9 Days Intimate Africa

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and assisted to transfer to Hemingways Nairobi. Overlooking the Ngong Hills in Nairobi’s tranquil and upscale neighbourhood of Karen, this luxurious boutique hotel is a haven of elegant charm. With great service and a tranquil atmosphere, Hemingways Nairobi makes an ideal 1- or 2-night stopover for travellers beginning or ending their Kenya safari. It is popular with high-level delegations and VIPs, and is a sought-after meeting place for well-heeled Kenyans.

Brilliantly decorated in a high colonial plantation style, Hemingways Nairobi is a gem of a boutique hotel located in the lush and quiet Nairobi suburb of Karen (named for Karen Blixen, who wrote Out of Africa under her pen name Isak Dinesen. Her beloved Ngong Hills are evocatively visible from the balcony of all Hemingways rooms.) However many stars a luxury hotel these days is said to merit—five? six?—Hemingways deserves the fullest measure. Its amenities are topflight: one of the capital city’s premier restaurants; spacious, individually and artfully decorated rooms; a sparkling spa, and its service is expert, amiable, and 24-hour-constant. We and our guests attest that Hemingways doesn’t exaggerate when they say that “Your dedicated butler will know that you prefer Earl Grey to Assam with your scones and Cornish clotted cream, and he’ll remember which trousers you like pressed flat and which ones need a central crease.”

You will transfer to the Wilson Airport for your flight to Amboseli National park. On arrival you will be met and assisted to check in for an early lunch at Twi Lodge - The picturesque Tawi Lodge lies on a beautiful private concession at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, only ten minutes away from the gate to Amboseli National Park. This eco-friendly lodge offers magnificent views from both its main guest areas and its beautifully appointed cottages. Each cottage boasts romantic four-poster beds, a lovely ensuite bathroom with a Victorian bath and a shower, a fireplace and a personal bar. A butler service is provided for that added personal touch.

Amboseli is also known for its magnificent elephants – a population of over 1000 elephants reside in the parks eco-system that features some of the largest in Africa. Boasting a vast and beautiful unspoiled landscape stretching from the foothills of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuaries that you will soon discover after landing in the country and transferring to your accommodation beneath the trees. En route, you and your family will discover the majesty that is Amboseli during a guided safari drive within a kitted-out 4x4 vehicle. From giraffes picking at towering acacia trees to buffalo grazing the golden savannah plains, your first moments in Kenya will showcase the country’s rich tapestry of indigenous wildlife.

Board a flight to the Laikipia Plateau and continue to your private wildlife conservancy. On arrival, you will be transferred to Sirikoi Camp, settle in, and then take to the bush for an afternoon game drive. The next day, enjoy a morning game drive highlighted by an up-close visit with the world’s last three northern white rhinos in their heavily guarded enclosure. This afternoon, set out on a bush walk, perhaps sighting a reticulated giraffe or Besia oryx. Optional activities (each at an additional cost) include a visit with the conservancy’s anti-poaching dog unit and a night game drive.

Set in a shady acacia grove overlooking a natural waterhole fed by a mountain spring, Sirikoi is an exclusive and intimate camp for the family, set in the wilderness of Lewa. Four ensuite luxury tents, each built on a wooden platform, feature spacious living areas with fireplaces and elegant bathrooms with Victorian baths and showers. Private verandas gaze out onto the waterhole. A secluded two-bedroom cottage offers two spacious en-suite bedrooms and a spacious living and dining room with a kitchen and a deck perfectly positioned overlooking the waterhole. The stylish three-bedroom house is ideal for families or groups travelling together. Beautifully decorated the bedrooms open out into a central living and dining area with an inviting private deck complete with firepit, the ideal spot to relax with sundowners and savour delicious meals.

Enjoy a bush breakfast on the shores of lake Naivasha as you watch hippos, birds and other prototypical African wildlife around you. After breakfast, you will catch your schedule flight to the world famous Maasai Mara. On arrival, your camp guide welcomes you at the airstrip and drives you to Karen Blixen Camp. Set on the bank of the Mara River the camp consists of 22 luxurious tents. The location is spectacular, with the great Mara plains behind the camp and the impressive escarpment and the river in front. After lunch at camp you experience your first game drive in this world-renowned national park.

Named after the author of the famous book Out of Africa, the Karen Blixen Camp reflects the elegant style of the colonial era, and manages to maintain a relaxed intimate feel despite its fairly large size. This part of Kenya is renowned for excellent game viewing – here, it begins in camp, with the large pools in the Mara River full of hippo and crocodile, and frequently visited by elephant and numerous smaller species.

The legendary Masai Mara in Kenya offers incredible game viewing opportunities and wildlife include lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, giraffe, various antelopes, wildebeest, zebra and warthogs can often be seen on game drives in the area. The birdlife is also excellent around the camp and surrounding environs. From the camp you can explore the quiet corner of the Mara ecosystem of the Koiyaki Lemek Group Ranch which is home to the famed Leopard Gorge which has provided the stage for numerous BBC, National Geographic and Discovery Channel documentaries including the Big Cat Diaries.

On the final day of your Premier Safari there will be time for a leisurely breakfast before your flight to Nairobi, Wilson Airport for your onward travel arrangements.