Grand Tour of Kenya

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Arrive in Nairobi Arriving in Nairobi in the evening, we will transfer to your four-star hotel for an overnight stay.
• Day 2
  Journey to Lake Nakuru The safari adventure begins this morning as we meet our driver guide for the next eleven days. Travelling in 4x4 land cruisers, all six passengers have their own windows and seats that recline and adjust for leg room. The pop-up roof allows for 360-degree game viewing.  Our first stop will be an introduction to the world's largest species of giraffe, the endangered Rothchild Giraffe. Thanks to the work of the Giraffe Centre we visit, there are now over 300 Rothchild Giraffes in various Kenyan National Parks. There are three subspecies of the giraffe; the Rothchild Giraffe in Lake Nakuru National Park; the Masai Giraffe located south of the Equator; and the reticulated giraffe, also known as the Somali Giraffe, native to North Kenya's Samburu region.   We'll arrive at our lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch and this afternoon, we'll enjoy our first game drive. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to a shallow lake. The lake is located within the Great Rift Valley of Kenya and was created by volcanic activity from nearby Mount Longonot. You may spot a flamboyance of flamingos grazing on the algae that grow here. Designated a national park in 1972, we'll have a chance to spot different species in their natural habitat, including zebra, gazelle, buffalo, waterbuck, Rothchild giraffe, rhinoceros, flamingo and a wealth of other birdlife. In the evening, you'll be free to relax in the lodge, enjoy dinner and find out what's on the agenda tomorrow with a debrief from your tour manager and local guide. Included experience: A game drive in 4x4s through Lake Nakuru National Park and a visit to the Giraffe Centre.
• Day 3
  Lake Nakuru National Park & Crescent Island game sanctuary Today, you'll have the choice to explore the national park on a morning game drive. Experience the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats ranging from Lake Nakuru to the woodland and bushy grassland surrounding it. And spend the afternoon at leisure, enjoying lunch at the lodge and time to relax. Included experience: Half-day game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park. Signature experience: Enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha with a guided nature walk at Crescent Island. You're likely to spot interesting species on your nature walk through Crescent Island, this privately owned game sanctuary boasts more animals per acre than any other Kenyan Park and the shores host abundant birdlife, including pelicans, cormorants and fish-eagles.
• Day 4
  Journey to Maasai Mara Journeying through the Great Rift Valley to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, you'll have the opportunity to see more of Kenya's stunning countryside.   We arrive at the award-winning Maasai Mara Game Reserve, where we’ll stay for three nights, in time for lunch.  In the afternoon, we commence our game drive of Maasai Mara, home to the 'Big Five': African elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and African buffalo. You may also spot African wild dog and cheetah, completing Africa’s super seven.  Maasai Mara is one of Africa's best wildlife reserves and one of the most well-known. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania form Africa's most diverse ecosystem hosting over 95 animal species. On our game drive, we'll look out for herds of elephant, giraffe, gazelle and buffalo meandering through the savannah plains, hippos and crocodiles cooling off in the brown rivers of the Mara and blue and red-tail monkeys playing in the forest. An abundance of herbivores makes the Maasai Mara an ideal hunting ground for predators, so look out for lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and jackals on our game drive. If you visit from late July to October, you may witness The Great Wildebeest Migration sighting in which more than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate to Masia Mara in search of water and pasture. Included experience: A game drive through the Maasai Mara.
• Day 5
  Maasai Mara Enjoy your choice of activities with a free day in Maasai Mara.  Explore this vast reserve at your own pace with full-day, morning or afternoon game drives. Or relax in the lounge and bar or take a dip in the pool. Situated in the heart of Maasai Mara, there's plenty of wildlife to see at the lodge so look out for the monkeys that wander the grounds or the hippos bathing in the river nearby.  There will also be an included optional visit to the village of the Maasai, a nomadic tribe that populates vast areas of Southern Kenya. They live largely untouched by modern civilisation, and this is a chance to interact with the Maasai. get a glimpse into their culture and see some of their customs and traditions first-hand.  Upgrade your holiday: Consider personalising your holiday with one night stay in a luxury tented safari camp as well as taking a game drive. See the 'Personalise your Holiday' section, and speak to a team member for more information. Included experience: Game rides through Maasai Mara, including an optional visit to the village of the Maasai tribe. Signature experience: At the end of the afternoon game drive, we park in a poignant location within the reserve and enjoy drinks and nibbles as the sun sets.
• Day 6
  Maasai Mara Today is your second day spent at leisure on the stunning Maasai Mara reserve. Explore this vast reserve at your own pace with full-day, morning or afternoon game drives. Or relax in the lounge and bar or take a dip in the pool.   There will also be an included optional visit to the village of the Maasai, a nomadic tribe that populates vast areas of Southern Kenya. They live largely untouched by modern civilisation, and this is a chance to interact with the Maasai. get a glimpse into their culture and see some of their customs and traditions first-hand. 
• Day 7
  Journey to Lake Naivasha After breakfast, we'll journey towards Lake Naivasha, arriving for lunch. Spend this afternoon at leisure in the Lake Naivasha Country Club, our hotel for the night. The lake is a bird watchers' paradise, home to over 400 bird species. However, Lake Naivasha is most famous for its high population of flamingos and hippos; you are almost guaranteed to see one.  There’s also plenty to explore in the local area at your leisure, including a flower farm or vineyard, depending on the season. Our expert Tour Manager is on hand to advise you on the best local attractions.
• Day 8
  Journey to Buffalo Springs Reserve This morning will be an early start as we begin our journey north to Buffalo Springs Reserve. Our route takes us through rugged areas of the Samburu region, a beautiful natural landscape reminiscent of ancient Kenya. We cross the equator in search of the Special Five; the reticulated giraffe, grévy zebra, somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx.  Arriving in time for lunch, we start exploring Buffalo Springs Reserve in the afternoon. The reserve is located between the lush highlands of southern Kenya and the arid deserts in the north. Buffalo Springs Reserve and Samburu Reserve are divided by the Ewaso Ngiri river, fringed with trees such as giant acacias, figs, and doum palms that slice across the scorched land, creating a dramatic contrast with rare wildlife, diverse birdlife and stunning natural landscapes. On your drive through the reserve, your driver guide is on hand with specialist knowledge of the wildlife that makes up the vast ecosystem here. You might see the maneless lion (native to this region), leopard, cheetah and elephants that all inhabit the reserve and there are over 350 species of birds to spot, including grey-headed kingfisher, cobalt blue breasted vulturine guineafowl, lilac-breasted roller, red-billed hornbill, secretary bird, Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture and the endangered Abyssinian ground hornbill.  Ask your driver guide for the story of the famous lioness Kamunyak, who became renowned for adopting oryx calves! Included experience: A game drive through Buffalo Springs Reserve.
• Day 9
  Buffalo Springs Reserve Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch or half-days with lunch at the lodge and time to relax or swim in the lodge pool with a day at leisure on the reserve.   There will also be the included option to learn more about Africa’s first community-owned elephant sanctuary with a visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, followed by a picnic bush breakfast experience in the Namunyak wildlife conservancy, which we also drive through.  Visit the Samburu reserve, home to the Samburu people, cousins of the nomadic Maasai. A visit to the village, near the reserve, offers a fascinating insight into their cultures and traditions. Samburu society is traditionally organised around cattle, used not only for food but also for dowries, fines and ceremonies. The communities also keep camels, using camel milk as a nutritional source as well as a source of living. This included optional visit may be available on days 8, 9 or 10. Included experience: Full and half-day game drives and visits to a local Samburu village, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.
• Day 10
  Buffalo Springs Reserve Enjoy another day at leisure in this stunning reserve. Today you may choose a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch or a half-day with lunch at the lodge and time to relax or swim in the lodge pool.    Visit the Samburu reserve, home to the Samburu people, cousins of the nomadic Maasai. A visit to the village, near the reserve, offers a fascinating insight into their cultures and traditions. Samburu society is traditionally organised around cattle, used not only for food but also for dowries, fines and ceremonies. The communities also keep camels, using camel milk as a nutritional source as well as a source of living. This included optional visit may be available on days 8, 9 or 10.