Highlights
- Check out Nairobi's flea markets, coffee shops, and eateries on your first day
- Experience stunning African landscapes and bird species on your guided hike
- Stay a night in a mountain camp and meet fellow trekkers from around the world
- Spend an entire day picking wildlife adventures in a friendly, non-profit conservancy
- Stop for cool souvenirs in Nairobi before heading to the airport on departure day
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Nairobi, Free Time | Nairobi |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Mount Kenya, Hike to Old Moses | Mount Kenya National Park |
| Day 3 | Descend Mount Kenya & Transfer to Nanyuki | Nanyuki |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Wildlife Safari | Laikipia |
| Day 5 | Morning Game Drive, Transfer to Nairobi & Depart Kenya |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi, Free Time
Welcome to the capital of Kenya! If you have a window seat on the flight, you'll likely see Nairobi National Park before touching down on the runway. One of the many aspects of what makes this city unique is the closeness of its 73-square-mile (117 km) park. This area is not a zoo, but rather a vast protected space where animals roam happily and free.
Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you'll be picked up by a private driver and transferred to your hotel. Nairobi is the largest city in Kenya, with over six million residents, and it was founded in the late 19th century by colonial authorities in British East Africa as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. The name originated from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi (cold water), referring to the Nairobi River, which flows through the city.
The rest of the day is free time to explore any way you'd like. You might want to rest after the journey or visit some of the city's produce and flea markets. Cap off the day by eating a meal at an authentic Kenyan restaurant.
Day 2: Transfer to Mount Kenya, Hike to Old Moses
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by a private driver early enough to avoid the city traffic jam as you make your way to Mount Kenya National Park (109 miles/175 km) with lunch served along the way. This is the highest peak in Kenya and the second highest in Africa, so keep your camera close.
The scenery as you enter the park is breathtaking. Mount Kenya is not only a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. Within its boundaries are landscapes including alpine vegetation and dense forests, lakes, glaciers, mineral springs, as well as rare and endangered species of animals.
Visitors to the park come for a range of outdoor pursuits like hiking, rock climbing, and caving (also known as spelunking). Once you reach the park gate you will adjust your gears, fill out some park entry paperwork, and then lace up for a 5.6-mile (9 km) hike to Old Moses Mountain Camp for your overnight. This is a well-run mountain lodge at 10,837 feet (3300 m) and a common first stop along the popular Sirimon trekking route. There are clean bathrooms, dormitory bunks with a kitchen and dining area, and spacious grounds for setting up tents.
In the evening you'll have dinner at the camp and the ability to meet fellow trekkers from around the world. Enjoy the views!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Descend Mount Kenya, Transfer to Nanyuki
Today, wake up to a spectacular sunrise at Old Moses Camp! You'll have time to enjoy the views over breakfast before you hit the trail. The return hike descends through four of Mount Kenya's vegetation belts—tropical rain forest, bamboo jungle, rosewood, and heather zones—and you'll want to enjoy every moment.
You'll arrive at the Sirimon Gate in the late afternoon, where a driver will be waiting to pick you up. From here, you'll transfer to a hotel in Nanyuki (15 miles/24.5 km) for your overnight stay. This cool town is the gateway to Mount Kenya and the Laikipia plateau, one of Africa's most important wildlife conservation areas, so there are good international restaurants, cafés, and shops for traveler convenience.
Day 4: Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy - Wildlife Safari
An adventure in Kenya is not complete without getting up close to some rare wildlife. After breakfast at your hotel in Nanyuki, you'll pack up and make the short drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy (8 miles/13.5 km) for an exciting day surrounded by mammals and birds.
This not-for-profit conservation area encompasses 139 square miles (360 square km) and protects lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, and the only chimpanzees in Kenya. The park is also the site of the largest black rhinoceros sanctuary in East Africa, and you'll have a chance at spotting the only two northern white rhinoceros remaining in the world.
There are a range of excursions here from game drive safaris, to cycling safaris in non-predatory areas, and you'll likely find that you wish you had more time here. Lunch and dinner will be served onside, and you'll stay overnight, as the park offers a mix of tented camps, lodges, and homestays for an unforgettable experience.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive ,Transfer to Nairobi & Depart Kenya
Today, you'll wake up in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in time for an early game drive before returning to your accommodations for breakfast.
From here, it's time to say goodbye! You'll transfer back to Nairobi (128 miles/206 miles). If there's time before your flight, your driver will stop for lunch and some souvenir shopping before dropping you at the airport for your departure flight. Safe travels!
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