A&K Sanctuary Kenya Safari

Touch down in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, which serves as your gateway to safari adventure. Kenya is classic safari country featuring vast national parks and reserves brimming with the iconic wildlife most associated with an African safari. These include the fabled Big Five — lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and Cape Buffalo — along with countless other species, from zebras and wildebeests to cheetahs and giraffes. It’s also home to the pastoral Maasai people who live in harmony with the land.

A bush flight from Nairobi takes you to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in the picturesque foothills of Mount Kenya. This sprawling 140-square-mile wildlife haven boasts an impressive game-to-area ratio, topping the charts of Kenyan parks and reserves. Within its vastness, Tambarare Camp provides an unpretentious yet luxurious home base, its 10 tents beckoning with earth-hued canvas, billowing white curtains and teak floorboards — an essay in easy-going, sunlit brightness. Settle in and head out for some afternoon game spotting.

What sets the Ol Pejeta Conservancy apart is its dedication to the conservation of endangered species. Home to the fastest-growing population of black rhinos in Africa, the conservancy is a beacon of hope for these majestic animals. Venture forth on a morning game drive to seek for them as well as the variety of other species living here. Also, stop for an up-close visit with the world’s last northern white rhinos in their heavily guarded enclosure. Then check out the Conservation Center to meet Baraka, the blind rhino who is the conservancy’s Conservation Ambassador, and learn more about the plight of these magnificent creatures.

This morning, set out early to take in the sunrise as wildlife begins to stir. Game drives are always a treat at Ol Pejeta and the list of likely encounters includes elephants, reticulated giraffes and, with a little luck, some of the conservancy’s lions. Have lunch back in camp, then take some time to kick back with a book or a drink before setting out in the afternoon for your second game drive of the day.

Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the next stage of your adventure, is virtually synonymous with safari – surely among the most scenically lovely, biologically diverse and culturally rich regions in Africa. Amid this dizzying swirl of natural beauty and drama, Olonana Lodge is a hideaway of rare elegance and serenity, presiding over a prime position on a private stretch of the Mara River. Take to the plains for your first game drive here this afternoon.

Start your day early with a hot beverage before joining your guide for a morning game drive. Watch as the animals stir to life and start their day. Return for a late breakfast and some time to relax, perhaps taking a dip in the pool or indulging in an in-room spa treatment. Late in the afternoon, embark on a rousing game drive that culminates with stunning views of the setting sun.

Roll out on your game drives today and explore another slice of the Mara’s 500 square miles of savannahs, woodlands and tree-fringed rivers. You may observe crocodiles basking in the sun, see ever-alert hippos wallowing in muddy water and perhaps catch the antics of a mischievous monkey overhead. Watch, too, as African elephants rumble along the forest edge and giraffes snatch leaves from branches high above.

Fly to Nairobi, where you relax in a reserved dayroom before transferring to the airport for your departing flight.