Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant capital and the gateway to East Africa’s great safari landscapes. You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel before joining your Driver Guide and fellow small group travelers for dinner, a relaxed introduction to the journey ahead.
Today, Nairobi reveals its different sides, from wildlife and literary history to the landmarks at the center of the capital. Start with a game drive in Nairobi National Park, where grassland and acacia bush unfold just beyond the city skyline. Continue to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to see the orphaned elephants at their midday mud bath and milk feed. You’ll enjoy lunch in the gardens of Karen Blixen Cottages & Restaurant before visiting the Karen Blixen Museum, set in the former home of the author of Out of Africa. Later, take in Parliament Buildings, Kenyatta Avenue, Government Square, the Kenya International Convention Center, City Market and University Way. This evening, head to Shamba Cafe for a three-course Farm-to-Table dinner, where produce from the surrounding gardens shapes the menu.
Travel to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County, where open plains, acacia woodland and views towards Mount Kenya define one of Kenya’s leading conservation areas. Home to the Big Five, East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary and the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Ol Pejeta brings wildlife and conservation together in one remarkable landscape. On arrival, head to Maisha Sweetwaters Camp and settle into your waterhole-view tent. You’ll set out on an afternoon game drive in search of plains game, birdlife and some of the conservancy’s rarer species, stopping for a sundowner in the bush before returning to camp for dinner.
Enjoy a Relaxed Start before your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where you’ll visit Fatu and Najin, the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, and hear from a ranger about the protection and scientific work surrounding their future. Continue to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, opened in 1993 with the help of Dr. Jane Goodall and still the only place in Kenya where rescued chimpanzees can be seen. Later, return to camp for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, relax at Maisha Sweetwaters Camp or choose an Optional Experience and head back into the conservancy on a night game drive.
Set out by road this morning, traveling south towards the Rift Valley for a Farm-to-Table lunch at Ranch House Bistro. With papyrus-fringed edges and rich birdlife, this peaceful setting offers a quieter change of scene. Arrive at Naivasha Sopa Lodge, set in spacious grounds where giraffe, waterbuck and monkeys are often seen. The rest of your day is at leisure to settle in, sit by the pool and enjoy the lodge’s wildlife-rich setting, or choose an Optional Experience and head out on horseback through the grounds before dinner.
Ease into the day on Lake Naivasha, a shallow freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley, ringed by acacia woodland and known for its rich birdlife and resident hippos. A boat safari brings you close to this lakeside world, with the chance to spot hippos in the water and fish eagles overhead. Back on land, explore further with Insight Choice. Join a guided walk on Crescent Island, where zebra, giraffe and antelope roam freely across the open grassland, or return to the lodge for a birdwatching walk through its acacia-dotted grounds. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the setting, or choose an Optional Experience to Hell’s Gate National Park, known for its dramatic cliffs, volcanic formations and walking and cycling trails.
Set out for the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where wide grasslands and riverine forest mark one of Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife landscapes, home to the Big Five and shaped by the Mara River. Later, head into the reserve for an afternoon game drive as the light begins to soften across the plains. This evening, settle in at Mara Maisha Camp and dine on the open terrace, with the sounds of the Mara carrying through camp after dark.
Spend the day in the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives through one of Africa’s most iconic safari landscapes, where wide grasslands, riverine forest and the Mara River support an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. Between drives, return to camp and take in the setting. This evening, head out into the reserve for a private bush barbecue dinner, served in the open air on your last evening in Kenya.
Transfer to Nairobi Airport and bid farewell to your Driver Guide before your flight to Zanzibar. On arrival, meet your Local Host and transfer to your hotel, where the rest of the afternoon is yours to settle in and enjoy the slower pace of this Indian Ocean island, long shaped by Swahili, Arab and trading influences. This evening, come together for dinner at the hotel and ease into the next part of your journey.
Discover Stone Town with your Local Expert on a morning city tour through the UNESCO-listed heart of Zanzibar, where market streets, seafront landmarks and centuries of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influence sit side by side. Visit the local market, the House of Wonders, the Sultan’s Palace Museum and the Old Arab Fort, then head to a herb and spice farm for a closer look at the island’s long trade in cloves, cardamom and other spices. At Mama’s of Zanzibar, join local women for a hands-on cooking lesson centered on Swahili flavors and traditional cuisine before sitting down together to share the dishes you have prepared. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax at the hotel, return to Stone Town for more time in its winding lanes and carved doorways, or head out on a sunset show cruise.
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Zanzibar to settle into the island’s coastal rhythm. Swim in the Indian Ocean, stretch out by the pool, wander the beach or simply pause and take in the setting, with clear warm waters and coral reefs just offshore. If you prefer to be out on the water, there is an Optional Experience to sail by traditional dhow and snorkel along the coast, where Zanzibar’s marine life and reef-fringed shoreline reveal a different side of the island. This evening, come together for a final dinner at the hotel as your time in Zanzibar draws to a close.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. As your journey comes to a close, say goodbye to your Driver Guide and fellow travelers, taking with you the memories, wildlife encounters and landscapes that have shaped your time in Zanzibar.
