Enjoy this private safari with your own guide and vehicle. A trip of contrasts, from the desertscape of Samburu national park to the lush greenery of the Abaderes, the lakes of Nakuru and Naivasha and the savanah of Masai Mara, this trip showcases the extremes of Kenya. Photographers will revel in the stark lighting and great wildlife shots in Samburu. Enjoy a luxury tented safari experience at Sweetwaters camp in Laikipia, where you can visit Kenya's only chimpanzee sanctuary. The hippos of Lake Naivasha or the Rhinos of Nakuru. Finish at the world's top game park, Masai Mara, famous for its plains of predator and prey, and the annual wildebeest migration.

Kensington Tours has its own offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Arusha, Tanzania (click on the KT Nairobi video). We also have our own tented camps (www.kensingtoncamps.com). Our prices include the support of our own dedicated team on the ground! Another reason we deliver unbeatable value.

Day 1
Nairobi
Includes Flying Doctors air ambulance emergency evacuation to Nairobi in the event of serious illness. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Owned and operated by Fairview Hotel, Country Lodge offers modern accomodations at reasonable prices. Located in quite Upperhill, relax in the gardens or take advantage of gym facilities and local restaurants. Rest in comfort and security at this lovely location. Nairobi is the least expensive arrival city for flights with a full range of hotels and local attractions. Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World” cool, clear and cosmopolitan Nairobi is the natural departure point for most safari itineraries. A city of contrasts, it is simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest growing city in East Africa. High-altitude Nairobi enjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are ATMs and banks to stock up on cash, great restaurants, and malls where you can purchase any forgotten items.

Day 2
Nairobi - Samburu
This morning you'll meet up with your guide and head off to Samburu National park. The drive from the urban center of Nairobi, through the fertile highlands, the semi-arid frontier of Kenya is breath-taking and great way to see the countryside. The drive will be about an 5 to 6 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Enjoy afternoon game viewing with your skilled guide. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Situated on the tranquil flowing Ewaso Nyiro River, the arteria lifeline of this northern game reserve the Serena Safari Lodge in Samburu is a window to the wild, where the view from rooms and verandas is essentially a wide-lens to the lifestyle and habits of rare animals. As they tend the earth and waters around them, bask in the comforts offered by this 62 room getaway. With Serena Lodges, all necessities are available and complete freedom is forced. Dine over candlelight to African and continental specialties, while new companions pass the time in the mountains and rivers nearby. Instead of peering at these foreign species as fierce beings, the Serena staff takes you by the hand and shares with you the skin-tingling experience of bird feeding and game drives. Evenings may be spent relaxing on the porch, as unassuming wild animals wander freely and without threat. The Samburu National Reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro river in Kenya; on the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Northern Kenya. It is 165 km² in size and 350 kilometers from Nairobi. Samburu is distinctive for its arid plains and herds of animals drawn to the river and water holes. Photographers love this park for its stark lighting and contrasts. In the arid North of Kenya, water means life. The river draws wildlife in great numbers to its banks, providing high quality game viewing.

Day 3
Samburu
Game viewing in Samburu National Park with your skilled guide. Includes national park fees. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Another species unique to the Samburu region is the Gerenuk. With luck, you'll see some while on your game drive. It's amazing to watch them stand on their hind legs to eat! The Gerenuk also known as the Waller's Gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in dry bushy shrub and steppe in East Africa. The word Gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning “giraffe-necked”, and leads to another common name, the Giraffe-necked Antelope. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Samburu Serena.

Day 4
Samburu - Laikipia
This morning you will leave Amboseli and drive to Laikipia. Along the way you will see amazing scenery as you drive through rural Kenya where you will see some Samburu villages. (1hour) Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Sign up for optional activities at your resort (not included in tour price); bush BBQ lunch ($70pp), guided nature walk or bird watching ($38pp), camel rides ($32pp), lion tracking ($82pp) Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). The Serena Sweetwaters Tented Camp has 39 deluxe luxury tents settled in the Kenya highland plateau of Laikipia, between Mt Kenya & the Aberdare Mts. . Clean and surpassing all expectations, it provides hot showers and toilets to each tent while maintaining an outdoor appeal unmatched in comfort. The view from tents allows first hand access to animal watering holes. Dining at the restaurant provides a clear view of animals interacting as guests feast on delicious courses of African and continental culinary persuasions. Besides the pure enjoyment of civilization’s best kept secrets, there is a darling tame rhino nearby stealing the hearts of all who come in contact with it. You won’t forget Morani, the tender soul for which the Sweetwaters Tented Camp cares. Laikipia District is located on the Equator in the central region of the country. The district has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its capital is town Nanyuki. Centred around the original Laikipia National Reserve, this area has become a sanctuary for Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic Northern species. Laikipia has become a focus for many conservation efforts.

Day 5
Laikipia - Naivasha
Transfer between from Laikipia to Lake Naivasha, through the rift valley. The drive usually takes 4 hour. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Sign up for optional activities at your resort (not included in tour price); horse-riding, bird-watching, fishing, water sports, cycling, lake trips and nature trails. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Like an African castle in the sky, Sopa Lodge Naivasha spins wondrous safaris from natural treasures below the golden Kenyan sun. It is situated on the southern shores of Naivasha, the largest freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley. Let this dazzling resort of 21 cottages prepare you for mouth-dropping silence. Feast on the succulent meats and preparations of the hotel’s talented chefs. Allow your eyes to indulge in the scenery and wildlife that draws so many to visit this hotel, built for open views of nature’s activities at their most untouched. Make sure to wander around the compound. You will be enchanted by the fine architecture, cathedral ceilings, and grand windows. Stroll around the gardens, and take a swim. It’s hard to leave this heavenly escape. Naivasha is one of our favorite places to pause a safari, lush, cool and relaxing - is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across but its waters are shallow and thick with hippo. Hell's Gate National Park, Longonot National Park and Mount Longonot are nearby attractions. Boat tours on the lake are popular to observe birdlife and hippopotamus behavior, or explore Crescent Island on foot.

Day 6
Naivasha - Masai Mara
Transfer between Naivasha and Mara park by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. During the rainy season this can be a long drive. Usually takes about 5 - 6 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). This afternoons game viewing will be exciting as you are searching for game with your private guide and driver. The leopard is difficult to see as it moves fast and is very shy. If you're lucky there is a good chance to spot them around waterholes or up in a tree after a hot long day. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Our new Kensington Mara West Camp has been revamped and relocated to what is surely one of the best views in East Africa. Perched elegantly on the Ololoolo escarpment forming the western boundary of the Masai Mara Reserve itself, this is the authentic ‘Out of Africa’ experience where much of the original film itself was filmed & produced. The camp borders the remote and beautiful western edge of Masai Mara National Reserve. Kensington Mara West provides nature lovers with deluxe accommodations while experiencing the sights and sounds of an unforgettable African safari. Chalets are perched in secluded spots on an escarpment edge overlooking the vast plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, giving tremendous views and a sense of private exclusion. Mara West is providing high quality service with beautifully designed, comfortable accommodations. Masai Mara is the northernmost portion of the larger Serengeti ecosystem and features the best game viewing in the region . The small size funnels animals into a tight space, and park rules allowing off-road driving which means that guests can venture into plains covered with hundreds or even thousands of animals. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over the plains, with the opportunity for amazing pictures of the animal herds below.

Day 7
Masai Mara
Masai Mara is named after the traditional inhabitants (Maasai) and the Mara River. At some point during your stay in the Mara, you'll drive by the river which is a great place to spot wildlife. This area is a photographers delight where with any luck you'll be able to take amazing pictures of the hippos and elephants in the water. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). On today‘s afternoon game drive the choice is up to you, search for the big 5 or expand your horizons to discover something different. Masai Mara not only has rich mix of animal population, it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Kensington Mara West.

Day 8
Masai Mara - Nairobi
Transfer between Mara park and Nairobi by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. One hour of road is badly potholed. Includes opportunity to visit local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs. Before leaving that night, stop by the kensington office for free use of internet, lounge, showers and drinks. (We can arrange dinner at Carnivore game meat restaurant, though there is limited wild meat on the menu these days - please let us know in advance and if you are veg.) Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.