Kenya Wildlife & Culture Adventure - 10 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and be transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Nairobi Touring

Today's tour of Nairobi includes visits to:

• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, to see the elephants, and for an additional $50 'adopt' an elephant, which you can return to see in the evening (one visitor per adopted elephant is allowed).
• Giraffe Center, for a hands-on giraffe encounter and the chance to learn about giraffe conservation.
• Kazuri Bead Factory, a women’s cooperative bead and pottery making shop, which uses local Kenyan clay.

Day 3: Drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Today you'll be picked up in Nairobi by your private four-wheel-drive safari vehicle. You'll be driven to the Laikipia area to the north, crossing the equator along the way.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is set in nearly 100,000 acres in the Laikipia region of central Kenya, on the equator next to Mount Kenya. It has the highest resident game-to-area ratio of any park or reserve in Kenya. Wild dog populations have been growing in this area, and while still an elusive sight, there are chances of seeing them here. Also, there are only three northern white rhinos left in the world, and they are all in Ol Pejeta. 

After your arrival, enjoy a game drive to see lions, elephants, leopards, zebras, giraffes, and hippos, and visit the Rhino Conservation and Education Center, and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Another option that's not available in most wildlife conservancies is a night-time safari. Sunset is when the truly weird and wonderful come out to play, with a show of nature at its most raw. With the help of a spotlight and an expert Ol Pejeta guide, you have a chance of spotting aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, leopards, and lion hunts.

Day 4: Ol Pejeta Full-Day Safari Tours

Today, take morning and afternoon game drives—along with a special evening game drive, not available in most wildlife reserves. Sunset is when the truly weird and wonderful come out to play, exposing nature at its most raw. With the help of a spotlight and an expert Ol Pejeta guide, you have a chance of spotting aardvark, bat-eared fox, leopard, and lion hunts, though what is there to see is not guaranteed.

Day 5: Ol Pejeta to Lake Naivasha

Early morning, embark on a lion-tracking activity, to learn fascinating facts about this vulnerable big cat, and help protect them. A few lions are fitted with radio collars, and you accompany a lion tracker to search for their signal. When a pride is found, you help identify individual lions by recording whisker patterns, scars, ear tears, and other characteristics. The data you collect goes straight to our ecological monitoring department, and helps us find solutions to the challenges facing Laikipia’s lions. Guests remain in the vehicle at all times.

Return to the camp for breakfast, then depart for Lake Naivasha. Arrive in time for a late lunch and a boat tour with close-up views of hippos, waterbucks, and countless birds. Also take a walking safari on Crescent Island, strolling among the giraffes, zebras, and other peaceful animals, in the absence of predators.

Day 6: Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

After breakfast, drive approximately 3.5 hours to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp. This is not a commercial “staged” camp experience, but rather an authentic Maasai community, where real people are still living the Maasai traditions. 

Activities include walks in the hills with Maasai warriors to learn about traditional life, warrior training, widow village visit for a look at local traditional life, bead making, campfire with the Maasai warriors, hot spring visit. Visit community projects such as our school, conservation projects for beekeeping, and a tree nursery. We also offer spiritual blessings, called Emayan.  

The lodging at the camp is in cottages with shared flush toilets and hot mineral water showers.

Day 7: Maji Moto Maasai "Olpul" Bush Camping

Today, trek across the plains to a forest bush campsite, where we'll construct a traditional Maasai temporary camp and sleep out under the stars. Slaughter a goat in traditional "Olpul" style, with warriors and elders, enjoying songs, stories and blessings around the campfire. Share the ceremonial local brew, made for special occasions from aloe root, honey, and herbs.

Spend the night at the bush camp, on traditional leafy beds under the stars in sleeping bags (provided), with the protection of warriors throughout the night.

Day 8: Maasai Mara Wildlife Reserve

After breakfast, drive to your camp inside the Maasai Mara Reserve, on over 700-square-miles of lush, sun-drenched plains, ideally situated in the direct path of the spectacular Great Migration occurring in August. 

Take daily safari game drives in private four-wheel-drive vehicle for stunning wildlife views. Relax in the evening by the camp fire, overlooking the plains, or at the gazebo, with views of a hippo pool. 

Day 9: Maasai Mara

Continue to explore the Maasai Mara, in search of what you missed the previous day. Take morning and afternoon safari drives amid the lions, elephants, hippos, and many other species.

Day 10: Return to Nairobi

After breakfast and a morning game drive if you wish, drive leisurely back to Nairobi to connect with your flights home or to your next destination. Alternatively, fly from Maasai Mara to Nairobi at an additional cost. You could also add a "day room" booking to your itinerary, so you can rest and refresh before a night-time flight.