| Day |
Activities |
Hotel |
Day 1
Nairobi
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- Nairobi: Other - Flying Doctors
- Kensington Cares *
- Transfer - Airport - Game Van/Guide
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Country Lodge (Alt: Holiday Inn Mayfair) (Alt: Serena) (B)
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Day 2
Nairobi - Samburu
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- Transfer - Samburu (6 hr)Family - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch
- Samburu: Afternoon Game Drive
- Other - Park Fees - Samburu
- Dinner
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Samburu Serena (Alt: Samburu Wilderness Lodge) (Alt: Shaba Sarova) (B,L,D)
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Day 3
Samburu
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- Game Drive Family - Private - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch
- Afternoon Game Drive - Gerenuk -
- Other - Park Fees - Samburu
- Dinner
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Samburu Serena (Alt: Samburu Wilderness Lodge) (Alt: Shaba Sarova) (B,L,D)
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Day 4
Samburu - Laikipia
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- Transfer - Laikipia Family - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch
- Laikipia: Optional activities
- Other - Park Fees - Laikipia
- Dinner
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Sweetwaters Serena (Alt: Ol` Pejeta Serena) (Alt: Lewa Safari Camp) (B,L,D)
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Day 5
Laikipia - Nakuru
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- Transfer - Nakuru - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch
- Nakuru: Afternoon Game Drive -
- Dinner
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Lion Hill Sarova (B,L,D)
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Day 6
Naivasha - Masai Mara
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- Naivasha: Transfer - Masai Mara family - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch
- Masai Mara: Afternoon Game Drive
- Other - Park Fees - Masai Mara
- Dinner
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Kensington Mara West (Alt: Serena) (Alt: Kichwa Tembo) (B,L,D)
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Day 7
Masai Mara
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- Morning Game Drive 2 Family - KT Game Van/Guide
- Other - Park Fees - Masai Mara
- Lunch
- Afternoon Game Drive 2 -
- Dinner
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Kensington Mara West (Alt: Serena) (Alt: Kichwa Tembo) (B,L,D)
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Day 8
Masai Mara - Nairobi
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- Transfer - Nairobi (6hr) - KT Game Van/Guide
- Nairobi: Tour - Private - Souvenir shopping
- Kensington Office
- Transfer - Airport - Game Van/Guide
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Depart (B)
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| B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive |
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Itinerary
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Day 1
Nairobi Includes Flying Doctors air ambulance emergency evacuation to Nairobi in the event of serious illness. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Owned and operated by Fairview Hotel, Country Lodge offers modern accomodations at reasonable prices. Located in quite Upperhill, relax in the gardens or take advantage of gym facilities and local restaurants. Rest in comfort and security at this lovely location. Nairobi is the least expensive arrival city for flights with a full range of hotels and local attractions. Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World” cool, clear and cosmopolitan Nairobi is the natural departure point for most safari itineraries. A city of contrasts, it is simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest growing city in East Africa. High-altitude Nairobi enjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are ATMs and banks to stock up on cash, great restaurants, and malls where you can purchase any forgotten items.
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 Nairobi |
 Country Lodge Lobby |
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Day 2
Nairobi - Samburu This morning you'll meet up with your guide and head off to Samburu National park. The drive from the urban center of Nairobi, through the fertile highlands, the semi-arid frontier of Kenya is breath-taking and great way to see the countryside. The drive will be about an 5 to 6 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Your skilled guide will take you on an afternoon game viewing drive through the sandy Samburu desert region. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Situated on the tranquil flowing Ewaso Nyiro River, the arteria lifeline of this northern game reserve the Serena Safari Lodge in Samburu is a window to the wild, where the view from rooms and verandas is essentially a wide-lens to the lifestyle and habits of rare animals. As they tend the earth and waters around them, bask in the comforts offered by this 62 room getaway. With Serena Lodges, all necessities are available and complete freedom is forced. Dine over candlelight to African and continental specialties, while new companions pass the time in the mountains and rivers nearby. Instead of peering at these foreign species as fierce beings, the Serena staff takes you by the hand and shares with you the skin-tingling experience of bird feeding and game drives. Evenings may be spent relaxing on the porch, as unassuming wild animals wander freely and without threat. The Samburu National Reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro river in Kenya; on the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Northern Kenya. It is 165 km² in size and 350 kilometers from Nairobi. Samburu is distinctive for its arid plains and herds of animals drawn to the river and water holes. Photographers love this park for its stark lighting and contrasts. In the arid North of Kenya, water means life. The river draws wildlife in great numbers to its banks, providing high quality game viewing.
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 Samburu |
 Leopard |
 Samburu Serena Safari Lodge |
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Day 3
Samburu Game viewing in Samburu National Park with your skilled guide. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Another species unique to the Samburu region is the Gerenuk. With luck, you'll see some while on your game drive. It's amazing to watch them stand on their hind legs to eat! The Gerenuk also known as the Waller's Gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in dry bushy shrub and steppe in East Africa. The word Gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning “giraffe-necked”, and leads to another common name, the Giraffe-necked Antelope. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Samburu Serena.
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 Samburu |
 Gerenuk |
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Day 4
Samburu - Laikipia This morning you will leave Amboseli and drive to Laikipia. Along the way you will see amazing scenery as you drive through rural Kenya where you will see some Samburu villages. (1hour) Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Sign up for optional activities at your resort (not included in tour price); bush BBQ lunch ($70pp), guided nature walk or bird watching ($38pp), camel rides ($32pp), lion tracking ($82pp) Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). The Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp has 39 deluxe luxury tents settled in the Kenya highland plateau of Laikipia, between Mt Kenya & the Aberdare Mts. . Clean and surpassing all expectations, it provides hot showers and toilets to each tent while maintaining an outdoor appeal unmatched in comfort. The view from tents allows first hand access to animal watering holes. Dining at the restaurant provides a clear view of animals interacting as guests feast on delicious courses of African and continental culinary persuasions. Besides the pure enjoyment of civilization’s best kept secrets, there is a darling tame rhino nearby stealing the hearts of all who come in contact with it. You won’t forget Morani, the tender soul for which the Sweetwaters Tented Camp cares. Laikipia District is located on the Equator in the central region of the country. The district has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its capital is town Nanyuki. Centred around the original Laikipia National Reserve, this area has become a sanctuary for Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic Northern species. Laikipia has become a focus for many conservation efforts.
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 Laikipia |
 Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp |
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Day 5
Laikipia - Nakuru Transfer between from Laikipia to Nakuru, through the rift valley. The drive usually takes 3 hour. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously lines the shore. Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and White rhinos have also been introduced.
Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). The Sarova Lion Hill Lodge overlooks Lake Nakuru, and sits within the Lake Nakuru National Park, where flamingos and rich animal life wander and spend their day. The 67 chalets all enjoy a wonderful view of the wealth of game. The lodge is one of the only accommodations in the area, and it does its best to please guests with friendly staff and care, continuously upholding the reputation for hospitality at Sarova Hotels. Dining takes place at the restaurant or bar, or one may request a bush breakfast or lunch. Cuisine ranges from local to continental. Activities include a dip in the swimming pool, a visit to the beauty and massage treatment specialists, or taking some time out to observe the surrounding animal habitats. Nakuru is the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, and is the fourth largest urban centre in the country. Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes and provides the visitor with one of Kenya’s best known images, thousands of flamingo joined into a massive flock. A pulsing pink swathe of life that carpets the water, the flamingo are a breathtaking sight. The lake forms part of the Lake Nakuru National Park which has good game viewing for a day safari.
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Day 6
Naivasha - Masai Mara Transfer between Naivasha and Mara park by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. During the rainy season this can be a long drive. Usually takes about 5 - 6 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). This afternoons game viewing will be exciting as you are searching for game with your private guide and driver. The leopard is difficult to see as it moves fast and is very shy. If you're lucky there is a good chance to spot them around waterholes or up in a tree after a hot long day. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Our new Kensington Mara West Camp has been revamped and relocated to what is surely one of the best views in East Africa. Perched elegantly on the Ololoolo escarpment forming the western boundary of the Masai Mara Reserve itself, this is the authentic ‘Out of Africa’ experience where much of the original film itself was filmed & produced. The camp borders the remote and beautiful western edge of Masai Mara National Reserve. Kensington Mara West provides nature lovers with deluxe accommodations while experiencing the sights and sounds of an unforgettable African safari. Chalets are perched in secluded spots on an escarpment edge overlooking the vast plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, giving tremendous views and a sense of private exclusion. Mara West is providing high quality service with beautifully designed, comfortable accommodations. Naivasha is one of our favorite places to pause a safari, lush, cool and relaxing - is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across but its waters are shallow and thick with hippo. Hell's Gate National Park, Longonot National Park and Mount Longonot are nearby attractions. Boat tours on the lake are popular to observe birdlife and hippopotamus behavior, or explore Crescent Island on foot.
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 Masai Mara |
 Leopard |
 Kensington Mara West |
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Day 7
Masai Mara Masai Mara is named after the traditional inhabitants (Maasai) and the Mara River. At some point during your stay in the Mara, you'll drive by the river which is a great place to spot wildlife. This area is a photographers delight where with any luck you'll be able to take amazing pictures of the hippos and elephants in the water. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). On today‘s afternoon game drive the choice is up to you, search for the big 5 or expand your horizons to discover something different. Masai Mara not only has rich mix of animal population, it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Kensington Mara West. Masai Mara is the northernmost portion of the larger Serengeti ecosystem and features the best game viewing in the region . The small size funnels animals into a tight space, and park rules allowing off-road driving which means that guests can venture into plains covered with hundreds or even thousands of animals. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over the plains, with the opportunity for amazing pictures of the animal herds below.
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 Hippo |
 Bateleur or Short Tailed Eagle |
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Day 8
Masai Mara - Nairobi Transfer between Mara park and Nairobi by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. One hour of road is badly potholed. Includes opportunity to visit local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs. Before leaving that night, stop by the kensington office for free use of internet, lounge, showers and drinks. (We can arrange dinner at Carnivore game meat restaurant, though there is limited wild meat on the menu these days - please let us know in advance and if you are veg.) Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.
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 Kenya Souvenir Stand |
 Nairobi Office Lounge |
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Trip Includes
All ground transport in a comfortable safari vehicle fitted with pop up roof for easy photography and game viewing whilst on safari - Guaranteed window seating - Guaranteed departure - Airport transfers as per the itinerary - Meals as listed on the itinerary
Trip Excludes
Laundry - Tips - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages including mineral water - International airfare - Visas - Optional activities/extras - Vacation insurance (purchase at www.kensingtontours.com/insurance.cfm )
Trip Terms & Conditions
- Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
- The price shown is per person, and does not include international air fare to/from the trip start point
- Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
- We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes. We will endeavor to confirm final hotel bookings as soon as possible.
- Cancellations 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund less any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
- Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms.cfm
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