Best of Kenya

Itinerary Highlights

Created especially for wildlife enthusiasts and lovers of the outdoors, this exceptional adventure touches on at Kenya’s most scenic and wildlife-rich national parks. Delve deeper into the African bush on the wide open plains of the Laikipia Plateau with an adventure that breaks away from the traditional, such as a camel or horseback safari. Kenya’s most famous safari destination, the Masai Mara, is the iconic finale to your adventure. Enjoy picturesque landscapes filled with rolling hills where crimson-clad Maasai warriors tend their herds among vast numbers of resident wildlife, including the thronging herds of Africa’s most famous animal spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Lodges described in the itinerary are recommended by Craft Travel but there are numerous options in each destination and we will customize your itinerary based upon your preferences. With your feedback, we will similarly customize suggested activities, time spent in each location and trip extensions to additional destinations of interest nearby.

See “Expert Notes & Customization” section below.

Itinerary Details

Welcome to Kenya! Upon arrival to Nairobi’s International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel in the leafy suburb of Langata . Situated within 12 acres of private land alongside a 140-acre giraffe sanctuary, Giraffe Manor offers an idyllic setting as you begin your safari and relax after your journey to East Africa.

Originally constructed in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor first served as a private home. In the 1970s the estate was reimagined as a home for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. The Manor’s resident giraffe have been responsible for a widely successful repopulation of the species, allowing offspring to be introduced into the wild and further breeding efforts.

As a guest of the manor you will enjoy the unique opportunity to interact with the resident giraffes. Close up encounters with the semi-habituated giraffe as they put their heads through the windows greeting you for breakfast is sure to leave an unforgettable memory. The inquisitive giraffe are always keen to be hand fed, though they are less interested in your English breakfast than they are in dried pellets of grass, molasses and corn! Your overnight respite at Giraffe Manor will be leisurely, with opportunities to tour the onsite AFEW Giraffe Centre, relax in the spa or play lawn games. Schedule permitting, additional explorations can be arranged, such as a game drive in Nairobi National Park, a visit to your foster elephant or rhino at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a step back in time to the Karen Blixen Museum or various cultural activities.

Overnight at Giraffe Manor (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Following breakfast, you will be met at Giraffe Manor by your driver and escorted with fellow guests to nearby Wilson Airport for your onward scheduled light aircraft flight to Amboseli Airstrip. Here your first taste of African safari awaits.

The charming Tortilis Camp is shaded by a natural forest of acacia tortilis thorntrees. Guests can expect elegant accommodation and endless views stretching to the majestic snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in Tanzania. Each of the 16 tents is large and spacious, with sumptuous beds and en-suite bathrooms. Common areas of the camp include a cozy sitting room, bar and dining area, all exquisitely built using natural materials and covered with thatched roofs. Take a dip in the swimming pool or relax with an indulgent massage. Over a thousand elephant, herds of wildebeest, lion and more than 300 species of birds make for exciting game viewing. Adventures include twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, walking safaris with expert Maasai guides, cultural tours and decadent bush breakfasts.

Overnight at Elewana Tortilis Camp (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Depart for your scheduled light aircraft flight from Amboseli Airstrip to Wilson Airport to connect with your scheduled charter flight to Meru Airstrip.

Barely visible on approach, Elsa’s Kopje blends seamlessly into its surrounds. Perched high on top of Mughwango Hill, this superb lodge stands as tribute to Elsa, the orphaned lioness in the film “Born Free”. Charming cottages are crafted around the natural features of the hill, each with an ensuite bathroom, sitting room, dining area and breath-taking views of the savanna below. Elsa’s Private House - with double rooms, a sitting room, and veranda and private plunge pool - is ideal for families. The menu is Northern Italian, peppered with local and international dishes, accompanied by freshly baked bread, crisp salads and locally grown vegetables. Lamp-lit pathways lead towards guest areas that include an open bar, sitting room and dining area, with an exceptionally inviting infinity pool overlooking the Meru plains. Adventures include game drives, guided nature walks, bush meals, excursions to the Tana River and cultural visits to a local village.

Overnight at Elewana Elsa’s Kopje Meru (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Embark on your scheduled Charter flight from Meru Airstrip to Samburu Airstrip. This area is known for its palm groves and dense forests the Samburu National Reserve offers pristine wilderness and breathtaking surrounds, boasting exceptional game viewing in remote splendor.

Sasaab Camp is situated above the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River, in the arid heart of Samburu land. It’s a tranquil retreat that boasts sweeping views across the Laikipia Plateau towards Mt Kenya. The Moroccan-style tents each offer a comfortable sitting room, lovely ensuite bathroom and private plunge pool. Guests can tuck into a mouth-watering selection of Moroccan-style dishes before slowly savoring a nightcap. Unwind and cool down in a sparkling swimming pool perched on a hillside overlooking a river. For hands-on pampering, in-room massages and beauty treatments will invigorate guests. Adventures include twice-daily game drives (including spotlit night drives), walking safaris along the river or in the grasslands, day trips to the Samburu Reserve, mountain biking and cultural excursions.

Overnight at Sasaab (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Depart for your scheduled charter flight from Samburu Airstrip to Kichwa Airstrip. The quintessential Masai Mara safari delivers many attractions and is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game as well as the two million animals that make up the Great Migration.

Situated below the location where Out of Africa’s famous final scene was filmed, this romantic and totally private camp reflects the ambience of Kenyan safaris of the 20’s and 30’s. andBeyond Bateleur Camp at Kichwa Tembo, the epitome of tented luxury, is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and comprises just two intimate camps of nine tented suites each, set among the forests on the edge of the Masai Mara. The tented suites have a classic elegance with polished wooden floors and ensuite bathrooms. Each tent has its own deck overlooking the vast game-filled plains of the Masai Mara, and a personal butler will ensure every need is catered for. Beautiful antiques adorn the comfortable sitting and indoor/outdoor dining areas, transporting guests to the heyday of classic safaris. The Camps also feature deep refreshing lap pools. Delicious Pan African meals are served in memorable settings under the stars, followed by fireside port and cigars.

Bid farewell as you embark on scheduled charter flight from Kichwa Airstrip to Wilson Airport for your final destination.

Overnight at andBeyond Bateleur Camp (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

• 10 nights accommodations as per program (based on double/twin sharing room)

• All meals and drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1), wines and liquors (excluding champagnes and premium brands)

• All charter flights and ground transfers between lodges

• Twice daily game drives with English speaking naturalist guide (where applicable) Days 2 - 10

• Lodge-specific activities as described

• Daily laundry service

• All national park and entrance fees required

• *Not included: gratuities, visas, international flights, meals and drinks not described above, items of a personal nature

This itinerary is a perfect introduction either to East Africa or the continent as a whole, capturing the best of a diverse safari experience. With that said it is also ideal for those who may have only briefly visited the region, perhaps with a quick stop to a well known national park like the Masai Mara, and was left craving a more in-depth adventure. The camps and lodges included throughout are all exceptional five-star properties and with the exception of Bateleur Camp in the Mara, each property is probably the most deluxe available in its region. The Masai Mara has a plethora of world-class camps depending on style and budget.

The itinerary works just as well for honeymooners and couples as it does for friends and families. The ideal dates of travel would be June through early November during Kenya’s dry season, particularly in the case of Bateleur Camp if you are interested in witnessing the Great Migration of wildebeest. Though timing can vary, the wildebeest are generally crossing into the Masai Mara in August and September and return south to Tanzania toward late October. With that said, the Mara has exceptional wildlife year-round, perhaps with the exception of April and May when seasonal rains pick up. There is shorter dry season in January through February, also occurring in Amboseli, Meru and Samburu.

This itinerary pairs well with additional wildlife areas in Kenya such as Lewa Conservancy (where Lewa Wilderness is highly recommended) or Tsavo West, home to Finch Hattons, one of our favorite properties. It is also very easily combined with Tanzania; you can easily transfer from the Masai Mara to nearby Serengeti and from there visit additional spots such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. End your safari adventure on the white sand beaches of nearby Zanzibar or Seychelles.