxurious tented suites
- Private vehicles with professional Canon camera equipment
- Swarovski binoculars and Canon camera equipment in each tent
- Relais & Châteaux member
Just north of the Maasai Mara Reserve, in the 30,000 acre private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, this Relais & Châteaux camp offers you outstanding game experiences without the restrictions that the reserve itself imposes on other lodges. Each guest’s stay helps to contribute to various conservation and community projects. This conservancy adds a huge plus factor due to the privacy and minimal vehicle traffic within it. You can easily access the Maasai Mara Reserve, but the game in the conservation area is just as excellent. Leopard are regularly spotted passing through the camp and lions can often be heard in the distance.
Stroll along walkways that wind their way through the forest between the tented suites that are built on high stilts offering you stunning views onto the Ntiakitiak Riverr or across the Mara plains. Each suite has deep canvas canopied ceilings, rough-hewn wood floors and accents of East Africa’s rich safari history. Expect thick Lamu wood doors, deep purples, and brass accents. The raised library looks down onto hippos wallowing in the river, while the wine cellar is the perfect place to unwind and sample a selection of excellent South African and French wines. You can also choose to enjoy a private dining experience here.
A highlight of the camp is the family suite, the Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, which is an exclusive-use, two-bedroom tented villa with its own team of dedicated staff.
The game drive vehicles are all completely open which helps you get some phenomenal photographs. In addition to the game, you mustn’t forget that you also have a community nearby that you can visit and witness a genuine working village. A truly marvellous experience.
- 6 Safari Tents
- 2 Guide Tents
- Solar Power
Richard’s Forest Camp is an excellent safari under canvas experience. Located in the Northern Area of the Greater Masai Mara, Richard’s Forest Camp started out as a family home for the Robert’s Family, and Richard himself was brought up in camp. Today, the comfortable tents offer a traditional safari experience with excellent guiding from the local Masai.
Positioned on the edge of a forest overlooking the open plains of the Maasai Mara, Richard’s Forest Camp is a secluded and intimate tented camp. There are seven spacious tents furnished in a comfortable safari style in a pleasant wooded area. Tents have 24-hour solar lighting and en-suite bathrooms with flushing loos.
After a day of game viewing with the camp’s exceptional guides, enjoy hot showers and cocktails around the open camp fire, followed by a delicious three course dinner under a canopy of stars. If the evening is a little chillier than normal, curl up in the cosy sitting room with a roaring log fire.
- 14 canvas pavilions
- Swimming pool
- Organic gardens
- Library
- Mini spa
- Kids club
Olonana is located on a private section of the Mara River, offering you spectacular views of the animals as they wander down the banks each day. What makes this camp extra special is its relationship with local communities and its efforts to be as environmentally responsible as possible.
Fourteen canvas pavilions are dotted along the river, each one extremely spacious with parquet flooring and four poster beds. With a modern spin this lodge has a library that you can enjoy and it even has a pool for an afternoon dip. And, if you feel like you need some extra pampering, you could wander down to the mini spa for some traditional African treatments with the bush as your soundtrack.
Besides the usual fantastic game drives where you can see the big five and more than 300 bird species, you will also have the chance to enjoy a nature work outside the reserve. These are hugely educational and your guides will point out the most remarkable things, from animal tracks and spoor to sights where lions have marked their territory. As the lands are not only home to game, you can also visit a Maasai village for some cultural insight into the traditional lives that these remarkable people lead.
This is a fabulous camp for families as there is a kids club and a range of special activities. Expert guides will take children out on game drives and accompany them to the nearby Maasai village where they will learn how to make and shoot a traditional bow and arrow, make a fire, build a hut, herding cattle to name a few. Kids will also be able to interact with the local children while playing football together, learn Maasai songs and traditional dances. Other activities include going out on a nature trail where they will learn about animal footprint identification or enjoy a bush treasure hunt followed by planting their own tree.
Two days exploring the Mara Conservancies
The Mara Conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara National Reserve offer visitors the ultimate safari: the lowest tourist densities; incredible day and night game viewing; walking safaris; and authentic cultural interactions. But above all, these Conservancies are managed according to a model that protects the delicate eco-system and benefits the landowners themselves – the Maasai people.
Half-day safari photoshoot
If you have a little extra wiggle room in your budget, you might consider adding a half-day safari photoshoot to your experiences in the Mara Conservancies. Put down your camera, relax and enjoy your Mara experience to the fullest, as an in-house photographer uses all their expertise to capture your wonderful safari memories on your behalf. Options range from family photoshoots around the lodge, to the photographer joining you on your game drive vehicle for half a day to capture the whole safari adventure, both people and wildlife.
Transfer
Transfer to your airstrip in the Mara
Transfer
Flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport
We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.
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The Great Migration: A Luxury Safari
How we work
Experience one of the greatest spectacles in nature, the Great Migration in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, all in the best spots and away from the crowds. Begin with a night in Nairobi before flying into the famous Maasai Mara National Park where you’ll enjoy morning and evening game drives. Watch as thousands of wildebeest thunder across the plains and across rivers, creating not just an incredible sight but an awe-inspiring sound as well. Your guides and trackers will drive you daily into the reserve and position you at the best vantage points for the infamous river crossings and thrilling wildlife action. You’ll then head to the Mara Conservancies for more game viewing and where you can also enjoy bush walks and night drives. | Whats included?
|
Days 1-2 |
Nairobi |
|
Flights & transfers
Meet and greet at Nairobi airport |
|
| Private transfer to your hotel in Nairobi | |
|
Accommodation in Nairobi
•
Giraffe Manor - $$$$$
Originally build in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor is ideally located in south west Nairobi, just 20...
•
House of Waine - $$$$$
Situated in an upmarket, peaceful and quiet residential area of Nairobi named after Karen...
•
Hemingways Nairobi - $$$$$
Set between the Ngong Hills and Jamhuri Park, the Hemingways Nairobi is a boutique hotel far...
|
|
| Overnight in Nairobi We've selected the very best hotels and lodges in Nairobi from which you can choose. This means you'll have a very relaxing and comfortable stay in the best part of town, refreshed and ready to continue your onward journey. If you have time to venture beyond your hotel or lodge, there are a handful of intriguing attractions to discover in the city. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer to Wilson airport |
|
| Flight to the Mara | |
| Transfer to your lodge or camp in the Maasai Mara | |
Days 2-5 |
Maasai Mara |
|
Lodges and Camps in the Maasai Mara
•
Sala’s Camp - $$$$$
Location is everything at Sala’s Camp. Nestled in the Maasai Mara National Park, but in a...
•
Sand River Camp - $$$$$
Sitting on the banks of the Sand River, this colonial Masai Mara camp echoes the decadent days...
•
Governors’ Il Moran Camp - $$$$$
Right on the Mara River in the heart of the reserve, Governors’ Il Moran Camp has just ten...
|
|
| Three days exploring the Maasai Mara Spend your time exploring the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve with morning and afternoon games drives. During the Migration season you'll be on the lookout for the infamous river crossings. |
|
| Hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara Talk to us about adding an extra special element to your stay with a stunning, early this morning, scenic hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara to really appreciate its scale and gain a unique bird's-eye view of the game below. Note that this is a scheduled, shared activity and is weather dependent. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Light aircraft flight to the Mara Conservancies |
|
| Transfer to your lodge or camp in the Mara Conservancies | |
Days 5-8 |
Mara Conservancies |
|
Lodges and Camps in the Mara Conservancies
•
Serian Ngare - $$$$$
One of our favourite camps in Africa. Alex Walker’s Serian in the North Mara Conservancy is...
•
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp - $$$$$
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp is located within a beautiful community-owned concession close to...
•
Mara Plains Camp - $$$$$
Just north of the Maasai Mara Reserve, in the 30,000 acre private Olare Motorogi Conservancy,...
•
Richard’s Forest Camp - $$$$$
Richard’s Forest Camp is an excellent safari under canvas experience. Located in the...
•
Sanctuary Olonana Camp - $$$$$
Olonana is located on a private section of the Mara River, offering you spectacular views of...
|
|
| Two days exploring the Mara Conservancies The Mara Conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara National Reserve offer visitors the ultimate safari: the lowest tourist densities; incredible day and night game viewing; walking safaris; and authentic cultural interactions. But above all, these Conservancies are managed according to a model that protects the delicate eco-system and benefits the landowners themselves – the Maasai people. |
|
| Half-day safari photoshoot If you have a little extra wiggle room in your budget, you might consider adding a half-day safari photoshoot to your experiences in the Mara Conservancies. Put down your camera, relax and enjoy your Mara experience to the fullest, as an in-house photographer uses all their expertise to capture your wonderful safari memories on your behalf. Options range from family photoshoots around the lodge, to the photographer joining you on your game drive vehicle for half a day to capture the whole safari adventure, both people and wildlife. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Transfer to your airstrip in the Mara |
|
| Flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport |
