Rift Valley Serena Exploration

On arrival at Nairobi International Airport, we meet you and transfer you to Nairobi Serena Hotel or similar for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure – you can unwind and make use of the hotel’s modern facilities before your Kenyan journey begins. Overnight in Nairobi.

After breakfast, we leave Nairobi for Kenya’s fertile highlands, descending the Rift Escarpment on a road built by Italian prisoners during World War II – we pass the small chapel they constructed at its base. We continue by the Longonot earth satellite station and cross the valley to Narok, then drive through wheat and barley fields to the Maasai Mara, arriving at Mara Serena Safari Lodge in time for lunch. Later, we head out on our first game drive of the tour, returning to the lodge at sunset. The lodge features Maasai inspired rooms, a pool overlooking the plains and a domed dining room echoing traditional manyattas – an al fresco barbecue is occasionally served by the pool. These plains form part of the route of the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle between Kenya and Tanzania. Lunch and dinner included. Overnight in the Maasai Mara.

After an early breakfast, we head out on a morning game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, home to the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino – alongside antelope, gazelle and wildebeest. We return to the lodge for lunch – you may take a siesta – before we set off on an afternoon game drive and a visit to a Maasai village, arriving back at the lodge as the sun sets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Maasai Mara.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the Maasai Mara and travel north through Kenya’s breadbasket, passing fields of wheat and barley en route to Narok, the district headquarters for this part of Maasailand. We continue across the plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Elementaita Serena Camp in the Soysambu Conservancy for a late lunch. In the afternoon we head out on a game drive in the conservancy – home to more than 450 bird species, including 28% of the world’s Lesser Flamingo population, and 10,000 mammals across more than 50 species, among them more than 90 Rothschild’s giraffes – and we end with a sundowner. Set on the lake’s northern shore, the camp offers luxury tents along with a dining and lounge area, spa and swimming pool. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Lake Elementaita.

After an early breakfast, we set out on an escorted bird walk, then leave the Rift Valley and return to Nairobi. We will drop you at Ole Sereni Hotel in the city centre at 12:30pm – from here you continue with your individual travel arrangements. If you are flying today, please book departures from 4:00pm onwards.