An East Africa Romance - Silver Star Bed Experience

Duration: 9 days

Highlights: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park

Explore the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the last two Northern White Rhinos in the world and a Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary, then fly to the Masai Mara; a haven for Kenya’s wildlife. Finish on the open grasslands of the Serengeti National Park all whilst staying in some of the most romantic, hand picked accommodations.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Nairobi

Upon arrival of your flight at the Jomo Kenyatta international Airport, clear immigration and customs, collect your luggage and meet by our team outside the immigration hall. Transfer to your city hotel for safari briefing and overnight.

Ideally located just 5 kms southwest of the City within the spacious Carnivore grounds and its iconic Carnivore Restaurant, Tamarind Tree Hotel has easy access to Nairobi, its national park, and the country's diverse attractions via the neighbouring Wilson Airport and Southern Bypass. The nearby Langata and Karen suburbs are among Nairobi's liveliest and most popular with world-class shopping malls and excellent restaurants. Just a short nature walk from the hotel is the famous Carnivore Restaurant, world-renowned for its one-of-a-kind all-you-can-eat meat experience and entertainment. An evening at the Carnivore and adjoining Simba Saloon is a true African dining experience and an essential part of your stay in Nairobi.

Overnight: Tamarind Tree Hotel

Meal Plan: 

Day 2 - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Wilson Airport for your flight to Nanyuki. You will be met at the airstrip by the Kicheche Laikipia guide and transferred to the camp with a short game drive en route.

Overlooking a lake on the private Ol Pejeta Conservancy lies Kicheche Laikipia. The perfect first stop on this romantic safari - enjoy al fresco lunches under the trees, game drives looking for the big five and more on the conservancy, canoeing on the lake and getting close up to the wildlife that frequents it; ending the days with drinks around the campfire and taking in the incredible stars above..

Located on private Ol Pejeta Conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya and slap bang on the equator, Kicheche is an eco-award-winning tented camp. Six sumptuous tented suites provide an up close but comfortable bush experience with views across a permanent waterhole so that you can watch the game wander in and out from the deep, quiet shade of your tent's verandah. The camp's central mess is a timber and canvas framed space anchored at either end by huge stone fireplaces, Kicheche take their eco status seriously and strive to achieve the perfect low-impact safari retreat.
Ol Pejeta, a 90,000 hectare conservancy, is home to East Africa's largest population of Black Rhino as well as rare species like White Rhino, Grevy's Zebra, Jackson's Hartebeest, and Beisa Oryx. Game drives, night drives and guided walks extend the up close and personal experience that Kicheche is.

Overnight: Kicheche Laikipia

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Ol Pejeta Conservancy

There is so much to see at Ol Pejeta, from the Big 5, to chimpanzees (the conservancy holds the largest chimp sanctuary in Kenya) to the last two remaining northern white rhinos in the world. Moreover, there are different ways to explore the conservancy -  on day and night game drives, horse back rides, mountain bike, runs, guided walks and plenty more.

Discover the Ol Pejeta Conservancy after hours on a thrilling night game drive. With the help of a filtered spot light, seek out nocturnal animals such as the aardvark, white-tailed mongoose, Gorillas and bat eared fox. Night game drives also offer the best opportunity to watch lions in action (they sleep a huge amount during the day) as well as spot the elusive leopard.

Set out on a one hour morning or evening ride with Najin and Suni, the last two northern white rhinos in the world, in their Endangered Species Enclosure. The predator-free enclosure is also home to other species including southern white rhino, Grevey's zebra, Jackson hartebeest and other plains game. Being on horse-back enables you get a little closer to the animals allowing you to capture amazing photographs whilst hearing about the astounding efforts that the conservancy is going to in order to save this species from extinction.

Enjoy your morning run out in the conservancy accompanied by a team of rangers. The 5km trail follows a gentle terrain and will afford sights of giraffe, zebra, rhino and other game.

Overnight: Kicheche Laikipia

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy an early morning game drive, return to the camp for breakfast then y transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Masai Mara. The flight will take approximately one hour.

You will be met by the Entim Mara team and assisted with your transfer to the camp. Check in, have lunch and enjoy a siesta before your afternoon game drive.

Situated in the heart of Kenya's legendary Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Entim Mara camp is right in the middle of the very best game-viewing areas. The camp's location along the Mara River is unrivalled for seeing and photographing animals all year around. With a prime location in the centre of the Masai Mara reserve right on the Mara River seeing the wildlife couldn't get any easier. This, combined with Entim's beautiful new tents which exude classic elegance with a safari twist, makes this the perfect next stop on your romantic journey through East Africa.

The word 'tent' doesn't really do justice to the 12 luxury en-suite guest rooms raised on wooden decks overlooking the Mara River. Handsomely decorated using earthy tones, there's a seamless flow from inside to outside and down to the river. Watch animals moving to and from the river from your private lounge and veranda, or during scrumptious meals at our open-fronted dining deck.

Sit on your veranda or the open-fronted dining deck and look over the Mara River at one of Africa's greatest stretches of savanna, with the Rift Valley escarpment in the distance. Migrating wildebeest gather on these riverbanks and begin their migration into the Masai Mara. You will hear the sounds of grunting gnu, hippos, hyenas and lions from your bed at night. 

Overnight: Entim Mara Camp 

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Masai Mara National Reserve

Head out to explore Masai Mara's spectacular array of wildlife on game drives. Game viewing is never dull in the Mara, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings: a pride of lion stalking their prey; a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an acacia tree; male wildebeest sparring to attract females into their harem; or even a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators. The annual wildebeest migration traditionally is present in the Mara from July-September and at this time nature's dramas unfold before your very eyes at every turn.

You have the opportunity to explore the open plains of East Africa on horse back as well. Game viewing on horseback is a totally unique experience; the only sounds you will hear are the birds calling, the insects buzzing and the gentle sound of your horse's feet hitting the earth which allows you to connect with the bush in a completely different way. The wildlife also believes you are another animal making your way through the trees and across the savannah, this often means that you will be able to brush right past giraffes, zebras and impalas, almost becoming part of the herd. Rides are available for all levels – from experienced to inexperienced riders and can last anywhere from two hours to multi day rides across Laikipia, the Masai Mara or Amboseli.

Overnight: Entim Mara Camp 

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Masai Mara - Serengeti National Park

Today depart from the Masai Mara and fly to Nairobi where you will catch a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (flight time to be advised) you will clear immigration and collect your bags before being met by our representative and assisted with your onward arrangements and boxed picnic lunch will be provided.

Depart Kilimanjaro Airport by internal schedule flight to Seronera Airstrip. The flying time is approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes.

Please note that flying times are estimates and may vary on the day due to routings and the weather. There is a luggage restriction of 20 kilograms in small, soft bags per person. Guests to please adhere to the luggage restriction in the interests of safety.

For your final part of the journey sleep out under the African skies at the beautiful Olmara Camp in the Serengeti national Park. The spacious honeymoon tent has a sleep out deck attached to it with a luxurious double bed. Whilst here enjoy private game drives and sundowners overlooking the plains as you toast to your new adventure together.

The camp itself is permanently positioned throughout the year. Each tented suite is spaced for privacy. With its isolated location, the camp takes full advantage of the African night skies. Three tents have been designed as stargazer tents, large open rooftops where you may comfortably recline on large cushions and fall asleep beneath a natural planetarium. The evenings are beautiful with the borderless flow of clarity from the glowing moon to glittering stars, flickering planets, and a swish of the milky way: the vast, seemingly emptiness beyond stretched out for infinity, glorious and mesmerizing.

Overnight: Olmara Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 & 8 - Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti, one of the planet's biggest and most enduring wildlife havens, stretches all the way from the Ngorongoro Highlands to Lake Victoria (almost the size of New Jersey) and presents the oldest and largest ecosystem on the planet. It takes its name from a Maasai word, siringitu, "the place where the land moves on forever". Under an enormous African sky, the plains indeed seem infinite, as if a greater power announced to the resident wildlife, 'you can have all this', with the generous sweep of a celestial arm.

The Serengeti, which covers over 12,000 square kilometers (4,633 square miles), is home to more than three million large animals across dozens of species. The best known of these are the enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra which, driven by the instinct to survive, chase after new pasture following the rains on annual March of almost 1,000 kilometers (386 miles). This is the largest, and one of the last, great terrestrial migrations on earth.

This awe-inspiring movement of animals supports many predators. Sleek savannah dwelling cheetahs who pick off the weak and straggling to enormous crocodiles that lie motionless most of the year in anticipation of the annual feast as a never-ending column of animals moves relentlessly on across land and water. Big cats thrive here - appropriate given that this area began as a sanctuary to preserve lions from hunting in 1921.

Optional: Hot Air Balloon Safari Serengeti
As the sun rises float gently over the plains of the Serengeti in a hot air balloon for a bird's eye view of the game below, elephants look small, a lion glances up as the shadow of the balloon crosses their path and birds of prey glide beneath you. After one hour the balloon lands and nearby your breakfast awaits.

Overnight: Olmara Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Serengeti to Kilimanjaro - Depart

Breakfast is served at the camp, arise early for the chance to see the wildlife starting their day with a game drive en route to Seronera Airstrip.

Depart Seronera Airstrip by light schedule aircraft flight to Kilimanjaro via Arusha Airport. The flying time is approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Please note that flying times are estimates and may vary on the day due to routings and the weather. There is a luggage restriction of 20 kilograms in small, soft bags per person. Guests to please adhere to the luggage restriction in the interests of safety.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport met by our representative and assisted with onward arrangement. A boxed picnic lunch will be provided.