12-day Under the Stars of Kenya

This 12-day Under the Stars of Kenya safari (a longer version of our 8-day Under the Stars of Kenya safari) we have combined adventure camping with a luxury tented camp. The itinerary has been designed to offer the same high-quality wildlife safari experience provided by the top-end safari camps, with 4WD game viewing escorted by top class guides and in exclusive wildlife conservancies away from the tourist minibuses, but at a hugely reduced price by staying in small basic adventure camps, “real camping” instead of the luxury accommodation of the expensive up-market tented lodges.

For those for whom the wildlife safari experience is more important than the accommodation, and who are prepared to sleep in small tents in sleeping bags on a mattress on the floor with an element of “roughing it”, this gives an opportunity for an exceptional and exclusive wildlife experience with high quality guiding but at a fraction of the price. The camps are sited in private wildlife conservancies with a wealth of wildlife and where you can go on walks with Maasai guides and take night drives but they are also conveniently located for easy access to Amboseli National Park and the Masai Mara Reserve.

Amboseli National Park – the best place in Kenya to see elephants at close range and wonderful views of Kilimanjaro.

Selenkay Conservancy, Amboseli – walk with Masai warriors, night game drive, exclusive wilderness area with no other tourist vehicles.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lakipia – the largest rhino conservancy in East Africa in a vast tract of wilderness within the Laikipia area, overlooking snow-capped Mount Kenya. Elephant, rhino, lion and leopard all present.

Masai Mara National Reserve – famous for the spectacular wildebeest migration between the end of June and early October every year and excellent for lion and cheetah.

Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Mara – This large area borders the Masai Mara National Reserve and is home to an abundance of animals including the Mara’s renowned Big Cats.

The beauty of being in a private conservancy is that the camps are not governed by the national park/game reserve rules, which are quite restrictive. Hence, our guides can drive off road, do night drives and you can also walk with your Masai guides – which you cannot do in the national parks/game reserves. The private conservancies border the national parks/game reserves so the animals can roam freely between the two, however the public cannot, thus creating a more private safari experience away from the sometimes maddening crowds. Have a look at this video which give a little insight into the private conservancies.

Highlights

  • Nairobi
  • Selenkay Conservancy
  • Ol Pejeta Conservancy
  • Ol Kinyei Conservancy
  • Kenya

Tour Summary

Full Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1 : Nairobi

On arrival into Nairobi International Airport, you will be met by a representative holding a sign-board with your name on it.  You will then be transferred to your hotel.

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Day 2 : Nairobi

Full Day Tour - Nairobi is home to dozens of incredible sites and this full-day tour showcases some of the best of this East African city. You will visit the Giraffe Centre where you will have a chance to learn about the endangered Rothschild giraffe and see how major conservation efforts are being made to protect this graceful animal. From there you visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage which is only open for a short period each day. Here you will learn more about the baby elephants and what led them to be orphans. You will get more information on raising them and the efforts being made to re-introduce them back to the wilderness. After lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden you will then visit Karen Bixen Museum, which was once the centre piece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. The farm house gained international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’ an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s an autobiography by the same title.

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Day 3 : Selenkay Conservancy

You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 06:00 hours and transferred to Wilson Airport for your light aircraft to Amboseli Adventure Camp, arriving at camp before lunch.  Following afternoon tea, you will either be escorted on a walk by Maasai warriors to a village to get an insight into their fascinating culture and way of life or take a game drive in the conservancy stopping for a sundowner at a scenic spot overlooking Kilimanjaro, followed by a night game drive to look for nocturnal animals such as aardvarks, serval cats, caracals, bat-eared foxes, African wild cats, and other species.  Return to camp for dinner.

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Day 4 : Selenkay Conservancy

Awake to a dawn chorus of birds.  After an early breakfast, we depart for a full day of game-viewing in Amboseli National Park.  We drive through the bush on our private track into Amboseli National Park, for a full morning of game viewing.  Following a picnic lunch in the park, we return to camp later in the afternoon.  In the evening we have a sundowner, and return to camp for dinner, after which there is the option of a night game drive using a spotlight to seek out some of the nocturnal animals such as aardvarks, serval cats, bat-eared foxes among others.

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Day 5 : Selenkay Conservancy

Morning and afternoon game-drives in Selenkay Conservation Area.   The vehicles used are specially designed to be open-sided, for a proper safari experience. Masai warriors escort guests on a guided walk throughout the conservancy, where they can learn about the indigenous animals and flora which are used by the community. You will also have the opportunity to visit a local Masai village where you can experience local life in the community.  Sundowners are available with views of Mt Kilimanjaro too.

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Day 6 : Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Early breakfast and then drive through Amboseli National Park to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight at 09:00 hours to Wilson Airport, arriving at 09:50 hours.  On arrival, you will be assisted to connect to another scheduled flight departing at 10.20 hours to arrive at Nanyuki Airstrip at 11:00 hours. You will then be transferred by 4WD safari vehicle to Rhino Camp for check-in and a chance to relax, with a later lunch. The afternoon can be spent taking in the beautiful surrounding views, or on a short game-drive, then dinner and an overnight at the camp.

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Day 7 – 8 : Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Morning and afternoon game-drives in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Other optional activities include the below. These can be discussed with your guide at the camp and payable locally.

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Day 9 : Ol Kinyei Conservancy

After breakfast, depart Rhino Camp for Nanyuki Airport for your light aircraft flight departing at 09.45 hours to the Masai Mara.  On arrival at 11.00 hours, you will be met at the Naboisho airstrip and transferred to Mara Adventure Camp. Settle into your tent and enjoy lunch prepared by the camp chef.  Afternoon game drive in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, with a sundowner at a scenic spot followed by a night game drive with spotlights to search for nocturnal animals, including the elusive leopards which are resident in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, before heading back to camp for dinner.

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Day 10 : Ol Kinyei Conservancy

A full day spent on a game drive into the famous Masai Mara National Reserve with a picnic lunch in the reserve. Return to Ol Kinyei Conservancy late afternoon, sundowner and dinner in camp.

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Day 11 : Ol Kinyei Conservancy

Morning and afternoon game drives in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, with an excellent chance of sighting lions, cheetahs and leopards all of which are found in the conservancy. Sundowner and night game drive.

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Day 12 : Departure

Early morning game drive in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy returning for breakfast. Mid-morning transfer to the airstrip for the 11:00 hours flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson airport (arriving 12.15 hours). You will then be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward international flight.

Included

Meet and greets, and all airport transfers
Game drives are all in 4×4 vehicles with 3 nights in Selenkay Conservancy to include a full day in Amboseli National Park then 3 nights in Ol Kinyei Conservancy with a full day in the Mara Reserve.
Accommodation while camping is in small 2-man dome tents. This is “real camping”.
All conservancies fees
Maasai village visit in Selenkay
Walks with Maasai warriors
One night Southern Sun Mayfair Inn on bed and breakfast basis
Sleeping bag and towel

Excluded

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Laundry and tipping,
Travel Insurance
Visa Fees
All expenses of personal nature.
International flights