Family Fun in Kenya Itinerary

Family Fun in Kenya
Duration: 10 days
Highlights: Nairobi, Ol Pejeta, Naivasha, Maasai Mara
An itinerary highlighting a fun family safari where the children and adults too can have an exciting and memorable holiday!
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Nairobi
Arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After clearing Immigration & Customs, you will be met by an our representative and transferred to Southern Sun Mayfair
Hotel.
Overnight: Southern Sun Mayfair
Day 2 - Full day in Nairobi
After breakfast, you will meet your driver-guide who will brief you on the day's events. First stop, the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Dame Daphne is the widow of
pioneer wildlife ranger David Sheldrick and has set up the orphanage on the edge of Nairobi National Park to successfully raise orphaned wild animals (mainly elephant and
rhino) and reintroduce them into the wild. You will have the chance to wash the elephant calves and feed them whilst learning about their behaviour, sad past and the bright
future Dame Daphne and her excellent keepers will give the calves.
Next stop is the AFEW Giraffe Centre. The Giraffe Centre was established in 1983 as a sanctuary for the then endangered Rothschild giraffe. The breeding programme has
been a great success and visitors can now watch these gentle giants at eye level from a raised platform. There is also the opportunity to learn more about giraffe at the
interpretation centre and hand-feed them whilst watching the semi-tame family of warthogs snuffle around their hooves in search of titbits.
Lastly proceed to Kazuri Beads. In 1975, Lady Susan Wood the founder of Kazuri Beads started making ceramic beads with the help of two disadvantaged women from a
local village. She quickly discovered that there were many other women who were in great need of regular employment. Today the workshop employs over 340 women
producing thousands of beautiful handmade and painted ceramic beads and pottery. Visit the workshop and feel free to try your hand at making the lovely beaded jewellery
or the pottery.
Overnight: Southern Sun Mayfair
Meal Plan: B,D
Day 3 - Drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
After breakfast, meet your driver at the hotel lobby and drive north to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Ol Pejeta is a private wildlife conservancy located on a 90,000 acre ranch in Central Kenya. The conservancy has a strong commitment to endangered species and boasts
of the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. Ol Pejeta is also home to all the members of the Big 5, the endangered white rhino, the Jackson hartebeest, and the
spotted hyena among many other species. It also plays host to the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya.
Overnight: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 4 - Full day at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary which has rescued 42 chimps from terrible situations and given them a safe haven in which to live out their days. The same
conservancy is home to 88% of the world's black rhino population. Get close up to these incredible animals and even give one a scratch behind the ear!
Apart from visiting the rhino and chimpanzee sanctuaries, there are plenty of activities for guests to enjoy at Ol Pejeta. Clients can go in search of nocturnal animals on
night drives, get close to nature on a guided bush walk, monitor collared lions during a lion tracking expedition, spot resident and migratory birds on a bird walk, or learn about
the local culture during a community visit.
Overnight: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 5 - Drive to Naivasha
After breakfast, drive to Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley.
The Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge occupies one of the most beautiful sites on Naivasha’s North Lake Road. Shaded by mature fever trees, the lodge has 82 rooms in a series
of two storey cottages surrounding the main building. In the evening hippos graze on the manicured lawns that stretch down to the lakeshore and by day they can be seen
wallowing in the shallows. The gardens of the lodge are home to an astonishing number of birds and often the terrace echoes to the romantic cry of a fish eagle. All the
rooms at the lodge have en-suite bathrooms and two are specially designed for people in wheelchairs. This is a good place to bring kids - who have their own special pool in
addition to the two main ones.
Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 6 - Full day in Naivasha
After breakfast, enjoy the lodge facilities as well as its environs.
Crescent Island is a private Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha. Surrounded by water, the island is actually a peninsula that is accessible by boat as
well as by road. There are more animals here per acre than any other Kenyan park. Visitors can walk freely among the giraffe, zebra, Thompson's and Grant's gazelles,
waterbuck, eland, and a great many bird species. Don’t miss walking along the ridge in the ‘golden hour’ before sunset to watch the animals grazing against the backdrop of
shimmering water.
Cruise through floating hippos and listen to the shrill cry of the fish Eagle while on a boat ride excursion on Lake Naivasha. It is Kenya’s second largest fresh water lake and
as such it plays host to a massive number of birds including kingfishers, herons, pelicans, fish eagles among many others. The boat ride provides an excellent opportunity to
not only watch but also photograph the birds up close in a stunning and tranquil environment.
Later go to Hell's Gate National Park, known for its beautiful cliff formations. Explore the park on a mountain bike as you peddle amongst impala, zebra and giraffe.
Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 7 - Drive to Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and drive to the world renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve. You will arrive at the Kichwa Tembo Camp in time for lunch. Once rested,
you can enjoy your first game drive in the park.
Overlooking the endless, game-filled grasslands of the Maasai Mara, Kichwa Tembo offers a series of spacious, stylish tents with stunning views across the world's greatest
natural wilderness. The 48 tents are a picture of rustic sophistication, with comfortable twin beds, en suite showers and shady verandahs with sweeping views over the
surrounding savannah. From your tent, it's possible to see large herds of elephant, prides of big cats, and the world's greatest wildlife spectacle - the migration of over a
million wildebeest and zebra, which pass this way between July and September on their instinctive march to pastures new. The camp's expert Maasai guides are on hand to
reveal more of this magical wilderness through game drives, bush walks and visits to the villages of the local Ilkarekeshe Maasai.
Overnight: Kichwa Tembo Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 8 - Full day in the Mara
Go on a full day exploration of the Mara.
The jewel in Africa's crown, Maasai Mara is host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. Her 1,510 square kilometres of open savannah, woodlands and tree-lined rivers
creates an eco-system which supports huge numbers of bird and mammal species. The western border of the park is the spectacular Siria Escarpment and together with
the acacia dotted plains, creates scenery of stunning beauty. Lion are found in abundance throughout the park as are elephant, giraffe, a variety of gazelle species and
zebra. Cheetah and leopard are also regularly seen and, if lucky, you may also find rhino. 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.
Overnight: Kichwa Tembo Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 9 - Full day in the Mara
You have another full day to explore the Mara. You have an option to go on an early morning hot air balloon safari.
As the balloon is inflated against the first rays of sunrise your pilot will go through safety procedures. It's then time to climb aboard. Once aloft, the balloon floats gently
over the plains, giving a bird's eye view of the game below as the sun creeps slowly over the horizon. Spread beneath you is a panorama of Africa - elephants looking
improbably small; giraffe browsing amongst the treetops; antelope grazing; a pair of lionesses stalking a herd of wildebeest; an eagle guarding his eerie; and cheetah
glancing up as the shadow of the huge balloon crosses their paths.
After around one hour the balloon lands and nearby breakfast is already being prepared. The smells of bacon, sausages and eggs drift on the breeze as you begin
breakfast with platefuls of exotic Kenyan fruits and homemade pastries and, of course, glasses of bubbly to toast your flight in a tradition initiated by the Montgolfière brothers.
Thereafter drive back to camp.
Kichwa Tembo camp has an excellent programme of kid's activities. From Swahili and cooking lessons, to being a Maasai warrior for a day, the kids will be kept well
entertained as the parents get some well-deserved down time.
Overnight: Kichwa Tembo Camp
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Day 10 - Drive back to Nairobi
Sadly today is your last day at the Mara. Bid the camp staff goodbye and drive back to Eka Hotel in Nairobi where a dayroom has been reserved for you until you leave for
your departure flight
Meal Plan: B