This safari into the Kenyan bush is a dream wrapped in canvas, the narrative of which is shaped by the written accounts of Ernest Hemingway, Beryl Markham, and Karen Blixen, who appreciated tented life in the bush and George & Joy Adamson who introduced us to Elsa the lioness and predator conservation. From your tented camp or magnificent lodge built around the contours of a kopje, watch the gripping action of predator and prey, and the delicate river dance of elephant, hippo, and crocodile. At dusk and dawn the sun dapples your tent with a myriad of colors and the night brings midnight blue skies, twinkling lights, and the calls of the wild. Experiencing the immortalized parks and reserves of Meru, Lewa Downs in Laikipia, and the Maasai Mara through thatch and canvas mark you as another explorer whose footsteps someone else will follow in.
Degree of Difficulty –
Board your overnight flight, arriving the next day in Nairobi. “Jambo” (hello) is the cheerful greeting from your professional naturalist and driver/guides, who will escort you to your luxury hotel. After a short briefing about your forthcoming safari, the rest of your day is at leisure. Next day, discover the home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, photograph the baby orphaned elephants at Daphne Sheldrick’s orphanage, handfeed the rare Rothschild’s giraffes, and shop for Kazuri beads, while supporting the local women’s cooperative who makes them. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight at the Carnivore Restaurant and dine on outstanding Kenyan barbecue. Your boutique hotel is set on a plantation-style property and offers breathtaking views of the Ngong Hills. HEMINGWAYS NAIROBI HOTEL.
(Meals Aloft; Breakfast, Lunch)
Begin your safari as you fly off the beaten track to the mysterious and wild Meru National Park. The park was made famous in the 1960s by Joy & George Adamson who reintroduced their beloved lioness “Elsa” into the wild here. They wrote a book about their experience which was later adapted into the film Born Free starring Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers. Enjoy the inimitable seclusion in the vast expanse of this 215,000-acre park. A conservation success story, Meru was once depleted of wildlife but has been meticulously restocked and now boasts the biggest diversity of animal species than any other park in East Africa. Visit the rhino sanctuary, look for large elephant herds, hippo, lion, caracal, aardwolf, lesser kudu, and over 400 species of birds. Unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled, your fabulous lodge is sculpted into Mughwango Hill, above the site of George and Joy Adamson’s original camp where they raised and released orphaned lions. Each cottage is crafted around the rocks and enjoys breathtaking views. ELSA’S KOPJE.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Daily)
Your safari adventure continues as you fly to Lewa Downs, a private wildlife sanctuary in the Northern district of Kenya. This is an area of open plains, long, waving yellowy-gray grasses, and gently rolling hills, rising in the distance and is one of Kenya’s major private conservation successes located at the foot of Mt. Kenya. While you are here, you may see everything from elephant and rhino, to dik dik, reticulated giraffe, eland, hartebeest, gerenuk, warthog, impala, Grant’s gazelle, Cape buffalo, and bushbuck. Also, two species of zebra graze the plains: Burchell’s and Grevy’s. Lion, leopard, and cheetah may be sighted plus, the elusive and magnificent greater kudu. You will be able to explore the ranch by foot, horseback or with a special four-wheel drive vehicle. Your luxury camp is located inside the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary – this is a wilderness area of pristine beauty and remoteness far away from the madding crowds. The permanent tented accommodations are discrete and comfortable, placed on raised platforms and stone walls of local lava rock. LEWA DOWNS SAFARI CAMP.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Get set on your flight to the Maasai Mara, its seemingly endless savannah beautifully rendered in the film Out of Africa. The Mara plays host to the annual Great Migration where millions of wildebeest, as well as thousands of zebra and gazelle arrive with the rains and fresh grass (July through October.) You will have three days to witness the drama of predator and prey. Often referred to as the ‘Kingdom of Lions,’ these powerful hunters dominate the grasslands, with cheetah, leopard, hyena, and jackal in tow. A cornucopia of delights for bird watchers, over 500 resident bird species have been recorded, including larks, sunbirds and the quintessential African bird – the Lilac-breasted Roller. Enjoy an exciting optional activity (at additional cost) and watch dawn break over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon. Your fabulous, luxury camp is sitting at the banks of the river where it takes its name from and close to the Serengeti border. The ultimate in chic, beautiful antiques adorn your tent and comfortable sitting area and indoor/outdoor dining area, transporting you to the heyday of classic safaris. SAND RIVER MAASAI RIVER.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Daily)
Fly back to Nairobi after basking in one last sunrise over the Maasai Mara. Enjoy lunch and some leisure time before transferring to the airport for your flights home.
(Breakfast, Lunch; Meals Aloft)
Your journey continues as you fly from the Maasai Mara to Mombasa. Enjoy the sites of this ancient seaport, an Arab and Indian maze of narrow streets and passages with overhanging “Juliet” balconies and carved doorways. A dhow trip (small sailing vessel based on ancient techniques) will take you to Wasini Island for spectacular snorkeling in the Indian Ocean. Swim through waters full of beautifully-colored fish and coral, and look out for sea turtles and dolphins gliding past you. Your fabulous resort, AFROCHIC DIANI is situated on the sandy white shores of Diani Beach and combines different African styles with a hefty dose of chic. Most of the ten beautifully decorated rooms, enjoy views of the pristine Diani Beach and Indian Ocean, which can be enjoyed from your private balcony.
Prices vary by season and package. Please inquire by phone at (800) 627-1244 or email info@classicescapes.com for more information and a pricing estimate.
Maximum group size: 24 travelers – Elsa’s Kopje only has 12 rooms currently, all individual, some in two-bedroom cottages. AfroChic on the extension only has 10 rooms.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- American breakfast in Nairobi and all meals on safari.
- All wildlife viewing by private minibus driven by a naturalist driver/guide.
- Maximum of 6 passengers per minibus with guaranteed window seat.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles and with meals.
- Professional naturalist with a minimum of 10 travelers
- All applicable hotel/lodge taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- All park entry fees.
- Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.
- Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
Kenya is located on the Equator. The temperature, therefore, does not vary too much. During our summer months – their winter (June through August) it is about 10 degrees cooler, but days will be warm and can reach 80’s and evenings can be cool and can drop to the 40’s in the higher elevations. The rainy season is in April/May (long rains) and November (short rains). However, it does not rain every day, or all day, and rainstorms are quickly followed by brilliant sunshine which makes for incredible photographic opportunities. Wildlife viewing is good year-round; however, the migration of zebra and wildebeest follow this cycle:
- January-March – southern sector of the Serengeti in Tanzania
- April-June – central Serengeti in Tanzania
- July – western corridor of the Serengeti in Tanzania
- August-October – northern Serengeti and mostly into Maasai Mara in Kenya
- November-December – returning back to Serengeti in Tanzania and making their way to the southern sector
