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Day 1 Arrive Nairobi, Kenya
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Nairobi, you will be welcomed by our representative and assisted for your transfer to your luxurious hotel facing the Ngong Hills. Welcome to Kenya!
Ngong House or similar
Ngong House lies on the outskirts of Langata, on the land once cultivated as Karen Blixen's coffee estate. Paul Verleysen, the charming owner, had the concept of a private home that would also offer exclusive and personalized service to a small number of guests. Germane to the concept was that the accommodation would be original, would fit seamlessly within the landscape, would utilize indigenous materials and styles, and would benefit from Paul's engineering skills.
Accommodation comprises five wooden houses raised on stilts with peerless views of the misty Ngong Hills and the surrounding countryside. There is also a further bedroom within the attractive original house. The furnishings and decorative artefacts are, with very few exceptions, resolutely sourced within Africa, and primarily Kenya. The furniture may be constructed from camphorwood, which mellows to a rich dark patina with age, or perhaps, romantically, made from hardwood sleepers from the old Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. Each tree house has its own spirit and ambience. The beautifully intricate hand-carved furniture of Lamu features in one, whereas another features a clear, tranquil blue combined with the strong lines of wrought iron pieces. Generous four-poster beds grace the upper-level bedrooms, crisp cottons and feather pillows promise a luxurious nights sleep. On the lower level the spacious living area has a large sofa to sink into, comfy chairs and an intimate dining area. The verandah is the ideal place from which to bask in the sun, take afternoon tea, observe the teeming birdlife or gaze into the sunset.
The cuisine is of the highest quality, imaginatively prepared using mouth-wateringly fresh ingredients. Meals, hosted by Paul or his son, Christof, may be served in the elegant dining room, under the shady trees, or in the covered yet open-sided dining area in the gardens in which a roaring fire is lit on chillier evenings.
Day 2 Nairobi - Lewa Downs
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport for your 8:00 am departure to Lewa Downs. Upon arrival, you will be met by a Lewa Conservancy vehicle and taken directly to the Lewa Downs, situated north of Mount Kenya, south of the Samburu Game Reserve. Lewa Downs has been the Craig family home since 1924, and is one of Kenya’s major conservation successes. Endangered species abound in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The family home, Wilderness Trails Lodge, accommodates 16 guests in comfortable thatched cottages with en-suite bathrooms.
The food is wholesome, ranch style and organically grown. Activities include night and day game drives in 4x4 vehicles, on horseback, on camels and escorted bush walks plus incredible bird-watching opportunities, cultural visits with local communities, visits to prehistoric sites and farm and craft tours. Swimming and tennis are also available. Wilderness Trails at Lewa (BLD)
Day 3 Lewa Downs
The full day at Wilderness Trails may include exploration of the fauna and flora of the area. Choose a game drives in custom four-wheel drive vehicles and, because it is a private conservancy, you may choose a night drive which will allow you to see nocturnal animals. Horseback safaris, on very gentle steeds, allow close encounters with the wildlife, while a camel safari is not to be missed. You may choose to spend the day lounging at the swimming pool or enjoying a brisk game of tennis. The choice is up to you! Wilderness Trails at Lewa (BLD).
Day 4-6 Samburu: Ol Malo
After breakfast transfer to Lewa airstrip for your charter flight to Ol Malo airstrip. Upon arrival you will met by a camp vehicle and transferred to the lodge. Ol Malo is a privately-owned game sanctuary on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in Kenya's wild and beautiful North Eastern Province - 5000 acres of spectacular bush country overlooked by Mount Kenya and teeming with the elusive antelope from which the land takes its name.
In this majestic setting - on a rock escarpment on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau, bordering the tribal heartlands of the nomadic Samburu people – the Francombe family and their Samburu neighbors have created a home for themselves and a dream destination for the privileged few who seek a glimpse into the true heart of Africa.
Activities on offers (some additional cost): enjoy a camel ride across the plains or around Ol Malo. Experience the real Kenyan outback on the back of one of Ol Malo’s ponies. You can meet the local Samburu children, visit their school, paint, learn tribal dancing, make beaded artifacts, and visit their manyatta (village). Learn about hunting with spears and try your hand at spear throwing. Enjoy a nature walk and find the smaller things of interest – spiders, insects, harvester ants, flower and plants.
One of the most stunning parts of Ol Malo is the very private swimming pool built on the cliff edge, with its water spilling over. Warmed by the hot African sun, it has separate shower/bathroom and eating area. Ol Malo (BLD)
The four guest cottages and two tents are spread out along the cliff edge and are uniquely built out of natural rock and ancient olive wood, with thatched roofs and huge glass windows facing onto the view. Ol Malo can take up to eight people at one time. All the cottages are different and each room offers the maximum in privacy and comfort, with huge king size beds, luxurious en-suite bathrooms and private veranda. Some rooms are on a split level with the bathroom underneath the room, others have the bathroom on the same level. The two tents are made out of canvas and have small elephant motifs around the lining. Each tent has an ensuite bathroom made out of natural rock and a thatched roof covers the entire tent and veranda
Day 7 Maasai Mara
After an early breakfast transfer to Ol Malo Airstrip for your charter flight to the Ol Kiombo airstrip and Maasai Mara National Reserve. Upon arrival you will be met by camp vehicles and transferred to Rekero Camp.
Rekero offers a small, private, family/community-run semi permanent tented camp that caters perfectly to guest who seeks exclusivity away from the main crowds of the Mara. The camp caters to groups from four to twelve guests. The spacious canvas tents are equipped with hot showers and toilets, together with a large dining tent. Wildlife viewing is by foot or by 4x4 vehicles. The guides are excellent and are from this area. Here, you will get the feel of being closer to a more natural Africa. This experience should not to be missed by the adventurous traveler. Rekero Camp (BLD)
Amidst the teeming mass of wildlife in the Maasai Mara area, Rekero's tented camp is currently inside the Maasai Mara Game reserve, very close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers. This seasonal Eco-camp is ideally situated for the annual migration, which is the movement of over one million wildebeest and two hundred thousand zebra from the Serengeti through the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The Camp is set up seasonally (June - October, December - March) and caters for up to eighteen guests. Eight spacious tents, all ensuite with flush loos and safari showers provide an authentic and intimate setting.
Gerard and Rainee Beaton along with their partner Jackson Ole Looseyia own and host this unique camp. Their team of professional Maasai safari guides and camp crew have worked together for years, providing guests with an in depth and truly memorable Maasai Mara experience.
Day 8 Maasai Mara
You will have the opportunity to take various game activities as follows: Wildlife viewing and bird watching can be done on foot with experienced Il Dorobo and Maasai guides, or in custom-built four-wheel drive vehicles which allow intimate yet unobtrusive access to the animals. Night drives, cultural visits, bush picnics and visits to local trading centers are also available. Rekero Camp (BLD)
Day 9 Maasai Mara
A full day of game activities or even a cultural excursion to a local Maasai village. Rekero Camp (BLD)
Day 10 Nairobi - Depart
After breakfast transfer back to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport. The flight departs Maasai Mara at 11:00 am and arrives into Nairobi Wilson airport at 12:15 pm for your onward arrangements. (B)
Extension Options
Instead of flying straight home, extend your visit and spend a few days on the beach, Funzi Keys Island or the secluded Alfajiri, on Mombasa’s Diani Beach. Both offer extreme luxury and privacy. Or you may enjoy a hot air balloon excursion, or a private safari in Tanzania.
Price Includes:
• Internal flights as specified
• Accommodation with private facilities
• Airport transfers
• Professional English speaking Driver/Guide
• Game drives and activities as noted
• Park entrance and conservation fees
• Meals as noted (B-bkfst, L-lunch, D-dinner)
• Temporary membership Flying Doctors Society
Price Excludes:
• Flights to/from Africa.
• Travel insurance
• Tips, porterage, beverages, items of personal nature such as laundry, phone, fax etc.
• Fees for passport, visas
• Airport departure taxes
• Any other item not mentioned in the itinerary
Notes:
• Additional pre or post nights in Nairobi available.
• We may have to reroute the itinerary or accommodate in similar properties in case of non-availability.
• Luggage is restricted to total weight (checked & carryon) of 15kg/33lbs. per person for internal flights. Soft bags are required, as hard-sided suitcases do not fit into the cargo compartment.
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