Upgraded - Highlights of Kenya & Tsavo

Arrive in Kenya's fast growing capital city, Nairobi, gateway to the country's famous national parks.

A transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the Tamarind Tree Hotel is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your arrival day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to departure. The journey from the airport to our hotel is around 30 minutes.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and after there will be the opportunity to have dinner. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information at their earliest opportunity. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Nairobi at any time.

Our hotel is located just five kilometres from the city centre and a short thirty-minute drive from the airport. It is the perfect location to relax and unwind after your flight, featuring a large outdoor swimming pool set in landscaped gardens and a welcoming open plan reception area with bright murals covering the walls. The hotel has a coffee shop, a lively bar and a restaurant. Alternatively you can get a taxi to one of the city's malls for a wider choice of eating options.

Heading north out of Nairobi and climbing steadily out of the Great Rift Valley, we head into the Aberdare Mountain range passing through farming communities. With an altitude of over 2,500 metres, the air is noticeably cooler compared to Nairobi and the rolling hills are covered in dense forests and open moorland. After around two and a half hours we reach the Aberdare Country Club where we break for lunch. Originally a colonial family home, the country club retains much of its former grandeur and has breathtaking views of the plains below, the Aberdare Mountains to the west and Mount Kenya to the east.

After lunch it's a short transfer to one of Kenya's more unusual safari properties, The Ark. Modelled after Noah's Ark, The Ark features four viewing decks with balconies and vast viewing windows to provide superb game watching, all from the comfort of the lodge. Keep an eye out for your first glimpse of elephant on your way in. After settling into our rooms there is ample time to head to one of the viewing areas or down to the bunker to quietly watch the floodlit waterhole which attracts a host of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, monkey, warthog, baboon and on occasions hyena. There is also a wonderful range of forest birds to be spotted including hornbill, wagtail and giant kingfisher. Before dinner at the lodge, there will be an informal talk on the local flora and fauna and the wildlife that inhabit the Aberdare National Park.

Going to bed early does not mean missing the action either. During the night the resident ranger stays on watch and will buzz your room if an interesting animal comes to the waterhole with one ring for elephant, two for rhino, three for leopard and four for other unusual sightings. You're free to turn the buzzer off if you would rather have a full night's sleep.

Today is a longer travelling day driving to Nakuru, a journey of around four hours. En route we stop at the striking Thompson Falls on the Ewaso Ngiro river. The waters originate on the western slopes of Mount Kenya and descend over a seventy-meter waterfall just outside the town of Nyahururu.

We continue to Nakuru National Park and the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, our base for the next two nights. We'll have lunch at the lodge and then have our first game drive along the shores of Lake Nakuru on the lookout for both white rhino and the endangered black rhino as well as other mammals and birds. Our lodge for the next two nights is situated just above the lake, rooms are in cottages set in the landscaped gardens, there is a big swimming pool and terrace, a restaurant offering an extensive selection of dishes and a bar with an outdoor fire pit to which to retire to after dinner.

We maximise our time today to ensure we make the most of game drive opportunities in Nakuru National Park. Rising early before breakfast, we head out in 4x4 Land Cruiser safari vehicles, accompanied by our expert safari driver guides, on the lookout for both white rhino and the endangered black rhino. Sightings, whilst never guaranteed, are very likely at Nakuru National Park. It is not unheard of to see a dozen rhino in a day.

The park hosts herds of buffalo, zebra and giraffe, as well as flocks of striking pink flamingo on the lake, although the latter do move between lakes in the Great Rift Valley, so may not be seen at Nakuru and numbers have been in decline following flooding in 2012. Other birdlife is prolific on the shores of the lake with pink-backed and white pelicans found wading in the shallow soda lake shore as well as spoonbills, marabou storks and sacred ibis. We'll stop on the shores of the lake for photographs of the spectacular setting.

Returning to our lodge for a late breakfast as the day starts to heat up, the hottest part of the day is spent at leisure at our camp, offering the chance of a siesta, a dip in the pool, relaxation time reading a book or birdwatching. Our afternoon activity departs after tea, usually around 4pm, to return in the early evening. Game drives will vary depending on sightings and animal activity.

Bidding Nakuru farewell, it's a five-hour drive to the world-famous Maasai Mara game reserve. Our journey takes us across the floor of the Rift Valley and then up and over the Mau Escarpment, travelling through open bushland interspersed with rural villages and farming communities. The major settlement on our journey is the bustling and colourful market town of Narok, a major trading post full of market stalls selling fresh vegetables and fruit as well as livestock.

We arrive in the Mara (as it is known by locals) early in the afternoon in time for a late lunch. Our lodge for the next three nights is located in the heart of the Mara close to the Talek River, at the confluence of the Maasai Mara's four wildlife viewing areas, on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Afternoon game drives depart around 4pm and return at as the sun goes down, after which there is time to freshen up and meet for a drink at the bar before dinner. Dinner is usually a buffet menu with seasonal fresh produce sourced from around Kenya, served in the well-appointed restaurant. After dinner we can retire to sit around a roaring fire to relive highlights of the day and admire the amazing stars of the African night sky.

Covering an area of 1,500 square kilometres, the Maasai Mara hosts one of the largest concentrations of animals anywhere in the world. The wildlife is prolific at any time of year, but during the months between the end of July and the beginning of October, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate into the Mara from the adjacent Serengeti National Park, in search of fresh grasses that flourish after the rains, often pursued by predators such as hyena, lion and cheetah.

We will embark on two game drives today, one in the early morning and one mid-afternoon, with time in between at our comfortable lodge for taking a dip in the swimming pool or reading a book.

Remaining in the Maasai Mara for a third day, we drive further into the national reserve. Depending on sightings, our expert safari driver guides will generally spend the maximum time on game drives, trying to cover as large an area as possible including the river tributaries of the reserve. The result of this is that you'll get the best chances of seeing a variety of wildlife.

The Mara hosts an abundance of mammals including lion, elephant and wildebeest as well as numerous antelope species from eland, hartebeest, bushbuck, gazelle to impala and waterbuck to name but a few. For keen birdwatchers there is an astonishing variety of birds to spot. Be sure to keep an eye on soaring vultures and eagles on the lookout for a recent kill.

Tonight we will enjoy a traditional Maasai boma dinner on the plains of the Mara. Please note this dinner requires a minimum six participants, should the group size be less than six, we will eat at the hotel and instead offer sundowner drinks on the shores of Lake Nakuru on day four.

After an early breakfast we drive back to Nairobi, a journey of around five hours, making a brief stop at a view point across the Rift Valley outside Naivasha. The rest of the day is free.

An early start today as we head to Nairobi's new termini train station to board a train to Voi, gateway to Tsavo National Park region. Opened in 2017 and travelling at speeds of up to 120 kph, the journey takes four hours. The modern fleet is air conditioned, offers a buffet service on board and charging points for phones. There is also always the chance you'll spot wildlife from the comfort of your seat along the way.

On arrival in Voi, we will be met and transferred the short distance directly to Kipalo Hills, our home for the next three nights in the Mbulia private conservancy bordering Tsavo West. Kipalo Hills is a highly personalised lodge experience with six spacious and well appointed traditional safari tents offering complete seclusion and privacy, pitched against a rock hillside with the most amazing views of the Tsavo conservation area. The heart of the lodge is an expansive bar, lounge and dining area with an open deck and swimming pool. There is a complimentary bar and meals are planned and can be taken at a time of your choosing.

After being shown round the camp we'll head down to the waterhole right next to the camp which attracts elephants, buffalos and occasionally even leopards, we'll then head out for a game drive within the conservancy.

The 19th July 2025 departure will stay at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge which features stunning views of the Chyulu hills, a volcanic range of rugged wilderness. The property is adjected to a waterhole, which its main restaurant and bar overlooks, offering great views of wildlife heading down to the waterhole for a drink. Rooms are situated in the landscaped gardens. The lodge offers free wi-fi, a swimming pool and is a great base in which to head out into the park.

You are welcome to dip in and out of the scheduled drives as you wish. Early morning game drives generally leave the lodge around 6.30am taking advantage of the cooler temperatures to maximize game viewing and return approximately three hours later where you will have breakfast.

Afternoon game drives depart around 4pm and return at sunset, after which you can freshen up and gather for pre-dinner drinks. All meals are included at the lodge.

Over the next two days we'll head out to explore the surrounding area. Individual games drives are made in custom built 4x4 safari Land Cruisers with a open roof hatch, exclusive for our use. All seats have direct window access and the vehicle sides are full retractable, providing the best game viewing opportunities possible in comfort whilst on game drives. Fridges, winches, camera stands, inverters and electric charging sockets, upgraded suspensions are just some of the features in our open game viewing vehicles.

The exact itinerary is left flexible and will be discussed on our first day. Options include a full day in Tsavo East or West National Park, safari drives in the Mbulia Conservancy including a visit to one of the waterholes in the conservancy where we'll get one of the closest encounters to the resident elephants anywhere in Kenya, guided bush walks with one of the expert rangers or a full day safari to explore the wild Chyulu Hills located to the north. When we opt for a full day safari, we'll take a picnic breakfast and lunch to enjoy in the bush to maximize our game viewing time.

Upon returning to the lodge, there is time to freshen up before observing a great safari tradition, enjoying a sundowners as part of our daily ritual. Whether out of the back of a safari jeep on your way back to camp or on a spectacular hill with a roaring fire a cold beer or a gin and tonic, it's the perfect way to sit back and take in the spectacular Kenyan wilderness.

Please note the 19th July 2025 departure will follow a programme operated by Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge in a shared safari vehicle which differ from the description above.

A further full day in search of game. The park hosts over 500 species of birdlife and a rich eco system with areas of savanna grassland, semi arid acacia woodland and the highlands of the Chyulu hills. All the 'big 5' can be found within the park, around 40% of Kenya's elephant population live within the wider Tsavo Conservation Area. With our own vehicle we can take our time away from the crowds.

A big part of the Tsavo experience is the home cooked meals all freshly prepared by the resident chef using fresh local ingredients. Furthermore you can choose from various dining spots, whether on a private terrace of your accommodation, in the main tent, by the pool overlooking the well-frequented waterhole in Kipalo, or in the middle of the bush, all a memorable experience.

After an early breakfast we drive to Voi station and board the 0955 train back to Nairobi, arriving just after 2pm. The earliest recommended flight departure time is 6pm.

A transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) from the train station or Tamarind Tree Hotel is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your departure day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to your tour departing. For those departing Kenya today on evening flights we will transfer you to the Tamarind Tree Hotel. You may wish to book a day use room, please contact us for details, alternatively you are free to relax by the pool or explore Nairobi for some last minute souvenir shopping.