Kenyan Safari Escapes - Discover the Masai Mara

Day 1 - Friday
On arrival at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formalities at Customs and Immigration before meeting our representative.
After being briefed about your Safari you will be driven across the plains of Mount Kenya and up into the foothills and forests of the second highest mountain in Africa. Arriving in time for lunch on the decks of your timber built 'Ark' hotel, Serena Mountain Lodge, you are free to spend the afternoon watching the game around the water hole, taking a forest walk or visiting the photo-hide. Wildlife highlights include: elephant, buffalo, antelope, water buck, genet cats and leopard.
At Serena Mountain Lodge guests awake to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Mountain Lodge (L, D)

Day 2 - Saturday
After breakfast drive north to 'Born Free' country where Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lion cub in the wild and beautiful Shaba National Reserve which along with Buffalo Springs is part of the area known as 'Samburu'. Arrive in time for lunch at the luxurious Sarova Shaba Lodge, which is built around natural springs and offers an oasis of green in the midst of this beautiful but harshly arid landscape. The Sarova Shaba Lodge is located high above the Shaba Game Reserve, and it cleverly incorporates the beautiful natural springs as one of its special features, also offering itself as the perfect base from which to explore The Shaba Reserve.
Spend the afternoon discovering the unique wildlife of the reserve, which is famous for its elephants and lions. Return to the lodge in time to relax before dinner in the restaurant which is raised on timbered stilts overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Shaba Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 3 - Sunday
Spend all day on safari in the reserve. Irrigated by the river, which is home to numerous hippo and crocodiles, Shaba offers sanctuary to large herds of elephant, healthy numbers of lion, leopard, cheetah, plentiful plains game, reticulated giraffe, rare Beisa Oryx, kudu and gerenuk. It is also one of the few reserves in which you can see the Grevy's zebra (rather than the more common Burchell's zebra found elsewhere) and the critically endangered wild dog. Offering 100 species of birds, the reserve is also home to the rare blue-shanked Somali ostrich.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Shaba Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Monday
After breakfast drive south to Lake Nakuru which is the most famous of the Great Rift Valley lakes and home to a shifting population of over one million flamingo. Arrive in time for lunch at the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, which enjoys sweeping views across the lake. Lion Hill Lodge impresses every guest with its panoramic view of the pink shoreline created by millions of flamingos on Lake Nakuru. The Lodge is situated within the Lake Nakuru National Park Rift Valley Province and is surrounded by natural flora and fauna in its beautiful grounds.
Spend the afternoon on safari in Kenya's first and largest rhino sanctuary where sightings of both black and white rhino are almost guaranteed and where you have a higher than average chance of spotting a leopard. Other wildlife includes; lion, hippo, the rare Rothschild's giraffe, Colobus monkey, numerous plains game and 450 species of birds.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Tuesday
After breakfast, drive to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, backdrop to 'the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth', the annual migration of over one million wildebeest. Arrive in time for lunch at the Mara Sarova Camp, a luxury tented camp. Sarova Mara is set in the African bush but the luxurious tents all have permanent roofs, zip-up fronts, and electricity with en-suite facilities. Relax outside your own tent listening to the orchestra of rasping Cicadas, croaking Tree Frogs and the intermittent call of birds and monkeys.
Spend the afternoon on safari in Kenya's most popular reserve. Arrive back in camp in time for a swim, a hot shower, campfire cocktails and dinner in the luxurious central restaurant.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Mara Camp (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Wednesday
Day 6 - Wednesday Spend the whole day on safari in Africa's richest wildlife viewing arena. Historically teeming with wildlife, the Mara hosts Kenya's largest lion prides and elephant herds. Other predators include leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena; while in the Mara River you will see fat pods of hippo and vast Nile crocodiles. Other highlights include giraffe tops, gazelle, zebra, buffalo and over 550 species of birds. Spend the evening in camp where colourful Masai dance and cultural performances are offered nightly.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Mara Camp (B, L, D)

Day 7 - Thursday
After breakfast at the Camp, bid farewell to the Masai Mara as you set on your journey back to Nairobi. Drive back down the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, passing the dormant volcano, Mount Longonot, and lakes Elementeita and Naivasha on the way. Keep an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle and head up the escarpment. You will arrive in Kenya's bustling capital city Nairobi in the early afternoon.

Lunch is your own arrangements
Transfer to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your departure flight.

Day 1 - Friday
Day 2 - Saturday
Day 3 - Sunday
Day 4 - Monday
Day 5 - Tuesday
Day 6 - Wednesday
Day 7 - Thursday

• Accommodation as stipulated in the itinerary
• Transportation in a chauffeur driven minivan with pop-up roof for easy game viewing & photography
• Services of an English speaking driver-guide, game viewing drives and parks entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
• All Government taxes and levies
• Complimentary 500 ml mineral water per person per game drive in the safari vehicles
• All meet and greet services
• All arrival and departure transfers
• 24 hours stand-by contact number
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• 7 pax guaranteed window seat in each vehicle
• Two-way long range high frequency radio communication in each vehicle
• On safari accessories in each vehicle: - First-aid kit, wildlife books, a pair of binoculars, cool box and fire extinguisher

• Any items of a personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills etc. Tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and driver- guide(s). Budget approx. $ 2.00 - $ 4.00 per person per day for lodge and hotel staff, $ 1.00 per bag for porters and $ 5.00 - $ 10.00 per person per day for driver-guides)
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Any local or international flight and departure taxes
• Laundry services
• Any other item(s) not included in our itinerary
• Visa fees (currently US$ 50.00 per passport holder - from 1st April visa fees are reducing to US$ 25.00 per adult passport holder and FOC for children under 16). Visas are available on arrival at international airports or recognized border entry point
• Flying doctors coverage: Optional @ US$ 20 dollars per person which covers you within East Africa for a period of 14 days. In the eventuality of a medical emergency, you will be airlifted to Nairobi where you will be taken to a good hospital. Hospital bills are paid by the patient.