13 Days Kenya Safari & Diani Beach Holiday

After a relaxed breakfast, pick up from your Nairobi hotel and embark on a Nairobi City excursion offering you an opportunity to discover Nairobi’s beauty, get to experience two of the most unique animal sanctuaries in the world. Firstly, visit the David Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage and get to learn about the orphaned baby Elephants and the reintegration process of returning them to the wild after this excursion, visit the Giraffe Center for a face to face encounter with the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. Climb the feeding point and offer a giraffe a food pellet under the supervision of a trained staff member. Not only may (he or she) accept your offer; you may also be rewarded with a kiss!

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

David Sheldrick is a world–class conservation figure and the premier authority on the

Successful raising of milk–dependent infant elephant. David Sheldrick’s Animal

Orphanage can be only being visited for an hour every day between 11AM to 12 Noon.

During this hour the baby elephants are brought out to play and to feed, and visitors can

Watch them from behind a rope. Wardens are on hand to explain the work of the

Orphanage and to answer any questions

Successful raising of milk–dependent infant elephant. David Sheldrick’s Animal

Orphanage can be only being visited for an hour every day between 11AM to 12 Noon.

During this hour the baby elephants are brought out to play and to feed, and visitors can

Watch them from behind a rope. Wardens are on hand to explain the work of the

Orphanage and to answer any questions

Kindly Note*

• David Sheldrick Orphanage visit time is strictly between 11:00AM – 12:00PM
• Clients are recommended to arrive at 10:30 am to ensure minimum delays
• David Sheldrick slot is subjected to availability upon booking confirmation

Giraffe Center

The giraffe center is a wonderful and refreshing experience undertaken during your excursion in Nairobi. Founded in 1979 as part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), Giraffe Centre came about through the passion of Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville (the founders). The heroic founders discovered the plight of the critically endangered Rothschild giraffe and decided to take action to attempt to save the species and brought two of the young Rothschild giraffes to their land in a suburb of Nairobi on the edge of Nairobi National Park. At that time, they founded the AFEW and the history of the Giraffe Centre was born.

After the morning excursion, transfer to Tamarind Brasserie Restaurant for an outdoor garden lunch with an extensive menu that has a taste of everything, from African to International cuisine.

Morning pick up from your Nairobi hotel and begin your Kenya safari adventure to the world famous Masai Mara game reserve. Drive through the stunning & scenic Great Rift Valley with a brief stopover to admire the breathtaking views and optional shopping at the curio shops. Continue with the drive with another brief stop-over in Narok Town for refreshments and to use the rest rooms before continuing your journey to Masai Mara with a short game drive enroute before reaching the lodge. Arrive at the lodge in time for check in and lunch. Day at Leisure to enjoy the facilities the lodge has to offer before going for a thrilling introductory evening game drive in the Magnificent Masai Mara. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight Stay

Masai Mara Game Reserve

The Maasai Mara (also known as the Masai Mara, and locally simply as The Mara) is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from afar: ”Mara” means ”spotted” in the local Maasai language of Maa, due to the many trees which dot the landscape. It is world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephant, and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and other antelope, to and from the Serengeti every year known as the Great Migration. The Masai Mara “Big Five” are the Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino.

The Greater Mara Ecosystem encompasses areas known as the Maasai Mara National

Reserve, the Mara Triangle, and several Maasai Conservancies, including: Koiyaki, Lemek,

Ol Chorro Oirowua, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet.

Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration

Every year, around 1.5 million wildebeest; 350,000 Thomson’s gazelle; 200,000 zebra; and thousands of eland and other ungulates (hoofed animals) participate in ‘the greatest show on Earth’, The Great Wildebeest Migration when the grassy plains of the southernmost Serengeti begin to dry out and the ever-moving columns of wildebeest follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water that takes them across the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya from between Mid June and Early September (however the dry seasons may change due to global warming)

The three groups of migrant grazers take advantage of different heights of grass, which means they stick to their own kind with only a small overlap in their distributions. The grasses of the plains have the highest protein content in the whole of the Serengeti, as well as being high in calcium.

It is unclear how the wildebeest know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather; they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. While there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that the animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50km away

Early morning breakfast and depart the lodge with your packed lunch boxes for a full day game viewing across the rich tree studded grassland and rolling hills. At lunchtime, our guide will pick a scenic (and safe) spot where you will enjoy your lunch and hear animals howling, birds chirping and the mighty Mara River flowing across the savannah bringing life to the park. After watching more of the spectacle that never gets dull, visit a Masai village for a cultural tour and experience before returning back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay

*Note*

On this day clients can choose to have AM & PM game drives this need to be organized with our driver guide the day before

Masai Village Visit

A visit to a Maasai Boma (Masai village tour) is an interesting experience. On arrival at the village, you can expect to be greeted in the traditional manner, excited children and adults welcome you with song and dance, at certain times, and one of the dancers will jump up and down gracefully. The jumps are several feet high and as they jump higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices. You will be invited to try jumping – (dancing), too. Thereafter receive a warm welcome into the unique oval, dome shaped homesteads (called Manyatta). The homesteads are made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames with thatched roofs, it is the job of the Maasai women to build these sturdy dwellings. Get a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of these Maasai. There is also the opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices, such as fire-making or beadwork, and to speak to the villagers in their homes.

EXTRA OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS MASAI MARA:

Masai Mara Balloon Safari Experience:

The adventure begins just before dawn. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-coloured canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara. The flight lasts around an hour, drifting wherever the air currents take you. There are ample opportunities for photography and video filming. Then your

Kenyan Hot Air Balloon Safari finishes with a flourish. In the time honored tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your return to earth with a champagne breakfast, cooked wherever you land.

Kindly note* Balloon Safari age limit 8 years and above

Early morning check out from the lodge after breakfast and drive to Nakuru with game drive en-route. Check in at the lodge, have lunch served and day at leisure to enjoy the facilities the Lodge has to offer. In the evening, thrill up your day by enjoying a ‘Spice’ game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park which has a spectacular landscape of bush land; housing a huge diversity of wildlife not forgetting the famous white Rhino and the Paranomic views of the beautiful sceneries along the shores of the lake offering you an opportunity of seeing millions of migratory birds and huge numbers of flamingo (Depending on the season). In the evening transfer back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is plentiful and the magnificent, the Park is a home to stunning flocks of lesser and Greater flamingos, which literally turn the lakeshores in to a magnificent pink stretch (Depending on the Season). The bird life here is world renowned and over 400 birds’ species exist here, White Pelicans, Plovers, Egrets and Marabou Stork. It is also one of the very few places in Africa to see the White Rhino and rare Rothschild Giraffe

On this day enjoy AM & PM game drive in search for more wildlife. Dinner and overnight stay in Nakuru

After breakfast, checkout and drive to Amboseli National Park. Arrive at your lodge, check in have lunch relax for a short while then embark on an afternoon game drive (time permitting) in Amboseli National park in search of the ’big five’ among other animals while you enjoy the breath-taking scenery – one of the best places for a photogenic view of Mount Kilimanjaro (weather permitting) is next to none. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Amboseli National Park (“The Kilimanjaro Royal Court”)

Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust” and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands. The attractions in this park includes Large Herds of Elephants, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Big Five, Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants, Swamp below observation hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of water fowls like pelican, Egyptian goose. One can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture

Morning wakeup call followed by tea or coffee before setting out for your morning game drive. This is generally the best time to spot the wildlife in action, as the temperatures are cool and the animals are still very active. It is also a magical time, with the subtle light dappling the landscape, the birds awakening and the sense of a great adventure beginning to unfurl.

After this magical morning moments transfer back to your lodge for late breakfast, day at leisure to enjoy the facilities the lodge has to offer and relaxation as you wait for lunch to be served. In the evening embark on another game drive and enjoy seeing the predatory animals begin to stir from their heat-of-the-day slumber and similarly, their prey become even more active and alert just as the sun is beginning to sink below the horizon. After this unforgettable experience, transfer back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Rise up early to amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro (weather permitting) from your lodge before clouds build up over the summit.

Enjoy breakfast and relax at the lodge lobby as you wait for your scheduled afternoon flight. Pick up and enjoy a final game drive en route to the airstrip for your one-way domestic flight to Diani.

Flight Timings (Amboseli to Diani)

3:00PM departure from Amboseli and land in Diani at 4:25PM

Kindly Note*

• Baggage allowance is limited to 15Kgs per person (hand & checked-in luggage)
• The minimum number for the Amboseli to Diani (Ukunda) direct Flight to operate is 2 pax

Pick up from the airstrip and transfer to your resort for check in, relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your resort and thereafter spend the rest of the day walking on the white sand beaches, surrounded by the breathtaking Indian Ocean, soft white sands, lush greenery and the striking shade of emerald blue that emerges from its clear warm waters. Dinner and overnight stay in Diani

EXTRA OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS IN DIANI (UKUNDA) – SOUTHCOAST:

Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari Wasini Island

The 28sq. km Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park has the best reef in Kenya in terms of species diversity, coral quality and reef build-up. The warm, pristine waters are host to dramatic coral formations, dolphins, turtles, sting rays, moray eels and a bewildering variety of sea life that comprise a unique eco-system that could be referred to as a garden under the sea. Book with us a day trip on the Pilli Pipa dhow safari in and around Kisite, home of the dolphins and get to visit two vibrant coral reef snorkeling sites in the marine reserve, watch for dolphins and turtles as you cruise from the mainland, and visit Wasini Island for an afternoon of seafood, drinks, and relaxation. Even weak and non-swimmers have had the confidence to enter the water and taken home unforgettable memories.

Kindy Note* Scuba Diving can be arranged at an extra cost upon request. If it is your first time scuba diving you may want to try a fun dive, while certified divers can explore the reef with the dive guides.

Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari Excursion Includes;

• Return transport from your Diani resort
• Prescription masks
• Snorkels, fins and diving equipment
• Tea, coffee, soft drinks (sodas), mineral water and fruits served on the dhow
• A seafood lunch served with sodas and Mineral water in a private Garden

What you need to carry: A small towel, hat, sunglasses, sun cream water friendly shoes and swimming costume. The photo opportunities can be outstanding so carry a camera too.

Excursion Supplement: To be Advised upon Request

Ali Barbour’s ‘The Cave Fine Dining Restaurant’

George & Jackie Barbour decided some 30 years ago to convert the cave into this unique restaurant. All is exactly as discovered except the chamber housing the kitchen and lavatories. In the restaurant only the stone floor has been added together with furniture and fittings, lighting and sound effects. The natural holes in the roof crust are open to the sky, protected in bad weather with sliding covers. A triangular makuti umbrella (threaded palm leaves) soars over the cocktail bar and reception area supported by a single blue gum pole over 50 feet high (nearly 20 meters) which came from the family farm in Kitale. The natural holes in the cave ceiling are open to the sky and seating is under the stars creating an intimate and elegant atmosphere. The cuisine is typically international, specializing in seafood. Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant is truly a unique dining experience

Excursion Supplement: To be Advised upon Request

EXTRA OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS IN MOMBASA (NORTH COAST):

 Shimba Hills National Reserve Day Trip & Sheldrick Waterfalls Tour

Shimba Hills “Paradise of the Sable antelope” a tropical rain forest which covers an area of 202 km2. It is one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa after Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, this reserve is rich in flora and fauna and hosts the highest density of African elephant in Kenya. Physical attractions include casuarinas forests, Marere Dam (a water hole where come to drink water), Sheldrick Waterfalls. The landscape is grassland. Animals seen in this area include attractive Sable antelope, elephant shrew, bushy tailed mongoose, bufalos, giraffes, impalas, heeartbeasts, rare leopards, black and white monkeys, roan antelopes among other small mammals like fruit bats. The forest is an important bird area and is endowed with forest birdlife while the grasslands hold localized species such as red-necked-Spur fowl, Croaking Cisticola and Zanzibar Red Bishop

 Day Trip Excursion Supplement: To be Advised upon Request

 Fort Jesus

Built in 1593 to 1596 by the Portuguese, Fort Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mombasa’s top tourist attractions. Italian architect Cairati designed the structure, which is one of the world’s finest examples of 16th-century Portuguese military architecture. Built in the shape of a man, the fort was given the name of Jesus as a clear religious reference. The fort changed hands nine times between 1631 and 1875 before finally resting with the British. Although partially ruined, Fort Jesus houses a museum built over the former barracks for the garrison. Exhibits include a vast collection of ceramics and pottery reflecting the various cultures that traded along the coast. Fort Jesus has many battlements and ruined buildings within the compound, including Omani house, built in the late 18th century, which houses Omani jewelry and displays on Swahili life. The Passage of Arches was cut through the coral to give access to the sea

After the excursion proceed on a trip to the Tamarind jetty for the awesome lunch dhow cruise commencing at 1:00PM. Cruise gently up the Tudor creek to a quiet spot where the Dhow moors.

Tamarind Dhow Lunch Cruise

The Tamarind Dhow lunch cruise begins with a dhow cruise past the Old Town and Fort Jesus deep into tudor creek in style. The fine dining experience consists of delicious steak, grilled lobstar exotically prepared and served in Swahili style on the deck while floating on the ocean.

The fine popular tunes belted out by local musical band on board the band offers a wide choice of dance music, from the latest hits to the golden oldies which invites the guests to the dance floor providing idyllic surroundings for merry making mood that will leave you thoroughly thrilled with a memorable lifetime experience. Marking an end to the beach party is a dramatic Aromatic Arabica coffee serving from a traditional Arab brass pot – the Kahawa Pot. The party comes to an end at 3.00PM after lunch when you reluctantly sail back to the jetty for drop off to the resort.

Fort Jesus Excursion and Tamarind lunch Supplement: To be Advised upon Request

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast; take some time to capture your last moments within the resort environs. Check out from the resort and transfer back to the airstrip for your scheduled domestic flight back to Nairobi.

Flight Timings (Diani to Nairobi)

1:40PM departure from Diani and land in Nairobi (Wilson Airport) at 2:50PM

Pick up from Wilson airport and transfer to JKIA airport in good check in time for your return international flight.