The Ultimate Kenyan Safari

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The Ultimate Kenyan Safari

Duration12 days

Price guide

From

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Cheetah and cubs sitting on grassy mound

Destinations

Days 1–2

Mara Conservancies

Kenya is famous for its wildlife and it is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to go on safari. Explore its vast national parks and get an insight into Maasai culture on this incredible 12-day adventure. After a night in Nairobi you will head to the Lewa Conservancy, one of the best places to spot black rhino. Your next wildlife encounter will be in the Solio Reserve, exploring the vast plains, forest glades and lakes. From here you will make your way to the famous Masai Mara and the Mara Conservancies where you’ll be exposed to an eye-opening volume of game.

Trip highlights

Guided bush walks in Lewa Conservancy
Spotting the elusive black rhino in its natural habitat
Explore the vast plains and lakes of Solio
Take game drives with expert guides in the Maasai Mara

Black rhinos in the Lewa Conservancy

Birdwatching in the Solio Reserve

Lion cubs in the Maasai Mara

A game drive at Governors' Ill Moran

Wildebeest attempt a river crossing in the Maasai Mara

Bespoke safaris with Jacada

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke safaris include:

Exclusive luxury camps, lodges and hotels
Curated and private experiences
Skilled guides and local wildlife experts
Decades of experience from our team of experts
Full support from your personal concierge based in Africa

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–2

Overnight in Nairobi

We’ve selected the very best hotels and lodges in Nairobi for you to choose from. 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 out to explore for a while, there are plenty of interesting places to visit. Let us know what interests you and we can make some suggestions.

Where you could stay

Nairobi

Hemingways Nairobi

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.

Nairobi

The Emakoko

The Emakoko occupies an enviable position on the edge of Nairobi National Park on the Kitengela plains, being a 30-minute drive from both of Nairobi’s airports yet in a wild environment. There are 10 open plan cottages all with elevated views over the national park, and all with their own private outside deck, fireplace and ensuite bathrooms. A communal lounge, bar and dining area is where guests come together to eat, relax and talk about the days game drives or excursions into the city. Along with the lodge’s good service and high standard, the added allure is the lodge’s convenience to both airports which you get to and from by driving through the national park, and is a game drive in itself.

Days 2–5

Three days exploring the Lewa Conservancy

Take in Kenya’s stunning Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and some of Africa’s best rhino safaris. Your time here will be spent enjoying day and night game drives to spot the varying wildlife, horse riding, camel trekking, bush walks as well as archaeological site excursions and lectures on the history of conservancy, which this catchment is known for.

Where you could stay

Positive Impact

Lewa

Lewa Wilderness

Family run and cared for, this lodge invites you to be a part of the lives of the Craig family who will host you during your stay here. A beautiful retreat surrounded by trees and located within the 62,000 acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Wilderness has just nine individually decorated cottages with private sitting areas and verandas looking over the vast landscape. The fire places in each room add to the homely feel of the place and for those who want to be outdoors more often than in, the tennis court and swimming pool are ideal ways to get some energy out. The reserve is home to some wonderful game, and helps the conservation efforts of black rhino that browse the region in larger numbers than elsewhere in East Africa. Lion, leopard and elephant can often be seen sipping from the small wooded valley river that flows past the lodge throughout the year and provides an excellent source for prime game viewing. If you are feeling more adventurous than most, ‘Walking Wild’ is an activity that lets you explore the wild and remote Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in the safety of a team of expert guides. Sleeping a maximum of eight, you head off on a genuine mobile safari lead by camels and each tent has its own private toilet and shower ‘room’ that adds a ‘glamping’ element to this remarkably wild experience. Three to five night options are available.

Lewa

Sirikoi

Sirikoi is a beautiful lodge surrounded by 7,000 acres of the private Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Conservation conscious individuals will love this place. There is a very strong theme of community and wildlife conservation and the lodge boasts claims to assisting the growth of buffalo numbers in the area. The big five roam freely and with over 100 rhino you are highly likely to tick them off on a stay here. Bird lovers can enjoy over 350 species including the Somali ostrich and the fantastic Kori bustard. Each of the four luxury tented rooms have a private veranda overlooking a waterhole that attracts a lot of game; this lodge is ideal for some relaxing game experiences. Each room has its own sitting area and provides a great space to spend an afternoon completely uninterrupted except by the creatures converging below. The Sirikoi Cottage has enough space for five to live comfortably and for true exclusive use, Sirikoi House is also on offer. This three bedroom entirely private house has a main dining and sitting room, large veranda and exclusive use of its own vehicle.

Make it mine

In the trees

On horseback

Visit Ngare Ndare Forest

Today you will have the opportunity to visit the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust. This forest lies to the southeast of Borana, home to communities who have lived here for centuries. Within the forest there are some magnificent rock pools, filled with clear blue spring water, and a canopy walk to get you close to nature.

Horse riding experience

Riding on horseback through the bush, accompanied by an experienced guide, will give you an unparalleled opportunity to explore the wilderness in its most natural form, without the sound of a car engine or the sight of a road. Many game species allow horses to approach very close, so you may ride next to animals such as giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck, eland, ostrich and baboons.

Days 5–7

Two days on safari in the private Solio Reserve

Set in the lush foothills of the Aberdares and close to Mount Kenya, Solio Reserve is the premier place to see black rhino in Kenya and other types of game. Your travel designer will be able to inform you about the activities on offer in this area of Kenya. Some of the activities you might choose to add on to your stay include thrilling helicopter flights over Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range, or a visit to a local school where you can discover more about some of the projects that trips like yours help to support.

Where you could stay

Solio Private Reserve

Solio Lodge

Between the soaring peaks of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains lies Solio Lodge. As the only accommodation on the 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve, this exclusive lodge provides an unparalleled safari experience in Laikipia, Kenya.

Days 7–9

Two 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 also be on the look out for the infamous river crossings.

Where you could stay

Maasai Mara

Rekero Camp

The interiors are spacious with comfortable beds and each tent enjoys river views from the veranda. The rear of the tent leads to a tented bathroom with a flush toilet, a sink and a safari shower. A team of safari chefs prepare fresh and tasty home-style meals for guests during their stay. Meals are enjoyed out on game drives, by the water’s edge under the shade of an African Pepper tree or by candlelight in the open mess tent higher up the bank. The area plays host not only to an extraordinary concentration and diversity of wildlife but also to one of mother nature’s greatest spectacles: the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra across the Serengeti/Mara eco system. Even when the migration is not here, there is plenty of resident game to ensure that even in low season it is still one of the finest wildlife locations in Africa. Rekero’s bush guides are widely recognised to be among the best in East Africa. They undergo a long period of professional training beyond the learning of guiding skills to fully understand the complexity and demands of delivering quality service at the very highest level. Game drives in the park are all done in the company of these experts who can also share their culture in this extraordinary setting.

Make it mine

In the skies

On the ground

Sunrise over the Maasai Mara, with a pair of low-flying hot air balloons and a herd of wildebeest below in the typical red oat grass of the region. In Kenya during the annual Great Migration.

Hot air balloon safari

Enjoy the unforgettable experience of floating gently over the Maasai Mara in a hot air balloon. Wake before dawn with freshly brewed tea or coffee delivered right to your tent, and enjoy the fresh, early morning drive to one of the two launch sites within easy reach from the lodge. Before you know it, the balloon is airborne and you’re floating effortlessly above the Mara.

Visit a Maasai village

Learn about the region’s rich culture by visiting a local village where your Maasai host will show you how they live in harmony with their cattle and the Mara’s incredible wildlife. The Maasai are proud of their heritage, and although they find mobile phones or motorbikes useful – they prefer to continue to live in their traditional way.

Days 9–12

Three 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.

Where you could stay

Mara Conservancies

Serian Ngare

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.

Mara Conservancies

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp

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.

Mara Conservancies

Offbeat Mara Camp

Not within the Maasai Mara Reserve itself, but just north in the North Mara Conservancy, Offbeat Mara offers you the chance to have all the game experience of the popular reserve but with less of the traffic. With 74,000 acres of excellent game sustaining land on your doorstep, you have the relatively exclusive pick of the bunch here. Not far from camp are spots where wildebeest attempt their often fatal river crossings and you will have front row seats. The wildlife around the lodge include four of the big five, and lions can be heard off in the distance as you enjoy your evening meal in the very spacious main dining area while you recount the day’s viewing. With only six safari tents to cater for, the staff here have a lot of time and attention to give you, adding detail to your safari that might otherwise go amiss. Furnished in a traditional safari fashion and with a comfort that seems so unlikely in a bush environment, you can fall peacefully into slumber while you are taken care of in all aspects of your safari. When you aren’t making the most of the spectacular game drives, you can visit a rhino sanctuary to tick off the final of the big five or have a cultural experience by visiting a genuine Maasai village.

Mara Conservancies

Sanctuary Olonana Camp

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.

Mara Conservancies

Mara Plains Camp

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.

Make it mine

An evening

Spend the night

Maasai cultural evening

Tonight you will join the Maasai warriors as they sing and dance around the campfire. Music and dance is an incredibly important part of Maasai culture and this is a chance to experience something very special as the embers of the fire glow warm and the rhythmic dancing and chanting floats through the still air.

A sleep out in the bush

Many of our favourite camps can arrange a stunning sleepout under the stars, on raised platforms, with stunning views over the savannahs. Some are kitted out with infra-red headlights and night-vision cameras for watching nocturnal creatures. Talk to your travel designer about the possibility of adding this unique experience to your trip.

Why book with Jacada

Pesonalised 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.

Trip highlights

Bespoke safaris with Jacada

Itinerary in detail

Days 1–2

Overnight in Nairobi

Where you could stay

Hemingways Nairobi

The Emakoko

Days 2–5

Three days exploring the Lewa Conservancy

Where you could stay

Lewa Wilderness

Sirikoi

Make it mine

In the trees

On horseback

Visit Ngare Ndare Forest

Horse riding experience

Days 5–7

Two days on safari in the private Solio Reserve

Where you could stay

Solio Lodge

Days 7–9

Two days exploring the Maasai Mara

Where you could stay

Rekero Camp

Make it mine

In the skies

On the ground

Hot air balloon safari

Visit a Maasai village

Days 9–12

Three days exploring the Mara Conservancies

Where you could stay

Serian Ngare

Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp

Offbeat Mara Camp

Sanctuary Olonana Camp

Mara Plains Camp

Make it mine

An evening

Spend the night

Maasai cultural evening

A sleep out in the bush

Why book with Jacada

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