About the trip
Magnificent big game, primordial landscapes, and thriving indigenous cultures: Kenya is the ultimate destinations for every adventurous spirit. We fell under Africa’s spell over two decades ago and have now returned to develop our dream safari. Step by step this journey takes us deep into the real heart of Africa. We begin with the archetypal, not-to-be-missed sights, and proceed to magical experiences in lesser known, out of the way places. As a special feature, we connect all these gems with flights to save precious time and to give us a bird’s-eye perspective of this marvelous part of the world.
The adventure begins very close to the international airport, where we stay on a rural, historic property, and enjoy an exclusive visit to the adorable baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage. Next day we fly to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve, to witness one of the most staggering wildlife spectacles on the planet: The Great Migration. Each year between July and October, over two million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Masai Mara, crossing the crocodile infested Mara and Talek Rivers. Our base will be the lodge where Barack and Michelle Obama chose to stay with their daughters, because of its eco-friendly pedigree and its involvement with local Masai communities.
Beyond the Mara we travel further into the African savannah, escaping the herds of minivans crowding around lions and other animals, and into the wilds of Naboisho. This is the ancestral land of Masai herders who have set it aside as a land conservancy to protect its habitat and wildlife. Here our skilled Masai guides take us on night game drives when big cats are hunting, and on walking safaris where we learn how to track animals (and how not to get to close to hippos and herds of elephants).
The Great Rift Valley stretches out beneath us as our private charter plane takes us north and east up to the dry highlands of Laikipia. En route we fly over Rift Valley lakes resplendent with hundreds of thousands of flamingos, and drop down to see if we can glimpse our radio-collared bull elephant, Nelson, and his herd. We arrive in a remote and exquisitely designed camp, where our host, a third generation Kenyan and ethno-botanist, shares her lifelong knowledge and passion for this beautiful ecosystem. We feast on her delicious meals in the shade of a great acacia festooned with weaver birds’ nests, and after dinner gather around the camp fire to hear her stories. In this truly hidden place, you’ll hear leopards panting and hyenas laughing at night, go trekking with camels to find grazing elephants and visit our project in a Samburu village which lies on a crucial elephant corridor.
After our final alfresco breakfast, you fly back to Nairobi for homeward flights, or continue on one to one of our spectacular extension trips: please see below for details.
Note: A detailed packing list will be shared with you once you have signed up for the trip
Duration – 10 days
Acco - Eco lodges 8 nights
Luxury Cottages - 7 nights
Begin / End - Nairobi, Kenya
What sets this trip apart:
Elephant Earth initiative founders, Dag Goering and/or Maria Coffey, will personally lead this trip. We take you off the beaten path to where few others go:
Escape the crowds in exclusive wildlife conservancies that cater to only a few small groups, Watch game without the usual cluster of minivans!
Special access to places and experts through our Elephant Earth Initiative conservation efforts
This combination of diverse and unusual activities is not offered by any other operator:
walking safari, night game drives, trekking with camels, track our very own GPS-collared elephant, connect with a Samburu community living in an elephant corridor and ethno-botany walk
On the September departure, you’ll be there when the Great Migration reaches Masai Mara, one of the world’s most amazing wildlife spectacles
September and January are dry times of year in Kenya with pleasant temperatures: cool at night, warm during the day
Experience the full diversity of East Africa: the productive savannah of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem with Masai culture, the dry highlands of Laikipia Samburu ecosystem with the fascinating Samburu people
