9 Days Kenya’s Luxury Hidden Gems Safari
Per Person
Duration
Tour Type
Explore Tours
Discover Kenya’s hidden gems on this curated trip, combining Kenya’s lesser-known reserves and it’s most iconic while enjoying exquisite accommodations and seamless logistics. It’s a journey that ensures you discover the extraordinary in style, from the heart of the wilderness to the lap of comfort.
An overnight stay at Hemingway’s Nairobi Hotel eases you in, a luxury hotel and ideal buffer between long haul flight and safari. Explore the capital’s highlights such as the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Sanctuary. After a good night’s rest, board a small plane for a scenic flight north, past Mount Kenya, to Meru National Park. Stay at Elsa’s Kopje, where expert guides lead you on day and night game drives and insightful nature walks.
Transition to Lewa Plains Wildlife Conservancy, staying at Kifaru House. Enjoy a few additional unique activities, traverse the canopy bridge and learn about the reserve’s rhino conservation. Fly to the renowned Masai Mara, where Sand River Mara Camp offers luxury and nostalgia.
This safari can be seamlessly extended with a beach stay. After your exhilarating wildlife encounters, add on Kenya’s idyllic Diani Beach or the Tanzanian paradise of Zanzibar Island. These stunning coastal retreats are easily accessible, offering a perfect complement to your safari.
Included/Excluded
- 8 nights accommodation
- Meals:
- Hemingways Nairobi : Bed & Breakfast
- Elsa's Kopje : Game Package
- Kifaru House : Game Package
- Sand River Masai Mara : Game Package
- All necessary permits, conservancy and park fees
- All activities specified, including morning and evening game drives each full day on safari
- B&B accommodation at Hemingways only
- Fully inclusive accommodation
- Park & concession fees
- Light aircraft flights and transfers
- All transfers during your itinerary
- 24/7 assistance and support during your trip
- Your international flights to and from Africa + any related taxes
- Any travel visas you require (though we help you with this)
- Tips
- Personal items (eg. travel insurance, souvenirs)
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Experience a delightful overnight stay at Hemingway’s Nairobi Hotel, starting with a warm welcome at Nairobi’s international airport. A dedicated representative will meet and drive you to the hotel and ensure you’re checked in and happy.
With the afternoon at your disposal, indulge in the hotel’s amenities or explore Nairobi’s highlights, like the Karen Blixen Museum Markets, elephant orphanage and Giraffe Sanctuary. Unwind with dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant, ensuring a rejuvenating sleep.
After a delightful breakfast at Hemingway’s, your driver will meet you at the hotel reception, ready to escort you on your road transfer to Wilson Airport. Your safari adventure awaits as you board a light aircraft flight bound for the magnificent Meru National Park. This sanctuary is famed for its diverse landscapes and thriving wildlife. The allure of Meru National Park lies in its harmonious blend of lush plains, doum palms, towering baobab trees, and vibrant flora, offering an extraordinary setting for your safari experience.
Prepare to be enchanted on your two-night stay at Elsa’s Kopje nestled in this picturesque terrain. Positioned amidst the rugged hills and a rocky outcrop, the camp seamlessly integrates with the natural rocky landscape, providing a remarkable and exclusive safari haven. Open 4×4 game drives led by knowledgeable guides offer exceptional encounters with wildlife. Acquaint yourself with the park’s details on nature walks and nocturnal life on night game drives. For a unique perspective on wildlife, enjoy a rafting expedition along the Tana River.
Amid safari pursuits, enjoy moments of leisure—plunge into the swimming pool, indulge in a rejuvenating massage, explore the on-site library, and shop for a souvenir at the gift shop. As the sun sets, enjoy magical evenings feasting beneath the stars and sharing tales around a crackling fire, a perfect finale to an unforgettable day in the heart of the wild.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Elsa’s after which your guide will accompany you to the airstrip for a scenic charter flight to Nanyuki’s airstrip. On arrival, a guide will warmly welcome you for another transfer to the enchanting Lewa Plains Wildlife Conservancy. Your home for the next two nights is the exquisite Elewana Kifaru House. Set amidst lush lawns, Kifaru House overlooks the Lewa plains and a frequented waterhole, perfect for an ‘armchair safari’ from pool lounger or patio.
Recognized as a World Heritage Site, the reserve is home to thriving populations of critically endangered black and white rhinos whose longevity is ensured through collaboration with surrounding local communities. Delve into the intimate knowledge of Kifaru’s expert guides about the conservancy’s lion, cheetah, and rhino families. Head out on exciting game drives for sightings of the Big 5, cheetahs, and the critically endangered Grevy’s zebra against the backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kenya. Leave the vehicle behind for guided walks in the wilderness, led by Samburu rangers renowned for their expertise in rhino conservation.
Venture further into Lewa with activities like traversing the canopy bridge through Ndare Forest and taking a refreshing dip in the forest springs. Picnic alongside tranquil streams and try out horse riding or camel trekking. As the sun has set each evening, enjoy drinks around the fire followed by a delectable dinner, capping off each day’s adventures in true safari style.
Start your day with a fresh breakfast at Kifaru House, before departing on the next leg of your safari. Your guide will accompany you to the airstrip for a charter flight to the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve, where Sand River Mara Camp awaits. The Masai Mara, renowned for its unparalleled wildlife sightings, showcases the quintessential highlights of an African safari. Sand River Mara Camp, shaded by towering trees along the Sand River, offers a unique blend of modern luxury and a nostalgic nod to the golden era of safaris in the 1920s. Its prime location and authentic safari experience make it a true Mara gem.
Other than thrilling game drives, don’t miss the opportunity for a hot-air balloon safari. An enchanting way to survey the vast Mara plains from above. Depending on the season, witness the breathtaking spectacle of the Great Migration, as herds of wildebeest and other wildlife traverse the landscape. Back at camp, enjoy superb cuisine, discover a well-stocked cellar, take a refreshing dip in the sparkling pool, and relax on your own private viewing deck.
Experience the Masai Mara at dusk, a canvas painted with hues of gold and amber. As the sun dips below the horizon, the air comes alive with wild calls. Sip on drink as you warm your feet by the fire and listen to safari stories and encounters from guides and fellow guests. Soak up the lantern-lit ambiance at dinner under a sky of brilliant stars. Sink into your decadent copper bathtub and tuck yourself into your cosy bed, ready for the best night’s sleep and excited for that early morning wake up call for another day in safari paradise.
Awake to soft sunrise hues and a last steaming cup of coffee and scrumptious breakfast in the Mara before your final safari flight back to Nairobi and journey onward.
