Compare Kenya: A Classic Safari with Nairobi by Globus vs Kenya in 8 days - Savannah, Safari & Maasai Mara - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1: ARRIVE IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Jambo, Kenya!
Welcome to Nairobi, gateway to your dream safari. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

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Day 2: NAIROBI

Conservation Matters
Guided sightseeing starts at the Nairobi Safari Walk for an elevated adventure on raised boardwalks offering uninterrupted views of the endangered pygmy hippos, albino zebras, white rhinos, and more. Learn about the conservation efforts of the region’s diverse wildlife and habitat protection at this animal orphanage. After lunch, visit the Karen Blixen Museum, dedicated to the Danish baroness and author of the 1937 autobiography Out of Africa (later, an Academy Award winning film) illustrating her time living and operating a coffee farm in Kenya. A visit to the [LF] Giraffe Centre is followed by free time this evening.

(Breakfast,Lunch)

LOCAL FAVORITE
TALL ORDERS Visit the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi—a non-profit organization operated by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, focused on saving the Rothschild giraffe. During a visit to this remarkable sanctuary, learn about this giraffe sub-species, meet them up close and feed them. Get closer on the feeding platform, and you may just get a kiss!

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Day 3: NAIROBI–SHABA NATIONAL RESERVE

Shaba Special
Drive north out of the city to Shaba National Reserve, home to the “Special 5,” a collection of unique animals, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx, and gerenuk. Start your safari adventure with an afternoon game drive.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Listen for a symphony of bird calls at the Shaba National Reserve. More than 400 recorded species including the vibrant vulturine guinea fowl and gray crowned crane reside in Shaba. Look low for the Kori bustard, the largest flying bird native to Africa.

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Day 4: SHABA

Arid Awakening
Morning and afternoon game drives plus free time at your lodge. Due to the dry climate, grasses are sparse, making animals easier to spot. The Ewaso Ng’iro River borders the reserve, providing a year-round water supply. These two factors make for a great game viewing experience! Sundowner drinks in the bush are served prior to returning to your lodge for dinner.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SUNDOWNER DRINKS This evening, enjoy the legendary tradition of safaris with a memorable happy hour in the bush, complete with sunset views over the Ewaso Ng’iro River!

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Day 5: SHABA–OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY

Wonderful Weavers & Wildlife Sanctuaries
Depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. En route, stop at Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, a project aimed at building sustainable livelihoods for local women through social and economic activities. After lunch, visit the [LF] Sweetwaters Chimp Sanctuary, then set out for an afternoon game drive.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
CONSERVATION HEROES Learn more about the plight of chimpanzees during a visit to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. In partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Jane Goodall Institute, the sanctuary offers a long term home to orphaned and abused chimpanzees—a moving example of wildlife conservation for future generations.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT INTO THE WILD A guest favorite, Sweetwaters Serena Camp is in the heart of the conservancy with magnificent views of Mount Kenya. Globus guests enjoy tents situated directly in front of the floodlit waterhole where wildlife comes to drink day and night for a vantage point directly from your private verandah!

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Day 6: OL PEJETA–LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

High & Mighty
Morning game drive in Ol Pejeta. Then, journey through the beautiful Kenyan highlands, one of the most fertile agricultural areas in all of Africa to Lake Nakuru National Park. Settle in to your lodge prior to dinner and gaze at the lush landscape from your private patio or open-air lounge.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

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Day 7: LAKE NAKURU

At the Water’s Edge
Your morning game drive includes an exclusive [LF] bush breakfast. Keep your eyes out for giraffe, impala, flamingo, striped hyena, and a variety of birdlife along the water’s edge. Free time at your lodge before an afternoon game drive.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
BREAKFAST IN THE BUSH As part of your morning game drive, you’ll be treated to this time-honored safari experience in Africa’s unmatched landscapes, reminiscent of Africa’s early explorers. Sip mimosas as you revel in this memorable experience in the wild.

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Day 8: LAKE NAKURU–MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Jewel of Kenya
This morning, depart for Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous game area. “The Mara,” as it is called by locals, is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong permanent population of game. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrives, typically from August to early November, their population grows by almost 2 million, providing a bountiful food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. After lunch at your lodge, set out on an afternoon game drive.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

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Day 9: MAASAI MARA

Magical Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives plus free time to relax at your camp. Be sure to watch for elephant, rhino, giraffe, topi, hyena, and much more. Tonight, a [LF] farewell dinner in the bush features a traditional Maasai dance performance.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEMS The Maasai people bring a history of rich culture tied to this wilderness known as the Cradle of Life. Your special farewell dinner in the bush includes a traditional Maasai dance performance celebrating an ancient culture amid the majestic wildlife who find sanctuary here. The perfect ending to a spectacular safari adventure!

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Day 10: MAASAI MARA–NAIROBI

So Long, Farewell
Embark on a final game drive before flying back to Nairobi, where a day room is reserved for your use. Schedule departing flights after 5 pm.

(Breakfast)

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Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Nairobi.* Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Nairobi

Arrive, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Nairobi. Kenya's capital and largest city, Nairobi is nicknamed the 'Green City in the Sun' and is a vibrant place where you can really get to grips with Kenya's diverse culture. This cosmopolitan capital is a great place to sample the delights of Kenyan cuisine or to hit the local bars or cafes to soak up the atmosphere of the place. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing or exploring at your leisure, ready to set off on your safari adventure in the morning. Overnight stay in Nairobi.

Day 3: Nairobi - Amboseli National Park

Early breakfast at the hotel before heading southwards out of the city as you watch the landscape slowly change from urban metropolis to vast wilderness. Catch sight of distant Mount Kilimanjaro as you journey for around 4-hours through typical African savannah and past local homesteads and Maasai communities. Arrive at the lodge in Amboseli in time for lunch. Get settled before embarking on your first game viewing drive of the trip! Amboseli National Park is famed for its large herds of elephants and its dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Experience captivating landscapes and get up close to incredible wildlife before returning to the lodge. Spend the evening relaxing at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay in Amboseli.

Day 4: Amboseli - Aberdare

Start the day early with breakfast at the lodge before packing up your luggage and departing for a sunrise game drive through Amboseli National Park. Afterwards, continue towards the Central Highlands and enjoy the rural scenery along the approx. 6.5-hour journey. Arrive at your lodge in Aberdare in time for lunch and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, soaking up the captivating landscapes or enjoying the activities on offer at the lodge such as nature walks, horseback riding or mountain biking (to be arranged at the lodge). Alternatively, why not opt for an afternoon of wildlife-spotting with an optional Game Drive at Solio Ranch?* Dinner and overnight stay in Aberdare. * Optional Game Drive at Solio Ranch: Discover the wildlife of the Central Highlands area with a game drive through Solio Ranch. Founded in the 1970s it is an important conservation area for the protection of both white and black rhinos.

Day 5: Aberdare - Lake Naivasha

Breakfast at the lodge. Depart for the papyrus-fringed shores of breathtaking Lake Naivasha today, stopping along the route to visit beautiful Thompson Falls in Nharururu. Continue the 5.5-hour journey as you descend into the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley before arriving at the lodge at Lake Naivasha in time for lunch. Enjoy the remainder of the day enjoying some time at your leisure to relax, take an optional excursion to Crescent Island or head out on an afternoon game drive to Lake Nakuru.* Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Naivasha. * Optional Crescent Island Walking Safari: Not actually an island, but a tranquil peninsula, explore this biodiverse area on foot! Home to rare wildlife, the peninsula was famously used as the filming location for a number of memorable scenes in the movie ‘Out of Africa’! * Optional Game Drive at Lake Nakuru: Take your lunch with you as you head out on an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park with a picnic. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this soda lake is known for its large populations of flamingos and rhinos.

Day 6: Lake Naivasha - Maasai Mara National Reserve

Awake to the sounds of nature and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. Afterwards, depart for the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, journeying along the floor of the Great Rift Valley and passing through the charming towns of Mai Mahiu and Narok, the latter of which is the Maasai capital. Arrive at the lodge/camp in time for lunch and soak up the breathtaking views of the surrounding savannah. In the mid-afternoon, head off on a game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, considered the world’s finest game viewing area! Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary Big Five: lions, rhinos, buffalos, elephants and leopards as you venture through the wild landscapes and watch in awe as the dramas of everyday life in the animal kingdom unfold before you! Head back to the lodge at sunset for dinner. Overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Day 7: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast at the lodge. Embark on an unforgettable day of wildlife-spotting as you set off on a full-day game-viewing drive with a packed lunch on the go. This extra time will allow you to greater explore the vast reserve and discover the spectacular and diverse landscapes of the Maasai Mara. Tick the Big Five off your list as you enjoy some of the best game-viewing on earth and enjoy an authentic Kenyan safari experience! As this magical day draws to a close, return to the lodge and unwind at dinner as you retell the stories of today’s adventures! Overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Day 8: Maasai Mara National Reserve - Nairobi

Awake early for breakfast and enjoy your last moments in the Kenyan wilderness at your leisure or set off on an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari, a morning game drive or a visit to a local Maasai Village.* At mid-morning it’s time to head back to Nairobi, arriving back in the capital in the afternoon. Get settled in at the hotel, ready to spend your final evening in Kenya at your leisure, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or indulging in the local cuisine in Nairobi’s many eateries. Overnight stay in Nairobi. * Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari: Experience the majesty of the Maasai Mara from the sky on a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon safari. Ascend at dawn and experience the most unforgettable sunrise imaginable as the savannah and its wildlife spring to life in the soft morning light. Please note: The optional Hot Air Balloon Safari is dependent on weather conditions at the destination and will be confirmed the day before. If the activity cannot go ahead, it will be refunded when you return from your trip. * Optional Morning Game Drive in the Maasai Mara: Watch in awe as the savannah comes to life on this morning game drive. The wildlife of the Maasai Mara are particularly active during the morning so this is a great opportunity for spotting animals! * Optional Maasai Village visit: Discover the local culture with a visit to a Maasai Village. The Maasai people are known for their brilliant artisan crafts and colourful clothing.

Day 9: Nairobi - Night on board

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the use of your room until 10:00 a.m. before checking out and transferring to the airport at the indicated time (usually 3/4 hours before your departure flight) for your flight back to the US. Night on board.

Day 10: US

Arrive back in the US, filled with amazing memories of your unforgettable journey through Kenya!