Kenya Explorer
8 Days
| $ | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
| 4ppl | 2,466 | 2,811 | 2,811 | 2,811 | 2,716 | 2,572 | 2,572 | 2,789 | 2,789 | 2,789 | 2,584 | 2,584 |
| 2ppl | 2,988 | 3,332 | 3,332 | 3,332 | 3,238 | 3,093 | 3,093 | 3,344 | 3,344 | 3,344 | 3,139 | 3,139 |
Highlights:
Kenya
(Nairobi, Amboseli, Naivasha, Masai Mara)
Trip Start/End:
Nairobi
/
Nairobi
See the best of Kenya on this far reaching tour. You are met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel downtown. The next morning you can stay in town to enjoy sightseeing at the Karen Blixen Museum, Elephant Orphanage, and Giraffe Manor - or depart right away to the plains of Amboseli. This small park is famous for its great elephants and the matchless view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Enjoy two days of game viewing with your private expert guide, in the comfort of your own vehicle. Drive back through Nairobi to Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley where you can stroll along the lakeside and view the hippos. There is an optional boat tour to nearby Crescent Island that offers rare game walking. Then drive to Masai Mara for two spectacular days of game viewing. This park has the best game viewing in the world because of its small size, and the ability to go off-road to the animals. There is no substitute for a tented safari - and the sense of being connected to the land. Return to Nairobi for some final souvenir shopping and a farewell dinner.
Kensington Tours has its own offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Arusha, Tanzania. Our prices include the support of our own dedicated team on the ground! Another reason we deliver unbeatable value.
Overview
| Day | Activities | Hotel |
- Day 1
- Nairobi
| - Emergency Evacuation Insurance - Plane
- Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
- Welcome to East Africa
| Country Lodge Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 2
- Nairobi
| - Private - Transportation - Game Van/Guide
- Private - Elephant Orphanage - Entrance
- Lunch (not included)
- Private - Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen House & Kazuri Beads - Entrance
- Dinner (not included)
| Country Lodge Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 3
- Nairobi - Amboseli
| - Transfer - Nairobi - Amboseli [4 Hour Drive] - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch (included)
- Afternoon Game Drive
- Park Fees - Amboseli
- Dinner (included)
| Sopa Lodge Lodge (B,L,D)1 DBL (2 Adults)
Alt: Serena Amboseli (lodge)
|
- Day 4
- Amboseli
| - Morning Game Drive - Elephants - Game Van
- Park Fees - Amboseli
- Lunch (included)
- Afternoon Game Drive Big 5
- Dinner (included)
| Sopa Lodge Lodge (B,L,D)1 DBL (2 Adults)
Alt: Serena Amboseli (lodge)
|
- Day 5
- Amboseli - Naivasha
| - Transfer - Amboseli - Naivasha [6 Hour Drive] - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch (included)
- Optional activities
- Dinner (included)
| Naivasha Simba Lodge (B,L,D)1 DBL (2 Adults)
Alt: Sopa Lodge (lodge)
|
- Day 6
- Naivasha - Masai Mara
| - Transfer - Naivasha - Masai Mara [5 to 6 Hour Drive] - Game Van/Guide
- Lunch (included)
- Park Fees - Masai Mara
- Afternoon Game Drive
- Dinner (included)
| Olumara Tented Camp Tent (B,L,D)1 DBL (2 Adults)
Alt: Serena (lodge)
|
- Day 7
- Masai Mara
| - Morning Game Drive - Game Van
- Park Fees - Masai Mara
- Lunch (included)
- Afternoon Game Drive - Big 5
- Dinner (included)
| Olumara Tented Camp Tent (B,L,D)1 DBL (2 Adults)
Alt: Serena (lodge) Alt: Olumara Tented Camp (Tent)
|
- Day 8
- Masai Mara - Nairobi
| - Transfer - Masai Mara - Nairobi [6 Hour Drive] - Game Van/Guide
- Private - Souvenir shopping
- Kensington Office
- Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
| Depart
|
| B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive |
Trip Itinerary
Wildlife of Nairobi
Country Lodge
Day 1: Nairobi
In the unfortunate event of serious illness or injury, all travellers are covered by this “Flying Doctors” Insurance policy. This emergency evacuation insurance policy covers the cost of the evacuation flight back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance policy however DOES NOT cover the cost of any medical treatment received.
A privately driven vehicle will provide you with a transfer to & from the airport.
Accommodation: Country Lodge The Country Lodge Nairobi is owned and operated by the Fairview Hotel Group and provides guests with excellent accommodations options at a very reasonable price. The property is located in the Upper-hill neighbourhood of Nairobi, an area of the city that is rather lively, boasting a number of picturesque gardens, ethnically inspired restaurants and a wide range of activities. Guests at the Country Lodge can be assured that they will have a safe, clean and quiet place to rest their head during their stay in Nairobi. Throughout the hotel a wireless Internet connection is made available for usage. Guest will always wake up to a quality, hot breakfast before heading out to explore this dynamic Kenyan capital city.
Feeding Time!
Giraffe Manor
Day 2: Nairobi
Private guide and driver for the day in Nairobi.
Stop in for a visit to the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage at the Nairobi Game Park headquarters. The elephants are fed from 11am to noon. Visit these and other endangered animals like the black rhino.
Enjoy a visit to the Giraffe Center where you can hand-feed the giraffes. Then stop at the Karen Blixen house, once lived in by Karen, and made world familiar as the movie set for “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. (Try to see the movie again!) Ms. Blixen’s good works, among and for the local people, have made her into a legend. If you are interested in the local jewelry you can visit the Kazuri Bead Factory, it's an all-woman craft workshop that is renowned for making fabulous clay beads and jewelry. The Factory is a co-operative enterprise founded several decades ago by an Englishwoman who wanted to help single mothers become self-supporting. The clay beads are as amazing as the story of the Factory’s evolution.
Accommodation: Country Lodge
Amboseli
Sopa
Day 3: Nairobi - Amboseli
This morning you'll meet up with your guide and head off to Amboseli National Park. Head directly into the park for game viewing and then return to the camp for late check-in or check-in first and then head out for an afternoon game drive. Chat with your guide for their recommendation based on your arrival time and park hours.
This afternoon you'll meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. On a clear day, you'll also have spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Accommodation: Sopa Lodge The Sopa Lodge in Amboseli is seated near Mount Kilimanjaro, with a keen view of the mountain’s supreme heights and surrounding landscape. The 83 rooms are spacious and full of character, each constructed like private hut using local materials and fixtures. The dining room is decorated with authentic African carvings and vibrant, burning colors, with Pan African and continental cuisine served. One may pass the time observing the habits of the regional game or rummaging through the Maasai market, where proceeds are gathered for reinvesting into the indigenous community.
Elephants
Cheetahs
Day 4: Amboseli
This morning you will meet up with your guide for your game drive through Amboseli. Famous for its great herds of Elephants. The African elephants are distinguished from Asian elephants in several ways, the most noticeable being their ears which are much larger. The African elephant is typically larger than the Asian elephant and has a concave back. Both African males and females have external tusks and are usually less hairy than their Asian cousins. The elephant's gestation period is 22 months, the longest of any land animal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kilograms (260 lb).
This afternoon you will meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. Along with the great herds of elephants, the park is also home to cheetahs, lions, baboons, wildebeest and buffalo to name a few.
Accommodation: Sopa Lodge
Naivasha
Simba Lodge, Lake Naivasha
Day 5: Amboseli - Naivasha
You will meet up with your guide and head off to Naivasha. The drive will be about 6 hours.
Sign up for optional activities on-site. Activities include Crescent Island boat tour, hiking and day trip excursions to Mt Longonot and Hell's Gate, or simply walk along the lakeshore and relax at your lodge.
*Activity fees vary and are paid on-site to the lodge and/or park authority.
Accommodation: Naivasha Simba The Simba Lodge is situated not far from Nairobi, surrounded by gardens on the serene Lake Naivasha. Its 70 rooms are spacious and pleasantly decorated to fit in with the light, earthy and calm surroundings. Dining is an all-around pleasant experience, where one may choose their favorites and make new discoveries at the wide buffet. Traditional and international cuisine is offered, as well as curries, which are popular with the locals. Hell’s Gate is not far, and there are plenty of activities such as cycling and rock climbing there. Otherwise, take a boat ride or nature walk during your free time.
Masai
Leopard
Bedroom Interior
Day 6: Naivasha - Masai Mara
Your guide will drive you from Naivasha to Masai Mara. This drive will take about 5 to 6 hours. Drive times may be longer in the rainy season (April to early May and November). Stop for refreshments and souvenir shopping at roadside stands along the way or head straight to the park. Enjoy game viewing as you enter Masai Mara and drive to your camp.
Head out this afternoon, accompanied by an experience tracker-guide, on an exciting game viewing adventure. Search some of the area`s wildlife hot-spots determined by your guide, as they`ve learned and now understand the games daily routines through tracking. Some wildlife is more difficult than others to spot, for instance the Leopard. These spotted cats blends almost seamlessly into the tall grass and shrubbery, and are even more challenging to spot up in their favorite hangout, the trees. Your guide will take you to nearby watering holes, where on a hot day, you`ll spot many bird and wildlife species, including the elusive Leopard.
Accommodation: Olumara Tented Camp The camp is an all season camp located along the banks of the Olare Orok River, on the boundary of masai Mara game reserve and Mara North conservancy, and conducts its game drives in the Masai Mara main reserve, Kenya. Olumara is hidden in the shadow of indigenous trees. The camp recreates the atmosphere of the natural environment. Each room is furnished to a complete standard. The beds have been hand carved from specially selected wood from fallen trees. The interior of each tent also includes a hot and cold Shower, flush toilet, dressing area and a mirror. Each tent has a large, extended Balcony for relaxation, reading, and game viewing or even holding private events e.g. private dinners.
The King and Prince
Bateleur or Short Tailed Eagle
Day 7: Masai Mara
Just like the local wildlife, you`ll head out bright and early this morning, alongside an experienced tracker-guide for the day’s first game drive. The eco-diversity and sheer size of the Masai Mara Game Reserve provides the necessary requirements to house a wide range of animal species. The most recognized are known worldwide as the African Big 5 which includes the African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Leopard, and the King of the beasts, the Lion. The term Big 5 was coined by big-game hunters as these species were the most difficult and dangerous to track and hunt. Subsequently the term was adopted by the tourism industry for marketing purpose, spinning a web of positivity opposed to the negative effect portrait by the original terminology. Numerous other species of bird and wildlife inhabit this dynamic location including Hyenas, Gazelles, Impalas, Giraffes, Zebras, Vultures, Cranes, Eagles, Falcons, and Ostriches.
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 a rich mix of animals – it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species.
Accommodation: Olumara Tented Camp
Masai Market, Nairobi
Day 8: Masai Mara - Nairobi
Your guide will drive you from Masai Mara to Nairobi, with short stop-overs for refreshments and souvenirs. Be aware that during this commute you will drive across some unfinished patches of road. This drive will take approximately 6 hours.
Includes opportunity to visit local handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs.
Before leaving that night, stop by the Kensington office for free use of Internet and lounge. If you like, we can make reservations for dinner at a local restaurant as well. Please let us know in advance and if you are vegetarian.
A privately driven vehicle will provide you with a transfer to & from the airport.
Accommodation: Depart Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.
Accommodations
Standard Bedroom
Country Lodge
Country Lodge - Nairobi
The Country Lodge Nairobi is owned and operated by the Fairview Hotel Group and provides guests with excellent accommodations options at a very reasonable price. The property is located in the Upper-hill neighbourhood of Nairobi, an area of the city that is rather lively, boasting a number of picturesque gardens, ethnically inspired restaurants and a wide range of activities. Guests at the Country Lodge can be assured that they will have a safe, clean and quiet place to rest their head during their stay in Nairobi. Throughout the hotel a wireless Internet connection is made available for usage. Guest will always wake up to a quality, hot breakfast before heading out to explore this dynamic Kenyan capital city.
Sopa Lodge
Sopa Lodge - Amboseli
The Sopa Lodge in Amboseli is seated near Mount Kilimanjaro, with a keen view of the mountain’s supreme heights and surrounding landscape. The 83 rooms are spacious and full of character, each constructed like private hut using local materials and fixtures. The dining room is decorated with authentic African carvings and vibrant, burning colors, with Pan African and continental cuisine served. One may pass the time observing the habits of the regional game or rummaging through the Maasai market, where proceeds are gathered for reinvesting into the indigenous community.
Simba Lodge, Lake Naivasha
Naivasha Simba - Naivasha
The Simba Lodge is situated not far from Nairobi, surrounded by gardens on the serene Lake Naivasha. Its 70 rooms are spacious and pleasantly decorated to fit in with the light, earthy and calm surroundings. Dining is an all-around pleasant experience, where one may choose their favorites and make new discoveries at the wide buffet. Traditional and international cuisine is offered, as well as curries, which are popular with the locals. Hell’s Gate is not far, and there are plenty of activities such as cycling and rock climbing there. Otherwise, take a boat ride or nature walk during your free time.
Tent
Olumara Tented Camp - Masai Mara
The camp is an all season camp located along the banks of the Olare Orok River, on the boundary of masai Mara game reserve and Mara North conservancy, and conducts its game drives in the Masai Mara main reserve, Kenya. Olumara is hidden in the shadow of indigenous trees. The camp recreates the atmosphere of the natural environment. Each room is furnished to a complete standard. The beds have been hand carved from specially selected wood from fallen trees. The interior of each tent also includes a hot and cold Shower, flush toilet, dressing area and a mirror. Each tent has a large, extended Balcony for relaxation, reading, and game viewing or even holding private events e.g. private dinners.
Travel Info
Travel tips of Kenya
PASSPORT/VISA
A Passport valid for at least six months and visas are required for both Canadian and US citizens. Visa may be purchased on arrival at the airport. Single entry visa is $50 per person, payable in cash, new bills (no credit cards). Visas may also be obtained in advance through a visa service or through the embassy directly. Processing generally takes 5-7 working days.
Please note obtaining a visa is your responsibility. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the embassy of Kenya for the most up to date visa information.
Nairobi (NBO) (Jomo Kenyatta International) is 16km (10 miles) southeast of the city. Mombasa (MBA) (Moi International) is 13km (8 miles) west of the city. NOTE: Only newly printed USD currency and local currency will be accepted in East Africa, any USD currency printed without the new security measures will not be accepted.
HEALTH
Health insurance is essential. Guests of Kensington Tours are covered by East African Flying Doctor Services included in the tour price. This coverage guarantees that any member injured or ill while on safari will be airlifted back to Nairobi to the international hospital. We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/kenya.aspx
COUNTRY INFO
Capital - Nairobi. Language - Swahili is the national language and English is the official language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo. Religion - Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population (both Catholic and Protestant) and a small Muslim community. Time - GMT + 3. Electricity - 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin. Bayonet-type light sockets exist in Kenya. Telephone - Country code: 254 (followed by 20 for Nairobi, 41 for Mombasa and 51 for Nakuru). Mobile phone coverage is widespread. There are Internet cafes in major cities and hotels.
What's Included:
- Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services
What's not Included:
- Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance
Trip Terms & Conditions
- Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $350). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
- Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of 30% of program price. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to loss of 100% of program price.
- Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
- 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.
- Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. 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.
- Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
- Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.
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