Africa Safaris

KENYA SAFARI FROM NAIROBI
- 6 DAYS

DAY 1 NAIROBI
On arrival in Nairobi you will be met and transferred to The Stanley Hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis. From the moment you pass through the century-old revolving doors, you leave the heat and bustle of modern Nairobi for a world of cool Victorian elegance. The spacious foyer with its marble floors, leather furniture, antique brass and wrought iron wittings, recalls era of grand living. Guarding the entrance is The Stanley's famous acacia xanthophildea whose message board, wrapped around its trunk, has formed the centrepiece of the legendary Thorn Tree Cafe since 1959. This is Africa's best known-meeting place.
   

Centrally located, The Stanley is a five star historical hotel renowned for its luxurious service and cuisine. In the Exchange Bar (so called as this was where the Nairobi Stock Exchange operated for 37 years from 1954), enjoy a long drink beneath the line of palm-leaf fans. Next door the Zen Restaurant fuses Mediterranean dishes with the finest flavors from the Pacific Rim. 217 luxurious rooms blend Victorian grandeur with modern comfort, such as air-conditioned rooms, including TV, video, and mini-bars. There is a fully equipped Health Club and a heated rooftop swimming pool with poolside bar and restaurant. There is also an elegant shopping arcade, hairdresser and chemist all within the hotel.

   
DAY 2 TREEHOTEL
Aberdare Tree Hotel

Drive North to the Aberdare mountains for lunch at a country hotel. Overnight at the Ark on a full board basis.

Set in the heart of the Aberdare National Park, The Ark is a unique game lodge that overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick which attracts a host of wildlife - elephant, rhino, leopard, bushbuck, and occasionally an elusive bongo or giant forest hog. Resembling and named after Noah's Ark, The Ark comprises three decks from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for game-viewing. A ground level bunker provides excellent photographic opportunities and takes you closer than you would believe possible to the animals. Comfortable en suite cabins are fitted with buzzers to announce the arrival of one of the "Big Five" at the waterhole. Before embarking on the half-hour drive to The Ark, lunch is served at the charming Aberdare Country Club. Dinner and breakfast are served 'on board'.
    

DAY 3 LAKE NAKURU

Descend from the lush highlands into the Rift Valley. Afternoon birdwatching around Lake Nakuru, seasonal home to millions of Flamingo. Overnight at a lodge on a full board basis.

Set on a plateau in the Rift Valley, overlooking one of the world's greatest ornithological spectacles, Lake Nakuru, stands Sarova Lion Hill. Beautifully landscaped with natural foliage and a startling variety of flower gardens, the Lodge offers luxurious accommodation complemented by delicious cuisine. The panoramic view from the Lodge reveals a shimmering pink glow across the Lake, created by millions of flamingos, pelicans and Marabou Storks. The park is also the sanctuary for the rare black rhino, leopard, waterbuck and other species of birds. Accommodation consists of 65 beautifully appointed chalet type bedrooms facing the lake, all offering porticos and private bathrooms. Other amenities include restaurant, bar, swimming pool, sauna, and curio shops. Traditional dancers regale with their splendid performances.
   

    
DAY 4 MASAI MARA
Mara Serena Lodge

Continue this morning to Masai Mara, afternoon game-viewing. The next two nights are spent at a lodge on a full board basis.

Set in the heart of Africa's Great Plains, the MASAI MARA boasts 1,672 square kilometers of unspoilt wilderness. It is home to the highest concentration of animals and birds anywhere on the continent. Throughout the year the Mara is a place of natural drama, a kaleidoscope of color and life. The famed "Big Five" - Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo and Leopard - roam the reserve, together with hundreds of others from the fastest animal on earth, the Cheetah, to one of the most secretive, the Bat-eared Fox.
    

After the rains, when the first flush of grass turns the Mara's golden savannah green, the mesmerizing wildlife spectacle anywhere takes place here: the Great Migration. This is the time when 1.5 million Wildebeest, accompanied by vast numbers of Zebra and Gazelles make the long and dangerous trek from drier lands in Tanzania, northwards to this corner of Kenya. For most of the century the Mara has drawn those searching for adventure and the thrill is still the same today with days spent face to face with nature at its most untouched and enthralling.

The Mara Serena Lodge is built high up on a ridge overlooking the Mara River and offers one of the most spectacular views of all the Masai Mara Lodges. Inspired architecturally by Masai huts, the lodge has a pool, its own airstrip and a hippo-viewing platform by the river. Each of its own 76 bedrooms has its own bathroom and shower as well as a panoramic outlook, even from the pool one can enjoy uninterrupted views of the rolling savannah.
   

DAY 5 MASAI MARA

A full day game-viewing in the Mara.

DAY 6 MASAI MARA-NAIROBI

A scenic morning drive to Nairobi, arriving before lunch. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.

PRICES:
Call for pricing 1 877 941 8955

INCLUDES:
Transportation in safari-style, 9 seater mini-buses with opening roof
Services of an experienced driver/guide
All transfers as specified
All accommodation as specified
All meals as specified
Full board includes meals, transfers, park fees and activities

EXCLUDES:
All international and domestic airfares other than specified
All items of a personal nature including telephones, laundry and alcoholic beverages
Tips and porterage, Travel insurance, Visa fees, Airport departure tax (as applicable)