The Wilds Of Kenya

Savannah plains and acacia trees

ENLARGE MAP

Day 1 - Lewa Downs

Arrive in Nairobi where you will be met and transferred to the small Wilson Airport for your one hour scheduled flight to Lewa Downs - one of Kenya's original ranches which spans 55,000 acres of wilderness in the foothills of Mount Kenya. Lewa is home to one of the most renowned rhino sanctuaries in Africa and contains high concentrations of black and white rhino which can often be viewed against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kenya. Lewa is committed to the conservation of wildlife (especially endangered species) and as well as the rhino, the property also abounds with rare populations of the Grevy's zebra and the spectacular aquatic Sitatunga antelope. In addition to the endangered species, there are also many animals endemic to the dry regions of northern Kenya - the reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the greater kudu. You are also likely to see elephants, lion, leopard and cheetah. Lewa's wilderness boasts one of the greatest natural diversities in Africa ranging from open grassy plains and acacia woodlands to seasonal swamps fed by the snows of Mount Kenya. The landscape is breathtakingly spectacular and the wildlife viewing is as good as anywhere in Africa. You will be met at Lewa airstrip for the start of your 3 night stay at Wilderness Trails - a charming old settlers home which overlooks a lush gorge in the eastern corner of the Lewa Conservancy. The home belongs to the Craig family (Lewa Downs has been in the Craig family since 1924 when the Craig grandparents came over from England and began raising cattle here) and your hosts, Will and Emma Craig, will welcome you with the same warm hospitality which Lewa guests have enjoyed and returned to time and again over the past 30 years. Wilderness Trails is widely acclaimed as being East Africa's first true bush home - a place where you can share the wonders, the wildlife and the vastness that is Africa with those who have chosen the wilderness of this land as their home. Will Craig is a well-known conservationist and a lifelong Lewa resident. (L,D)

Day 2 & 3 - Lewa Downs

Wake up to the beautiful countryside which adorns this wildlife-rich corner of the Conservancy. Leopard and cheetah are resident in the gorge and prides of lion are often seen around the property. Accommodation at Wilderness Trails is provided in eight charming thatched cottages (maximum 16 guests at any one time), each of which has an ensuite bathroom, open fireplace and a private verandah where you can enjoy the solitude of this magical natural Eden. There is also a swimming pool, stables full of horses and clay tennis courts. Your stay is an all-inclusive safari experience with day and night game drives in open 4WD safari vehicles led by a professional safari team. You will gain a fascinating insight into Lewa's history, the conservation, animal behaviour and the flora and fauna. You can also explore on horseback, on camels or on an escorted bush walk - and fitness enthusiasts can go hiking or jogging with a Masai warrior. At the end of each exhilarating day, relax by the fire in Will and Emma's cosy sitting room before joining the other guests for a superb meal around the long banquet table in the open-air dining room. The food is wholesome and organically grown in the five acre garden. All meals, soft drinks, beer and house wines are included. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Rekero Tented Camp, Masai Mara

Transfer to the airstrip to board your scheduled 1 1/2hour flight to the Masai Mara - one of Kenya's best loved reserves renowned for its miles of wide savannah, rolling hills, riverine forest, bountiful birdlife and Africa's greatest and most diverse concentration of wildlife (it is particularly famous for its lion and cheetah population). This mighty reserve is watered by the Mara and Talek rivers and opens on to the Serengeti plains of Tanzania - and each year, the Mara is the staging ground for the Great Migration - one of the most awe-inspiring natural events in the world. Between August and October, these vast plains rumble with the thunder of hooves when approximately two million wildebeest and zebra migrate north across the Masai Mara from the Serengeti. Your destination for the next 2 nights is Rekero Tented Camp which is located at an altitude of 4,800 feet in a ravine forest close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers and only ten minutes from the main Wildebeest Crossings of the Great Migration (this superb location is widely recognised as being the prime site in the Masai Mara Reserve). The camp overlooks large pools populated with hippo and crocodile - and it offers some of the finest big cat viewing in Africa. It is set up seasonally to coincide with the dry weather and the best game-viewing (June to October and December to March). The warmest time of year is December and January and the coolest is June and July. You will stay in one of the six ensuite tents - each of which is spacious and airy with a comfortable double bed (the ensuite has a safari shower and a flush toilet). Solar lanterns and kerosene lamps provide the lighting. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Rekero Tented Camp, Masai Mara

Your camp host is Jackson Ole Looseyia, an Il Dorobo Masai from the local area. Jackson and his safari crew (made up of Il Dorobo and Masai professional guides who all live around the Mara) will cater for your every need and offer you a unique insight into this area. You will enjoy game viewing in custom built 4WD vehicles - and you can also explore on foot with the experienced guides. Picnics in the bush and sundowners are also included. (B,L,D)

Day 6 & 7 - Rekero Cottages, Masai Mara

Enjoy a 4WD safari transfer to Rekero Cottages today - home of the Beaton family, where your hosts, Gerard and Rainee, will welcome you. The cottages, which are situated at the foot of the beautiful Kipeleo hills in the Lemek Valley (in the Masai Mara conservation area), are built almost entirely from local materials and combine rustic charm with home comforts. They overlook the infamous spring-fed Rekero waterhole which is frequented by elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and many other species of wildlife. There are three double cottages and one family cottage with two double rooms - all have ensuite facilities. Like Wilderness Trails, Rekero offers warm 'bush home' hospitality. Dining is a social affair and you will enjoy appetising farmhouse meals. Day and night game drives, bush walks and all meals are included in your stay - and in addition, you will enjoy a visit to the local Masai and Il Dorobo communities, with whom the Beatons have a close association. The Masai is one of the great fighting tribes of Africa whilst the small clans of Il Dorobo are the traditional hunter gatherers (their culture is rapidly disappearing) - and it is this interaction and mix of cultures which makes the Rekero experience so special. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Nairobi (option 1)

Transfer to the airstrip to board your return flight to Nairobi to await your overnight international flight back to the UK. (B)

Day 8 - 13 - Lamu Island (option 2)

Alternatively, on arrival back in Nairobi, board a scheduled Air Kenya flight to Lamu Island for 6 nights of barefoot luxury at Kipungani. (B,L,D)

Day 14

Fly back to Nairobi to connect with your overnight international flight. (B,L)

Important Notice

Wilderness Trails and Rekero are closed in April, May and November due to the rains.