Kenya Highlights Experience

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, we’ll meet you and transfer you to the Sarova Stanley Hotel or similar in central Nairobi. Opened in 1902, it was Kenya’s first luxury hotel and a renowned meeting place for early safari travellers and administrators. Ernest Hemingway stayed here, and the Thorn Tree Café – named for the tree where travellers once pinned messages – became a popular spot for planning and recounting safaris.The hotel has been modernised while keeping its sense of history. All 220 rooms are ensuite and comfortable, and facilities include a gym, a large rooftop swimming pool and an Edwardian lounge bar. Overnight in Nairobi.

We leave Nairobi early after breakfast and drive north towards Samburu via Thika, following a scenic route of rushing mountain streams and tea and coffee plantations in the shadow of Mount Kenya – the country’s highest peak and Africa’s second. Skirting the mountain, we pass through Nanyuki and the frontier town of Isiolo, then continue the short distance to Shaba National Reserve. Shaba gained worldwide fame through Born Free, the story of Elsa the lioness raised by the Adamsons. We arrive at Sarova Shaba Lodge in time for lunch, then head out on an afternoon game drive, returning as the sun sets.Set among trees on a rocky bend of the Ewaso Ngiro River, Sarova Shaba Lodge offers notable comfort for a large bush lodge, with 80 chalet rooms, four junior suites and one honeymoon suite. Spring fed channels thread through the grounds, creating a peaceful setting that attracts a wide variety of birds. Crocodile feeding demonstrations and evening entertainment are provided by local Samburu villagers. We enjoy dinner at the lodge. Overnight in Shaba.

Early this morning we set out on a game drive in Shaba National Reserve – also a setting for the multiple Oscar winning classic Out of Africa – then return to the lodge for breakfast. Wildlife here includes a large pride of lions, plus elephants, leopards, gerenuks and elands, with rarities such as the reticulated giraffe also present.The rest of the morning is at leisure – you can relax by the pool, which has a small island reached by a bridge from the bar, or take it easy on the terrace overlooking the river.After lunch we head out again for an afternoon game drive, returning to the lodge at sunset for dinner. Overnight in Shaba.

After breakfast, we leave Shaba National Reserve and drive south through Isiolo, skirting the northern foothills of Mount Kenya via Nanyuki before continuing north west towards Nyahururu, still widely known as Thomson’s Falls for its 75 metres waterfall, visible in the distance. We then turn south to Lake Nakuru, enjoying a game drive en route to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. After lunch, we head out on an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake often shimmers pink with thousands of flamingos, while this fully fenced 188 square kilometre park carefully protects both black and white rhinos – now numbering more than 50 – alongside Rothschild’s giraffe, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, elands, waterbucks and lions.Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge sits on a plateau on the eastern shore, in the park’s eastern ecological zone, with commanding views over the lake and what can seem like millions of flamingos, pelicans and marabou storks. The park is one of Kenya’s six internationally protected Ramsar wetland sites. The lodge has lush gardens, a programme of activities and evening entertainment, plus 65 modern en suite rooms. Meals are served indoors, by the pool or beneath tall acacia trees, and the ground floor Rift Valley bar offers fine lake views. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at the lodge. Overnight in Lake Nakuru.

After breakfast we leave Lake Nakuru’s flamingo-lined shores and continue to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. We drive via Njoro and climb over the Mau Escarpment, then head south across Kenya’s breadbasket – fields of wheat and barley – to Narok, the gateway to the Mara. On arrival we check in at Sarova Mara Game Camp and have lunch before an afternoon game drive, returning as the sun sets. Dinner is at the camp. Overnight in the Maasai Mara.Sarova Mara Game Camp sits inside the eastern section of the reserve, tucked into a small forested valley. During the Great Migration the camp lies on the animals’ route and is often surrounded by wildebeest, gazelles and zebras. The 75 tents have a permanent roof and floor, zip fronts, an attached bathroom, running hot water and electricity. Wooden walkways over lily ponds link the tents and lawns with the main dining and bar areas, and birdlife is abundant – kingfishers are a common sight. The main building features a high thatched lobby, the Oloip Bar with a cosy log fireplace, a large dining area and an outdoor terrace with wide views, plus a small space by the pond for private meals if needed. There is also a swimming pool with sun loungers.

After an early breakfast, we head out on a morning game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve – home to the Big Five of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino – along with abundant antelope, gazelle and wildebeest. We return to camp for lunch and time for a siesta, then set off on an afternoon game drive and a visit to a Maasai village. We arrive back at camp as the sun sets and round off the day with dinner. Overnight at Maasai Mara.

Say goodbye to the Maasai Mara as we travel past rolling wheat and barley fields to Narok, then cross the open plains on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle. We climb the escarpment and continue to Kenya’s bustling capital, arriving for drop off at around 1.30 pm – you then continue with your onward travel arrangements. Recommended departure flights from 4.00 pm.