11-Day Born Free in Kenya
Settle into the African rhythm in the suburbs of Nairobi for your first night and explore the capital's bustling restaurant scene. Dive into Meru National Park boasts one of the largest elephant herds in East Africa and is home to a rhino sanctuary. Game drive through the wild terrain of northern Kenya to Meru's sister reserve: Shaba National Park Fly into Kenya's crown jewel: the mighty Masai Mara, with unrivalled predator sightings, herds of wildebeest and game drives through conservancies.
Tour Summary
You'll go to Kenya
You'll visit Nairobi, Meru NP, Samburu NR & Masai Mara NR
This tour starts and ends in Nairobi - Getting there
Tour Features
Luxury tour
This luxury tour uses lodges and tented camps.
Private tour
This tour will be run exclusively for you. Transfers and game drives at private camps will be shared.
Can start any day
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
Can be customized
You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
Suitable for solo travelers
Solo travelers can book this private tour.
Minimum age of 12 years
The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.
Activities & Transportation
Activities: game drives, evening/night game drives, walking safaris (with an armed guide) & nature hikes/walks
Game drives: open-sided 4x4 vehicle
Getting around: open-sided 4x4 vehicle & air transfer
This operator can help select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself help
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Accommodation & Meals
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Day | Accommodation | Meals |
---|---|---|
1 |
House of Waine
Luxury hotel in or near Nairobi
|
Breakfast Included |
2-4 |
Elsa's Kopje
Luxury lodge inside Meru NP
|
All Meals Included |
5-7 |
Samburu Intrepids
Luxury tented camp inside Samburu NR
|
All Meals Included |
8-10 |
Elephant Pepper Camp
Luxury tented camp inside Mara North Conservancy (Greater Masai Mara)
|
All Meals Included |
11 |
End of tour
(No accommodation)
|
Breakfast Included |
Arrival
(See Getting there for more details)- You'll be collected from the airport.
- Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1 Stop over in style at the House of Waine
Although every Kenyan adventure starts or ends with a night in Nairobi, it doesn't have to involve a run-of-the-mill city hotel. You will be met and transferred to the House of Waine is for your first night.
Set well outside the central business district on 2.5 acres of gardens, this boutique hotel starts your vacation off on the right foot. Once the family home of the Waine family, it still retains the feel of a stately, yet homely place to rest and regroup, or plan and prepare. Rooms are individually decorated to make every successive trip something to look forward to.
Day trips in and around Nairobi are themed by culture, shopping or history. The Giraffe Center is just around the corner and protects the endangered Rothschild giraffe. This dangly, curious creature is found only in the grasslands of East Africa. The Karen Blixen Museum is also nearby. A former coffee plantation and previous home of the Danish author who wrote "Out of Africa", it is ideal for an idle afternoon.
Main Destination: | Nairobi |
Accommodation: | House of Waine
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
Day 2-4 Enjoy a romantic retreat at Elsa's Kopje Lodge
From Nairobi catch a charter to Meru National Park, recognised for having a greater diversity of animal species than any other park in East Africa, so prepare yourself and your camera for large elephant herds, hippo, lion, caracal, reptiles, a rhino sanctuary and more than 400 species of birdlife.
You will stay at Elsa’s Kopje, named after the lioness made famous by George and Joy Adamson. It's an unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled retreat set into a rocky hill above the site of George’s famous orphaned lion camp.
Take game drives and walking safaris with professional guides whose knowledge of the park is unrivalled. Pick up a rod and refreshments and settle on the palm-lined banks of one of Meru’s many rivers, then share your catfish, tilapia or barbel catch with the herons, monitor lizards and spectacular kingfishers. Enjoy an al fresco breakfast on the plains, surrounded by wildlife; or soak up the sunset with traditional safari sundowners.
Main Destination: | Meru National Park |
Best Time to Visit
June to September (Little to no rainfall)
High Season
December to March and July to October (Not busy)
Best Weather
June to September (Little to no rainfall) Wildlife in Meru National Park
Elephant
Common
Giraffe
Common
Buffalo
Common
Zebra
Common
Wildebeest
Common
Hippo
Common
Lion
Occasional
Leopard
Occasional
Hyena
Occasional
White Rhino
Rare
Black Rhino
Rare
Cheetah
Rare
Wild Dog
Rare
|
|
Accommodation: | Elsa's Kopje
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
Day 5-7 Kenyan hospitality along the banks of the Uaso River under luxury canvas
You will be transferred by road to Samburu Intrepids Camp, located in the heart of the semi desert Samburu National Reserve, along the Rift Valley province. Here elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffe and zebra move along the the river that cuts through this reserve, crocodiles often found lounging on the riverbanks. Drawing its name from the Samburu people of Kenya who call the area home, and made famous by the Adamsons' who inspired the book and movie Born Free, this comfortable tented camp is a wonderful introduction to safari style in Kenya.
Game driving happens twice a day along the savannah amidst acacia trees, forest and thorn trees to spot the many different animals that can be found in the reserve. They have camel rides lead by the local villagers, where you can get a different vantage point of the area and the wildlife as well as support the community. The Samburu are well know star gazers so taking part in a star gazing experience to learn from them is well worth it.
Main Destination: | Samburu National Reserve |
Best Time to Visit
June to September and January to February
High Season
December to March and July to October (Busy)
Best Weather
June and December (Cool and fresh after rain) Wildlife in Samburu National Reserve
Elephant
Abundant
Giraffe
Common
Zebra
Common
Hippo
Common
Leopard
Occasional
Buffalo
Occasional
Hyena
Occasional
Lion
Rare
Cheetah
Rare
White Rhino
None
Black Rhino
None
Wildebeest
None
Wild Dog
Rare to none
|
|
Accommodation: | Samburu Intrepids
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
Day 8-10 Relax into the safari way of life in the Masai Mara
Catch a charter flight to Elephant Pepper Camp and feel what the early explorers must have experienced when they first arrived in the vast wilderness of the Masai Mara. Devoid of imposing buildings and large groups, Elephant Pepper Camp opened its canvas tents more than 20 years ago as one of the original camps in the Mara North Conservancy and remain true to their principles: it's about the wildlife.
You'll spend evenings around the campfire and long days enveloped in the savanna. Open-sided vehicles are fitted with camera stands and charging sockets to make the morning and evening drives as immersive as possible. Game drives are longer than average. Guided walks bring you closer to the bush to discover animal tracks, flowers and micro-ecosystems. Special walks for kids are also available. Visit the Masai village to get a feel of how the people of the Kenyan bush live. Far removed from the other lodges, this is the true heart of Kenya.
Main Destination: | Masai Mara National Reserve |
Best Time to Visit
June to October and September to October
High Season
June to October and December to March
Best Weather
June to October (Sunny, but not too hot) Wildlife in Masai Mara National Reserve
Elephant
Common
Giraffe
Common
Lion
Common
Cheetah
Common
Zebra
Abundant
Wildebeest
Abundant
Buffalo
Common
Hippo
Common
Hyena
Common
Leopard
Occasional
Black Rhino
Rare
Wild Dog
Very Rare
White Rhino
None
|
|
Accommodation: | Elephant Pepper Camp
|
Meals & Drinks: |
|
Day 11 Finish in Nairobi
You will be chartered from Elephant Pepper Camp to the airport for your onward journey.
Main Destination: | Nairobi Airport |
Accommodation: | No accommodation |
Meals & Drinks: |
|
End of tour
(See Getting there for more details)- You'll be collected from the airport.
- Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Important to Know
- Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
- This tour must be paid in US dollars (USD). The ZAR rates shown are converted for information purposes only. Disclaimer
- This tour accepts children who are 12 years and older.
- Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.
Rates Per Person
Start dates |
Solo 1 room
|
2+ people Sharing rooms
|
Jan 1, 2020 - Mar 30, 2020
|
$7421
|
$5893
|
Mar 31, 2020 - May 29, 2020
|
$7114
|
$5428
|
May 30, 2020 - Jun 23, 2020
|
$7421
|
$5661
|
Jun 24, 2020 - Jul 10, 2020
|
$9058
|
$6358
|
Jul 11, 2020 - Oct 10, 2020
|
$9161
|
$7289
|
Oct 11, 2020 - Oct 27, 2020
|
$9058
|
$6669
|
Oct 28, 2020 - Dec 11, 2020
|
$7421
|
$5893
|
Dec 12, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020
|
$9058
|
$7211
|
N/A* = Not Available. This is Unavailable For Single Travelers.
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Included
- Park fees(For non-residents)
- All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
- International flights(From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Getting There
This tour starts and ends in Nairobi
This operator can help select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself help
Fly to/from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO - Check price) in Nairobi
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Tour ideas to get you dreaming
Kenya
10 Days
10-Day Kenya Safari: Wildlife & Warriors
Nairobi | Lake Elementaita | Ol Pejeta | Samburu NR | +1
Kenya
Tanzania
12 Days
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania, Mara & Serengeti Safari
Nairobi | Lewa Conservancy | Masai Mara NR | Karatu Region | +1
Kenya
Tanzania
12 Days
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Luxury Migration Experience
Nairobi | Lewa Conservancy | Greater Masai Mara | Northern Serengeti | +2
Tanzania
9 Days
9-Day Luxury Western Tanzania Safari
Arusha | Katavi NP | Mahale Mountains NP
Botswana
7 Days
7-Day Botswana Safari: Chobe, Okavango + Moremi
Kasane | Chobe NP | Okavango Delta | Khwai | +1