Kenya Highlights
Combine the unique wildlife of Northern Kenya with the spectacular Maasai Mara National Reserve
Days: 10 | From: $11,750/per person
- Includes accommodations at handpicked best in class lodges and hotels
- A range of unique optional safari activities included at each lodge
- Two separate world class safari destinations for the ultimate in game viewing
Engage with local culture in vibrant Nairobi and visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for an up-close encounter with their orphaned elephants. Journey to the private Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a sprawling savannah with sweeping views of Mount Kenya and home to one of the highest densities of wildlife in Kenya, including the largest remaining population of critically endangered black rhino. From there, fly to the iconic Maasai Mara for a safari at an exclusive lodge as you track the Great Migration and photograph the abundance of wildlife that live here year round.
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Nairobi
2 nights: Culture and conservation in East Africa's largest city - Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
3 nights: Safari by vehicle, foot, camel & horseback in this unique landscape, spotting animals like the endangered black rhino and Grevy's zebra - Maasai Mara National Reserve
4 nights: Experience this spectacular reserve with daily game drives and lodge activities for unparalleled game viewing
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Africa!
Arrive to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Nairobi is a bustling modern metropolis with a range of world class hotels, museums, restaurants, and even an urban national park. Your private guide will be waiting to transfer you to your boutique hotel for the evening.
Accommodations: Fairmont The Norfolk, 2 nights
The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel is situated in the heart of Nairobi, a sophisticated retreat in the city with easy access to key districts of Gigiri, Westlands and Upperhill in addition to leisure hubs and the bourgeoning Nairobi art scene. The hotel offers 27 suites and 143 rooms and features four restaurants, a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and lush tropical gardens.
*Includes: BreakfastExplore Nairobi
Navigate the bustling streets of Nairobi with your private guide. Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a world-renowned rescue and rehabilitation center for orphaned elephants and rhinos that has been a leader in conservation since 1977. Watch as the baby elephants parade down the path for their morning feeding. Ask your Vaya specialist about ‘adopting’ one of these wee ones and we can arrange for a more private foster parent visit instead.
Stop for lunch at the Karen Blixen house and coffee gardens, a lush oasis of calm, and visit the neighboring Kazuri Women’s Beading Collective. Make friends with a giraffe at the Giraffe Center or visit the National Museum in the afternoon. Your time in Nairobi can be curated to suit your interests.
Fly to Lewa to begin your safari
Fly to Kenya’s spectacular Northern Rangelands, where your expert safari guide will be waiting to transfer you to your lodge.
Situated in the lowlands of Laikipia, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is home to the largest remaining population of black rhino anywhere in the world. They roam free and are well protected, along with other iconic African wildlife, on this private conservancy. Set against the stunning backdrop of Mount Kenya in the distance, Lewa will surprise you not only with incredible safari drives and unique wildlife that can only be found North of the Equator, but with a host of other activities. Safari on camel or horseback, walk the canopy of the Ndare Ndare forest, and swim in the clear blue pools of hidden waterfalls. Take to the skies in a historic yellow bi-plane or learn about conservation from an anti-poaching team. There are endless ways to experience safari in Lewa.
Accommodations: Lewa Wilderness Camp, 3 nights
Lewa Wilderness is one of Kenya’s original private safari experiences, a family-run camp that has been in operation for over forty years. The property offers 6 cottages tucked into the hillside overlooking the sprawling Eastern Marania Valley, plus 3 garden cottages set among the lawns. The hillside cottages each have a unique layout and were built to capture the stunning views out over the valley and the sound of the river below, where elephant, giraffe, rhino, zebra and more all come to drink. Each cottage has en-suite facilities, a cosy sitting area and fireplace, and a private outdoor veranda. The garden cottages are closer to the main house and living areas, and each consists of two en-suite bedrooms joined by a comfortable sitting area with a bar and fireplace. The three garden rooms are exceptionally spacious and with recent renovations, bright and sunny, perfect for families and those who do not wish to be too far from the camp’s main areas.
*Includes: All InclusiveSafari in Lewa
Rise with the sun and venture out on a game drive to spot wildlife, set against the spectacular views of Mount Kenya in the distance. Spend the heat of the day enjoying the scenery from your private veranda, take a dip in the pool, or relax in one of the sumptuous main areas of your lodge. This afternoon you have the option to head out again with your expert guide for your next safari drive.
Explore the Lewa Conservancy
Consult with your guide and take advantage of one of the many incredible activities on offer in this untouched wilderness. There is no end to engaging adventures in Lewa. Chat with your Vaya specialist about the range of excursions on offer here, or to pre-arrange an overnight camel safari or helicopter fly camping experience for an exclusive taste of how safari used to be.
Fly to the Maasai Mara
Take a safari flight to the Maasai Mara. This famed reserve is situated in the southwest of Kenya and is separated from the Serengeti by the mighty Mara River. Home to an incredible concentration of game year round, this reserve also plays host to the millions of wildebeest, zebra and other antelope that comprise the Great Migration in late summer and early fall. Situated along the Great Rift Valley, the Maasai Mara is a land of breathtaking views, endless plains and abundant wildlife.
Accommodations: Alex Walker’s Ngare Serian, 4 nights
Hugging the banks of the Mara River, Alex Walker’s Ngare Serian is cozy and intimate. It can only be reached on foot, over a narrow rope bridge, and features just 4 tented suites. Ngare is nestled in the private Mara North Conservancy, a 1,500 acre conservation area for the exclusive use of Ngare guests. Visit The Nest, Ngare’s tree house, which is ideal for sleeping out under the stars or having a picnic. Enjoy night drives and river fishing, walking on the savannah, photography workshops, and of course guided game drives.
*Includes: All InclusiveSafari in the Maasai Mara
Rise before the dawn, with fresh coffee or tea delivered to your room, and before you know it you are whisked away on the safari vehicle and ready for what the morning might bring. This is the best time of day to see wildlife as it wakes for the day or settles down after a night of hunting. Awaken your senses with the sights and sounds of the bush as the bird calls swell with the rising of the sun.
Twice daily game drives with an expert safari guide and a range of optional lodge activities are at your disposal during your stay in this exceptional reserve.
Safari in Maasai Mara
Get your camera ready for another day of safari. With your knowledgeable guide you will explore new and varied areas of the reserve each day, heading further afield in search of warthogs, topis, giraffe, elephants, zebras, impalas, buffalo, and other grazing herbivores. Home to a variety of prey animals, the Maasai Mara is a haven for large predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles and other stealthy, powerful hunters. The area also hosts more than 450 winged species, including 57 birds of prey.
Leisure time at your safari camp can be spent relaxing on your private deck, making use of the comfortable main areas, heading out for a fascinating bush walk with your ranger, and, depending on your lodge, taking a dip in the pool or booking a spa treatment.
One final day on safari
Fully embrace the safari experience on this last day in the bush as you game drive, relax, and snap those last few photographs. Marvel as the sun rises above the plains and be awed by the colors of the sunset, perhaps while enjoying a sundowner cocktail or two. There are few places on earth that are as evocative as the African bush and its residents.
Farewell Africa
Enjoy a final morning at your lodge before transferring to the airstrip and saying goodbye to the bush, flying back to Nairobi where you will connect with your international flight home or continue your journey elsewhere. If you have a long layover we are happy to arrange a comfortable day room to relax before your flight.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Choose from a selection of carefully curated lodges and hotels to ensure this trip fits your exact travel style.
Engage with fascinating local people in an authentic and culturally appropriate way, with a visit to a village or traditional Maasai boma.
Combine this trip with some time in neighboring Tanzania, home of the Serengeti, The Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Add another safari location in one of Kenya’s many unique wildlife reserves for a further diversity of wildlife and landscape.
Arrange a hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara at sunrise for the most unique game viewing experience.
Add a beach extension and spend some relaxing downtime on the pristine white sand of the Indian Ocean. Whether along the Kenyan coast, on neighboring Zanzibar or a short flight to Seychelles, stunning beaches are just a short connection from this itinerary.
Come face to face with the last mountain gorillas with a trekking extension in Uganda or Rwanda.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Why Travel with Vaya?
We're TRUE specialists
We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.
Uplifting service
From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
Thoughtful travel
Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.