Day 1. October 02, 2021 - Saturday - Toronto - Europe - Meet & greet by your Tour Escort at Toronto Pearson Airport. Assistance with check-in. Fly aboard non-stop overnight service to Europe. In-flight meals

 

Day 2. October 03, 2021 - Sunday - Arrive Nairobi - JAMBO - KARIBU!! -  Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, following immigration and customs, we will be met by our local representatives in their traditional, unique & special welcome.  During our private transfer to the hotel enjoy some ‘bubbly’, wet towels and presentation of an authentic safari hat and a beautiful authentic canvas pouch filled with safari essentials. Check in at the hotel.

​

Overnight stay at Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Nairobi Arboretum     

                                                                     

Day 3. October 04, 2021 - Monday - Nairobi - Following a leisurely breakfast, we’ll depart for The Daphne Shedrick’s Elephant Orphanage to spend an hour with these playful and gentle would-be giants. The ages of these babies vary from a few months to 3 years and each orphaned elephant is assigned its own keeper until they are ready to be re-introduced into the wild. The keeper will gives us a talk about the elephants, how they are getting on, and how some of the previous orphans are progressing.

​

Later, we will head off to Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens, originally part of the home of the infamous Danish author (of the “Out of Africa” fame). Picturesquely located at the foot of the Ngong Hills, it is here that we’ll enjoy a delicious ‘Welcome to Kenya’ lunch at the Tamambo Karen Blixen Restaurant. Enjoy a stroll around the famous farm-house now known as the Karen Blixen Museum. Then ,we take a short drive to the Giraffe Centre, an educational activity and part of African Fund for Endangered Wildlife.

 

The centre has a small herd of Rothschild's Giraffes which are endangered species and we’ll get a chance to feed them and see them up close. If time permits, we may proceed to the Kazuri Beads Factory, a community project set up in 1975 to support single mothers. What is unique about Kazuri Beads is that every piece of jewelry is handmade and each one is unique.

​

Overnight stay at Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Nairobi Arboretum (B) (L)

 

Day 4. October 05, 2021 - Tuesday - Nairobi - Samburu - Leaving Nairobi this morning, we head north to the Samburu National Reserve, set in a spectacular scenic landscape in the rugged semi-arid northern region of Kenya. Upon arrival, check-in at our camp and proceed to have a sumptuous lunch.

​

On our afternoon game viewing drive, we’ll explore the verdant riverine forest, a stark contrast to the arid thorn studded plains. The Samburu region is the best place to find several endemic Northern species; including the long -necked Gerenuk gazelle, the Beisa oryx, the Reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich and Grevy’s zebra. Leopards are often seen at dusk. Samburu is also an ornithological paradise, home to many birds including local species such as the Palm-Nut vulture and the vivacious dove.

​

The Samburu culture is a fascinating one, sharing a great deal of ancestral and linguistic ties to the Maasai.

​

We’ll have the opportunity to interact with a small group of Samburu dancers who’ll entertain us during dinner. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Bedroom Camp, Luxury Tents (B) (L) (D)

 

Day 5. October 06, 2021 - Wednesday - Samburu - Our first stop will be at a Samburu manyatta. We’ll get to know how the tribe lives in these harsh surroundings. The rest of our day is spent with morning and afternoon game viewing drives in both Samburu and Buffalo Springs Game Reserves. Let’s enjoy some of the best and most colourful game viewing in the country.

 

The Ewaso Nyiro River which meanders through this vast and dry reserve, dotted with doum palms, is home and refuge to the region’s wildlife. Spotting a leopard emerging to hunt at dusk brings the perfect end to a day on safari!

​

Dinner and overnight at Elephant Bedroom Camp, Luxury Tents (B) (L) (D)

 

Day 6. October 07, 2021 - Thursday - Samburu - Ol Pejeta - Today, we take a drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy arriving at our tented camps in time for lunch. This Conservancy and its sumptuous ranch were once the private domain of famed multi-millionaire, Adnan Kashoggi.

 

Our afternoon game viewing will also include a visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary, a charming haven established by the Jane Goodall Institute to provide sanctuary to orphaned chimps. The sanctuary also acts as a special and protected refuge for the black rhino. This is Africa as Teddy Roosevelt saw it years ago when he led one of the first safaris to tour Africa in comfort and splendor. The tents at Sweetwaters will remind us of this past era.

​

Dinner and overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp, Standard Wing Tents (B) (L) (D)

 

Day 7. October 08, 2021 - Friday - Ol Pajeta - Lake Nakuru - We take the scenic route towards Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving at The Cliff.  Perched at the top of the 330-foot high rock face sits The Cliff; our small and intimate luxury camp furnished in a contemporary European style that defies conventional labels.  

​

During our afternoon game viewing drive it’s possible see various animal species including prides of lion, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, and wart hogs. The Park is a sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild giraffes and the black & white Rhino. There may be sightings of the Burchell’s zebra, impalas, and the elusive leopard among many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded in Lake Nakuru National Park.

​

Dinner and overnight at The Cliff, Standard spacious Tents (B) (L) (D).

 

Day 8. October 09, 2021 - Saturday - Ol Pajeta - Lake Nakuru - The Park environment here is serene and we’ll discover that the scenery is breath-taking as we spend our day exploring. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places to see the endangered black and white Rhino. However, the fame of Lake Nakuru is the pink flamingo that flock to its shores to feed on the cyanobacteria of the Lake’s alkaline waters.

 

An important breeding ground and migratory stopover for many species of birds, the region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is hard to believe, but at certain times of the year, there can be over a million flamingos forming a big pink band around the edge of the Lake. It is also a sanctuary for the rare Rothschild Giraffe and is also one of the best places in Kenya to see leopards.

​

Dinner and overnight at The Cliff, Standard spacious Tents (B) (L) (D).

 

Day 9. October 10, 2021 - Sunday - Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara - After a sumptuous breakfast, depart for Maasai Mara; the national game reserve that is the only region of Kenya where the visitor may witness the same super-abundance of wildlife as it existed a century ago.

 

The Mara Game Reserve, albeit world famous for its ‘big five’ (lion, Cape buffalo, the savannah elephant, black rhino and the elusive leopard), also boasts over a hundred other species of animals and exceeds 400 species of birds.  The vast savanna grasslands as far as the eye can see is home to the annual wildebeest migration.  Upon arrival at our Camp, we enjoy lunch, some rest and an afternoon game drive.

​

Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp (B) (L) (D).

 

Day 10. October 11, 2021 - Monday - Maasai Mara - OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Early-morning balloon ride over the Mara Plains! 

​

Today’s adventure begins just before dawn. Flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crew inflates their craft. As dawn is breaking and rays of sunlight begin to flicker across the skies, the hot air balloon fills , then rises and you're off for a game-viewing adventure. Apart from the occasional hiss of the burners, a lion's roar, elephants crashing through the bush, baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see something above them, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent.  At the end of the balloon flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush, complete with flowers. China and crystal are set out on the table that is placed under a convenient acacia tree. Our driver/guides and our vehicles track your flight and await your arrival back on land and following your champagne breakfast, take a drive back to the camp. Time for a well-deserved rest and a sumptuous lunch.

 

For those that do not opt for the Optional Balloon flight, we’ll enjoy the morning breakfast at the camp. Our safari driver-guide has the safari vehicle at the ready for us and we proceed on a morning game viewing drive, returning to our camp for lunch just before 1:00 p.m.

 

Following a short rest, we depart during late afternoon/early evening for a game drive in a different area of the Game Reserve. You may even be so lucky to witness a leopard or a cheetah sprint and make a kill! The spectacular lighting effect that the sunset has on the rolling savannah of the Maasai Mara is stunningly beautiful.

 

Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp (B) (L) (D).

 

 

Day 11. October 12, 2021 - Tuesday - Maasai Mara - Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Camp.  Later, we’ll visit a Maasai Manyatta to learn a bit about their lifestyle and culture. The Maasai have steadfastly stuck to most of their traditions, lifestyle and lore. The tribe co-exist together with the region’s wildlife, They have always been pastoral and semi-nomadic and make their living herding cattle and goats. We’ll also learn about their living conditions and some of their traditions.

​

The balance of the day is spent exploring the reserve.

​

Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp (B) (L) (D).

 

Day 12. October 13, 2021 - Wednesday - Maasai Mara - Nairobi - Homebound - Breakfast followed by check-out. Bidding farewell, we’ll be transferred to the local airstrip for a quick flight to Nairobi.  Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to our hotel where a ‘day-room’ is reserved for our convenience for some rest and for freshening up prior to our international flights. We’ll need to check-out by 6:00 p.m.  We will enjoy a special farewell dinner prior to proceeding to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Check-in formalities and board our overnight flight to Europe. (B) (L) (D).

 

 

Day 13. October 14, 2021 - Thursday - Europe - Toronto - We arrive in Europe early this morning and await in transit to connect with our non-stop transatlantic flight to Toronto.  Arrive in Toronto later in the evening.

​

End of services